Multivariate spatial analysis for the identification of criticalities and of the subtended causes in river ecosystems

Bellino, Alessandro; Alfani, Anna; Riso, Laura De; Baldantoni, Daniela

doi:10.1007/s11356-019-07198-0

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 25 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Such an hypothesis is further supported by the similarly reduced biodiversity observed in Israel where, remarkably, charophytes tend to colonize the same environments [63] as in the area investigated in the present research. On the other hand, the occurrence of several species in temporary freshwater environments in both Sardinia and Sicily [1,62] unobserved in the study area, especially taxa belonging to the Nitelleae tribe, indicates that other drivers, likely eutrophication or land use changes (locally occurring, despite of the general good ecological status of the area [39,40,60]), could be responsible for the reduced diversity of charophytes in the area. Indeed, among the stable populations, all the species observed in the area of the "Cilento, Vallo di Diano e Alburni" National Park, with C. vulgaris being the most frequent, followed by C. gymnophylla and then by C. globularis, invariably occupied oligotrophic rivers and ponds.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Biodiversity, Ecology and Distribution of Mediterranean Charophytes in Southern Italy

Bellino,

Baldantoni

2023

Plants

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Charophytes are amongst the most endangered primary producers in freshwater and coastal ecosystems. In spite of the extensive research on the group and its ecological and conservational relevance, scarce information is available on Mediterranean environments, especially rivers and small water reservoirs, where charophytes face challenging summer droughts and changes in hydrological regimes, as well as pervasive anthropogenic pressures. This research aimed, through repeated field observations, detailed analyses of population traits, and extensive characterization of the colonized environments, to foster an understanding of the distribution, biodiversity, and ecology of charophytes in an area of exceptional environmental value and that is still uninvestigated in relation to its charophyte flora, the southern Campania region (Italy). Overall, 17 populations were discovered, belonging to 4 taxa of the Chara genus: C. globularis, C. gymnophylla, C. vulgaris, and C. vulgaris var. papillata, reduced to 12 populations and to the first 3 taxa by the end of the study. The species occupied different ecological niches and colonized environments such as rivers and small ponds, with environment-dependent morphotypes. The occurrence of few taxa with a wide distribution, often forming ephemeral populations, suggests ongoing constraints on charophyte biodiversity in the area, favoring opportunistic species that are able to benefit from temporary refugia.

show abstract