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Riserva naturale Duna Feniglia, Orbetello
R. Quinto-Canas1,2, P. Mendes3, C. Meireles3, C . Musarella4 & C. Pinto-Gomes3
1Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, P-8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
2CCMAR – Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, P-8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
3Department of Landscape, Environment and Planning; Institute of Mediterranean Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (ICAAM), School of Science and Technology, University of Évora, Rua Romão Ramalho 59, P-7000-671 Évora, Portugal.
4Department of Agraria, “Mediterranea” University of Reggio Calabria, Località Feo di Vito, I-89122 Reggio Calabria,
Italy.
doi: 10.7338/pls2018551/02
abstract The water courses of southern Portugal are ecosystems subject to constant fluctuations between periods of flooding and desiccation associated with seasonal dryness. In these unstable ecological conditions, a considerable diversity of riparian plant communities occurs. The objective of this study, carried out in the Monchique Sierran and Andévalo Districts, is to compare the perennial grasslands community dominated by Festuca ampla Hack, using a phytosociological approach (Braun-Blanquet methodology) and numerical analysis (hierarchical cluster analysis and ordination). From these results, a new hygrophilous community of perennial grasslands type was identified, Narcisso jonquillae-Festucetum amplae, as a result of the floristic, ecological and biogeographical differences from other associations already described within the Agrostion castellanae alliance, in the southwestern Iberian Peninsula. The association occurs in the thermomediterranean to mesomediterranean belts under dry to sub-humid ombrotypes, on siliceous soils that have temporary waterlogging. This new association corresponds with priority 6220 Habitat - Pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals of the Thero-Brachypodietea, under the Natura 2000 code. |
keywords Andevalese-Monchique Sierran territory, Festuca ampla, numerical analysis, perennial grasslands, phytosociology |