Plant Sociology 55 (1) 2018

M. Puglisi¹, H. Kürschner² & M. Privitera¹

¹Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, v. A. Longo 19, I-95125 Catania, Italy.

²Free University of Berlin, Institute of Biology, Systematic Botany and Plant Geography, Altensteinstraße 6, D-14195 Berlin, Germany.

doi: 10.7338/pls2018551/01

A phytosociological study on the bryophytes found in many lava and karst caves of Sicily was carried out. The surveyed communities, recognized at the entrance, in the liminar and subliminar zones of the caves, include the Rhabdoweisietum fugacis, Pohlietum crudae subass. timmietosum bavaricae, Bartramietum ithyphyllae, Pohlio crudae-Amphidietum mougeotii and Pohlio annotinae-Brachythecietum velutini (class Cladonio digitatae-Lepidozietea reptantis), Rhynchostegielletum algirianae (class Ctenidietea mollusci), Scorpiurietum circinati (class Pleurochaeto squarrosae-Abietinelletea abietinae), Riccio glaucae-Anthocerotetum crispuli and Plagiochasmo rupestris-Targionietum hypophyllae (class Barbuletea unguiculatae), found in the lava caves. By contrast, the Selaginello denticulatae-Timmielletum barbuloidis (class Pleurochaeto squarrosae-Abietinelletea abietinae), Weissietum tortilis (class Barbuletea unguiculatae), Eucladio verticillati-Adiantetum capilli-veneris and Thamnobryo alopecuri-Phyllitidetum scolopendrii (class Adiantetea capilli-veneris), were found in the karst caves. Among these, Pohlio crudae-Amphidietum mougeotii and Rhynchostegielletum algirianae are the only associations with a troglophile character, which survive in the semi-darkness of the subliminar zone. The associations were examined from a synecological, synhierarchical and chorological point of view. A life form and life strategy analysis of all communities reflect the response of plant functional types towards the environmental demands. Most communities are characterized by only few but specific life syndromes, which can be seen as an ecological expression of the growing sites, the diverse characters and requirements of the various species and populations. Especially the prevailing life forms perfectly reflect the light conditions, one of the key stone factors of plants of cave communities.

R. Quinto-Canas^1,2, 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

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.

S. Poponessi¹, M. Aleffi², F. Maneli¹, R. Venanzoni¹ & D. Gigante¹

¹Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Italy.

²School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, Plant Diversity & Ecosystems Management Unit, Bryology Laboratory & Herbarium, University of Camerino, Italy.

doi: 10.7338/pls2018551/03

The first overview of the bryophytic vegetation of the Mediterranean temporary ponds in Umbria region is reported. Phytosociological relevés were carried out in a scattered system of ephemeral pools, where seasonal fluctuation in the water level is the main driving factor. By applying Braun-Blanquet’s approach to sample the bryo-communities and multivariate analysis tools to analyse data, the identification of some bryophyte communities was possible, one of which is here described as new association. It is Entosthodono fascicularidis-Archidietum alternifolii ass. nova, referable to the class Psoretea decipientis. The other bryo-communities have been framed into the classes Cladonio digitatae-Lepidozietea reptantis, Ceratodonto purpurei-Polytrichetea piliferii and Psoretea decipientis again.

L. Poldini¹ & G. Sburlino²

¹Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via L. Giorgeri 5, I-3417 Trieste, Italy.

²Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Via Torino 155, I-30170 Venezia Mestre, Italy.

doi: 10.7338/pls2018551/04

The floristic-sociological analysis of Fraxinus angustifolia subsp. oxycarpa-dominated woods coming from north-eastern Italy and the comparison with phytosociological tables of other Italian and Croatian communities, led to the description of two new associations respectively belonging to Carici remotae-Fraxinion oxycarpae (Salici purpureae-Populetea nigrae) and Frangulo alni-Fraxinion oxycarpae (Alnetea glutinosae): the floodplain/riparian Lysimachio nummulariae-Fraxinetum oxycarpae and the swampy Valeriano dioicae-Fraxinetum oxycarpae.

G. Pirone¹, A.R. Frattaroli¹ & G. Ciaschetti²

¹Department of Life Health and Environmental Sciences- University of L’Aquila Via Vetoio, Località Coppito, I-67100 L’Aquila, Italy.

²Majella National Park, Località Badia, 67039 Sulmona (AQ), Italy.

doi: 10.7338/pls2018551/05

This study provides new data and an in-depth syntaxonomic analysis of Apennine garigues in the Cisto cretici-Micromerietea julianae class, relative to terrigenous substrates in temperate bioclimates. In this context, it is proposed to elevate the suballiance Astragalenion monspessulani Biondi, Allegrezza & Zuccarello 2005 to the rank of alliance, with the name of Astragalion monspessulani, and to introduce the new Astragaletalia monspessulani order. The study also describes a number of new associations and subassociations belonging to the Astragalion monspessulani and Cisto cretici-Ericion manipuliflorae alliances.

L. Gianguzzi¹, O. Caldarella² & R. Di Pietro³

¹Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 38, I-90123 Palermo, Italy.

²Viale Maria SS. Mediatrice 38, I-90129 Palermo, Italy.

³Department of Planning, Design and Architecture Technology – section Environment and Landscape – Sapienza University of Roma, Via Flaminia 70, I-00198 Roma, Italy.

 doi: 10.7338/pls2018551/06

A phytosociological study on the Brachypodium rupestre grasslands in Sicily is presented. These grasslands form discontinuous secondary stands dynamically linked to the deciduous oak woods, which are widespread within the upper-colline, submontane and lower montane belts (800-1400 m) of the Tyrrhenian side of the northern Sicily and in the Sicani mountains. In the study area B. rupestre grasslands were mainly found in colluvial plains or drainage lines where relatively deep and mesic soils occur. In this paper 42 phytosociological relevés were performed and statistically analysed. Two new associations were described and classified in the alliance Polygalo mediterraneae-Bromion erecti (Brometalia erecti, Festuco-Brometea): Lolio pluriflori-Brachypodietum rupestris and Tanaceto siculi-Brachypodietum rupestris. The Lolio pluriflori-Brachypodietum is typical of the limestone substrates of Nebrodi, Madonie and Sicani mountains and of the mounts surrounding Palermo and Trapani. Two subassociations (typicum and violetosum ucrianae) and an impoverished variant rich in therophytes have also been identified. The Tanaceto siculi-Brachypodietum is restricted to the metamorphic substrates of the Peloritani mountains on the north-eastern side of the island. Finally the association Polygalo mediterraneae-Brachypodietum rupestris, which was only provisionally described in 2014 for the Lucanian Apennines (Peninsular Italy), has been validated here.