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Research Article
New national and regional Annex I Habitat records: from #139 to #147*
expand article infoGiovanni Rivieccio‡, Silvia Assini§, Simonetta Bagella‡, Cristina Blandino|, Salvatore Cambria|, Cristina Caporusso§, Maria Carmela Caria‡, Emanuele Costanzo, Lorenzo Gianguzzi#¤, Giorgio Gervasio«», Elio Giuliano˄, Antonino La Mantia˅, Michele Lonati», Giuseppe Longo¦, Antonio Morabitoˀ, Carmelo Maria Musarellaˀ, Enrico Vito Perrino¦, Giovanni Spampinatoˀ, Gianmarco Tavillaˁ, Valeria Tomaselli₵, Alessio Turcoℓ, Giuseppe Bazan¤
‡ University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
§ University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| University of Catania, Catania, Italy
¶ Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, CNR, Bari, Italy
# NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
¤ University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
« University School for Advanced Studies IUSS Pavia, Pavia, Italy
» University of Torino, Torino, Italy
˄ Borgata Cresto, Sant'Antonino di Susa, Torino, Italy
˅ Department of Rural and Territorial Development, Regione Siciliana, Palermo, Italy
¦ University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
ˀ Università “Mediterranea” di Reggio Calabria, Reggio Calabria, Italy
ˁ National Coalition of Independent Scholars, South Bend, United States of America
₵ University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
ℓ Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Brixen-Bressanone, Italy

Corresponding author: Giovanni Rivieccio ( giorivieccio@gmail.com )

Academic editor: Federica Bonini
© 2025 Giovanni Rivieccio, Silvia Assini, Simonetta Bagella, Cristina Blandino, Salvatore Cambria, Cristina Caporusso, Maria Carmela Caria, Emanuele Costanzo, Lorenzo Gianguzzi, Giorgio Gervasio, Elio Giuliano, Antonino La Mantia, Michele Lonati, Giuseppe Longo, Antonio Morabito, Carmelo Maria Musarella, Enrico Vito Perrino, Giovanni Spampinato, Gianmarco Tavilla, Valeria Tomaselli, Alessio Turco, Giuseppe Bazan.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Rivieccio G, Assini S, Bagella S, Blandino C, Cambria S, Caporusso C, Caria MC, Costanzo E, Gianguzzi L, Gervasio G, Giuliano E, La Mantia A, Lonati M, Longo G, Morabito A, Musarella CM, Perrino EV, Spampinato G, Tavilla G, Tomaselli V, Turco A, Bazan G (2025) New national and regional Annex I Habitat records: from #139 to #147. Vegetation Ecology and Diversity 62: e160563. https://doi.org/10.3897/ved.160563
Open Access

Abstract

This contribution presents new Italian data on the distribution of Annex I Habitats. Specifically, 9 records are reported, including 3 occurrences within Natura 2000 sites and the addition of 9 new cells to the EEA 10 km × 10 km reference grid. The new data refer to the Italian administrative regions of Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria, Piedmont, Sardinia, and Sicily.

Keywords

vegetation, 3150, 3170*, 5110, 5230*, 6220*, 9330, 9380, 9580*

Introduction

This is the 12th contribution on this journal reporting on new occurrences of Annex I Habitats across Europe. When compared to the 4th Report ex-Art. 17 of Annex I Habitat Monitoring in Europe (Eionet 2019), these occurrences are newly recorded for Italy. The phytosociological relevés corresponding to each of these records are included in the Italian database “VegItaly” (Gigante et al. 2012; Landucci et al. 2012).

Habitats records

In accordance with the guidelines set out by Gigante et al. (2019), we provide vegetation data, site information, and descriptions for each of the new records, from #139 to #147. A concise summary of these records is presented in Table 1. For mapping, we utilized the open-source QGIS Geographic Information System (QGIS.org 2020). The phytosociological relevés and figures are available in Suppl. materials 1, 2, respectively.

Table 1.
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Synthetic overview of the newly reported data.

Hab ID Hab name Cell ID Country BR N2000 Site Authors
3150 Natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or Hydrocharition-type vegetation 10kmE478N210 Italy MED IT9110015 Costanzo E, Tomaselli V
10kmE485N204 - Caporusso C, Tomaselli V, Assini S
3170* Mediterranean temporary ponds 10kmE422N178 Italy MED ITB041105 Rivieccio G, Caria MC, Bagella S
5110 Stable xerothermophilous formations with Buxus sempervirens on rock slopes (Berberidion p.) 10kmE408N245 Italy ALP - Gervasio G, Giuliano E, Lonati M
5230* Arborescent matorral with Laurus nobilis 10kmE475N167 Italy MED - Gianguzzi L, La Mantia A, Bazan G
6220* Pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals of the Thero-Brachypodietea 10kmE485N195 Italy MED - Perrino EV, Longo G, Turco A
9330 Quercus suber forests 10kmE459N165 Italy MED - Gianguzzi L, La Mantia A, Bazan G
9380 Forests of Ilex aquifolium 10kmE485N170 Italy MED - Morabito A, Musarella CM, Spampinato G
9580* Mediterranean Taxus baccata woods 10kmE475N166 Italy MED ITA030043 Blandino C, Cambria S, Tavilla G

#139. Annex I Habitat: 3150 Natural euthrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or Hydrocharition-type vegetation (Costanzo E, Tomaselli V)

EUNIS Classification system: C1 – Surface standing waters (EEA 2019).

Biogeographical Region: Mediterranean.

National Habitat Checklist of reference: Italian Interpretation Manual of the Directive 92/43/EEC Habitats (Biondi et al. 2009).

Phytosociological reference: Potamogetonion Libbert 1931, Potamogetonetalia Koch 1926, Potamogetonetea Klika in Klika et Novák 1941 (Mucina et al. 2016).

Geographic information: Italy, Apulia, Lesina Lake, 1 m a.s.l., Coordinates: 41.893939°N, 15.529322°E (Suppl. material 1: table S1, Rel. 1); ibidem, Coordinates: 41.894212°N, 15.530880°E (Suppl. material 1: table S1, Rel. 2).

Cell ID in the EEA reference grid: 10kmE478N210 (Suppl. material 2: fig. S1).

Natura 2000 Site Code: SAC IT9110015 “Duna e lago di Lesina-Foce del Fortore”.

Phytosociological table: Suppl. material 1: table S1; nomenclature and taxa delimitation according to Portal to the Flora of Italy (2025).

Notes: The habitat was found along a drainage canal surrounding cultivated fields near the southern shore of the Lesina Lake. The dominant species is Myriophyllum spicatum, a floating rooting hydrophyte, usually completely submerged with only the inflorescences emerging from the water during the flowering period. These communities, with late-summer phenology, and which usually appear as almost monospecific phytocoenoses, according to literature (Lastrucci et al. 2012; Viciani et al. 2022) can be referred to the Potamogetono pectinati-Myriophylletum spicati Rivas Goday 1964 (syn. Myriophylletum spicati Soó 1927), association considered as poor quality water indicator and typical of standing or weakly flowing, eutrophic waters (Ceschin and Salerno 2008; Lastrucci et al. 2012). In this case, the surveyed communities can be considered as a floristically impoverished stage of the association, due to the poor conservation status. This vegetation is in catenal contact with helophytic communities of the Helosciadietum nodiflori Br.-Bl. 1952 and Phragmitetum communis (Koch 1926) Schmale 1939 (Spampinato et al. 2023) (Suppl. material 2: fig. S2).

#140. Annex I Habitat: 3150 Natural euthrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or Hydrocharition-type vegetation (Caporusso C, Tomaselli V, Assini S)

EUNIS Classification system: C1.32 – Free-floating vegetation of eutrophic waterbodies, C1.33 – Rooted submerged vegetation of eutrophic waterbodies (EEA 2019).

Biogeographical Region: Mediterranean.

National Habitat Checklist of reference: Italian Interpretation Manual of the Directive 92/43/EEC Habitats (Biondi et al. 2009).

Phytosociological reference: Lemnetum minoris von Soó 1927, Lemnion minoris O. de Bolòs et Masclans 1955, Lemnetalia minoris O. de Bolòs et Masclans 1955, Lemnetea minoris O. de Bolòs et Masclans 1955 (Suppl. material 1: table S2, Rels. 1 and 2); Zannichellietum palustris Lang 1967, Potamogetonion Libbert 1931, Potamogetonetalia Koch 1926, Potamogetonetea Klika in Klika et Novák 1941 (Suppl. material 1: table S2, Rel. 3) (Mucina et al. 2016).

Geographic information: Italy, Apulia, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Barletta, 3 m a.s.l., Coordinates: 41.30514°N, 16.349626°E (Suppl. material 1: table S2, Rel. 1); ibidem, Coordinates: 41.301968°N, 16.34531°E (Suppl. material 1: table S2, Rel. 2); ibidem, Coordinates: 41.302198°N, 16.348683°E (Suppl. material 1: table S2, Rel. 3).

Cells ID in the EEA reference grid: 10kmE485N204 (Suppl. material 2: fig. S1).

Natura 2000 Site Code: Currently not included in any Natura 2000 Site.

Phytosociological table: Suppl. material 1: table S2; nomenclature and taxa delimitation according to Portal to the Flora of Italy (2025).

Notes: The habitat was found at the sea level within irrigation channels in a semi-natural context (agroecosystem). Although these small wetland areas are embedded within a semi-natural landscape matrix, they host valuable hydrophytic communities (Suppl. material 2: fig. S3) and hold significant conservation interest.

#141. Annex I Habitat: 3170* Mediterranean temporary ponds (Rivieccio G, Caria MC, Bagella S)

EUNIS Classification system: C3.4 – Species-poor beds of low-growing water-fringing or amphibious vegetation (EEA 2019).

Biogeographical Region: Mediterranean.

National Habitat Checklist of reference: Italian Interpretation Manual of the Directive 92/43/EEC Habitats (Biondi et al. 2009).

Phytosociological reference: Isoëtion Br.-Bl. 1936, Isoëtetalia Br.-Bl. 1936, Isoëto-Nanojuncetea Br.-Bl. et Tx. in Br.-Bl. et al. 1952 (Mucina et al. 2016; Brullo et al. 2025).

Geographic information: Italy, Sardinia, Cagliari, Assemini, Is Pauceris locality, 231 m a.s.l., Coordinates: 39.138227°N, 8.890139°E (Suppl. material 1: table S3, Rel. 1); ibidem, Coordinates: 39.138214°N, 8.890189°E (Suppl. material 1: table S3, Rel. 2); ibidem, Coordinates: 39.138212°N, 8.890286°E (Suppl. material 1: table S3, Rel. 3).

Cell ID in the EEA reference grid: 10kmE422N178 (Suppl. material 2: fig. S4).

Natura 2000 Site Code: SAC ITB041105 “Foresta di Monte Arcosu”.

Phytosociological table: Suppl. material 1: table S3; nomenclature and taxa delimitation according to World Flora Online (2025).

Notes: This habitat, newly recorded for the SAC “Foresta di Monte Arcosu”, has not been previously documented for this Natura 2000 site. While the surveyed area is small, it supports a floristic assemblage of significant conservation value, including species such as Cicendia filiformis, not reported for this site before (Bagella et al. 2009; Camarda et al. 1995) (Suppl. material 2: fig. S5). However, Camarda et al. (1995) noted that this ephemeral vegetation typically occurs on siliceous substrates and is common in the Pantaleo-Monte Arcosu area, although confined to small patches.

The surveyed area shows clear wheel marks in the wetter zones, likely due to its proximity to the road and the Is Pauceris picnic area, suggesting being frequently used for parking or vehicle manoeuvring. This underscores the importance of documenting the presence and distribution of such small, temporary habitats to inform conservation efforts (Biggs et al. 2017; Boix et al. 2020). Furthermore, this record suggests that the habitat may be well-represented in scattered patches across the site, forming a mosaic with other habitats, and pointing to the presence of a larger, connected pondscape (Barta et al. 2024).

#142. Annex I Habitat: 5110 Stable xerothermophilous formations with Buxus sempervirens on rock slopes (Berberidion p.) (Gervasio G, Giuliano E, Lonati M)

EUNIS Classification system: S52 – Submediterranean pseudomaquis (EEA 2021).

Biogeographical Region: Alpine.

National Habitat Checklist of reference: Italian Interpretation Manual of the Directive 92/43/EEC Habitats (Biondi et al. 2009).

Phytosociological reference: Berberidion vulgaris Br.-Bl. ex Tx. 1952, Prunetalia spinosae Tx. 1952, Crataego-Prunetea Tx. 1962 (Mucina et al. 2016).

Geographic information: Italy, Piedmont, Torino, Susa, Loc. Gorge della Dora, 642 m a.s.l., Coordinates: 45.136026°N, 7.032162°E (Suppl. material 1: table S4, Rel. 1).

Cell ID in the EEA reference grid: 10kmE408N245 (Suppl. material 2: fig. S6).

Natura 2000 Site Code: Currently not included in any Natura 2000 Site.

Phytosociological table: Suppl. material 1: table S4; nomenclature and taxa delimitation according to Portal to the Flora of Italy (2025).

Notes: This record represents the northernmost known limit of Buxus sempervirens in the western Italian Alps, distinctly separated from the southern populations of the Maira, Grana, and Vermenagna valleys (Mondino 1989). In the surveyed area, boxwood colonizes the steep slopes of Dora Riparia river right bank, forming rupicolous communities belonging to the habitat “5110 Stable xerothermophilous formations with Buxus sempervirens on rocky slopes (Berberidion p.p.)” (Biondi et al. 2009). The community develops on shallow soils rich in exposed rocky surfaces, derived from a lithological matrix of calcschists. B. sempervirens dominates the vegetation, accompanied by some typical shrubs of the habitat 5110 (e.g., Amelanchier ovalis, Ligustrum vulgare) (Suppl. material 2: fig. S7).

In the Italian Alpine biogeographical region, the habitat 5110 is classified as “unfavourable-inadequate” (Eionet 2019), threatened also by the potential invasion of the defoliating phytophagous insect Cydalima perspectalis (Angelini et al. 2016), which already shows significant incidence in the adjacent oak-boxwood formation. However, at the time of reporting, the surveyed rupicolous population showed no evident attacks by the moth.

The geographical isolation of this population in the Alpine range is of particular interest, because peripheral populations, despite reduced genetic variability, may develop marked evolutionary plasticity in response to local conditions (Papuga et al. 2018). This aspect, relevant in the context of climate change, deserves consideration when planning site conservation strategies (Fady et al. 2016).

#143 Annex I Habitat: 5230* Arborescent matorral with Laurus nobilis (Gianguzzi L, La Mantia A, Bazan G)

EUNIS Classification system: S51 – Mediterranean maquis and arborescent matorral (EEA 2021).

Biogeographical Region: Mediterranean.

National Habitat Checklist of reference: Italian Interpretation Manual of the Directive 92/43/EEC Habitats (Biondi et al. 2009).

Phytosociological reference: Acantho mollis–Lauretum nobilis Gianguzzi, D’Amico et Romano 2010, Asparago acutifolii-Laurion nobilis Gianguzzi, Cuttonaro, Cusimano, Romano 2016, Quercetalia ilicis Br.-Bl. ex Molinier 1934, Quercetea ilicis Br.-Bl. ex A. Bolòs et O. de Bolòs in A. Bolòs y Vayreda 1950 (Gianguzzi et al. 2016a).

Geographic information: Italy, Sicily, Messina, Ucria, vallone affluente del torrente Pudarà, 480 m a.s.l., Coordinates: 38.051519°N, 14.887007°E (Suppl. material 1: table S5, Rel. 1).

Cell ID in the EEA reference grid: 10kmE475N167 (Suppl. material 2: fig. S5).

Natura 2000 Site Code: Currently not included in any Natura 2000 Site.

Phytosociological table: Suppl. material 1: table S5; nomenclature and taxa delimitation according to Portal to the Flora of Italy (2025).

Notes: The vegetation dominated by Laurus nobilis in Sicily defines a peculiar habitat, forming small-scale, fragmented, and relict micro-woodlands (Brullo et al. 2001). These forest formations are of particular biogeographical significance and are attributed to the association Acantho mollis–Lauretum nobilis (Gianguzzi et al. 2010), which is in turn classified within the alliance Asparagus acutifolii–Laurion nobilis (order Quercetalia ilicis, class Quercetea ilicis), described for the Italo-Tyrrhenian biogeographic province (Gianguzzi et al. 2016a).

A further stand of this vegetation has recently been identified in the Nebrodi Mountains (northeastern Sicily), in the territory of Ucria, at elevation between 465 and 500 m a.s.l. It is located along a tributary of the Pudarà Stream, colonizing a gorge sector developed on substrates geologically attributed to the Capo D’Orlando Flysch, within the lower subhumid mesomediterranean bioclimatic belt.

The vegetation structure is characterized by the dominance of Laurus nobilis, with individuals exceeding 10 meters in height (Suppl. material 2: fig. S9. Few other woody species are present, such as Ostrya carpinifolia, Fraxinus ornus, Ficus carica, and Sambucus nigra, along with climbing plants like Hedera helix, Clematis vitalba, and Discorea communis. Among the few herbaceous species in the shaded understory, Acanthus mollis and Ruscus aculeatus are frequently recorded, along with some ferns (Polypodium cambricum, Asplenium onopteris, Polystichum setiferum) and a well-developed moss layer.

The surrounding vegetation landscape is largely dominated by hazel groves, occasionally interspersed with woodland patches of Quercus pubescens s.l. or Castanea sativa (on deep soils), or Ostrya carpinifolia (on rocky outcrops).

#144. Annex I Habitat: 6220* Pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals of the Thero-Brachypodietea (Perrino EV, Longo G, Turco A)

EUNIS Classification system: R1E – Mediterranean tall perennial dry grassland (EEA 2021).

Biogeographical Region: Mediterranean.

National Habitat Checklist of reference: Italian Interpretation Manual of the Directive 92/43/EEC Habitats (Biondi et al. 2009).

Phytosociological reference: Camphorosmo-Lygeetum Corbetta, Ubaldi et Zanotti 1992, Moricandio-Lygeion sparti S. Brullo et al. 1990, Lygeo-Stipetalia tenacissimae Br.-Bl. et O. Bolòs 1958, Lygeo sparti-Stipetea tenacissimae Rivas-Mart. 1978 (Corbetta et al. 1992; Mucina et al. 2016).

Geographic information: Italy, Basilicata, Matera, San Mauro Forte, Serra d’Olivo, 328 m a.s.l., Coordinates: 40.477818°N, 16.319137°E (Suppl. material 1: table S6, Rel. 1); Italy, Basilicata, Matera, San Mauro Forte, Masseria Arcieri, 308 m a.s.l., Coordinates: 40.471929°N, 16.323736°E (Suppl. material 1: table S6, Rel. 2); Masseria Micci, 325 m a.s.l., Coordinates: 40.435216°N, 16.342841°E (Suppl. material 1: table S6, Rel. 3).

ID of the cell in the EEA 10 km × 10 km Reference grid: 10kmE485N195 (Suppl. material 2: fig. S10).

Natura 2000 Site Code: Currently not included in any Natura 2000 Site.

Phytosociological table: Suppl. material 1: table S6; nomenclature and taxa delimitation according to Bartolucci et al. (2024).

Notes: Lygeum spartum grasslands are located on clayey badlands, limited to places with dry or sub-humid thermo-Mediterranean bioclime. In Italy, the Camphorosmo-Lygeetum Corbetta, Ubaldi et Zanotti 1992 of alliance Polygonion tenoreani Brullo, De Marco et Signorello 1992 characterizes the perennial grasslands of limited area of Basilicata (Corbetta et al. 1992). The surveyed vegetation is located on deposits with a prevalence of Pliocene-Pleistocene clays, along the provincial road SP4 between the towns of San Mauro in Forte and Salandra, shifted south-east towards the town of Craco (Suppl. material 2: figs S11, S12). In the study area, the Lygeum spartum badlands communities, that are the greatest conservation value sites, comes into contact with sclerophyllous scrub vegetation. Both vegetations types are in contact with the flat or slightly sloping areas where the arable land is found (Suppl. material 2: fig. S13).

#145. Annex I Habitat: 9330 Quercus suber forests (Gianguzzi L, La Mantia A, Bazan G)

EUNIS Classification system: T211 – Quercus suber forest (EEA 2021).

Biogeographical Region: Mediterranean.

National Habitat Checklist of reference: Italian Interpretation Manual of the Directive 92/43/EEC Habitats (Biondi et al. 2009).

Phytosociological reference: Genisto aristatae-Quercetum suberis Brullo 1984 pistacietosum lentisci Brullo, Gianguzzi, La Mantia et Siracusa 2008; Erico arboreae-Quercion ilicis Brullo, Di Martino et Marcenò 1977; Quercetalia ilicis Br.-Bl. ex Molinier 1934; Quercetea ilicis Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl., Roussine et Nègre 1952 (Biondi and Blasi 2015).

Geographic information: Italy, Sicily, Monreale, Cozzo Balletto, 350 m a.s.l., Coordinates: 37.91995989°N, 13.1443844°E (Suppl. material 1: table S7, Rel. 1).

Cell ID in the EEA reference grid: 10kmE459N165 (Suppl. material 2: fig. S14).

Natura 2000 Site Code: Currently not included in any Natura 2000 Site.

Phytosociological table: Suppl. material 1: table S7; nomenclature and taxa delimitation according to Portal to the Flora of Italy (2025).

Notes: In western Sicily, natural forest formations are infrequent, having been largely destroyed over time by human activity to make room for agricultural land (Gianguzzi et al. 2016b). This is the case for cork oak woodlands, which are currently present only as isolated and fragmented patches, both along the southern coastal belt – from the Agrigento area (Bazan et al. 2021) to the Trapani area (La Rosa et al. 2021) – and along the northern Tyrrhenian slopes, where they occur, still in a fragmented manner, in the hills of Trapani [Zingaro Nature Reserve, Bosco Scorace, Mt. Inici, Bosco Calatafimi (Rivieccio et al. 2022)] and Palermo [Fiume Jato, Partinico (Gianguzzi et al. 2008), Piana degli Albanesi, Rebuttone, Belmonte Mezzagno, Altofonte (Rivieccio et al. 2024), Misilmeri, Mt. Cani (Caldarella et al. 2009)]. These formations significantly decline further inland, including in the Sicani Mountains (Gianguzzi et al. 2016a), reaching as far as Pizzo Telegrafo (Gianguzzi et al. 2014a; 2014b).

The habitat described here concerns an extremely isolated woodland nucleus of Quercus suber, located on a sandy-conglomeratic outcrop in the Sicilian interior, specifically in the locality of Balletto (municipality of Monreale, Province of Palermo). Geologically, the area belongs to the Terravecchia Formation (Upper Tortonian–Lower Messinian) and falls within the lower subhumid mesomediterranean bioclimatic belt. The site lies within a broad valley area upstream of Lake Poma, in a landscape predominantly characterized by intensive agriculture.

Despite its limited extent – approximately 1000 m2 with about thirty individual trees, some of them notably old – this relict nucleus holds significant naturalistic and environmental value. Floristically, the community is impoverished (Suppl. material 2: fig. S15), likely due to its isolation and its high vulnerability to wildfires (Capotorti et al. 2020). From a phytosociological perspective, the formation is assigned to Genisto aristatae–Quercetum suberis pistacetosum lentisci, a syntaxon described for the northern sector of Sicily (Brullo et al. 2008).

#146. Annex I Habitat: 9380 Forests of Ilex aquifolium (Morabito A, Musarella CM, Spampinato G)

EUNIS Classification system: T27 – Ilex aquifolium forest (EEA 2021).

Biogeographical Region: Mediterranean.

National Habitat Checklist of reference: Italian Interpretation Manual of the Directive 92/43/EEC Habitats (Biondi et al. 2009).

Phytosociological reference: Anemono apenninae-Fagetum sylvaticae (Gentile 1969) Brullo 1984, Geranio versicoloris-Fagion sylvaticae Gentile 1970, Fagetalia sylvaticae Pawłowski in Pawłowski, Sokołowski et Wallisch 1928, Querco roboris-Fagetea sylvaticae Br.-Bl. et Vlieger in Vlieger 1937 (Biondi et al. 2014).

Geographic information: Italy, Calabria, Reggio Calabria, Ciminà, Lacco di Pintirudi, 1016 m a.s.l. Coordinates: 38.267819°N, 16.074281°E (Suppl. material 1: table S8, Rel. 1).

Cells ID in the EEA reference grid: 10kmE485N170 (Suppl. material 2: fig. S16).

Natura 2000 Site Code: Currently not included in any Natura 2000 Site.

Phytosociological table: Suppl. material 1: table S8; nomenclature and taxa delimitation according to Portal to the Flora of Italy (2025).

Notes: In Calabria, this habitat is characterized by the presence of Ilex aquifolium, and it is mainly found within the macrothermic beechwoods of the Anemono apenninae-Fagetum sylvaticae (Gentile 1969) Brullo 1984 association. Its presence is particularly marked in areas with a climate more influenced by the sea (Suppl. material 2: fig. S17). The origin of these plant communities can be traced back to various types of forests with holly in the undergrowth, where the tree cover has been removed. In fact, the ideal bioclimatic belt for Ilex aquifolium (Maniscalco and Raimondo 2003) extends between the meso-Mediterranean and the lower supra-Mediterranean zones, at elevations between 1000 and 1500 m a.s.l., coinciding with the distribution of mesophilic deciduous oak woods and the lower limit of the beech forest belt.

#147. Annex I Habitat: 9580*: Mediterranean Taxus baccata woods (Blandino C, Cambria S, Tavilla G)

EUNIS Classification system: T3C – Taxus baccata forest (EEA 2021).

Biogeographical Region: Mediterranean.

National Habitat Checklist of reference: Italian Interpretation Manual of the Directive 92/43/EEC Habitats (Biondi et al. 2009).

Phytosociological reference: Ilici-Taxetum baccatae Brullo, Minissale, Signorello et Spampinato 1996, Geranio versicoloris-Fagion sylvaticae Gentile 1970, Fagetalia sylvaticae Pawlowski in Pawlowski et al. 1928, Carpino-Fagetea sylvaticae Jakucs ex Passarge 1968 (Mucina et al. 2016; Brullo et al. 1996).

Geographic information: Italy, Sicily, Tortorici (ME), Poggio del Moro, 1314 m a.s.l., Coordinates: 37.973239°N, 14.859069°E (Suppl. material 1: table S9, Rels. 1–3).

Cells ID in the EEA reference grid: 10kmE475N166 (Suppl. material 2: fig. S18).

Natura 2000 Site Code: SPA ITA030043 “Monti Nebrodi”.

Phytosociological table: Suppl. material 1: table S9, nomenclature and taxa delimitation according to Pignatti et al. (2017–2019).

Notes: In Sicily, Taxus baccata woods are found in small and fragmented patches (Di Benedetto et al. 1983; Mazzola and Domina 2006). These plant communities have been described and classified by Brullo et al. (1996) as Ilici-Taxetum baccatae Brullo, Minissale et Spampinato 1996. It is a relict woody vegetation occurring in valleys affected by recurrent fog, situated on deep siliceous soils within the humid supratemperate bioclimatic belt (1400–1600 m a.s.l.). Usually, the yew forests of Sicily are in catenal contact with the beech forests of Anemono apenninae-Fagetum (Gentile 1969) Brullo 1984 (Brullo et al. 2012) or sometimes with the more thermophilous holm oak woodlands. In particular, the aspect occurring at lower elevations (900–1000 m a.s.l.) has been attributed by Gianguzzi and La Mantia (2004) to the subassociation ruscetosum aculeati. Our relevés were recorded on the northern side of Poggio del Moro (Nebrodi Mountains) at an elevation of about 1300 m a.s.l. This surveyed area is particularly noteworthy because it is situated relatively far from the nearest known populations of Taxus baccata in Sicily, likely making it the easternmost yew stand on the island. Overall, the investigated area appears to be significantly degraded due to intensive grazing, which has resulted in severe floristic impoverishment and to the near-total elimination of the original forest vegetation, which was probably mainly composed of beech trees (Suppl. material 2: fig. S19).

Taxus baccata poses a potential risk to livestock, prompting local shepherds to fence off the remaining yew populations in recent years. This has made the trees inaccessible to animals and has helped with their conservation. If these nuclei of yew trees are left undisturbed for several years, they may encourage the natural recolonization of forest cover on the hillside.

From a structural point of view, the investigated phytocoenosis often shows a clear dominance of Taxus baccata, with a more sporadic presence of Ilex aquifolium, while Fagus sylvatica is quite scarce. In the tree layer, the presence of young Quercus ilex plants is noteworthy, indicating a slightly more thermophilic character compared to the typical aspects of Ilici-Taxetum in Sicily. Besides, the yew trees serve as habitat islands, providing shelter for several typically nemoral species such as Daphne laureola, Ajuga tenorei, Luzula sylvatica subsp. sieberi, and Primula vulgaris. Additionally, it should be noted that this new record is located within zone B of the Regional Natural Park of the Nebrodi, and falls within a Natura 2000 site.

Acknowledgements

#145–#143: This research is supported by NBFC to University of Palermo, funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, PNRR, Missione 4 Componente 2, “Dalla ricerca all’impresa”, Investimento 1.4, Project CN00000033.

CB, SC, and GT express their gratitude to S. Brisolese for reporting the site with Taxus baccata.

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Topical Collection: “Towards 2030: efforts in habitat recording and the reporting cycle of the Habitats Directive - A scientific collection for habitat conservation”. Edited by Daniela Gigante, Giovanni Rivieccio, Federica Bonini.

Supplementary materials

Supplementary material 1 

Phytosociological tables

Giovanni Rivieccio, Silvia Assini, Simonetta Bagella, Cristina Blandino, Salvatore Cambria, Cristina Caporusso, Maria Carmela Caria, Emanuele Costanzo, Lorenzo Gianguzzi, Giorgio Gervasio, Elio Giuliano, Antonino La Mantia, Michele Lonati, Giuseppe Longo, Antonio Morabito, Carmelo Maria Musarella, Enrico Vito Perrino, Giovanni Spampinato, Gianmarco Tavilla, Valeria Tomaselli, Alessio Turco, Giuseppe Bazan

Data type: pdf

This dataset is made available under the Open Database License (http://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1.0). The Open Database License (ODbL) is a license agreement intended to allow users to freely share, modify, and use this Dataset while maintaining this same freedom for others, provided that the original source and author(s) are credited.
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Supplementary material 2 

Maps and photos

Giovanni Rivieccio, Silvia Assini, Simonetta Bagella, Cristina Blandino, Salvatore Cambria, Cristina Caporusso, Maria Carmela Caria, Emanuele Costanzo, Lorenzo Gianguzzi, Giorgio Gervasio, Elio Giuliano, Antonino La Mantia, Michele Lonati, Giuseppe Longo, Antonio Morabito, Carmelo Maria Musarella, Enrico Vito Perrino, Giovanni Spampinato, Gianmarco Tavilla, Valeria Tomaselli, Alessio Turco, Giuseppe Bazan

Data type: pdf

This dataset is made available under the Open Database License (http://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1.0). The Open Database License (ODbL) is a license agreement intended to allow users to freely share, modify, and use this Dataset while maintaining this same freedom for others, provided that the original source and author(s) are credited.
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