DOI: 10.3897/ved.187137

Authors: Paola Fortini, Romeo Di Pietro, Daniele Viciani, Piera Di Marzio, Ilaria Mezza, Lorenzo Lastrucci

Abstract: The hydrophilous and hygrophilous vegetation occurring within the Biferno and Sordo Rivers, in the Molise administrative region (central-southern Italy), was investigated according to the phytosociological approach and syntaxonomically classified. Twenty-three plant communities were identified belonging to the following classes: Salicetea purpureae, Alno glutinosae-Populetea, Phragmito-Magnocaricetea, Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, Epilobietea angustifolii, Bidentetea tripartitae, Filipendulo ulmariae-Convolvuletea sepium, Lemnetea minoris, and Potamogetonetea pectinati. A new association, the Zannichellietum peltatae ass. nov. was described as an ecologically vicariant community of the Zannichellietum palustris. From a nomenclatural point of view, the following association names: Bolboschoeno maritimi-Schoenoplectetum tabernaemontani, Persicario lapathifoliae-Xanthietum orientalis and Stuckenietum pectinatae were all proposed as nomina mutata nova (Art. 45 ICPN). Numerous discrepancies in the interpretation and syntaxonomic classification of the communities investigated were highlighted comparing the Prodrome of the Italian vegetation and the EuroVegChecklist. Finally, six habitats of conservation value according to the 92/43/CEE Directive Habitats were identified and a critical analysis on the correspondence between specific plant communities and related Annex I Habitat codes was advanced.

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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.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.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.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.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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