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Are available vegetation data suitable for assessing plant diversity? A study case in the Foreste Casentinesi National Park (Italy)

  • Vegetation Science and Habitats Directive
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Abstract

This paper aimed to analyze potentials and shortcomings of existing vegetation data collected in an Italian National Park (Foreste Casentinesi NP) to: (1) assess coarse scale patterns of species diversity, and (2) set up a habitat monitoring system. We generated a specifically designed georeferenced dataset by assembling all available forest vegetation data, and then we analyzed spatial and temporal patterns of data by sample-based accumulation and rarefaction curves. The analyses were performed on data gathered from the year 1934 to 2007. This broad temporal range may provide valuable information about processes occurring over a longer period than the majority of the published resurvey studies. Our study revealed an uneven distribution of the records both in time and space, corroborating the view that this type of data is inappropriate to analyze trends of plant diversity at coarse scale. However, especially the oldest records of the dataset represent a valuable source of information about long-term plant diversity changes, if used in resurvey studies designed with proper techniques. Detecting the directions of vegetation, or habitat, dynamics is crucial for addressing effective conservation actions.

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Acknowledgements

We thank everyone who contributed to this research by providing data (Nevio Agostini, Davide Alberti, Antonio Gabellini, Daniele Viciani, Antonio Zoccola), and help during the data digitization process (Alex Borrini, Davide Cavalletti, Jockssy K. Gutièrrez Sanchez), the University of Bologna and the Ente Parco of the Foreste Casentinesi National Park for their support. Moreover, we would like to thank the Editor and the referees for valuable comments and suggestions on a previous version of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 42, Bologna, Italy

    Chiara Lelli, Juri Nascimbene & Alessandro Chiarucci

Authors
  1. Chiara Lelli
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  2. Juri Nascimbene
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  3. Alessandro Chiarucci
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chiara Lelli.

Additional information

This peer-reviewed contribution is from the European Vegetation Survey working group established in 1992 by Alessandro Pignatti and colleagues in Rome.

Appendix

Appendix

Sources of vegetation data included in the georeferenced dataset. For each reference the number of recorded samples and the associated spatial information are reported, as well as the year of sampling.

Plots

Reference

Year of sampling

Field personnel

Spatial information

14

Zangheri P (1966) Flora e vegetazione del medio e alto Appennino Romagnolo vol.5. In: Zangheri P (ed) Romagna Fitogeografica. Forni, Sala Bolognese, pp 1–451

1934–1961

Zangheri P.

Toponym, elevation, aspect, slope

22

Bentivogli D (1971–1972) Ricerche fitosociologiche sui cedui di faggio al Passo della Calla. Degree thesis, Supervisor Prof. Augusto Pirola, University of Bologna, Italy (unpublished)

1971

Bentivogli D., Pirola A.

Topographic map (1:25.000), elevation, aspect, slope

25

Senzani G (1971–1972) Appartenenza fitosociologica del bosco ad Abies alba di Campigna. Degree thesis, Supervisor Prof. Augusto Pirola, University of Bologna, Italy (unpublished)

1971

Senzani G., Pirola A.

Topographic map (1:25.000), elevation, aspect, slope

45

Schirinzi S (1971–1972) Aggruppamenti floristici e fitosociologici del bosco della Lama (Forlì). Degree thesis, Supervisor Prof. Augusto Pirola, University of Bologna, Italy (unpublished)

1971

Schirinzi S., Pirola A.

Topographic map (1:25.000), elevation, aspect

25

Monti E (1972–1973) Determinazione della struttura dell’Abieti-Fagetum di Campigna (Appennino Romagnolo). Degree thesis, Supervisor Prof. Augusto Pirola, University of Bologna, Italy (unpublished)

1972

Monti E., Pirola A.

Topographic map (1:25.000), elevation, aspect, slope

20

Salvatori L (2001–2002) Tipologia e dinamica della vegetazione nel biotopo di Capria (Santa Sofia -FC). Degree thesis, Supervisor Prof. Giovanna Puppi, University of Bologna, Italy (unpublished)

2001

Salvatori L., Puppi G.

Topographic map (1:50.000), elevation, aspect, slope

220

Viciani D, Agostini N (2008) La carta della vegetazione del Parco Nazionale delle Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona e Campigna (Appennino Tosco-Romagnolo): note illustrative. Quad Stud Nat Studi Nat Romagna 27:97–134.

2002

Fariselli R., Gabellini A., Sirotti M., Viciani D.

Topographic map (1:25.000) and GPS coordinates, elevation, aspect, slope

15

Table of samplings (unpublished)

2007

Gabellini A.

GPS coordinates, elevation, aspect, slope

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Lelli, C., Nascimbene, J. & Chiarucci, A. Are available vegetation data suitable for assessing plant diversity? A study case in the Foreste Casentinesi National Park (Italy). Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei 29, 355–362 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-018-0681-z

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