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Salix herbacea L. fragmented small population in the N-Apennines (Italy): response to human trampling disturbance

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the conservation status of a Salix herbacea L. population, located in the N-Apennines (Italy), toward the southern edge of the species’ distribution. A 3 year-long study (1999–2001) was conducted to evaluate the effects of human trampling on Salix herbacea. Two stands, one trampled and one untrampled in the same site, were compared. The measured variables included: total vegetation cover; cover and female catkin number of Salix herbacea. The trampled stand showed a decrease in both Salix cover and sexual reproduction. We suggest possible conservation strategies to preserve the Salix herbacea trampled stand from its local extinction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Ecologia del Territorio, Università di Pavia, Via S. Epifanio 14, I-27100, Pavia, Italy

    Graziano Rossi, Gilberto Parolo & Andrea Leonardi

  2. Dipartimento di Genetica e Microbiologia, Università di Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, I-27100, Pavia, Italy

    Laura A. Zonta

  3. Grand Canyon National Park, 823 N. San Francisco St. Suite C, Flagstaff, Arizona, 86001, USA

    Julie A. Crawford

Authors
  1. Graziano Rossi
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  2. Gilberto Parolo
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  3. Laura A. Zonta
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  4. Julie A. Crawford
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  5. Andrea Leonardi
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Correspondence to Graziano Rossi.

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Rossi, G., Parolo, G., Zonta, L.A. et al. Salix herbacea L. fragmented small population in the N-Apennines (Italy): response to human trampling disturbance. Biodivers Conserv 15, 3881–3893 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-005-0607-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-005-0607-9

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