<i>Alnus glutinosa</i> Riparian Woodlands of Italy and Corsica: Phytosociological Classification and Floristic Diversity
Saverio Sciandrello,
Claudia Angiolini,
Gianluigi Bacchetta,
Maurizio Cutini,
Jeremy Dumoulin,
Mauro Fois,
Antonio Gabellini,
Matilde Gennai,
Lorenzo Gianguzzi,
Marco Landi,
Pietro Minissale,
Christophe Panaïotis,
Marta Puglisi,
Giovanni Spampinato,
Gianmarco Tavilla,
Valeria Tomaselli,
Daniele Viciani,
Gianpietro Giusso del Galdo
Affiliations
Saverio Sciandrello
Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via A. Longo 19, 95125 Catania, Italy
Claudia Angiolini
Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via PA Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
Gianluigi Bacchetta
Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (CCB), Department of Life and Environmental Sciences (DISVA), University of Cagliari, Viale Sant’Ignazio da Laconi 11-13, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
Maurizio Cutini
Department of Science, University of Roma Tre, Viale Guglielmo Marconi, 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
Jeremy Dumoulin
Conservatoire Botanique National de Corse, Office de l’Environnement de la Corse, 14 Av. Jean Nicoli, 20250 Corte, France
Mauro Fois
Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (CCB), Department of Life and Environmental Sciences (DISVA), University of Cagliari, Viale Sant’Ignazio da Laconi 11-13, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
Antonio Gabellini
Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via PA Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
Matilde Gennai
Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy
Lorenzo Gianguzzi
Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Marco Landi
Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via PA Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
Pietro Minissale
Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via A. Longo 19, 95125 Catania, Italy
Christophe Panaïotis
Conservatoire Botanique National de Corse, Office de l’Environnement de la Corse, 14 Av. Jean Nicoli, 20250 Corte, France
Marta Puglisi
Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via A. Longo 19, 95125 Catania, Italy
Giovanni Spampinato
Department of AGRARIA, “Mediterranea” University of Reggio Calabria, Località Feo di Vito, 89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy
Gianmarco Tavilla
Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via A. Longo 19, 95125 Catania, Italy
Valeria Tomaselli
Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
Daniele Viciani
Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via La Pira 4, 50121 Firenze, Italy
Gianpietro Giusso del Galdo
Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via A. Longo 19, 95125 Catania, Italy
A comparative analysis of the riparian vegetation dominated by Alnus glutinosa in Italy and Tyrrhenian islands, based on literature data and unpublished relevés, is presented. A total of 456 phytosociological relevés were processed. For the definition of plant communities and alliances, hierarchical clustering was performed by using Bray-Curtis coefficient and Detrended Correspondence Analysis ordination methods. Identification of diagnostic species of the vegetation units was performed by means of the phi fidelity index. Quantum GIS software version 3.6 was used for the interpolation of the bioclimatic variables and A. glutinosa communities. Overall, a total of 18 A. glutinosa-riparian wood communities were distinguished for Italy and Tyrrhenian islands, of which two new associations and one new subassassociation are described. The classification of the relevés showed two main vegetation groups: the first one including the plant communities of the Osmundo-Alnion alliance, and the other including the vegetation of the Ligustro vulgaris-Alnion glutinosae alliance. This latest includes the riparian meso-thermophilous communities of central and northern Italy. Within the Osmundo-Alnion alliance, two subgroups can be recognized: the first one includes the thermophilous communities of the Hyperico hircini-Alnenion glutinosae sub-alliance, mainly spread in the Tyrrhenian islands, while the second group includes the mesophilous communities attributed to the new suballiance Struthioptero-Alnenion glutinosae, widespread in central Italy and the Corsican mountains. The present paper provides the first comprehensive and exhaustive scheme of the A. glutinosa riparian woodlands diversity in Italy and Corsica.
