scholarly journals Last tesserae of a fading mosaic: floristic census and forest vegetation survey at Parche di Bilello (south-western Sicily, Italy), a site needing urgent protection measures

2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-74
Author(s):  
Alfonso La Rosa ◽  
Lorenzo Gianguzzi ◽  
Giuseppe Salluzzo ◽  
Leonardo Scuderi ◽  
Salvatore Pasta
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Calcareous Soils ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Quercus Suber ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Community Interest ◽  
Western Sicily ◽  
Phytosociological Relevés ◽  
Wild Olive ◽  
A Site

This paper illustrates the botanic heritage of Parche di Bilello, a site located in the municipality of Castelvetrano. The study area hosts several woodland fragments dominated by Olea europaea var. sylvestris, Quercus suber and Quercus ilex, respectively. According to historical data, these nuclei represent the last remnants of an open forestland which covered a much wider coastal area between Mazara del Vallo and Sciacca until the end of Middle Age. Phytosociological relevés were focused on these forest nuclei, probably the most representative of south-western Sicily, which correspond to three habitats included in the 92/43 EEC Directive (9320, 9330 and 9340, respectively) and represent the final stage of three different edaphic series. Wild olive forests probably dominated on sandy calcareous soils, holm oaks prevailed on steep calcareous and N-exposed slopes. In contrast, cork oaks mostly occurred on sandy subacid soils issuing from pedogenetic processes on palaeodunes. Moreover, field surveys allowed to list 331 vascular plant taxa. Among them, Linaria multicaulis subsp. humilis, Orobanche balsensis and Serapias orientalis subsp. siciliensis are new to Trapani Province. Detailed information on the current distribution and the synecology of several plant taxa of high biogeographic and conservation interest is also provided. The study site also hosts one habitat of priority interest (6220, i.e. xerophilous Mediterranean perennial grasslands and annual swards) and two species protected by international laws, i.e. the orchid Ophrys lunulata and the lichen Teloschistes chrysophthalmus. Considering the high value of its natural heritage, this territory deserves the adoption of more effective protection measures. For this reason the authors recommend its inclusion as a new Site of Community Interest within the Sicilian Natura 2000 network.

Intensified grazing affects endemic plant and gastropod diversity in alpine grasslands of the Southern Carpathian mountains (Romania)

Biologia ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Baur ◽  
Cristina Cremene ◽  
Gheorghe Groza ◽  
Anatoli Schileyko ◽  
Anette Baur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Calcareous Soils ◽  
Acid Soils ◽  
Endemic Plant ◽  
Alpine Grasslands ◽  
Gastropod Species ◽  
Mountain Area ◽  
The Carpathians ◽  
Steep Slopes

AbstractAlpine grasslands in the Southern Carpathian Mts, Romania, harbour an extraordinarily high diversity of plants and invertebrates, including Carpathic endemics. In the past decades, intensive sheep grazing has caused a dramatic decrease in biodiversity and even led to eroded soils at many places in the Carpathians. Because of limited food resources, sheep are increasingly forced to graze on steep slopes, which were formerly not grazed by livestock and are considered as local biodiversity hotspots. We examined species richness, abundance and number of endemic vascular plants and terrestrial gastropods on steep slopes that were either grazed by sheep or ungrazed by livestock in two areas of the Southern Carpathians. On calcareous soils in the Bucegi Mts, a total of 177 vascular plant and 19 gastropod species were recorded. Twelve plant species (6.8%) and three gastropod species (15.8%) were endemic to the Carpathians. Grazed sites had lower plant and gastropod species richness than ungrazed sites. Furthermore, grazed sites harboured fewer gastropod species endemic to the Carpathians than ungrazed sites. On acid soils in the Fagaras Mts, a total of 96 vascular plant and nine gastropod species were found. In this mountain area, however, grazed and ungrazed sites did not differ in species richness, abundance and number of endemic plant and gastropod species. Our findings confirm the high biodiversity of grasslands on steep slopes in the Southern Carpathian Mts and caution against increasing grazing pressure in these refuges for relic plants and gastropods as well as for other invertebrates.

scholarly journals IMPLEMENTATION OF THE “NATURA 2000” EUROPEAN ECOLOGICAL NETWORK IN THE 6th NORTH-WESTERN REGION

1970 ◽  
Vol 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Proorocu ◽  
P. V. Beldean
Keyword(s):  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Habitats Directive ◽  
Western Region ◽  
Ecological Network ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Community Interest ◽  
Special Protection Areas ◽  
Two Stages ◽  
North Western ◽  
Special Protection

According to the Habitats Directive at European level there was constituted an ecological network entitled “Natura 2000” consisting of Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas. The “Natura 2000” is composed of sites which include natural habitats of community interest and community interest species habitats. The Special Areas of Conservation has been declared during two stages. During the first stage these were nominated as Sites of Community Importance. In the 6th North – Western Region there were identified 57 Sites of Community Importance (SCI) and 8 Special Protection Areas (SPA). Among the 6 counties of the 6th North – Western Region, the SCI are best represented in Maramureş county, and the SPA in Cluj county.

Obligaciones de los Estados miembros en materia de gestión de los Espacios Natura 2000 derivadas de los apartados 1 y 2 del artículo 6 de la Directiva Hábitats

2014 ◽  
pp. 2455-2494
Author(s):  
Juan José PÉREZ PÉREZ
Keyword(s):  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Habitats Directive ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Natura 2000 Network ◽  
Ecological Requirements ◽  
Wild Fauna ◽  
Community Interest ◽  
European Court ◽  
La Red

LABURPENA: Habitaten Zuzentarauaren bidez, Natura 2000 Sarea sortu zen. Europar Batasuneko kontserbazio-eremu berezien sare ekologiko koherentea da, fauna- eta flora-espezie basatien zein Europar Batasunerako garrantzitsuak diren habitat naturalen kontserbaziorako. Estatu kideek zuzentarauaren 6. artikuluan xedatutako lan batzuk egin behar dituzte. Arau hori funtsezkoa da, Natura 2000 Sareko eremuen kudeaketari dagokionez. Lan honetan, ez zaio heltzen eremu horietan eragina izan dezaketen planen eta proiektuen ebaluazioa egiteko betebeharra aztertzeari, oso espezifikoa baita. Hain zuzen ere, Batzordeko erreferentziazko dokumentazioaren eta Europar Batasuneko Justizia Auzitegiaren jurisprudentziaren azterketa oinarri hartuta, honako hauek azaltzen saiatuko da lan honetan: zer jasotzen den babestu beharreko habitaten eta espezieen eskakizun ekologikoak betetzeko neurrietan, eta zein diren hartu beharreko neurri egokiak habitat eta espezie horiek hondamendi edo aldaketa nabarmenik ez izateko, eta zuzentarauaren helburuak betetzeko. RESUMEN: La Directiva Hábitats crea la Red Natura 2000, una red ecológica europea coherente de Zonas Especiales de Conservación existente en la Unión para la conservación de especies de fauna y flora silvestres y de hábitats naturales de importancia comunitaria. Los Estados miembros tienen que acometer unas tareas contempladas en el artículo 6 de la Directiva, precepto fundamental en cuanto a la gestión de los lugares Natura 2000 concierne. En este trabajo, sin abordar, por su especifidad, la obligación de evaluar planes y proyectos que puedan afectar a estos lugares, y analizando documentación de referencia de la Comisión y la jurisprudencia del TJUE, se intenta explicar en qué consisten esas medidas de conservación necesarias que respondan a las exigencias ecológicas de los hábitats y especies a proteger, así como las medidas apropiadas para evitar, en esos hábitats y especies, deterioros y alteraciones con efectos apreciables en los objetivos de la Directiva. ABSTRACT: The Habitats Directive established the Natura 2000 network, a coherent European ecological network of special areas of conservation that exists in the European Union for the conservation of species of wild fauna and flora and natural habitats of Community interest. Member states have to undertake some tasks contemplated in article 6 of the Directive, an essential provision as far as the management of Natura 2000 sites is concerned. This work, without tackling the duty to assess plans and projects that might affect these sites because of their specifity, and analyzing the documentation of reference of Commission and the caselaw of the European Court of Justice, tries to explain those necessary measures of conservation that meet the ecological requirements of habitats and species to protect together with the appropriate measures to avoid in those habitats and species, deteriorations and alterations in so far as such disturbance could be significant in relation to the objectives of the Directive.

scholarly journals An Assessment and Spatial Modelling of Agricultural Land Abandonment in Spain (2015–2030)

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina Perpiña Castillo ◽  
Eloína Coll Aliaga ◽  
Carlo Lavalle ◽  
José Carlos Martínez Llario
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Spatial Modelling ◽  
Land Abandonment ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Northern Spain ◽  
Joint Research ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
High Nature Value Farmland

This article presents a study based on the outputs from the LUISA Territorial modelling platform (Joint Research Centre of the European Commission) focused on regional and local future projections of land abandonment between 2015 and 2030. Spain is taken as representative of one of the countries highly affected by agricultural land abandonment in the European Union. The most relevant factors driving land abandonment (biophysical, agroeconomics, farm structure and demographic) are described and mapped. Results from the analysis reveal that the Galicia region, northern Spain (Asturias, Cantabria, Gipuzkoa, Bizkaia), north-eastern Spain (Aragón region), central Pyrenees/Ebro basin (Huesca, Navarra, Lleida) and south-eastern Spain (Murcia, Almería, Alicante, Málaga) are expected to undergo important abandonment processes. The study also concludes that land abandonment within mountainous, high nature value farmland and Natura 2000 areas is lower compared to the outside area without conservation and protection measures.

scholarly journals Hoverfly (Diptera: Syrphidae) assemblage of an oak–hornbeam in the Merlino Wood Natural Reserve and implications for its conservation

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Umberto Maritano
Keyword(s):  
Northern Italy ◽  
Habitat Conservation ◽  
Po Plain ◽  
Good Preservation ◽  
Community Interest ◽  
Natural Reserve ◽  
Lowland Forests ◽  
A Site ◽  
First Time ◽  
Malaise Traps

Merlino Wood is a typical oak–hornbeam forest in the Po Plain hydrographic region. It is one of the few remaining lowland forests in Northern Italy and is a Regional Natural Reserve and a Site of Community Interest (code IT1160010). This is the first survey on hoverflies in the study area and they act as bioindicators to assess habitat conservation. Sampling was performed with three Malaise traps and an entomological net. A total of 61 species of Syrphidae were recorded between March and October 2019. Three of the species observed are considered to be under threat in Europe, three species have been recorded for the first time in Piedmont and Heringia latitarsis (Egger, 1865) has been recorded for the first time in Northern Italy. The Syrph the Net analysis has been used to assess habitat conservation. It shows good preservation of xylosaprophagous species, while the conservation conditions of other larval trophic categories are poor.

scholarly journals Management of Alluvial Forests Included in Natura 2000 91E0* Habitat Type in Maramureş Mountains Nature Park

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-176
Author(s):  
Oana Danci
Keyword(s):  
Standard Form ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Alnus Glutinosa ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Conservation Value ◽  
Alluvial Forests ◽  
Community Interest ◽  
Nature Park ◽  
Priority Habitat

Abstract The Natura 2000 habitat type 91E0* Alluvial forests of Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-Padion, Alnion incanae, Salicion albae) include three subtypes of forests. In the Maramureș Mountains Nature Park (MMNP) the alluvial forests are represented by Alnus incana forest situated on the banks of mountain rivers. Starting from 2007, 70% of the MMNP is also a Natura 2000 site of community interest. In the standard form for the site are listed 18 Natura 2000 habitat types, but that of alluvial forests 91E0* is not listed either due to an error or lack of available research data. Our study seeks to provide information regarding this high conservation value habitat such as: structure, distribution,managementmeasures andmonitoring protocol. The purpose of this paper is to offer a management tool for this conservation value habitat which is also exposed to human impact more than any other priority habitat in MMNP.

scholarly journals Characterisation of false-positive observations in botanical surveys

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quentin J Groom ◽  
Sarah J. Whild
Keyword(s):  
Rare Species ◽  
False Positive ◽  
Common Knowledge ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
False Negative ◽  
Digital Data ◽  
Skill Levels ◽  
Final Score ◽  
Few Data ◽  
A Site

Errors in botanical surveying are a common problem. The presence of a species is easily overlooked, leading to false-absences; while misidentifications and other mistakes lead to false-positive observations. While it is common knowledge that these errors occur, there are few data that can be used to quantify and describe these errors. Here we characterise false-positive errors for a controlled set of surveys conducted as part of a field identification test of botanical skill. Surveys were conducted at sites with a verified list of vascular plant species. The candidates were asked to list all the species they could identify in a defined botanically rich area. They were told beforehand that their final score would be the sum of the correct species they listed, but false-positive errors counted against their overall grade. The number of errors varied considerably between people, some people create a high proportion of false-positive errors, but these are scattered across all skill levels. Therefore, a person’s ability to correctly identify a large number of species is not a safeguard against the generation of false-positive errors. There was no phylogenetic pattern to falsely observed species, however, rare species are more likely to be false-positive as are species from species rich genera. Raising the threshold for the acceptance of an observation reduced false-positive observations dramatically, but at the expense of more false negative errors. False-positive errors are higher in field surveying of plants than many people may appreciate. Greater stringency is required before accepting species as present at a site, particularly for rare species. Combining multiple surveys resolves the problem, but requires a considerable increase in effort to achieve the same sensitivity as a single survey. Therefore, other methods should be used to raise the threshold for the acceptance of a species. For example, digital data input systems that can verify, feedback and inform the user are likely to reduce false-positive errors significantly.

Phytosociological affiliation of Annex II species Tephroseris longifolia subsp. moravica in comparison with two related Tephroseris species with overlapping distribution

Biologia ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarína Hegedüšová ◽  
Iveta Škodová ◽  
Monika Janišová ◽  
Judita Kochjarová
Keyword(s):  
Related Species ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Soil Reaction ◽  
Ecological Indicator ◽  
Indicator Values ◽  
Closely Related Species ◽  
Phytosociological Relevés ◽  
Ecological Indicator Values

AbstractThe phytosociological affiliation of Tephroseris longifolia subsp. moravica, species of European importance, was studied in relation to two closely related species of the genus Tephroseris which have overlapping distribution within the Western Carpathian Mts: T. intergrifolia and T. crispa. The main aim was to compare plant communities inhabited by the three taxa, to assess the major environmental gradients responsible for variation in their distribution and to estimate ecological indicator values for Tephroseris longifolia subsp. moravica. T. longifolia subsp. moravica was recorded in nine localities in the Slovakia and Czech Republic where it occurs in very specific site conditions of ecotone habitats. Its phytosociological affiliation is restricted to grasslands of the alliances Bromion erecti and Arrhenatherion elatioris and to the ecotone vegetation between these grasslands and beech forests. T. integrifolia occurs most frequently in the Diantho lumnitzeri-Seslerion, Bromion erecti and Quercion pubescenti-petraeae alliances. T. crispa occurs predominantly in communities of the Calthion palustris alliance and Scheuchzerio-Caricetea fuscae, Mulgedio-Aconitetea and Montio-Cardaminetea classes. The major gradient responsible for variation in species composition of communities inhabited by the studied taxa was associated with moisture and nutrient content. The vascular plant-based ecological indicator values for Tephroseris longifolia subsp. moravica calculated from phytosociological relevés with its occurrence were set for light — 6, temperature — 5, continentality — 4, moisture — 5, soil reaction — 6 and nutrients — 5. We conclude that the studied taxon has intermediate relationship to the most of the studied factors in comparison with two related species, T. crispa and T. integrifolia.

scholarly journals An evaluation of the performance of rock fall protection measures and their role in hazard zoning

2020 ◽  
Vol 104 (1) ◽  
pp. 459-491
Author(s):  
Camille-Jean Jaccard ◽  
Jacopo Maria Abbruzzese ◽  
Erika Prina Howald
Keyword(s):  
Rock Fall ◽  
Rock Falls ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Actual Performance ◽  
Performance Capacity ◽  
Mountainous Regions ◽  
Hazard Zoning ◽  
Nominal Capacity ◽  
Fall Protection ◽  
A Site

Abstract Rock falls threaten human lives and assets in mountainous regions all over the world. Protection measures are one of the most effective solutions for mitigating rock fall-related hazards and risks; however, their optimal working conditions must be ensured throughout their whole life span, in order for the measures to play their role properly and not to have their performance compromised. This paper presents a methodology for a simple yet effective evaluation of the performance of existing rock fall protections, whose goal is to establish their actual performance capacity and, based on that, whether they can play their mitigation role. The methodology is articulated into four main steps. In the first, data and information about the hazard affecting a site, the current state of existing protections and possible faults/causes of malfunctioning of the protections are collected. The second and third steps evaluate the actual performance capacity of the protections in comparison with their nominal capacity, after the potential influence of the factors degrading the effectiveness, detected in the first step, is considered (i.e. factors reflecting negative interaction between site and measures, structural design issues of the protections, faults and malfunctioning due to lack of maintenance, etc.). These three steps were implemented in a spreadsheet tool, allowing to store relevant data on protection measures collected during a field survey and to perform the evaluation analysis directly on site, semi-automatically, based on the data collected. Finally, once an actual performance capacity is obtained from these evaluations, the last step of the methodology is to compare this capacity to the hazard at the site, in terms of energy and return period of the events at each location of interest, to establish whether the protections can in fact mitigate such hazard or need intervention (reparations, replacement, etc.). A detailed application of the whole procedure is shown, by means of a demonstrative example carried out at a Swiss site where rock fall protections measures were previously installed and hazard zoning maps are available.

scholarly journals Barbus Meridionalis Risso 1827 (Syn. Barbus Balcanicus): Proposal for Monitoring Elements for Croatia, in the Context of Natura 2000

2013 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-182
Author(s):  
Doru Bănăduc ◽  
Angela Curtean-Bănăduc
Keyword(s):  
National Level ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Main Element ◽  
Habitats Directive ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Community Interest ◽  
Birds Directive ◽  
Biogeographical Region ◽  
National Border

ABSTRACT The action framework at the European Union level for the protection of biodiversity was established based on the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and the Birds Directive (79/409/EEC). One main element of the future implementation of these Directives in Croatia is the establishment of a Natura 2000 network of special protection sites, a network which should rely on a specific monitoring plan at national level for each species of community interest. In this context, the present study proposes a set of monitoring elements for Barbus meridionalis for the Croatian Continental Biogeographical Region. The proposal is based on seven main criteria: proximity of national border, high quality populations, habitats which should be ecologically reconstructed, key habitats/sectors with high importance for connectivity, point sources of industrial pollution, areas/sectors influenced by diffuse sources of agricultural pollution, and areas/sectors influenced by habitat modifications.

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