Shedding light on typical species: implications for habitat monitoring

Bonari, Gianmaria; Fantinato, Edy; Lazzaro, Lorenzo; Sperandii, Marta Gaia; Acosta, Alicia Teresa Rosario; Allegrezza, Marina; Assini, Silvia; Caccianiga, Marco; Cecco, Valter Di; Frattaroli, Anna Rita; Gigante, Daniela; Rivieccio, Giovanni; Tesei, Giulio; Valle, Barbara; Viciani, Daniele; Rocchetti, Giulia Albani; Angiolini, Claudia; Badalamenti, Emilio; Barberis, Davide; Barcella, Matteo; Bazan, Giuseppe; Bertacchi, Andrea; Bolpagni, Rossano; Bonini, Federica; Bricca, Alessandro; Buffa, Gabriella; Calbi, Mario; Cannucci, Silvia; Pinna, Luigi Cao; Caria, Maria Carmela; Carli, Emanuela; Cascone, Silvia; Casti, Mauro; Cerabolini, Bruno E. L.; Copiz, R.; Cutini, Maurizio; Simone, Leopoldo de; Toma, Adam; Fratte, Michele Dalle; Martino, Luciano Di; Pietro, Romeo Di; Filesi, Leonardo; Foggi, Bruno; Fortini, Paola; Gennaio, Roberto; Gheza, Gabriele; Lonati, Michele; Mainetti, A.; Malavasi, Marco; Marcenò, Corrado; Micheli, Carla; Minuzzo, Chiara; Mugnai, Michele; Musarella, Carmelo Maria; Napoleone, Francesca; Nota, Ginevra; Piga, Giampaolo; Pittarello, Marco; Pozzi, I.; Praleskouskaya, Safiya; Rota, Francesco; Santini, Giacomo; Sarmati, Simona; Selvaggi, A.; Spampinato, Giovanni; Stinca, Adriano; Tozzi, Francesco Pio; Venanzoni, Roberto; Villani, Mariacristina; Zanatta, K.; Zanzottera, M.; Bagella, Simonetta

doi:10.3897/pls2020581/08

Cited by 32 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Considering that vegetation monitoring is a helpful tool for establishing habitat conservation priorities and strategies (Bonari et al, 2021), the findings from this study will provide guidelines for the management of wild boars in this threatened habitat that are applicable at a local as well as the global scale.…”

Section: Con Clus Ionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of inter‐annual meteorological fluctuations and wild boar disturbance on the vegetation of Mediterranean temporary ponds

Caria

Grillas

Rivieccio

et al. 2021

Applied Vegetation Science

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Questions Which are the effects of inter‐annual meteorological fluctuations on plant species richness and vegetation dynamics in Mediterranean temporary ponds, shallow wetlands characterized by alternating phases of drought and flooding? Which are the effects of wild boar disturbance? How do the responses of specialist or non‐specialist species of the habitat differ? Location NW Sardinia Island (Italy). Methods We assessed plant cover during six years within one 60 cm × 60 cm quadrat in each of five areas. To measure the effect of inter‐annual meteorological fluctuations on vegetation, we used two indices: the evapotranspiration and the synthetic agrometeorological indicator. To quantify the effect of disturbance by boars, we compared two treatments: disturbed and non‐disturbed (located outside and inside 1.5 m × 1.5 m exclosures respectively). As a whole, we monitored 60 plots (6 years × 2 treatments × 5 replications). We analyzed data using ANOVA, PERMANOVA and BIO‐ENV. Results Plant species richness and composition showed significant differences between years and treatments. Species composition was correlated with the evapotranspiration before the vegetative peak during the last period and with the agrometeorological indicator during the whole vegetative period. Specialist species showed much weaker growth, quantified as cover, in the drier years. Starting from the third survey year, plant richness and cover of specialist species were significantly higher in disturbed than in not‐disturbed plots. The extent of bare soil generally was not affected by the treatment. Conclusions Meteorological fluctuations affect plant species composition and vegetation dynamics in Mediterranean temporary ponds. The sensitivity of specialist species could make them particularly vulnerable to climate change. Nevertheless, they are resilient to unpredictable disturbances such as burrowing by wild boar. However, our results concerning the positive impact of wild boar disturbance on the vegetation cannot be generalized. Elsewhere, the lack of hunting activity could also be a problem for these habitats.

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Section: Con Clus Ionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of inter‐annual meteorological fluctuations and wild boar disturbance on the vegetation of Mediterranean temporary ponds

Caria

Grillas

Rivieccio

et al. 2021

Applied Vegetation Science

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“…This is crucial on Mediterranean developed coasts where coastal dunes and beaches are mostly managed for recreational purposes, raising the need to solve conflicts between socio-economic interests and the protection of these vulnerable ecosystems. Monitoring can provide useful insights to understanding in which conditions of human disturbance plant species of coastal dunes achieve the best results in terms of survival and growth, and to identify possible differences between species or species traits (Bonari et al 2021a). In a restoration perspective, monitoring allows to determine whether restoration actions are performing as expected and this in turn will allow an efficient allocation of available resources and a reduction of losses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mediterranean developed coasts: what future for the foredune restoration?

Bella

Fantinato

Scarton³

et al. 2021

J Coast Conserv

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The feasibility and efficacy of soft engineering foredune restoration approaches still lack insight from research and monitoring activities, especially in areas where dunes are under persisting human disturbance. We evaluated the efficacy of Mediterranean foredune restoration in dune areas freely accessible to tourists. Foredunes were reconstructed using only sand already available at nearby places and consolidated through the plantation of seedlings of native ecosystem engineer species and foredune focal species. We monitored transplanted and spontaneous seedlings for one year to assess their mortality and growth in relation to the distance from the closest beach access, either formal or informal, as proxy of human disturbance. We also tested whether species differing in their ecology (i.e., affinity to a given habitat) and growth form showed different response to human disturbance. The relationship between seedling mortality and growth and the distance from the closest beach access was tested through Generalized Linear Mixed Models. We found a clear spatial pattern of seedling survival and growth, which decreased as the proximity to the closest beach access increased. Only invasive alien plants and erect leafy species showed to better perform at lower distances from beach accesses. In dune areas with a strong tourist vocation, foredune restoration should be coupled with the implementation of integrated management plans aiming at optimising the relationship between protection and use. Management plans should not only rely on passive conservation measures; rather they should include educational activities to stimulate a pro-environmental behaviour, increase the acceptance of behaviour rules and no entry zones, and actively engage stakeholders in long-term conservation.

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“…This paper presents a preliminary list of selected relevant habitats in a Mediterranean region, Sardinia, not yet considered and challenging to be placed in Annex I of the HD. Here we also propose solutions to bring more attention and increase the information to support the monitoring activities on the proposed habitats Bonari et al 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Proposals for improvement of Annex I of Directive 92/43/EEC: Sardinia

Fois¹,

Bacchetta²,

Caria³

et al. 2021

Plant Sociology

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The ‘Habitats’ Directive (HD 92/43/EEC) is one of the primary legal tools aiming at conserving nature in Europe. Due to the complex iter to revise it, the habitats listed in the Annex I have been seldom updated after the HD adoption. Basing on already available information and expert knowledge, this paper presents a preliminary list of relevant habitats occurring in Sardinia, not yet considered and worth to be placed in the Annex I. Two new habitat proposals, one habitat new for Italy, and nine new subtypes of already existing HD habitats are here described. Most of the proposed new habitats and subtypes have a limited distribution range, due to the high number of narrow, often endangered, endemic species that characterize them. Being neglected, they are consequently poorly investigated, inconstantly monitored and unprotected. Thus, the main aim of this paper is to promote their conservation through implementation of HD and its interpretation manuals.

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Shedding light on typical species: implications for habitat monitoring

Cited by 32 publications

References 40 publications

Effect of inter‐annual meteorological fluctuations and wild boar disturbance on the vegetation of Mediterranean temporary ponds

Effect of inter‐annual meteorological fluctuations and wild boar disturbance on the vegetation of Mediterranean temporary ponds

Mediterranean developed coasts: what future for the foredune restoration?

Proposals for improvement of Annex I of Directive 92/43/EEC: Sardinia

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