Contribution to the knowledge of aquatic vegetation of montane and submontane areas of Northern Apennines (Italy)

Abstract

The importance of wetlands for biodiversity conservation is widely recognized. Their relevance is crucial in the identification of habitat types included in the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC and in the application of the following conservation measures. Yet, several montane and submontane areas are poorly investigated from the phytosociological point of view. Here we studied aquatic communities of the Tuscan-Romagna Apennines in Italy using 52 vegetation plots dominated by hydrophytes collected in wetlands of natural and artificial origin. We analysed our data using a cluster analysis and identified 12 vegetation types that we classified as three vegetation classes Charetea intermediae, Lemnetea and Potamogetonetea, and two habitat types of conservation importance, as the hard oligo-mesotrophic waters with benthic vegetation of Chara spp. (Natura 2000 code 3140) and the natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or Hydrocharition (Natura 2000 code 3150). Our study highlights the diversity of aquatic habitats in montane and submontane areas of the Northern Apennines where water bodies are generally small and scattered. This study further highlights the important role of natural freshwater ecosystems for vegetation, but also the notable role of partly or entirely artificial water bodies in maintaining aquatic communities.

Contribution to the knowledge of marsh vegetation of montane and submontane areas of Northern Apennines (Italy)

“…Even in our study area, it is one of the most widespread vegetation type, colonizing, often in narrow strips, the muddy areas surrounding the small pools and drinking troughs, often in conditions of disturbance due to the presence of livestock. Our relevés show that the association is catenal to communities of hydrophytes of open waters (Chara vulgaris, Potamogeton nodosus, Ranunculus trichophyllus; see also Viciani et al 2022) reaching the shallow shores of the pools colonized by Eleocharitetum palustris.…”

“…Moreover, many Apennine freshwater ecosystems are partially or totally of artificial origin, being related to anthropogenic activities, especially at relatively low elevations (Gerdol and Tomaselli 1993). Despite this, such wetlands, including many artificial ones, can be highly relevant for plant diversity and conservation (Hrivnák et al 2014;Viciani et al 2022).…”

“…Studies of wetland vegetation at high-elevation areas of the Tuscan Apennines are available (Gerdol and Tomaselli 1993), while relatively few works have investigated low-elevation areas of the Northern Apennines, between Eastern Tuscany and Romagna (see Viciani et al 2022 for aquatic vegetation). To fill the gap of knowledge for this area, we present our contribution concerning the marsh vegetation.…”

Vegetation and Annex I habitats of a suburban river in southern Tuscany (central Italy): remnants of plant diversity or need for restoration?

“…It is considered an indicator of eutrophic and chlorine-rich waters (Iberite et al, 1995;Ceschin & Salerno, 2008). Communities classified in the alliance Zannichellion pedicellatae are mostly linked to coastal meso-eutrophic brackish waters, but can reach inner areas as a consequence of eutrophication and pollution (Viciani et al, 2022). Like the Potametum crispi, this community must be referred to the habitat 3260 "Water courses of plain to montane levels with the Ranunculion fluitantis and Callitricho-Batrachion vegetation".…”