Author
D. Galdenzi
Bio: D. Galdenzi is an academic researcher from Marche Polytechnic University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Biodiversity & Spatial heterogeneity. The author has an hindex of 7, co-authored 10 publications receiving 512 citations.
Papers
More filters
••
TL;DR: The Prodrome that is presented in this paper is the first full organic synthesis of the vegetation of Italy at the alliance syntaxonomic level and fulfils several needs, the main one being a unified and comprehensive national framework that may make an important contribution to the definition of the European Vegetationprodrome.
Abstract: The Vegetation Prodrome of Italy was promoted in 2012 by the Italian “Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea Protection”, in collaboration with the “Italian Society of Botany”, to provide a comprehensive and systematic catalogue and description of Italian plant communities. The Prodrome that is presented in this paper is the first full organic synthesis of the vegetation of Italy at the alliance syntaxonomic level. It fulfils several needs, the main one being a unified and comprehensive national framework that may make an important contribution to the definition of the European Vegetation Prodrome. Syntaxonomy, as well as taxonomy, is sometimes based on considerations that may in part diverge: several authors tend to favour models that are divisive or aggregative to a greater or lesser extent in terms of flora, biogeography and ecology. These different points of view stimulate the scientific debate and allow the adoption of a framework that is more widely supported. The Prodrome includes 75 classes, 2 subc...
209 citations
01 Jan 2010
120 citations
••
TL;DR: In this paper, the WBCS of Rivas-Martinez was applied to the Italian territory and surrounding areas between latitudes 35°47′-46°60′ N and longitudes 5°92′-21°39′ E.
Abstract: The worldwide bioclimatic classification system (WBCS) of Rivas-Martinez was applied to the Italian territory and surrounding areas between latitudes 35°47′–46°60′ N and longitudes 5°92′–21°39′ E. The ‘WorldClim’ precipitation and temperature dataset was used as the source data. Application of the WBCS in a geographic information system allowed the production of macrobioclimates, bioclimates, ombrotypes, continentality, compensated thermicity index and ombro-evaporal index maps at a scale of 1:5,500,000, and a map of thermotypes at a scale of 1:2,250,000. Moreover, the isobioclimates of Italy are identified and quantified in terms of areas. These maps are available here as raster datasets (1 km spatial resolution) and are useful for: (i) rapid bioclimatic diagnosis of the Italian territories; and (ii) vegetation–environment relationship modeling at the national scale.
118 citations
•
01 Jun 2012
TL;DR: In this paper, a thorough diagnosis of the Annex I Habitats recorded in the Italian territory is reported, selecting the alliance level as the most suitable standard phytosociological rank for a detailed nationwide overview.
Abstract: Starting from the recently produced Italian Habitats interpretation Manual (http://vnr.unipg.it/habitat), a thorough diagnosis of the Annex I Habitats recorded in the Italian territory is reported, selecting the alliance level as the most suitable standard phytosociological rank for a detailed nationwide overview. In order to solve a number of well-known problems, arising from the definitions reported in the European EUR/27 Manual, each Habitat has been assigned a short, exhaustive although concise diagnostic sentences which contains its most significant ecologic features, with specific reference to the peculiarities of the Italian territory. Biogeographic, synecological (mainly bioclimatic, morphological, geologic/edaphic), structural and floristic characteristics of each Habitat are pointed out. When the rarity or vulnerability status has been considered worthy of priority at the national scale, it has been indicated. The 131 Habitats listed for Italy, which represent only partially the Italian biodiversity, have been referred to 268 alliances. A complete syntaxonomic framework is reported in order to offer a robust although still improvable phytosociological ground. The paper aims at standing as a reference document for Natura 2000 knowledge and management in Italy; it also represents a large-scale, expert-revised tool to allow supra-national comparisons and support future implementation of the Annex I.
91 citations
••
TL;DR: Ten new orders, 1 new suborder, 18 new alliances, 3 new suballiances and 5 new associations of different hierarchical levels are described here.
Abstract: We drew up a checklist of the Italian vegetation (http://www.prodromo-vegetazione-italia.org/), up to the syntaxonomical rank of alliance. During the compilation of this checklist, we observed that some syntaxa were invalidly published. For this reason, in this article we validated some syntaxa names and, at the same time, described new syntaxa of different hierarchical levels. Therefore, 10 new orders, 1 new suborder, 18 new alliances, 3 new suballiances and 5 new associations are described here. These new syntaxa belong to the following classes: Adiantetea capilli-veneris, Parietarietea judaicae, Thlaspietea rotundifolii, Artemisietea vulgaris, Stellarietea mediae, Galio aparines–Urticetea dioicae, Mulgedio alpini–Aconitetea variegati, Trifolio medii–Geranietea sanguinei, Festuco-Seslerietea, Salicetea herbaceae, Festuco valesiacae–Brometea erecti, Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, Cisto cretici–Micromerietea julianae, Rhamno catharticae–Prunetea spinosae, Salici purpureae–Populetea nigrae, Salicetea purpureae, ...
41 citations
Cited by
More filters
••
Stellenbosch University1, University of Western Australia2, University of Kiel3, University of Geneva4, Free University of Berlin5, University of Nova Gorica6, Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts7, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts8, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic9, University of Vienna10, University of Bayreuth11, Complutense University of Madrid12, Masaryk University13, Sapienza University of Rome14, University of Zielona Góra15, University of Münster16, University of Göttingen17, Russian Academy of Sciences18, Slovak Academy of Sciences19, Radboud University Nijmegen20, Wageningen University and Research Centre21, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine22, University of Lisbon23, University of Vechta24, University of California, Davis25, University of Patras26
TL;DR: This paper features the first comprehensive and critical account of European syntaxa and synthesizes more than 100 yr of classification effort by European phytosociologists.
Abstract: Aims: Vegetation classification consistent with the
Braun-Blanquet approach is widely used in Europe for applied
vegetation science, conservation planning and land management.
During the long history of syntaxonomy, many concepts and names
of vegetation units have been proposed, but there has been no
single classification system integrating these units. Here we
(1) present a comprehensive, hierarchical, syntaxonomic system
of alliances, orders and classes of Braun-Blanquet syntaxonomy
for vascular plant, bryophyte and lichen, and algal communities
of Europe; (2) briefly characterize in ecological and
geographic terms accepted syntaxonomic concepts; (3) link
available synonyms to these accepted concepts; and (4) provide
a list of diagnostic species for all classes. LocationEuropean
mainland, Greenland, Arctic archipelagos (including Iceland,
Svalbard, Novaya Zemlya), Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores,
Caucasus, Cyprus. Methods: We evaluated approximately 10000
bibliographic sources to create a comprehensive list of
previously proposed syntaxonomic units. These units were
evaluated by experts for their floristic and ecological
distinctness, clarity of geographic distribution and compliance
with the nomenclature code. Accepted units were compiled into
three systems of classes, orders and alliances
(EuroVegChecklist, EVC) for communities dominated by vascular
plants (EVC1), bryophytes and lichens (EVC2) and algae (EVC3).
Results: EVC1 includes 109 classes, 300 orders and 1108
alliances; EVC2 includes 27 classes, 53 orders and 137
alliances, and EVC3 includes 13 classes, 24 orders and 53
alliances. In total 13448 taxa were assigned as indicator
species to classes of EVC1, 2087 to classes of EVC2 and 368 to
classes of EVC3. Accepted syntaxonomic concepts are summarized
in a series of appendices, and detailed information on each is
accessible through the software tool EuroVegBrowser.
Conclusions: This paper features the first comprehensive and
critical account of European syntaxa and synthesizes more than
100 yr of classification effort by European phytosociologists.
It aims to document and stabilize the concepts and nomenclature
of syntaxa for practical uses, such as calibration of habitat
classification used by the European Union, standardization of
terminology for environmental assessment, management and
conservation of nature areas, landscape planning and education.
The presented classification systems provide a baseline for
future development and revision of European syntaxonomy.
817 citations
01 Jan 2005
387 citations
••
TL;DR: The Prodrome that is presented in this paper is the first full organic synthesis of the vegetation of Italy at the alliance syntaxonomic level and fulfils several needs, the main one being a unified and comprehensive national framework that may make an important contribution to the definition of the European Vegetationprodrome.
Abstract: The Vegetation Prodrome of Italy was promoted in 2012 by the Italian “Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea Protection”, in collaboration with the “Italian Society of Botany”, to provide a comprehensive and systematic catalogue and description of Italian plant communities. The Prodrome that is presented in this paper is the first full organic synthesis of the vegetation of Italy at the alliance syntaxonomic level. It fulfils several needs, the main one being a unified and comprehensive national framework that may make an important contribution to the definition of the European Vegetation Prodrome. Syntaxonomy, as well as taxonomy, is sometimes based on considerations that may in part diverge: several authors tend to favour models that are divisive or aggregative to a greater or lesser extent in terms of flora, biogeography and ecology. These different points of view stimulate the scientific debate and allow the adoption of a framework that is more widely supported. The Prodrome includes 75 classes, 2 subc...
209 citations
••
TL;DR: In this article, the authors define the ecoregions of Italy, southern Europe, based on a robust methodological process for classification and mapping and constitute the first comprehensive ecological classification of the country that integrates accurate and updated cartographies and knowledges on climate, vegetation, land units and biogeography.
Abstract: Ecological regions or ecoregions derive from ecological classification of land and represent broad and discrete ecologically homogeneous areas within which natural communities and species interact with the physical elements of the environment. The aim of this paper is to define the ecoregions of Italy, southern Europe, based on a robust methodological process for classification and mapping. The ecoregions of Italy comprise 2 Divisions, 7 Provinces, 11 Sections and 33 Subsections and constitute the first comprehensive ecological classification of the country that integrates accurate and updated cartographies and knowledges on climate, vegetation, land units and biogeography. This classification has the strength to be adopted as a proper framework for ecological modelling, biodiversity conservation policies and sustainable territorial planning at the national and subnational level.
130 citations
••
TL;DR: In this article, the relative contribution of environmental factors associated with two of the main drivers of vegetation zonation: soil and wind was analyzed in Mediterranean coast dune ecosystems, and the relationship between plant communities and environmental factors was investigated through unconstrained and constrained ordinations, correlation, and variance partitioning.
Abstract: Coastal dune ecosystems show strongly dynamic interactions between abiotic and biotic factors. The relationship between plant communities and environmental factors has been previously studied in oceanic dune systems, but few studies have been conducted along Mediterranean coasts. In this study we analyze the relative contribution of environmental factors associated with two of the main drivers of vegetation zonation: soil and wind. We chose two representative coastal dune systems in the western Mediterranean Basin subject to low levels of human disturbance. Within 54 plots we recorded floristic and environmental data. Vegetation zonation and relationships with environmental variables were investigated through unconstrained and constrained ordinations, correlation, and variance partitioning. Environmental factors shift along the gradient from coastal to inland dunes, concomitantly with the pattern of community types from annual beach communities to shrub-covered fixed dunes. This general gradient is similar both in the Mediterranean and in the oceanic coastal ecosystems, with the same factors that show similar trends along the dune profile. However, our results highlight some peculiarities of the Mediterranean dune systems in relation to the amount of variation explained by environmental factors. While most studies conducted in oceanic ecosystems find that wind-related parameters may control the vegetation zonation, in our study areas we observed a minor importance of the wind-related variables when compared to soil properties. In particular, organic matter and grain-size variability were found to be closely correlated with the distribution of plant communities along the gradient.
98 citations