Effects of Disturbance on Sandy Coastal Ecosystems of N-Adriatic Coasts (Italy)

Buffa, Gabriella; Fantinato, Edy; Pizzo, Leonardo

doi:10.5772/48473

Cited by 19 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…The study was performed in some of the few remnants of natural vegetation on the northern Adriatic coastline, namely Martignano island and San Andrea island (see Appendix ). Since the 1950s, these ecosystems have suffered alterations due to an increase in tourism and urbanization (Nordstrom, Gamper, Fontolan, Bezzi, & Jackson, ) The current flora is the outcome of a “crossroad” of species with different origins (Mediterranean, Alpine and Eastern native range), due to the biogeographical location of the study area (Buffa, Fantinato, & Pizzo, ). Both sampling sites are part of a network of European natural protected areas (Natura 2000 Network), known as Marano and Grado lagoon (centroid coordinates 45.72216° N, 13.24836° E).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Make it simpler: Alien species decrease functional diversity of coastal plant communities

Tordoni

Petruzzellis

Nardini

et al. 2019

J Vegetation Science

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Questions: (a) Are there differences in abundance-weighted functional trait values between native and alien species in coastal plant communities? (b) Which functional traits are associated with a higher level of invasion in these communities? (c) Do functional diversity patterns differ between native and alien species? (d) Is alien species occurrence linked to small-scale functional homogenization effects on the resident native species? Location: N-Adriatic coastal ecosystems (Marano and Grado lagoon, Friuli Venezia Giulia region, Italy). Methods:We sampled coastal vegetation within two habitats (foredunes and saltmarshes) along nine belt transects in two sampling sites. Plant species richness and abundance were assessed in 128 plots along with a suite of plant functional traits.We tested for differences in community-weighted means between native and alien species within the two habitats, and Linear Mixed Models provided insights into traits fostering the invasion success among alien species. To check for potential functional homogenization driven by alien species invasion, we explored functional diversity patterns of native and alien species (β and γ functional diversity) and the relationship between α functional diversity and alien cover.Results: Alien species had lower functional diversity than natives and were characterized by lower leaf construction costs coupled with lower drought resistance and higher water transport efficiency. The most abundant aliens were the ones minimizing carbon investment for leaf construction. In addition, we also found evidence for small-scale functional homogenization driven by alien invasion. Conclusions:Our results suggested that native species adopt a resource conservative strategy whereas alien species are characterized by a higher resource acquisition capacity (i.e., acquisitive strategy). Our data also confirmed that alien species are less functionally diverse than natives, potentially driving the community towards small-scale functional homogenization, resulting in a loss of species and a reduction in the functional space. K E Y W O R D S biological invasion, community ecology, community weighted mean, functional homogenization, functional rarefaction, functional traits, functional uniqueness, quantitative methods | 499 Journal of Vegetation Science TORDONI eT al.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Make it simpler: Alien species decrease functional diversity of coastal plant communities

Tordoni

Petruzzellis

Nardini

et al. 2019

J Vegetation Science

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“…Despite this intense tourism, the Venetian coastline is a regional and national biodiversity hotspot hosting many habitats, most of which are endemic communities (Buffa et al 2012;Sburlino et al 2008Sburlino et al , 2013, included as ''Natural habitats of European Community interest'' in Annex I of the EU Habitat Directive (CE 43/92). Three of these, ''Fixed coastal dunes with herbaceous vegetation (grey dunes)'', ''Coastal dunes with Juniperus spp.''…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

The response of plant community diversity to alien invasion: evidence from a sand dune time series

2014

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This study examines the process of invasion of coastal dunes in north-eastern Italy along a 60-year time series considering alien attributes (origin, residence time, invasive status, and growth form strategy) and habitat properties (species richness, diversity and evenness, proportion of aliens, and proportion of focal species). Vegetation changes through time were investigated in four sandy coastal habitats, using a fine-scale diachronic approach that compared vegetation data collected by use of the same procedure, in four time periods, from the 1950s to 2011. Our analysis revealed an overall significant decline of species richness over the last six decades. Further, both the average number of species per plot and the mean focal species proportion were proved to be negatively affected by the increasing proportion of alien species at plot level. The severity of the impact, however, was found to be determined by a combination of species attributes, habitat properties, and human disturbance suggesting that alien species should be referred to as ''passengers'' and not as ''drivers'' of ecosystem change. Passenger alien species are those which take advantage of disturbances or other changes to which they are adapted but that lead to a decline in native biodiversity. Their spread is facilitated by widespread anthropogenic environmental alterations, which create new, suitable habitats, and ensure human-assisted dispersal, reducing the distinctiveness of plant communities and inducing a process of biotic homogenization.

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“…The Venice Lagoon is a large, shallow microtidal basin located in the Northwest Adriatic Sea (about 45°N, 12°E) ( Fig. 1), the northern and coldest part of the Mediterranean Sea (Buffa, Fantinato, & Pizzo, 2012). The lagoon originated nearly 6000 years ago, after the last glacial maximum during the Holocene transgression (Carbognin, Teatini, Tomasin, & Tosi, 2010) and has co-evolved in past centuries with human presence, which modified the natural processes in the system to maintain the lagoon's morphological structure (e.g.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

The fate of coastal habitats in the Venice Lagoon from the sea level rise perspective

et al. 2018

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A B S T R A C TCoastal wetlands worldwide are retreating owing to several anthropogenic pressures and accelerated sea level rise (SLR). The importance of preserving salt marshes and the services they provide is being increasingly recognized and wetlands have become the target of several international initiatives and conservation regulations. Thus, geospatial models with applicable high spatial resolution results estimating the potential development of wetland habitats under climate change are urgently needed in order to prepare proper conservation measures and management strategies in an opportune moment. This study aimed at predicting the potential impact of SLR on salt marsh habitats in the Venice Lagoon. Habitat turnover over time was modelled based on a fine-scale vegetation map, relative elevation measurements, and most relevant environmental data (subsidence and accretion) connected with SLR. Three model-based SLR scenarios (GFDL P50, RCP4.5, RCP8.5) and the local linear trend were considered. Clear differences between the northern and southern parts of the lagoon emerged. By 2075, 37 to 48% (model-based scenarios) or even 51% (linear scenario) of the Venice lagoon coastal habitats could lie under water. Although nearly all habitats evidenced a decrease in their extent by 2050 and beyond, our results also suggest that different types of marshes will respond differently to SLR. Exactly this information (what, where and when) is of crucial importance for decision makers to initiate enhance planning and management policies. Moreover, the forecasted changes in tidal marsh area and the presented cost effective methodological approach is transferable to other temperate areas faced with comparable SLR rates.

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Effects of Disturbance on Sandy Coastal Ecosystems of N-Adriatic Coasts (Italy)

Cited by 19 publications

References 73 publications

Make it simpler: Alien species decrease functional diversity of coastal plant communities

Make it simpler: Alien species decrease functional diversity of coastal plant communities

The response of plant community diversity to alien invasion: evidence from a sand dune time series

The fate of coastal habitats in the Venice Lagoon from the sea level rise perspective

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