Ecology and diversity of Mediterranean temporary ponds plant communities of Sicily

Transcription

1 7 th European Pond Conservation Network Workshop Ecology and diversity of Mediterranean temporary ponds plant communities of Sicily University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal 1 st May 4 th May 2017 S. Sciandrello 1, G. Giusso del Galdo 2, P. Minissale 2 1 Centre for the Conservation and Management of Nature and Agroecosystems (CUTGANA), University of Catania (Italy) 2 Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania (Italy)

2 Summary The temporary ponds are classified among the most biologically and biogeographically interesting ecosystems in the Mediterranean region. The ponds constitute a remarkable habitat and often contain endangered species (flora and fauna); In the Mediterranean region, there are many types of temporary pools, from small ponds hollowed out in rocks to large pools. They are usually submerged for at least a few months every year, then dry out during the March June period; Temporary pools are included in a priority habitat (Cod. 3170*) according to the Natura 2000 (Habitats Dir. 92/43/EC); Their vegetation mainly comprises mediterranean therophytic and geophytic species belonging to the Isoeto-Nanojuncetea class.

3 Aims The main objectives: (1) to analyse the floristic composition and floristic richness; (2) to define spatial patterns of plant communities; (3) to evaluate the effects of ecological features on the plant communities.

4 Methods In order to analyse the floristic composition and spatial patterns of plant communities were designated transects perpendicular to the margin of the ponds. Each transect consisted of contiguous cm plots, in which the floristic data was noted; The floristic composition and cover of species in each plot were determined by using the standard method of relevés; All floristic data were then combined into one single matrix, takes into account different quantitative data, such as ph, conductivity, soil depth, soil texture, pool size, water level, altitude, temperature, rainfall and floristic richness; Multivariate analysis on plots was performed using SYN-TAX 2000 software and a hierarchical classification method was performed on the data; Ordination of the data-sets was performed using PC-ORD 6 software; Two indices were chosen to estimate floristic diversity of the ponds and diversity of the plant communities identified by cluster analysis: (1) species richness (SR), calculated as the average number of species per plots, and (2) the Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index (H).

5 Location

6 Preliminary results (1) About 220 temporary ponds surveyed ; (2) Temporary ponds entirely hosted amphibian vegetation. Most species belong to the Mediterranean element, with the dominant life form corresponding to therophytes; (3) The species richness of each pond ranged between 7 and 15 species (mean = 11.6). The floristic richness and diversity index of our plant communities increased from the lower zone towards the upper zone; (4) The larger group of plant species was concentrated in the Hyblaean area and belonged to the Isoeto-Nanojuncetea class which mainly includes pioneering annual plant communities that grow on periodically flooded soils; (5) Overall the ponds plant communities surveyed are distributed mainly in 3 spatially differentiated zones that follow mainly the flooding time and microtopography: deep, middle and shallow zone dominated by aquatic, amphibious and terrestrial species respectively.

7 Preliminary results ISÖETO-NANOJUNCETEA Br.-Bl. & R.Tx. ex Westhoff et al ISÖETALIA Br.-Bl ISÖETION Br.-Bl Pulicario-Scirpetum savii Brullo & Di Martino 1974 Isöeto-Ranunculetum parviflori Brullo, Di Martino & Marcenò 1977 Isoeto velatae-crassuletum vaillantii Poiton & Barbero 1965 Crassulo-Elatinetum gussonei Bartolo, Brullo, Minissale & Spampinato 1988 Lythro hyssopifoliae-crassuletum vaillantii Bagella, Caria, Farris, Filigheddu 2009 PRESLION CERVINAE Br.-Bl. ex Moor 1937 Ranunculo-Antinorietum insularis Brullo, Grillo & Terrasi 1976 subass. isoetetosum durieui Myosuro-Ranunculetum laterifolii Raimondo 1980 Ranunculo lateriflori-callitrichetum brutiae Brullo & Minissale 1998 Callitricho-Crassuletum vaillantii Brullo, Scelsi, Siracusa & Tomaselli 1998 CICENDIO-SOLENOPSION LAURENTIAE Brullo & Minissale 1998 Archidio-Isoetetum velatae Brullo & Minissale 1998 Anagallido parviflorae-molinerielletum minutae Brullo, Scelsi, Siracusa & Tomaselli 1998 Kickxio cirrhosae-solenopsietum laurentiae Brullo & Minissale 1998 PHRAGMITO-MAGNOCARICETEA Klika in Klika & Novák 1941 MAGNOCARICETALIA Pignatti 1954 GLYCERIO-SPARGANION Br.-Bl. et Sissingh in Boer 1942 Eleocharitetum palustris Ubrizsy 1948 POTAMETEA Klika in Klika & Novák 1941 POTAMETALIA Koch 1926 RANUNCULION AQUATILIS Passarge 1964 Ranunculetum aquatilis (Sauer 1947) Géhu 1961 Ranunculetum baudotii Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl., Roussine & Nègre 1952 RANUNCULION FLUITANTIS Neuh ausl 1959 Ranunculetum trichophylli Soò 1927 NANOCYPERETALIA Klika 1935 VERBENION SUPINAE Slavnic 1951 Coronopo-Sisymbrelletum dentatae Minissale & Spampinato 1986 Glino-Verbenetum supini Rivas Goday 1964 Heliotropio-Heleochloetum schoenoidis Rivas Goday 1956 Verbeno supinae-gnaphalietum luteo-albi Rivas Goday 1970 Cresso creticae-damasonietum bourgei Sciandrello 2007 Pulicario graecae-damasonietum bourgaei Minissale, Santo, Sciandrello 2011

8 Ranunculus aquatilis comm. Ranunculus trichophyllus comm. 4

9 1 2 3 Elatine gussonei comm.

10 Isoetes longissima comm. Ranunculus ophioglossifolius Ranunculus lateriflorus

11 A new large population of Pilularia minuta (Marsileaceae) discovered in SE-Sicily

12 Solenopsis laurentia and Juncus pygmaeus

13 Cicendia filiformis 9 Juncus pygmaeus Radiola linoides Antinoria insularis

14 Crassula vaillantii comm. Damasonium bourgei comm.

15 Lythrum hyssopifolia Lythrum borysthenicum Lythrum tribracteatum

16 Sisymbrella dentata Eryngium pusillum Teucrium campanulatum Mentha pulegium

17 Conclusions Our study revealed important data regarding the distribution patterns and ecological requirements of the temporary ponds communities, which are relevant issues for future conservation measures. Moreover our results highlight the need to plan concrete conservation actions of these rare communities and especially its micro-habitat whose disappearance is mainly related to the landscape transformations (agriculture and pasture). Moreover plant biodiversity of the temporary ponds in Sicily still reserve surprises and therefore the research proceeds to highlight the peculiarities of flora and vegetation still poorly understood Thanks for your attention! Sciandrello Saverio