Skip to main content

Multitemporal floristic analysis on a humid area in Rome’s archaeological site as indicator for environmental change

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment volume 149, pages 29–42 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

A multitemporal analysis on a humid area in Rome’s archaeological site is presented; the floristic data are used as bioindicators for main environmental changes over the last 50 years. By comparing the structural, biogeographical and ecological features of today’s florula with the ones of a 1955 survey, and by assessing the new, the rare and the locally disappeared species, it was possible to define and analyse the main floristic changes and their ecological meaning for this site. Our results show that the floristic richness of the area did not differ significantly from 1955. However, the species composition has changed considerably: over 40% of the species have disappeared. More than half of these were rare and typical of humid environments. Approximately the same number of species has appeared but these are mainly ruderal and widespread entities, with the overall result being a progressive and general vulgarization of the local flora. Finally, we analyse the main reasons, linked for the most part to human activities, which led to the reported floristic changes.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Anzaldi, C., Celesti Grapow, L., & Pignatti, S. (1992). L’information de la flora en ecologie urbaine. (Paper presented at the 15th European Urban Data Management Symposium, Lyon), November.

  • Anzalone, B. (1996). Prodromo della flora Romana (Elenco preliminare delle piante vascolari spontanee del Lazio) Parte 1°. Annali di Botanica, 52(11), 1–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anzalone, B. (1998). Prodromo della flora Romana (Elenco preliminare delle piante vascolari spontanee del Lazio) Parte 2°. Annali di Botanica, 54, 7–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blasi, C. (1994). Fitoclimatologia del Lazio. Fitosociologia, 27, 151–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blasi, C. (2001). Carta del fitoclima dell’area romana (1:100.000). Informatore Botanico Italiano, 33(1), 240–243.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blasi, C., & Bruno, F. (1988). Botanica e territorio. In: AA. & VV. (Eds.), 100 anni di ricerche botaniche in Italia (1888–1988). Sao Paolo: SBI, pp. 1003–1012.

  • Brande, A., Böcker, R., & Graf, A. (1990). Changes of flora vegetation and urban biotopes in Berlin (West). In H. Sukopp & S. Heiny (Eds.), Urban Ecology: Plants and plant communities in urban environments (pp. 155–165). The Hague: SPB Academic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruno, F. (1978). Analisi dei rapporti vegetazione-ambiente per la definizione di una metodologia di descrizione integrata del territorio. CNR, AC, 1(16), 79–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burba, N., De Paoli, D., Feoli, E., Malaroda, M., Oriolo, G., & Zuccarello, V. (1992). Un sistema informativo per la vegetazione. Calcolo degli indici ecologici. Gorizia: C.E.T.A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cacciato, A. (1955). La florula di uno stagno nella zona archeologica della via Appia Antica. Nuovo giornale botanico italiano, 62, 570–575.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caneva, G. (2004). La lettura della storia e del clima. In G. Caneva (Ed.), Amphitheatrum naturae. Il Colosseo: storia e ambiente letti attraverso la sua flora (pp. 127–141). Milano: Electa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caneva, G., Pacini, A., Celesti Grapow, L., & Ceschin, S. (2003). The Colosseum’s use and state of abandonment as analysed through its flora. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, 51, 211–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caneva, G., Pacini, A., Cutini, M., & Merante, A. (2005). The Colosseum floras as bio-indicators of the climatic changes in Rome. Climatic Change, 70, 431–443.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Celesti Grapow, L. (1995). Atlante della Flora di Roma. La distribuzione delle piante spontanee come indicatore ambientale. Roma: Argos.

    Google Scholar 

  • Celesti Grapow, L., & Blasi, C. (2003). I siti archeologici nella conservazione della biodiversità in ambito urbano: la flora vascolare spontanea delle Terme di Caracalla a Roma. Webbia, 58(1), 77–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Celesti Grapow, L., Di Marzio, P., & Blasi, C. (2001). The importance of alien and native species in the urban flora of Rome (Italy). In G. Brundu, J. Brock, I. Camarda, L. Child, & M. Wade (Eds.), Plant Invasions: Species Ecology and Ecosystem Management (pp. 209–220). Leiden: Backhuys.

    Google Scholar 

  • Celesti Grapow, L., Menichetti, A., & Petrella, P. (1989). Floristic analysis in the metropolitan area of Rome. Braun-Blanquetia, 3(1), 37–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ceschin, S., Caneva, G., & Kumbaric, A. (2005). Analisi ecologica della flora nell’area archeologica centrale di Roma in relazione all’uso antropico del sito. Atti dei Convegni Lincei “Ecosistema Roma”, 218, 421–431.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ceschin, S., Caneva, G., & Kumbaric, A. (2006). Biodiversità ed emergenze floristiche nelle aree archeologiche romane. Webbia, 61(1), 133–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cignini, B., & Zapparoli, M. (1996). Atlante degli uccelli nidificanti a Roma. Roma: Palombi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conti, F., Abbate, G., Alessandrini, A., & Blasi, C. (2005). An Annoted Checklist of Italian Flora. Roma: Palombi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Convenzione di Ramsar (1971). Convenzione internazionale relativa alle “Zone Umide di importanza internazionale, soprattutto come habitat degli uccelli acquatici”. DPR 13/3/1976, n. 448.

  • Cornelini, P., & Petrella, P. (1994). La flora della stazione di Roma Ostiense: variazioni e confronti con il censimento di Cacciato (1952). Annali di Botanica (Studi sul Territorio), 52(11), 457–478.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Rita, D., Funiciello, R., & Parotto, M. (1988). Carta Geologica del Complesso Vulcanico dei Colli Albani (Vulcano Laziale). Rome: CNR, Progetto Finalizzato Geodinamica, Gruppo Nazionale per la Vulcanologia. S. E. L. C. A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellenberg, H. (1988). Vegetation ecology of Central Europe. Cambridge: Cambridge University press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Godefroid, S. (2001). Temporal analysis of the Brussels flora as indicator for changing environmental quality. Landscape and Urban planning, 52, 203–224.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hruska, K. (1990). Specie indicatrici per la cartografia dell’ambiente urbano nell’Italia centrale. Inform. Botanico Italiano, 22, 168–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kowarik, I. (1990). Some responses of flora and vegetation to urbanization in central Europe. In H. Sukopp, & S. Heiny (Eds.) Urban Ecology (pp. 45–74). The Hague: SPB Academic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kowarick, I. (1995). On the role of alien species in urban flora and vegetation. In P. Pyšek, K. Prach, M. Rejmánek, & M. Wade (Eds.), Plant Invasions: General aspects and special problems (pp. 85–103). Amsterdam: SPB Academic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Landolt, E. (1977). Okologische Zeigerwerte zur Schweizer Flora. Veröffentlichungen des Geobotanischen Institutes der Eidgenössischen Techischen HochschuleStiftung Rübel. Zürich, 64, 83–169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marra, F., & Rosa, C. (1995). Stratigrafia e assetto geologico dell’area romana. Servizio Geologico d’Italia, 50, 49–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Menichetti, A., Petrella, P., & Pignatti, S. (1989). Uso dell’informazione floristica per la valutazione del grado di antropizzazione nell’area urbana di Roma. Informatore Botanico Italiano, 21, 165–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Odum, E. P. (1973). Principi di ecologia. Padova: Piccin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petrella, S., Bulgarini, F., Cerfolli, F., Polito, M., & Teofili, C. (2005). Libro Rosso degli Habitat d’Italia della Rete Natura 2000. WWF Italia-ONLUS. Roma: Stilografica S.r.l.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pignatti, S. (1982). Flora d’Italia. 3 voll. Bologna: Edagricole.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raunkiaer, C. (1934). Life forms and terrestrial plant geography. Oxford: Oxford Clarendon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sukopp, H., & Werner, P. (1983). Urban environments and vegetation. In W. Holzner, M. J. A. Werger, & I. Fukushima (Eds.), Man’s impact on vegetation (pp. 247–260). The Hague: Junk.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sykora, K. V. (1990). History of the impact of man on the distribution of plant species. In F. Di Castri, A. J. Hansen, & M. Debussche (Eds.), Biological invasions in Europe and the Mediterranean basin (pp. 37–50). Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University “Roma Tre”, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146, Rome, Italy

    Simona Ceschin, Giovanni Salerno & Giulia Caneva

Authors
  1. Simona Ceschin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Giovanni Salerno
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Giulia Caneva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Simona Ceschin.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ceschin, S., Salerno, G. & Caneva, G. Multitemporal floristic analysis on a humid area in Rome’s archaeological site as indicator for environmental change. Environ Monit Assess 149, 29–42 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0180-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0180-2

Keywords

  • Anthropic impact
  • Bioindicator plants
  • Humid zones