DOI: 10.3897/ved.181647

Authors: Mariasole Calbi, Michele Mugnai, Eugenia Siccardi, Virginia Amanda Volanti, Lorenzo Lazzaro, Hamid Gholizadeh, Claudia Angiolini, Simona Maccherini, Daniele Viciani

Abstract: Trait-based approaches are becoming pivotal in predicting vegetation changes and linking ecosystem structures to functions at varying geographical scales. Moreover, spatially explicit plant functional trait measurements for scarcely sampled species including infraspecific variation could be instrumental to better understand how plant functional traits mediate species’ responses to changing environmental conditions. Here we present a dataset of four functional traits measured at the individual level for 67 plant species native to coastal habitats of Tuscany and Liguria (central-northern Italy) including fore- and back dunes, dune slacks, saltmarshes, rocky cliffs, and anthropized coastal environments. We followed standard protocols to make a total of 698 measurements. For each species, we measured traits including leaf area (LA), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), and plant vegetative height (H) from multiple individuals to capture local intraspecific variability. This dataset adds to the valuable resources for studying plant strategies in Mediterranean coastal systems, assessing trait-environment relationships, and modeling plant community dynamics under environmental change. The data set is openly available for non-commercial purposes.

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DOI: 10.3897/ved.182223

Authors: Gianmarco Tavilla, Pietro Minissale, Salvatore Cambria

Abstract: Although the chasmophytic vegetation of Sicily has been examined previously, it remains insufficiently explored due to the formidable challenges associated with accessing vertical cliff habitats. This study employed drone-based surveys combined with Braun-Blanquet methodology to investigate cliff vegetation in the Peloritani and Madonie Mountains. High-resolution aerial imagery enabled species identification and cover estimation on inaccessible rock faces. Twenty-three new relevés were combined with 33 literature records for multivariate analysis. Cluster analysis and DCA revealed floristic differentiation between Peloritani and Madonie phytocoenoses, contrasting with communities from Apennines that we used as an outgroup. We describe Athamanto siculae-Saxifragetum australis for the calcareous cliffs of Rocca Salvatesta (Peloritani), characterized by Athamanta sicula, Hypochaeris laevigata, and Saxifraga callosa subsp. australis. Additionally, we propose to change the name Asperuletum gussonei to Cynanchicetum gussonei for the high-elevation vegetation of the Madonie dominated by Cynanchica gussonei. Drone methodology proved effective for documenting cliff vegetation, offering a safe and replicable approach for advancing phytosociological knowledge in extreme habitats. This research contributes to the syntaxonomic revision of Mediterranean chasmophytic vegetation within the alliance Saxifragion australis.

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DOI: 10.3897/ved.185067

Authors: Gianmaria Bonari, Irena Axmanová, Simonetta Bagella, Romeo Di Pietro, Edy Fantinato, Federico Fernández-González, Daniela Gigante, Borja Jiménez-Alfaro, Ali Kavgacı

Abstract: In this editorial, we announce the journal’s return to the Scopus database following the change of its name, and we comment on its performance in the first year under the new name Vegetation Ecology and Diversity (VED), including the number and type of papers published, the authors’ nationality, and the turnaround times. Furthermore, we present the Editors’ choice article as well as articles that were both most viewed and most cited. We also present new members of the editorial board, a new permanent collection, and we thank the VED reviewers 2025. Finally, we are pleased to announce that we are seeking a linguistic editor.

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DOI: 10.3897/ved.175765

Authors: Aneta A. Ožvat, Mária Šibíková, Jozef Šibík, Jakub Sigmund, Juraj Papčo, Michal Kollár, Karol Mikula

Abstract: Wetlands are essential ecosystems increasingly threatened by human activities and climate change. This study presents a method for classifying and monitoring wetland habitats in the Čiližská Radvaň protected area (Slovak Republic) using RGB drone imagery and the Natural Numerical Network (NatNet), a mathematically based supervised deep learning approach. The primary aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of NatNet in identifying target habitat types and to assess the impact of ongoing revitalisation efforts. Habitat types were classified using RGB drone imagery and ground-truth training polygons that represented the dominant vegetation communities in Čiližská Radvaň wetland. The NatNet achieved the training classification success rate exceeding 97%, allowing the creation of relevancy maps successfully identifying spatial habitat distribution. Relevancy maps verified in the field reached classification accuracy of 0.88 and F1 score of 0.90 across all habitats together. Results showed observable shifts in habitat extent and structure after one year of restoration, confirming the suitability of the method for detecting ecological changes in wetland environments.

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DOI: 10.3897/ved.175232

Authors: Lorenzo Gianguzzi, Antonino La Mantia, Riccardo Rocca, Andrea Volpe, Salvatore Cambria

Abstract: The paper presents the results of a phytogeographic, ecological, phytosociological, and management-oriented study on the maquis vegetation dominated by Periploca angustifolia (class Quercetea ilicis) occurring along of southern coast of mainland Sicily. The species is a South-Mediterranean shrub, previously known in Europe only from some small islands surrounding Sicily (Linosa, Lampedusa, Pantelleria, and the Aegadian, and the Maltese Archipelagos), as well as from southeastern Spain and the Aegean islands of Crete, Khrisi, and Gavdos. Along with providing an updated overview of the species’ distribution, the study explores the historical reasons for its presence in Sicily, where it is part of a diverse group of biogeographically related species mainly found along the southern coasts. This further supports the hypothesis of connection routes contracted with North Africa during the drying of the Mediterranean in the Messinian period. Based on a synoptic comparison with similar associations present in the central-Mediterranean, the plant community investigated is proposed as a new syntaxon (association Asparago albi–Periplocetum angustifoliae ass. nov.), framed within the alliance Periplocion angustifoliae (order Pistacio–Rhamnetalia alaterni). Its role as a vicariant association with respect to the association Periploco angustifoliae–Euphorbietum dendroidis (occurring on the small islands of the Sicilian Channel) is also discussed, together with floristic, synecological, syndynamic, and conservation data. Finally, issues concerning afforestation with alien species—often carried out on a large scale throughout the Mediterranean area—are discussed, as such interventions may sometimes negatively affect ecosystems typical of endemic or particularly rare species. This is precisely the case of Periploca angustifolia in the study area, whose residual population had been brought to the brink of extinction by conifer plantations, leading to the alteration and consequent disappearance of its habitats.

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DOI: 10.3897/ved.176908

Authors: Tiberio Fiaschi, Leopoldo de Simone, Francesco Mascia, Ilaria Bonini, Silvia Cannucci, Bruno Foggi, Matilde Gennai, Giulio Pandeli, Simona Maccherini, Emanuele Fanfarillo, Claudia Angiolini

Abstract: Riverine habitats play a vital ecological role, offering key ecosystem services, regulating hydrology, and supporting high biodiversity, including species and habitats of conservation concern. This study aimed to identify Annex I habitats under the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) within a former protected area along the mid-upper Elsa River (Tuscany, central Italy). From 2021 to 2023, 85 vegetation relevés were collected to classify habitats, map their distribution, and assess major threats. Multivariate analyses revealed 15 Annex I habitats, including 32A0, reported here for the first time in Italy, and three priority habitats (7220*, 91E0*, 91AA*). Habitat 32A0, officially included in Annex I following the accession of Croatia to the EU, shows distinct ecological and structural features compared to habitat 7220*, despite sharing some bryophyte species. While the two often occur in close proximity or form mosaics, habitat 32A0 develops in active waterfalls with constant flow and low carbonate deposition, whereas habitat 7220* forms in slow-dripping areas with high tufa accumulation. The absence of habitat 32A0 from the Italian Habitat Manual underscores the need to revise national habitat classifications to improve identification accuracy and conservation strategies. Our study enhances knowledge of riverine habitats and stresses the importance of adaptive management to safeguard the Elsa River ecosystem. Key actions include continuous monitoring and control of invasive alien species. Incorporating the area into a nearby Special Area of Conservation would strengthen long-term protection in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.

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DOI: 10.3897/ved.176891

Authors: Silvia Cannucci, Rossano Bolpagni, Gianmaria Bonari, Francesco Candini, Alice Dalla Vecchia, Emanuele Fanfarillo, Tiberio Fiaschi, Simona Maccherini, Francesco Mascia, Lorenzo Scalia, Claudia Angiolini

Abstract: Ponds are widespread yet highly vulnerable freshwater habitats that support diverse aquatic and terrestrial plant communities influenced by land use and water characteristics. The PONDY (Pond vegetation data and water physico-chemical parameters) dataset integrates vegetation and water physico-chemical data that have been collected to understand the responses of vegetation to environmental parameters. The dataset comprises 575 plots, of which 232 are aquatic and 343 are terrestrial, derived from 115 ponds across continental and insular areas of Italy. The dataset includes 743 vascular plant taxa and 5 macroalgae encompassing 364 genera and 89 families. Terrestrial plots host 690 taxa belonging to 87 families, while aquatic plots host 117 taxa belonging to 36 families. The dataset includes 10 taxa belonging to the Italian Red List and 39 alien species. Moreover, 11% of the aquatic plots have been classified in a Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC habitat type, while 48% have been classified in a EUNIS habitat type. The dataset contains, for each plot, measurements of physico-chemical water variables such as dissolved oxygen, water depth, and temperature, pH, turbidity, conductivity, and nutrient concentration. The PONDY dataset provides comprehensive information on plant diversity and abundance, community composition, habitat types, and water chemistry in Italian ponds, serving as a key resource for studying plant–environment relationships, developing predictive models, and supporting freshwater conservation efforts.

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DOI: 10.3897/ved.177152

Authors: Irene Menegaldo, Victoria Mølbach Sforzini, Roberto Tognetti, Michele Torresani

Abstract: The alpine tree line represents one of the most climate-sensitive ecological boundaries, where multiple interacting factors determine vegetation distribution at its upper limit. This study investigates the spatio-temporal dynamics of the tree line in the Senales Valley (South Tyrol, Italy) between 1985 and 2023, combining multi-temporal Landsat imagery, Random Forest (RF) classification, and visual orthophoto interpretation performed by manually delineating the forest boundary to assess both spatial and elevational shifts. Climatic variables (temperature, precipitation, snow cover, and growing season length) were analysed using linear models (LM) and generalized additive models (GAM) to identify long-term trends and potential drivers of tree line migration. The results reveal a consistent increase in forest cover in all 16 study areas, averaging +44%, with the largest expansions occurring on slopes facing W. Elevational advances were recorded in 15 of 16 areas, averaging +32 m for Landsat-derived data and +45 m for orthophotos. Elevated minimum temperatures during spring and autumn, alongside warmer summers and a significant rise in precipitation during the same season, created conditions which maintained soil moisture and reduced water stress—factors known to facilitate tree line advancement. Wind exposure from the N-NW sector and associated föhn effects appeared to limit tree line expansion on S-SE facing slopes. Comparison between manual and RF-derived tree lines revealed overall high agreement, with deviations below one Landsat pixel (30 m) in most cases. This confirms that Landsat imagery combined with RF algorithms provides a robust, cost-effective method for assessing long-term tree line dynamics in heterogeneous alpine environments.

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DOI: 10.3897/ved.174934

Authors: Agnese Denaro, Maria Carmela Caria, Marco Malavasi, Giovanni Rivieccio, Raimondo Melis, Emmanuele Farris, Alfredo Maccioni, Angela Bruno, Michela Fadda, Alicia Teresa Rosario Acosta, Simona Sarmati, Marta Gaia Sperandii, Simonetta Bagella

Abstract: The vegetation resurvey is considered a valid approach for assessing how species composition, abundance, and distribution have evolved in response to anthropogenic pressures, climate change, and habitat alterations over recent decades. ReSarDu – Resurvey Sardinian Dunes – is the first regional database compiled from resurveys of coastal dune systems across Sardinia (Italy). It includes 418 resurveys ranging in size from 1 to 400 m2, collected between 2023 and 2025, based on 188 historical phytosociological relevés dating back to the 1970s. ReSarDu has been created to understand long-term vegetation changes in Sardinian coastal dune systems. By integrating historical and newly collected phytosociological data, we provide a comprehensive tool for assessing biodiversity trends and supporting effective conservation and restoration strategies.

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DOI: 10.3897/ved.176328

Authors: Melisa A. Giorgis, Claudia Zitarelli, Agustín Davies, María Virginia Palchetti, Manuele Bazzichetto, Gustavo Bertone, Marcelo Cabido, Alicia T. R. Acosta

Abstract: The ReSurveyChaMon dataset provides a unique set of resurveyed vegetation plots spanning the sharp ecological transition between the Arid Chaco woodlands and the Monte steppe in central-western Argentina. The original plots were established in 1990 along a 300-km east-west transect covering a strong precipitation gradient, from xerophytic woodlands to desert shrublands, and were resurveyed in 2025 using the same protocol and plot size. In total, 104 vegetation plots are included in the dataset (52 original and 52 resurveyed). The dataset contains 164 vascular plant taxa from 113 genera and 41 families, with Poaceae, Fabaceae, and Cactaceae being the richest families. Species were assigned to life forms and chorotypes, and their native and endemic status (4 non-native and 39 endemic taxa) was also documented. All plots have been georeferenced, allowing integration with remote sensing and environmental data for future temporal and spatial analyses. ReSurveyChaMon offers an unprecedented opportunity to explore fine-scale vegetation dynamics across one of South America’s least studied dryland regions and provides a valuable baseline for biodiversity monitoring, conservation planning, and assessment of climate- and land-use-driven changes in arid and semi-arid ecosystems.

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DOI: 10.3897/ved.173704

Authors: Giovanni Rivieccio, Claudia Angiolini, Simonetta Bagella, Gianmaria Bonari, Silvia Cannucci, Maria Carmela Caria, Francesca Carruggio, Manuel Crosato, Leopoldo de Simone, Tiberio Fiaschi, Bruno Gallino, Emanuele Genduso, Lorenzo Gianguzzi, Duilio Iamonico, Antonino La Mantia, Michele Lonati, Andrea Mainetti, Francesco Mascia, Giacomo Mei, Luca Miserere, Riccardo Rocca, Marco Pittarello, Alberto Selvaggi, Valeria Tomaselli

Abstract: This contribution presents new data on the distribution of Annex I Habitats in Italy. A total of 10 records are reported, including 6 within Natura 2000 sites and the addition of 15 new cells to the EEA 10 km × 10 km reference grid. The new records refer to the administrative regions of Apulia, Marche, Piedmont, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany and Veneto.

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DOI: 10.3897/ved.176928

Authors: Alice Misuri, Michele Mugnai, Lorella Dell’Olmo, Bruno Foggi, Renato Benesperi, Daniele Viciani, Michele Giunti, Lorenzo Lazzaro

Abstract: Invasive alien species are a major threat to biodiversity, prompting management actions. Here, we present the first two years of monitoring Natura 2000 habitats on Capraia Island (Tuscan Archipelago, Italy), in relation to control measures for the invasive plant Opuntia stricta, within the LIFE TETIDE project (Turning Eradication Targets into Durable Effects). We randomly sampled 25 permanent 100 m² macroplots in the areas most affected by Opuntia stricta, recording the vegetation macrocategory and cover values of Opuntia stricta and Natura 2000 habitats. Within each macroplot, we surveyed two 4 m² subplots for compositional analyses. We used Linear Mixed-Effects Models to assess temporal and vegetation effects on Opuntia stricta and habitat cover; multivariate ordination and PERMANOVA to evaluate community composition, with environmental variables linked to the ordination; and Wilcoxon tests to validate habitat classification accuracy using species of the reference physiognomic combination according to the Italian Habitats Interpretation Manual. Our results indicate spatial heterogeneity in Opuntia stricta distribution, with a slight increase in coastal habitats. We recorded an ecological preference for coastal vegetation and low maquis, particularly on habitats 1240 “Vegetated sea cliffs of the Mediterranean coasts with endemic Limonium spp.”, 5320 “Low formations of Euphorbia close to cliffs”, and 5330 “Thermo-Mediterranean and pre-desert scrub”. We recorded a substantial representation of reference species across all habitats, except for 8220 “Siliceous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation”, which requires further investigation. Data collected provide a useful pre-intervention snapshot of Capraia’s habitats, pivotal for the full evaluation of the impacts of the project actions.

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DOI: 10.3897/ved.167266

Authors: Claudia Zitarelli, Andrea De Toma, Flavio Marzialetti, Maurizio Cutini

Abstract: The central Italian Stipa mountain grasslands are a fascinating vegetation type of notable biogeographic interest, having remained along the Apennine chain since the last Pleistocene glacial phases. The present study focuses on the phytosociological description of grasslands dominated by Stipa dasyvaginata subsp. apenninicola, an endemic Apennine species. We sampled twenty-five plots in the Velino Massif and surrounding areas facing the northwestern side of the Fucino Basin and performed a cluster analysis combining our dataset with all published relevés of Stipa dasyvaginata subsp. apenninicola dominated communities in the Italian peninsula. The floristic and environmental differences between our dataset and the other communities led us to describe the new association Saponario bellidifoliae-Stipetum apenninicolae (class Helianthemo cani-Seslerietea nitidae), showing a xerophilous ecology. We further analyzed the variance in environmental data within our dataset, as well as its biological and chorological spectra. The peculiar floristic and ecological characteristics of these steppic grasslands highlight the need of preserving this type of vegetation, which may represent a valuable example contributing to the understanding of the formation of the contemporary vegetation landscape.

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DOI: 10.3897/ved.160170

Authors: Antonio Luca Conte, Romeo Di Pietro, Piera Di Marzio, Sandro Strumia, Giuseppe Cillis, Andrea Capuano, Paola Fortini

Abstract: The future of the Mediterranean oak forests is under threat from the dangerous effects of global climate change, such as increasing droughts and heatwaves. The combined or individual action of certain climatic and environmental factors can lead to oak decline in various oak forest types. A study was conducted between 2015 and 2022 in southern Italy, encompassing thirty oak forest stands dominated by various Quercus species, including Q. cerris, Q. frainetto, Q. ilex, Q. pubescens, and affected by oak decline. The study employed field sampling, NDVI data, and remote sensing techniques. The distribution of the forest stands encompassed both the Temperate and Mediterranean bioclimatic regions. A total of 18 quantitative and 4 qualitative variables were recorded and subsequently compared with a damage severity scale based on field observations. The values of the variables were analyzed using both descriptive and multivariate statistics to ascertain their role in triggering oak decline episodes. It was found that eight variables were the most significant in explaining the occurrence of oak decline. These were the first-semester average rainfall, average maximum summer temperature, Rainfall anomaly index, Downward shortwave radiation, Root zone soil moisture, and three indicators concerning the number, amplitude, and duration of heatwaves. Quercus pubescens forests were found to be the most affected by oak decline. The years 2017 and 2022 were characterized by high levels of stress, with the combined effect of groups of diagnostic variables in exceeding the critical thresholds proving decisive in triggering episodes of oak decline. A vulnerability map was finally created reporting three vulnerability classes for oak decline: low, medium, and high. The analysis revealed that approximately 97% (116,700 hectares) of forest plots classified as vulnerable (31.7% of the total forest area in the study region) were categorized as medium or high vulnerability.

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DOI: 10.3897/ved.157888

Authors: Alessandro Bricca, Federico Maria Tardella, Andrea Catorci

Abstract: Biodiversity is a multidimensional concept, and capturing its various facets simultaneously offers a more robust framework for predicting vegetation responses to anthropogenic disturbance. Yet, multifaceted studies exploring forest understory regeneration remain scarce. We investigate taxonomic (TD), functional (FD), and phylogenetic (PD) diversity in the understory plant communities of 38 hop-hornbeam forest stands in the Central Apennines (Italy), which differ in time since last coppice event, i.e., 20–25 years (younger stands) and 40–45 years (older stands). We tested differences in TD, and standardized effect sizes (SES) of FD and PD between younger and older stands using two-tailed t-tests. Further, we evaluated the presence of a random or non-random mechanism by checking the distribution of the SES-FD and SES-PD. Our results revealed no significant change in TD between the two forest age classes. However, SES-FD and SES-PD changed significantly. SES-FD shifted from convergence in younger forests to divergence in older ones, aligning with expectations that greater environmental heterogeneity in mature forests supports functionally distinct species. In contrast, SES-PD exhibited increasing convergence over time, suggesting that the forest understory becomes increasingly dominated by closely related species as regeneration progresses. This growing phylogenetic convergence may reflect long-term land-use impacts and a limited regional species pool, pointing to a gradual loss of evolutionary diversity. Overall, our findings emphasize that different facets of biodiversity shape the dynamics of forest regeneration, and that an integrated, multidimensional approach is essential to fully understand and predict these complex ecological processes.

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DOI: 10.3897/ved.154284

Authors: Alessandro Bricca, Stefano Chelli, Francesco Petruzzellis, Giacomo Puglielli, Enrico Tordoni

Abstract: Vegetation science is a branch of community ecology that relies on species identities and abundance to classify vegetation in coherent units and to explore species coexistence and turnover dynamics. The advent of trait-based ecology has expanded vegetation science, providing a framework that allows for a better understanding of plant strategies and the functional structure of communities. These complementary disciplines have remained largely independent among Italian plant ecologists. Therefore, in 2021, we launched the ITV-net initiative, a national collaborative effort for bringing together vegetation plots and field-measured plant trait data to develop a national platform that can serve both vegetation and trait-based ecologists. In the first data call, we were able to gather trait data on two key leaf traits (i.e., Leaf Area and Specific Leaf Area) for >700 species across 1,043 georeferenced vegetation plots, complemented with species relative abundances, across eight different EUNIS habitat types. Despite this remarkable first milestone, we aim to enlarge the scope of this initiative to include more vegetation plots and functional traits across more habitat types in Italy. Here, we provide an overview of the ITV-net initiative and its underlying methodological details as a ‘manifesto’ to spread the data call to other potential contributors in the Italian community of plant ecologists. Our ultimate objective is to bridge the vegetation science and trait-based ecological research in Italy towards developing a national database of vegetation plots and plant functional traits. We believe this effort will contribute to building a solid network among Italian plant ecologists to cross the artificial boundaries of different, yet complementary, disciplines.

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DOI: 10.3897/ved.160563

Authors: 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

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.

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DOI: 10.3897/ved.155222

Authors: Maria Carla de Francesco, Maria Laura Carranza, Giulia Capotorti, Eva Del Vico, Chiara D’Angeli, Alessandro Montaldi, Bruno Paura, Lucia Antonietta Santoianni, Marco Varricchione, Angela Stanisci

Abstract: We developed the DALIA relational database (DAtabase of tree, shrub and LIAna taxa), which contains records of tree, shrub, and liana taxa recorded in the Functional Urban Area of Campobasso, a small city located in the inner-Mediterranean Region of Southern Italy. The DALIA database, developed through the PostgreSQL data management system, includes 170 species and subspecies (126 native and 44 alien) belonging to 46 taxonomic families (35 native species and 23 alien species). Each taxon, whether native or alien, was classified according to multiple ecological, functional, and biogeographic groups. Moreover, the diagnostic value for Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC, the IUCN red list conservation category, and, specifically for alien taxa, residence time and invasion status are reported. We described the dataset by bar and donut charts, density plots, and box plots. Results highlighted that native taxa are mainly Eurasian deciduous and Mediterranean evergreen with a prevalent zoochorous dispersal. By contrast, alien taxa are from Temperate Asia, North America, and Tropical Asia and count many anemochorous species with winged diaspores. Alien plant taxa show different characteristics in terms of ecological and disturbance indicator values, indicating a potential greater competitiveness in highly disturbed environments than native ones. The DALIA checklist of native and alien plant taxa collects important ecological information that is useful for monitoring plant diversity, implementing ecological restoration actions, and supporting sustainable urban greenery plans and actions.

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DOI: 10.3897/ved.142914

Authors: José Carlos Costa, Carlos Neto, Tiago Monteiro-Henriques, Ana Rita Pina, Carlos Aguiar, Francesco Mascia, Gianmaria Bonari

Abstract: This study refines the classification framework for Portuguese dune pine forests included in the alliance Coremato albi-Pinion pinastri at the association level after the syntaxonomic revision of Mediterranean pine forests of the class Pinetea halepensis. We collected 61 original vegetation plots between 2017 and 2022 in the southwestern Iberian Peninsula, analysing them through Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) and UPGMA clustering. Numerical analysis identified four associations within the alliance Coremato albi-Pinion pinastri, specific to the sandy Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula. Of these, three associations are newly described (Cytiso grandiflori-Pinetum pinastri, Aristolochio baeticae-Pinetum pineae, and Ulici australis-Pinetum pineae). Our study classified pine forests on sand in southwestern Iberia and identifies conservation-significant species in their understory. The floristic diversity in these psammophilous pine forests is enhanced by numerous endemics and relic species from the Tertiary period, shaped by past climatic refugia and multiple floristic migration routes, including Atlantic, Mediterranean, and North African pathways. This has resulted in a unique blend of thermophilic, oceanic, and xeric species with high conservation value. Our study contributes to the understanding of Atlantic dune pine forest ecology and inform habitat conservation efforts.

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DOI: 10.3897/ved.140946

Authors: Antonino La Mantia, Riccardo Rocca, Lorenzo Gianguzzi

Abstract: This paper reports the presence of a nucleus of thermophilous maquis with Searsia tripartita within the “Monte San Calogero” Nature Reserve (Sciacca, Southwestern Sicily, Italy), within a Natura 2000 site (ITA040009). S. tripartita is a summer-deciduous shrub with a South-Mediterranean distribution range, which is relatively common in North Africa but with only a few disjunct occurrences in Sicily. Here we report on a site that is located at the northern limit of the species’ range. The local occurrence of the species was reported for the first time some 200 years ago by Gussone, as testified by two herbarium specimens kept in the Gussone Herbarium of Naples. This study explores the synecology and the dynamic trends of the S. tripartita maquis using vegetation field surveys and a diachronic analysis of historical images spanning 27 years, from 1998 to 2024. The plant community colonizes an extremely dry and stony area at the base of carbonate rocks, subject to dry-semiarid thermomediterranean bioclimatic conditions. The surveyed plant community can be referred to Calicotomo infestae-Rhoetum tripartitae, a distinct low maquis association considered endemic to southern Sicily, framed within the southern Mediterranean alliance Periplocion angustifoliae (order Pistacio-Rhamnetalia alaterni, class Quercetea ilicis). Additional considerations are given to the conservation status of the rare habitat of Community interest 5220* (Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC) in which this community is classified.

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DOI: 10.3897/ved.144362

Authors: Hamid Gholizadeh, Gianmaria Bonari, Emilia Pafumi, Andrea Bertacchi, Mariasole Calbi, Paolo Castagnini, Daniela Ciccarelli, Emanuele Fanfarillo, Giulio Ferretti, Tiberio Fiaschi, Bruno Foggi, Matilde Gennai, Lorenzo Lazzaro, Michele Mugnai, Simona Sarmati, Daniele Viciani, Claudia Angiolini, Simona Maccherini

Abstract: Surveying vegetation is essential for documenting plant diversity, especially for coastal vegetation that results among the most threatened ecosystems globally. To support conservation and management programs, we developed the SALt-affected vegeTatIon dataset of Tuscany coaStal Habitats (SALTISH). This dataset comprises 734 newly sampled vegetation plots of 4 m2 (2 m × 2 m) from the Tuscany region in central Italy, including 569 sand dune plots and 165 salt marsh plots, recorded between 2018 and 2023. In total, the dataset contains 4,541 occurrences of vascular plant taxa. Overall, it comprehends 257 vascular plant taxa belonging to 165 genera and 56 families. The Poaceae family is the most diverse, represented by 50 taxa, while the most represented genus is Juncus, with seven species. Species richness within individual plots ranges from one to 55 species, with 622 plots (84%) containing fewer than 10 species. Juniperus macrocarpa emerges as the most frequent and dominant species in the dataset. Helichrysum stoechas, Festuca fasciculata, and Medicago littoralis are present in over 20% of the plots, whereas 157 taxa are recorded in fewer than 1% of plots. The dataset includes noteworthy taxa: four Italian endemics (Centaurea aplolepa subsp. subciliata, Limonium etruscum, L. multiforme, and Solidago virgaurea subsp. litoralis), eight taxa listed as threatened in the Italian Red List, and 18 archaeophyte and neophyte alien species. SALTISH provides critical data for monitoring and conserving threatened coastal habitats in Tuscany. This resource will facilitate comparisons of biodiversity status and vegetation changes over time and will aid in identifying habitats harboring rare and endangered plant species.

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DOI: 10.3897/ved.139958

Authors: Roman Evgenevich Romanov, Snežana Dragićević, Uwe Raabe, Vera Biberdžić, Dario Salemi, Beáta Papp, Angelo Troia

Abstract: In this paper, we present the first reports of liverwort Riella macrocarpa in Montenegro, Sicily, and Greece. The species has been documented as occurring in former salt pans in Montenegro and Attica, in natural brackish ponds in Sicily, and in a flooded parking area in the Peloponnese. In these environments Riella macrocarpa was found growing either in monospecific communities or associated with charophytes, green algae and a few species of vascular plants. Notes on its habitats and communities based on our personal observations are presented. New distributional data on this species seems to confirm that R. macrocarpa is widespread throughout the Mediterranean, while its sister species, R. helicophylla s.s., appears to be rarer, reported so far only in the western Mediterranean countries. The mutation of the name Rielletum helicophyllae Cirujano, Velayos et García-Mur. 1993 (to Rielletum macrocarpae Cirujano, Velayos et García-Mur. mut. Romanov et al. nom. mut. nov.) is suggested here in agreement with the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature. Riella macrocarpa, already included in the Italian Red List (under R. helicophylla), is also a candidate for inclusion in the national Red Lists of Montenegro and Greece. Although this liverwort often occurs within protected areas, monitoring and conservation efforts are essential to better understand the risks and threats that the species and its habitat face.

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DOI: 10.3897/ved.139363

Authors: Lucia Antonietta Santoianni, Fabrizio Bartolucci, Marta Carboni, Fabio Conti, Greta La Bella, Marco Varricchione, Angela Stanisci

Abstract: The MARA (Monitoring Alien species along mountain Roads in the central Apennines) database was developed to monitor the distribution of vascular plant species along mountain roads in the Central Apennines, Italy, focusing on alien (i.e. neophytes) and thermophilous plant species. Data were gathered in 2022 from 118 plots spanning an elevation range from 420 to 2125 meters a.s.l. along 3 main road corridors on three massifs (Gran Sasso, Maiella and Terminillo), following the MIREN road survey protocol. The database comprises 810 taxa (species and subspecies), of which 16 are identified as alien taxa. Major plant families in frequency are Asteraceae, Poaceae, and Fabaceae. MARA captures detailed information on species cover, taxonomy, and ecological traits, such as life forms and Ecological Indicator Values for Europe (EIVE) related to temperature. Notably, 53% of the alien species recorded were thermophilous, thriving in warmer environments, and predominantly concentrated below 1200 meters, though a few species extend to higher elevations. This suggests that rising temperatures due to climate change may facilitate the upward movement of these species, potentially disrupting native vegetation. For such reasons, the MARA database is a valuable resource for long-term ecological monitoring, providing valuable data for both national and international research networks.

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DOI: 10.3897/ved.139539

Authors: Alicia Teresa Rosario Acosta, Letizia Di Biase, Simona Sarmati, Emilia Allevato, Claudia Angiolini, Simonetta Bagella, Giuseppe Bazan, Andrea Bertacchi, Lisa Brancaleoni, Gabriella Buffa, Mariasole Calbi, Maria Carmela Caria, Daniela Ciccarelli, Maurizio Cutini, Maria Carla de Francesco, Antonino De Natale, Edy Fantinato, Tiberio Fiaschi, Carmen Gangale, Renato Gerdol, Lorenzo Gianguzzi, Valentina Lucia Astrid Laface, Simona Maccherini, Antonio Morabito, Michele Mugnai, Carmelo Maria Musarella, Emilia Pafumi, Annalisa Santangelo, Saverio Sciandrello, Eugenia Siccardi, Giovanni Spampinato, Angela Stanisci, Sandro Strumia, Daniele Viciani, Silvia Del Vecchio

Abstract: We present ReSurveyDunes — the first database of Italian coastal dune vegetation plots, developed through a collaborative network of Italian vegetation scientists. This paper describes the scope of the initiative, provides an overview of the available data, and highlights its key features, research applications, and future potential. ReSurveyDunes currently comprises 972 vegetation plots distributed across 11 Italian regions (Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Molise, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany, and Veneto). The original plots were surveyed between 1974 and 2009, with a primary focus on herbaceous psammophilous coastal zonation (habitats 1210, 2110, 2120, 2130*, 2210, 2230, and 2240, as defined by the 92/43/EEC Habitats Directive). Resurveys were conducted in 2023 and 2024. Each plot dataset includes (i) a complete list of vascular plant species with cover estimates; (ii) geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude); (iii) sampling dates; and (iv) plot size. Designed to analyze fine-scale temporal trends in Italian coastal vegetation, ReSurveyDunes is a versatile tool for diverse ecological studies. It represents a valuable resource for evidence-based decision-making, enabling targeted conservation and management actions informed by up-to-date ecological data.

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DOI: 10.3897/ved.146670

Authors: Gianmaria Bonari, Irena Axmanová, Gianluigi Bacchetta, Simonetta Bagella, Federico Fernández-González, Daniela Gigante, Borja Jiménez-Alfaro, Ali Kavgacı, Daniele Viciani

Abstract: The current issue is the first one of the journal Vegetation Ecology and Diversity, formerly Plant Sociology, the international peer-reviewed journal of the Italian Society of Vegetation Science (SISV). Vegetation Ecology and Diversity (VED) publishes original research articles covering all aspects of vegetation, ranging from plant communities to landscapes, including dynamic processes and community ecology. It prioritizes papers that emphasize plant community ecology and vegetation surveys to advance ecological models, interpret and classify vegetation, map ecosystems, assess environmental quality, manage and conserve plant biodiversity, and interpret and monitor European habitats. All the articles are freely available in Open Access (OA). In the present Editorial, we introduce the new journal name, the new Editorial Board and Social Media Team, several Topical Collections, and initiatives to support young researchers.

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