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Ecological factors affecting plant species and travertine deposition in petrifying springs from an Italian ‘Natura 2000’ site

Fattori ecologici che influiscono sulla deposizione di travertino in sorgenti petrificanti di un sito italiano della rete “Natura 2000”

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Abstract

This study investigated ecological factors affecting species distribution and travertine deposition in an Italian site of the “Natura 2000” network. Vegetation plots were located along four streams in a prealpine valley (Valganna, Lombardy, Northern Italy). Five meso-scale variables (e.g. altitude, aspect and slope) and ten micro-scale variables (e.g. shading, plot position and soil accumulation) were recorded for each plot; in addition, travertine deposition was evaluated. The main floristic gradients extracted by DCA were related to topography, vegetation type and water availability. The occurrence of species groups in relation to environmental variables was analysed using Poisson regression. Amongst 15 environmental variables and six species, the variables showing the greatest relationship to travertine deposition were the length of the waterless period and substrate slope. Photosynthetic organisms had a minor role in travertine formation, mostly restricted to substrates with a shallow slope. The maintenance of a sufficient water flow is the most effective action in conservation plans for petrifying springs.

Riassunto

Il presente studio ha analizzato i fattori ecologici che influiscono sulla deposizione di travertino e sulla distribuzione delle specie, in un sito italiano della rete “Natura 2000”. Rilievi di vegetazione sono stati posizionati lungo quattro maggiori corsi d’acqua di una valle prealpina (Valganna, Lombardia, Italia Settentrionale). Cinque variabili a livello di micro-scala (es. altitudine, esposizione e pendenza) e dieci variabili a meso-scala (es. grado di ombreggiamento, posizione del plot e accumulo di suolo) sono state rilevate per ciascun rilievo; in aggiunta è stata valutata anche la deposizione di travertino. I principali gradienti floristici ottenuti dalla DCA sono correlati alla topografia, al tipo di vegetazione e alla disponibilità di acqua. La distribuzione di gruppi di specie è stata interpretata tramite le variabili ecologiche considerate impiegando la regressione di Poisson. Tra le quindici variabili ambientali e le sei specie analizzate, i fattori che hanno evidenziato un maggiore legame con la deposizione di travertino sono risultati essere il periodo di siccità e la pendenza del substrato. Gli organismi fotosintetici sembrano avere un ruolo minore nella formazione di travertino, circoscritto soprattutto ai substrati con minor pendenza. Il mantenimento di un soddisfacente flusso d’acqua viene considerato come la più importante azione nei piani di gestione delle sorgenti petrificanti.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Dr. Sandro Uggeri for unpublished data, to the Regional Park “Campo dei Fiori” for financial support and to S. Pierce for the correction of the English text. The research was part of the Life Natura 2000 Project “Chirotteri, habitat calcarei e sorgenti petrificanti nel Parco Campo dei Fiori” (LIFE00NAT/IT/7139).

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  1. Dipartimento di Biologia Strutturale e Funzionale, Università degli Studi dell’Insubria, Via Dunant 3, 21100, Varese, Italy

    Guido Brusa & Bruno E. L. Cerabolini

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  1. Guido Brusa
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  2. Bruno E. L. Cerabolini
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Correspondence to Guido Brusa.

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Responsible editor: Sonja Wipf.

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Brusa, G., Cerabolini, B.E.L. Ecological factors affecting plant species and travertine deposition in petrifying springs from an Italian ‘Natura 2000’ site. Bot. Helv. 119, 113–123 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00035-009-0064-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00035-009-0064-2

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