Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Phytosociology and ecology of the Mediterranean forests ecosystems in the Amalfi Coast (Monti Lattari, Italy)

  • Published:
Rendiconti Lincei Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The forest vegetation of the southern sector of the Monti Lattari complex (Amalfi Coast) has been investigated due to the lack of information on vegetation within an area of worldwide relevance and with a high floristic richness. This area shows several environmental peculiarities due to the marked orography, with pedologic features varying from carbonate to volcanic character, and bioclimatic conditions varying in a relatively short space from Mediterranean to temperate types. The study involved an extensive phytosociological survey and the analyses revealed clear differences among the forest communities, whose syntaxonomical queries and the biogeographic and ecological characters have been discussed. The communities varied from the coastal sclerophyllous forests (Cyclamino repandi–Quercetum ilicis) to the mixed thermophilous deciduous forests (Festuco exaltatae–Aceretum neapolitani, Seslerio autumnalis–Aceretum obtusati), and from the mountain neutral–subacid forests (Salvio glutinosae–Alnetum cordatae, Castanea sativa groupment, Asperulo taurinae–Alnetum cordatae) to the mountain beech forest (Anemono apenninae–Fagetum sylvaticae). Multivariate analysis showed the high relevance of steepness, elevation and pyroclastic presence, and a low relevance of aspect in the discrimination of forest communities. Syntaxonomical interpretations showed the affinity of the local communities with those of the southern Italy, but also some interesting peculiarity. Data highlight the area as a geographical boundary and phytogeographic hinge between central and southern Italy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. The chestnut cultivation is documented throughout the area since Roman times. During the Middle Ages extended oak forests suffered severe reductions in favor of the chestnut groves and the progressive expansion of cattle grazing. Chestnut wood was used not only for naval construction, but also for good quality charcoal used in the nascent steel industry (XIV Century), especially in the Vallone delle Ferriere. Other portion of the forests also provided the raw material and fuel for cooking the calcareous stone, do produce mortars in the numerous “calcare” scattered everywhere (Barra 2003; Ercolino 2004). Another particularly widespread use was production of chestnut poles, used mainly as supports for the cultivation of vines and citrus groves (Caneva and Cancellieri 2007).

References

  • Arrigoni PV, Viciani D (2001) Caratteri fisionomici e fitosociologici dei Castagneti toscani. Parlatorea V:55–99

    Google Scholar 

  • Barra F (2003) La costa d’Amalfi nell’età moderna, economia e società. “La Costa di Amalfi nel secolo XVII”, Atti del Convegno di Studi, Amalfi, 1-4 aprile 1998, Amalfi, pp 7–34

  • Bernetti G (1995) Selvicoltura speciale. UTET, Torino

    Google Scholar 

  • Bezzi A, Brandini P, Menguzzato G, Tabacchi G (1991) I boschi puri e densi di ontano napoletano nel Cilento. Indagine per un loro inquadramento vegetazionale, selvicolturale e produttivo. Annali Ist. Sper. Assest. Forestale e alpicoltura di Trento XII: 3-90 Trento

  • Biondi E, Casavecchia S, Gigante D (2003) Contribution to the syntaxonomic knowledge of the Quercus ilex L. woods of the Central European Mediterranean Basin. Fitosociogia 40(1):129–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Biondi E, Casavecchia S, Pesaresi S (2010) Interpretation and management of the forest habitats of the Italian peninsula. Acta Bot Gallica 157(4):687–719

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biondi E, Burrascano S, Casavecchia S, Copiz R, Del Vico E, Galdenzi D, Gigante D, Lasen C, Spampinato G, Venanzoni R, Zivkovic L, Blasi C (2012) Diagnosis and syntaxonomic interpretation of Annex I Habitats (Dir. 92/43/EEC) in Italy at the alliance level. Plant. Sociology 49(1):5–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Blasi C, Di Pietro R, Filesi L (2004) Syntaxonomical revision of Quercetalia pubescentis petraeae in the Italian Peninsula. Fitosociologia 41(1):87–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Blasi C, Filibeck G, Rosati L (2006) Classification of Southern Italy Ostrya carpinifolia woods. Fitosociologia 43(1):3–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonin G (1978) Contribution à la connaissance de la Végétation des montagnes de l’Appennines centro-meridional. Univ. Doit d’Economie et de Sciences (Aix-Maiselle III). Fac. Sc. Tech. St. Jérome. Thése pour obteneir le grade de Docteur en Sciences

  • Bonin G, Briane JP, Gamisans J (1977) Quelques aspect des forests supraméditerranéenes et montagnardes de l’Apennin meridional. Ecol Mediter 2:101–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun-Blanquet J (1932) Plant sociology. The study of plant communities. Authorized english translation of pflanzensoziologie. Mcgraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Brullo S, Scelsi F, Spampinato G (2001) La vegetazione dell’Aspromonte. Studio fitosociologico. Laruffa Editore, Reggio Calabria

    Google Scholar 

  • Cancellieri L (2008) Studio delle serie di vegetazione del Complesso dei Monti Lattari (Campania). PhD diss. Università degli Studi Roma Tre

  • Caneva G, Cancellieri L (eds.) (2007) Il paesaggio vegetale della Costiera Amalfitana. Gangemi Editore, Collana Paesaggio: Natura, Cultura, Arte, vol 1. Roma

  • Caneva G, Cutini M (eds) (2009) Flora, Vegetazione e Tradizioni Etnobotaniche di Maratea. Collana Paesaggio: Natura, Cultura, Arte, vol 2. Gangemi Editori, Roma

    Google Scholar 

  • Caputo G, La Valva V, Nazzaro R, Ricciardi M (1989-1990) La flora della Penisola Sorrentina (Campania). Delpinoa 31-32: 3-97

  • Cavara F (1914) La gita a Faito di Castellammare di Stabia. L’Alpe, ser. II 1(7):1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Conti F, Abbate G, Alessandrini A, Blasi C (2005) An Annotated Checklist of Italian Flora. Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio—Dip. di Biologia Vegetale Università di Roma “La Sapienza”. Palombi (ed.), pp 1–420

  • Corbetta F, Pirone G, Frattaroli AR, Ciaschetti G (2004) Lineamenti vegetazionali essenziali del Parco Nazionale del Cilento e Vallo di Diano. Braun-Blanquetia 36:1–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Cutini M, Cancellieri L, Cioffi MT, Licursi C (2010) Phytosociology and phytogeography of fragmented Alnus glutinosa forests in a Tyrrhenian district. Ecol Mediter 36(2):55–73

    Google Scholar 

  • D’Argenio B, Pescatore T, Scandone P (1973) Schema geologico dell’Appennino meridionale (Campania e Lucania). Quaderno n°183. Atti dal Convegno sul tema Moderne vedute sulla geologia dell’Appennino

  • De Dominicis V, Casini S, Mariotti M, Boscagli A (1988) La vegetazione di Punta Ala (Prov. Grosseto). Webbia 42(1):124–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Natale A, Strumia S (2007) La flora della costa sabbiosa del Parco Nazionale del Cilento e Vallo di Diano (Salerno). Webbia 62:53–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Del Guacchio E (2010) Appunti di floristica campana: novità e precisazioni. Inf. Bot. Ital. 42(1):35–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Di Gennaro A (2002) I sistemi di terre della Campania. Carta 1:250.000 e Leggenda. Regione Campania

  • Di Pietro R, Izco J, Blasi C (2004) Contribute to the nomenclatural knowledge of the beech-woodland syntaxa of southern Italy. Plant Biosystems 138(1):27–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Di Pietro R, Azzella MM, Facioni L (2010) The forest vegetation of the Tolfa-Ceriti Mountains (Northern Latium-Central Italy). Hacquetia 9(1):5–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ercolino R (2004) La produzione della calce nella Penisola sorrentino-amalfitana. In: AA.VV, Le arti dell’acqua e del fuoco. Le attività produttive protoindustriali della costa di Amalfi. Centro di cultura e storia amalfitana, pp 215–261

  • Fenaroli L (1970) Note illustrative della Carta della Vegetazione reale d’Italia. Min. Agricoltura e Foreste. Collana Verde 28

  • Filesi L, Rosati L, Paura B, Cutini M, Strumia S, Blasi C (2010) Le serie di vegetazione della Campania. In: Blasi C (ed) La vegetazione d’Italia. Palombi & Partner S.r.l, Roma, pp 351–373

    Google Scholar 

  • Filibeck G (2006) Notes on the distribution of Laurus nobilis L. (Lauraceae) in Italy. Webbia 61(1):45–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gamisans J, Gruber M, Quezel P (1983) Les forets de Castanea sativa, Alnus cordata et Ostrya carpinifolia du massif du San Petrone (Corse). Ecol Mediter 9:89–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Gauch HG (1982) Multivariate analysis in community ecology. Cambridge University Press, London

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Giacomini V (1972) Il Paesaggio Vegetale. In: AA.VV., Studio preliminare piano paesistico della Costiera Amalfitana. Cassa del Mezzogiorno. Soprintendenza ai Monumenti della Campania

  • Gigante D, Attorre F, Venanzoni R, Acosta ATR, Agrillo E, Aleffi M, Alessi N, Allegrezza M, Angelini P, Angiolini C, Assini S, Azzella MM, Bagella S, Biondi E, Bolpagni R, Bonari G, Bracco F, Brullo S, Buffa G, Carli E, Caruso G, Casavecchia S, Casella L, Cerabolini BEL, Ciaschetti G, Copiz R, Cutini M, Del Vecchio S, Del Vico E, Di Martino L, Facioni L, Fanelli G, Foggi B, Frattaroli AR, Galdenzi D, Gangale C, Gasparri R, Genovesi P, Gianguzzi L, Gironi F, Giusso Del Galdo G, Gualmini M, Guarino R, Lasen C, Lastrucci L, Maneli F, Pasta S, Paura B, Perrino EV, Petraglia A, Pirone G, Poponessi S, Prisco I, Puglisi M, Ravera S, Sburlino G, Sciandrello S, Selvaggi A, Spada F, Spampinato G, Strumia S, Tomaselli M, Tomaselli V, Uzunov D, Viciani D, Villani M, Wagensommer RP, Zitti S (2016) A methodological protocol for Annex I Habitats monitoring: the contribution of Vegetation science. Plant Sociology 53(2):77–87

    Google Scholar 

  • Inventario Nazionale delle Foreste e del Carbonio (INFC) (2005) Corpo Forestale dello Stato. http://www3.istat.it/istat/eventi/2007/forestali/inventario_foreste_serbatoi_carbonio.pdf. Accessed 4 Sept 2017

  • Legendre P, Anderson MJ (1999) Distance-based redundancy analysis: testing multispecies responses in multifactorial ecological experiments. Ecol Monogr 69:1–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maiorca G, Spampinato G (1999) La vegetazione della Riserva Naturale Orientata “Valle del Fiume Argentino” (Calabria Nord-Occidentale). Fitosociologia 36(2):15–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Maiorca G, Spampinato G, Caprio AC (2006) La vegetazione di Monte Mancuso (Calabria centro-occidentale). Fitosociologia 43(1):141–175

    Google Scholar 

  • Marino P, Castiglia G, Bazan G, Domina G, Guarino R (2014) Tertiary relict laurophyllous vegetation in the Madonie mountains (Sicily). Acta Bot. Gallica 161(1):47–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazzoleni S, Ricciardi M (1995) Boschi misti costieri in Campania. Ann. Bot. (Roma) 51 (10-2) (1993): 341-352

  • Mc Cune B, Mefford MJ (1999) PCORD for Windows: Multivariate Analysis of Ecological Data, Version 5.0. MjM Software, Gleneden Beach, OR

  • Mc Cune B, Grace JB, Urban DL (2002) Analysis of ecological communities, vol 28. MjM software design, Gleneden Beach, Oregon

    Google Scholar 

  • Médail F, Diadema K (2009) Glacial refugia influence plant diversity patterns in the Mediterranean Basin. J Biogeogr 36:1333–1345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montelucci G (1946) Investigazioni botaniche nel Lazio. 1. Lo Styrax officinalis nei dintorni di Tivoli. N. Giorn. Bot. Ital. n.s. 53: 230-268

  • Moretti V, Renzi G, Sateriano A, Salvati L (2015) Climate changes and forest ecosystems: a multivariate classification of meteorological conditions (1981–2012) in Castelporziano, central Italy. Rend Fis Acc Lincei 26(suppl. 3):297–304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Motti R, Salerno G (2006) La flora del complesso dei Monti Vesole, Soprano, Sottano e Chianello (Appennino campano, Salerno). Webbia 61(2):325–357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orloci L (1978) Multivariate analysis in vegetation research (2nd ed.): Dr. W. Junk b.v., Publishers, The Hague, 451p

  • Pedrotti F, Gafta D (1992) Tipificazione di tre nuove associazioni forestali ripariali nell’Italia peninsulare. Doc. Phytosociol. XIV: 557-560

  • Pignatti S (1982) Flora d’Italia. 1-3. Edagricole, Bologna

    Google Scholar 

  • Pignatti S (2005) Valori di bioindicazione delle piante vascolari della Flora d’Italia. Braun-Blanquetia 39:3–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Pignatti S, Bianco PM, Tescarollo P, Scarascia Mugnozza GT (2001) La vegetazione della Tenuta Presidenziale di Castelporziano. In: Il Sistema ambientale della Tenuta Presidenziale di Castelporziano. Ricerche sulla complessità di un ecosistema forestale costiero mediterraneo, vol. II. Accademia Naz.le delle Scienze dette dei XL; Scritti e Documenti XXVI, pp 441–708

  • Pignatti S, Capanna E, Porceddu E (2015) Castelporziano, research and conservation in a Mediterranean forests ecosystem: presentation of the volume. Rend Fis Acc Lincei 26(suppl. 3):265–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pignatti-Wikus E, Pignatti S, D’Angeli D, De Nicola C, Maffei L, Testi A, Tinelli A (2015) The Laurisilva as a cultural heritage: proposal for the protection of the relict of laurel forest near Ponte Renaro. Rend Fis Acc Lincei 26(suppl. 3):643–649

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quézel P, Médail F (2003) Ecologie et biogéographie des forêts du bassin méditerranéen. Elsevier (Collection Environment), Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Rivas-Martinez S (1995) Clasificaciòn Bioclimatica de la Tierra (Bioclimatic classification system of the world). Folia Bot Matrit 16:3–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Rivas-Martinez S, Loidi-Arregui J (1999) Bioclimatology of the Iberian Peninsula. In Rivas-Martinez et al., Iter Ibericum A.D. Min. Itinera Geobotanica, 13: 41-47

  • Rosati L, Di Pietro R, Blasi C (2005) La vegetazione forestale della regione temperata del Flysch del Cilento (Italia Meridionale). Fitosociologia 42(2):33–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosati L, Lattanzi E, Del Vico E, Di Bello A (2006) Nuove entità per la flora del Cilento e della Campania. Inf Bot Ital 38(2):457–463

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosati L, Filibeck G, De Lorenzis A, Lattanzi E, Surbera F, Fascetti S, Blasi C (2010) La vegetazione forestale dei Monti Alburni, nel Parco Nazionale del Cilento e Vallo di Diano (Campania): analisi fitosociologica e significato fitogeografico. Fitosociologia 47(2):17–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosati L, Salerno G, Del Vico E, Lapenna MR, Villani MC, Filesi L, Fascetti S, Lattanzi E (2012) Un aggiornamento alla flora del Cilento e della Campania. Inf Bot Ital 44(1):111–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Salerno G, Cancellieri L, Spada F (2007) Notulae alla Checklist della Flora vascolare Italiana: n°1308. Styrax officinalis L. (Styracaceae). Inf Bot Ital 39(1):251

    Google Scholar 

  • Salvati L, Moretti V, Zitti M, Ferrara C (2015) Towards soil water scarcity? An exploratory time-series analysis of the aridity index in Castelporziano forest, Rome. Rend Fis Acc Lincei 26(suppl. 3):289–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santangelo A, Bernardo L, Bertani G, Bronzo E, Cancellieri L, Costalonga S, Croce A, Del Vico E, Fascetti S, Fortini P, Gangale C, Gubellini L, Iocchi M, Lapenna MR, Lattanzi E, Lavezzo P, Lupino F, Magrini S, Marino R, Uzunov D, Paura B, Peccenini S, Peruzzi L, Rosati L, Salerno G, Scoppola A, Strumia S, Tardella FM (2010) Contributo alla conoscenza floristica del Matese: resoconto dell’escursione del Gruppo di Floristica (S.B.I.) nel 2007. Inf Bot Ital 42(1):109–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Savo V, Rossi D, Salvati L, Caneva G (2007) Lineamenti sulle caratteristiche fisiche del territorio. In: Caneva G, Cancellieri L (eds) Il paesaggio vegetale della Costa d’Amalfi. Gangemi (ed.), Rome, pp 13–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Savo V, Caneva G, Salvati L, Mc Clatchey WC, Reedy D (2014) Combining environmental factors and agriculturalists’ observations of environmental changes in the terrace system of the Amalfi Coast (Southern Italy. Ambio 43(3):297–310

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Savo V, Salvati L, Caneva G (2016) In-between soil erosion and sustainable land management: climate aridity and vegetation in a traditional agro-forest system (Costiera Amalfitana, southern Italy). Int J Sustain Dev World Ecol 23(5):1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scoppola A, Blasi C, Abbate G, Cutini M, Di Marzio P, Fabozzi C, Fortini P (1995) Analisi critica e considerazioni fitogeografiche sugli ordini e le alleanze dei querceti e boschi misti a caducifoglie dell’Italia peninsulare. Ann Bot 51(10):81–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Taffetani A, Catorci A, Ciaschetti G, Cutini M, Di Martino L, Frattaroli AR, Paura B, Pirone G, Rismondo M, Zitti S (2012) The Quercus cerris woods of the alliance Carpinion Orientalis Horvat 1958 in Italy. Plant Biosys 146(4):918-953

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ter Braak CJF (1986) Canonical correspondence analysis, a new eigenvector technique for multivariate direct gradient analysis. Ecology 67:1167–1179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ter Braak CJF (1987) The analysis of vegetation-environment relationships by canonical correspondence analysis. Vegetatio 69:69–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ubaldi D (2003) La vegetazione boschiva d’Italia.Manuale di fitosociologia. CLUEB, Bologna

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Maarel E (1979) Transformation cover-abundance values in phytosociology and its effects on community similarity. Vegetatio 39–2:97–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagensommer RP, Marrese M, Perrino EV, Bartolucci F, Cancellieri L, Carruggio F, Conti F, Di Pietro R, Fortini P, Galasso G, Lattanzi E, Lavezzo P, Longo D, Peccenini S, Rosati L, Russo G, Salerno G, Scoppola A, Soldano A, Stinca A, Tilia A, Turco A, Medagli P, Forte L (2014) Contributo alla conoscenza floristica della Puglia: resoconto dell’escursione del Gruppo di Floristica (S.B.I.) 2011 nel settore meridionale dei Monti della Daunia. Inf Bot Ital 46(2):175–208

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Past President Prof. Raffaele Ferraioli and the staff of the “Comunità Montana della Penisola Amalfitana” for logistic support and for the evaluable information about the study area. We would also like to thank Roberta Grilli e Valeria Lombardozzi for the field support. Finally thanks to Valeria Lombardozzi e Neil Ellwood for English language checking.

Author information

Author notes

  1. All the auhtors are contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. DAFNE Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100, Viterbo, Italy

    Laura Cancellieri

  2. Dipartimento di Scienze, Università Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146, Rome, Italy

    Laura Cancellieri, Giulia Caneva & Maurizio Cutini

Authors
  1. Laura Cancellieri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Giulia Caneva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Maurizio Cutini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Laura Cancellieri is an adjunct Professor in Botany at University of Tuscia (Viterbo). Giulia Caneva is a full Professor in Botany and Plant Ecology at University Roma Tre. Maurizio Cutini is Researcher in Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation at University Roma Tre (corresponding author). The interests of the authors concern phytosociology, plant ecology and biodiversity conservation in the Mediterranean area.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maurizio Cutini.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOC 59 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cancellieri, L., Caneva, G. & Cutini, M. Phytosociology and ecology of the Mediterranean forests ecosystems in the Amalfi Coast (Monti Lattari, Italy). Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei 28, 651–671 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-017-0635-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-017-0635-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation