The results of a phytosociological survey of the woods mainly growing on limestones in the Southern part of the Marches Region (Central Italy), that is part of the Monti Sibillini National Park, are here presented. This area is characterized by a temperate climate (upper mesotemperate and lower/upper supratemperate bioclimatic belts). In order to study the vegetation, 173 phytosociological relevés were carried out through the Braun-Blanquet methodology. All the data obtained were submitted to multivariate analysis. The phytosociological analysis is characterized in nine associations, whereof three are of new description (Lathyro veneti-Fagetum sylvaticae hieracietosum murorum, Cardamino kitaibelii-Fagetum sylvaticae corallorhizetosum trifidae and Cardamino kitaibelii-Fagetum sylvaticae anemonetosum nemorosae). Key words: beech woods, calcareous substratum, Central Apennines, Monti Sibillini, multivariate analysis, phytosociology. IzvlečekPrikazani so rezultati fitocenološke raziskave gozdov, ki uspevajo predvsem na apnencu v južnem delu pokrajine Marche (srednja Italija), to je v delu Nacionalnega parka Monti Sibillini. To območje označuje zmerna klima (zgornji mezotemperatni in spodnji/zgornji supratemperatni bioklimatki pas). Vegetacijo smo proučili s 173 fitocenološkimi popisi po Braun-Blanquetovi metodi. Vse popisno gradivosmo analizirali z multivariatno statistiko. S fitocenološko analizo smo dobili devet asociacij, od tega so tri novoopisane (Lathyro veneti-Fagetum sylvaticae hieracietosum murorum, Cardamino kitaibelii-Fagetum sylvaticae corallorhizetosum trifidae and Cardamino kitaibelii-Fagetum sylvaticae anemonetosum nemorosae). Ključne besede: bukovi gozdovi, apnenčasti substrat, Srednji Apenini, Monti Sibillini, multivariatna analiza, fitosociologija.

In submediterranean ecosystems macroenvironmental\ud stress gradients (winter cold stress and summer drought stress linked to elevation, slope aspect, and angle) affect forest distribution and composition. We hypothesized that in the herb layer of submediterranean deciduous woods (central Apennines), environmental stress gradients, jointly with\ud overstory type, determine patterns of reproductive\ud strategies, which are supported by different acquisitive/\ud retentive traits. We used indicator species analysis, canonical redundancy analysis, and variance partitioning to identify the main gradients of trait variation, detect trait patterns, and assess the contribution of each environmental variable to the\ud explanation of trait variability. Our results indicated\ud that reproductive traits, related to resource acquisition\ud and conservation strategies, showed a pattern mainly linked to the joint effect of altitude and overstory type and, second, to slope aspect. Species with both sexual and vegetative propagation, more abundant than those reproducing only sexually, did not show any trend. Below 1,000 m a.s.l. the long-lasting growing season favored traits aimed at efficient light and soil resource acquisition\ud and space exploitation (e.g., persistent green leaves,\ud runners, tap roots, medium sized seeds) that support a long reproductive cycle. Over 1,000 m a.s.l. the intense and long-lasting winter cold stress and the shorter growing period fostered traits aimed at fast growth and reproduction (e.g., self-pollination, low seed weight, spring and overwintering green leaves), and at stress tolerance (rhizomes, bulbils)

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Background and aims – Species grouping in plant functional types (PFTs) according to Grime’s CSR theory has been found useful in understanding ecosystem functioning and processes and in quantifying variation along environmental gradients. However, little is known about the relationship between herbaceous plant strategies and stress gradients in submediterranean forest ecosystems. Our aim was to\ud assess variations in CSR strategies along three stress gradients (related to the amount of photosynthetically\ud active radiation, soil water deficit, and soil total nitrogen content) in the herb layer of submediterranean forests.\ud Material and methods – We collected floristic (species cover in the herb layer) and environmental data about topography, soil and light conditions in 48 sampling plots in a forest landscape of central Italy.\ud We performed canonical redundancy analyses (RDAs) of species and PFT data sets, constrained by photosynthetically active radiation, soil water deficit and soil total nitrogen content. Cover trends of PFTs along the environmental gradients were graphically represented.\ud Key results – All the environmental factors considered did affect ecological strategies in the herb layer, but the variation of both species and PFT data sets were best explained by photosynthetically active radiation. Competitors were favoured by low/intermediate stress levels, with regard to soil water and light intensity. Competitive stress-tolerant ruderals peaked in moderate light stress intensity and in well-watered soils. Stress-tolerant competitors peaked in conditions of strong light and moderate dryness.\ud Conclusions – Spatial variations in environmental conditions and in the related stress gradients determine predictable variations in the functional composition of the herb layer. Therefore, it may be possible to use Grimes’s PFTs for assessing environmental constraints and predicting whether a species with a specific strategy is likely to be positively or negatively affected by changes in environmental stress due, for instance, to climate change

Abstract:We analysed the relationship between phenology, phytomass temporal pattern and productivity dynamics in two grassland plots in the Marche Region (Central Italy). The plots were placed in grasslands belonging to the same syntaxon, previously defined as Brizo mediae-Brometum erecti using the phytosociological approach. The two sites were chosen at the lowest and the highest altitude within the distribution area of this syntaxon. The analysis showed a clear relationship between the observed variables and other ecological variables, such as climate. This information should be useful to plan future management strategy in the study area. IntroductionMontane grasslands cover about 8% of the territory of the Marche Region (Central Italy). They are one of the most important ecosystems for biodiversity conservation, both at regional and national scale. Indeed, they show high levels of floristic diversity (25% of the regional flora), as well as high species richness of invertebrates and vertebrates; for instance, 13 nesting bird species out of 18 protected by the European Bird Directive (79/409/CEE) were found in Marche montane grasslands.Montane grasslands have been the most important resource for the local economy for thousands of years. They were used largely for cattle forage and breeding, in some places for the whole year, in other places only recurrently (transhumance) [8]. Due to its long history, pasture deeply transformed the pristine ecosystems and created a functional ecological equilibrium. The strong decrease of pasture, which occurred in the second half of the 20th century, is going to modify this equilibrium, and the consequences are still unknown. Therefore, longterm management plans for grasslands, based on scientific data and inferences, are now necessary to match different needs: preserving the high species and community diversity, maintaining the ecological processes that allow the existence of a such high diversity [1,4], and improving the zootechnical use [16,18].Different types of vegetation analysis can contribute to the management plans. Among these analyses, the study of plant community phenology [6] and its relationship with productivity can be a powerful insight in the whole ecosystem dynamics.