doi 10.7338/pls2019562/06 · 2019. 12. 19. · 2department of agraria, “mediterranea”...

Plant Sociology, Vol. 56, No. 2, December 2019, pp. 81-98DOI 10.7338/pls2019562/06

Updated and new insights on the coastal halophilous vegetation of southeastern Sicily (Italy)

S. Sciandrello1, C.M. Musarella2, M. Puglisi1, G. Spampinato2, V. Tomaselli3,4, P. Minissale1

1Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania , via A. Longo 19, I-95125 Catania, Italy.2Department of AGRARIA, “Mediterranea” University of Reggio Calabria, Loc. Feo di Vito snc, I-89122 Reggio Calabria, Italy.3Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR), National Research Council (CNR), Via Amendola 165/A, I-70126 Bari, Italy.4Department of Biology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via Orabona 4, I-70125 Bari, Italy.

Saverio Sciandrello https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1132-5698, Carmelo Maria Musarella https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0120-190X, Marta Puglisi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4810-3370, Giovanni Spampinato https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7700-841X, Valeria Tomaselli https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9121-9558, Pietro Minissale https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4047-4169

AbstractAn overview of the salt marsh vegetation of southeastern Sicily is here presented. On the basis of a total of 241 relevés, 8 classes and 32 plant communities have been identified, following the Braun-Blanquet phytosociological method. The salt marsh vegetation of southeastern Sicily is rep-resented by aquatic communities of Ruppietea and Potamogetonetea, by helophytic communities of Phragmito-Magnocaricetea, by hygrophylous communities of Juncetea maritimi, by halophylous communities of Salicornietea fruticosae, by annual halo-nitrophylous communities of Saginetea maritimae, and finally by halophylous annual communities of Thero-Suaedetea splendentis. The plant communities belonging to Salicornietea fruticosae and Juncetea maritimi classes, were analysed through a numerical analysis (hierarchical clustering). The study also describes two new associations belonging to the Tamaricion africanae (Limbardo crithmoidis-Tamaricetum africanae) and Frankenion pulverulentae (Brizo minoris-Isolepidetum cernui) alliances.

Key words: cluster analysis, coastal habitat, Juncetea maritimi, phytosociology, salt marshes vegetation, Salicornietea fruticosae, syntaxonomy.

Introduction

Coastal salt marshes are depressions flooded during the rainy season and drying out in spring or early sum-mer. These natural habitats are of great interest, espe-cially for the presence of highly specialized plant com-munities and, in some cases, due to the presence of rare or endangered plant species. Recently these habitats have been facing increasing human pressure by urban, industrial and agricultural development (Spampinato et al., 2007, 2017; Tomaselli et al., 2012). In Sicily, coastal salt marshes are located mainly in: the west-ern sector of the island, between Trapani and Mazara del Vallo; the eastern sector of the island, in the Hy-blaean territory, between Gela and Pachino, and along the coastal strip between Siracusa and Catania. Coastal wetlands and saltmarshes are absent along the northern coast of the island, with the exception of the Tindari lagoons. In Sicily coastal salt marshes have undergone extensive reclamation (De Pietro, 2011; Sciandrello et al., 2015) and, at present, only in the south-east of the island there is still a wetland system of great environ-mental value (Sciandrello et al., 2014).

Altough several phytosociolgical studies have been carried out on the saltmarsh vegetation of southeastern

Sicily (Frei, 1937; Brullo & Furnari, 1971, 1976; Bar-tolo et al., 1982; Brullo et al., 2000; Sciandrello, 2007; Minissale & Sciandrello, 2010) surveys using hierar-chical classification methods are lacking.

The main objectives of this research were: 1. to ana-lyze the plant communities of the salt marshes using hierarchical classification methods; 2. to update the phytosociological knowledge of the salt marsh vegeta-tion of Sicily in the light of recent reviews and com-pare it with other Mediterranean territories.

Study area

The coastal marsh areas of south-eastern Sicily (Fig. 1), locally called “Pantani”, were chosen as representa-tive areas for this study. Due to their remarkable natu-ralistic value, these coastal wetlands are subjected to various conservation measures, as Natural Reserve, Site of Community Importance (SCI), which since 2017 be-come Special Area of Conservation (SAC), according to Habitat Directive (43/92/EEC) and Special Protection Area (SPA) according to the Birds Directive (2009/147/EC). They are also Important Bird Areas (IBA) accord-ing to the Ramsar Convention (1971) and Important Plant Areas (IPA) according to Blasi et al. (2011).

Corresponding author: Saverio Sciandrello. Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Univer-sity of Catania, via A. Longo 19, I-95125 Catania, Italy; e-mail: [email protected]

82

Of all the wetlands distributed along the coast of southeastern Sicily, “Oasi Faunistica di Vendicari” is the only one to be a regional nature reserve, while all the other wet areas are only included in the Natura 2000 network protection system (SPA ITA0900029 “Pantani della Sicilia sud-orientale, Morghella, di Marzamemi, di Punta Pilieri e Vendicari”), except for the wetlands of Pozzallo. The reference SACs of the wetlands are the following: ITA090002 “Vendicari” (1,518 ha); ITA090003 “Pantani della Sicilia sud ori-entale” (1,603 ha); ITA090004 “Pantano Morghella” (263 ha); ITA090005 “Pantano di Marzamemi” (31 ha); ITA090010 “Isola Correnti, Pantani di Punta Pilieri, Chiusa dell'Alga e Parrino” (147 ha).

The climate is typically Mediterranean. According to climatic data of the neighboring thermo-pluviometric station of Cozzo Spadaro (Portopalo, Siracusa), the mean annual temperature is 18 °C with a maximum average of 25 °C in August and a minimum average of 10.2 °C in January. The mean annual precipitation is 400 mm concentrated in autumn and winter (Zampino et al., 1997). According to the bioclimatic classification proposed by Rivas-Martínez (2004), the study area can be referred to the Mediterranean pluviseasonal oceanic bioclimate, with thermotype lower thermomediterra-nean and ombrotype lower dry (Bazan et al., 2015).

Materials and Methods

A total of 241 relevés, of which 189 unpublished and 52 from literature (Brullo, 1988; Minissale & Scian-drello, 2010), were analysed. The study followed the Braun-Blanquet phytosociological approach (Braun-Blanquet, 1964; Westhoff & van der Maarel, 1978) ac-cording to fundamental and updated concepts recom-mended by Dengler et al. (2005, 2008), Biondi (2011), Pott (2011). A multivariate analysis (Linkage method: Flexible Beta, Distance measure: Euclidean) was ap-plied only to relevés from Salicornietea fruticosae and

S. Sciandrello et al.

Juncetea maritimi classes (153 relevés x 53 species), considering that they represent the two most important and representative classes of the salt marshes of the investigated area and the distinction between the dif-ferent communities is less evident without statistical support, using the PC-ORD 4.34 software. For multi-variate analysis purposes, the cover values were trans-formed according to the method proposed by van Der Maarel (1979). Taxa nomenclature follows Pignatti (2017-2018), while the syntaxa classification follows Biondi et al. (2014) and Mucina et al. (2016). The names of syntaxa comply with the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (ICPN) (Weber et al., 2000). For the correlation between vegetation types and habitat types, we referred to the Italian Inter-pretation Manual for the Habitats of Directive 92/43/EEC (Biondi & Blasi, 2009; Biondi et al., 2012).

Results and discussion

Overall, 32 coastal plant communities were surveyed, belonging to 8 classes (and six habitats), and including two new associations here described. The dominant coastal vegetation belongs to the Salicornietea fruti-cosae class, with seven communities, and the Juncetea maritimi class with six plant communites. The re-sults of the cluster analysis (Fig. 2) applied to the two most significant and complex classes of the saltmarsh vegetation (Juncetea maritimi and Salicornietea fru-ticosae) are partially in agreement with the syntaxo-nomic scheme proposed by Mucina et al. (2016). In fact, the halo-nitrophilous perennial communities of the Inulion crithmoidis alliance, traditionally framed in the Salicornietea fruticosae class, segregate in the Juncetea maritimi class. Nevertheless, whereas Mu-cina et al. (2016) consider Inulion crithmoidis syn-onym of the Juncion maritimi alliance, our results clearly show a division of the Juncetea maritimi class into three alliances (Fig. 2) and allow us to re-evaluate the alliance described by Brullo & Furnari (1988): the first groups the halo-nitrophilous plant communities (Inulion crithmoidis); the second includes the commu-nities of the sandy soils (Plantaginion crassifoliae); the third alliance groups the communities subjected to prolonged flooding (Juncion maritimi). The coastal plant communities are reported in the syntaxonomic scheme. Each association is examined from the no-menclatural, floristic, ecological, chorological and syndynamic viewpoint.

Fig. 1 - Study area. Numbers indicate the salt marshes: 1. Pantano Ponterio, 2. P. Baronello, 3. P. Ciaramiraro, 4. P. Marzamemi, 5. P. Morghella, 6. P. Auruca, 7. P. Cuba, 8. P. Longarini, 9. P. Bruno, 10. P. Vendicari, 11. Gorgo Salato, 12. P. Cannone, 13. P. Pozzallo.

83Coastal halophilous vegetation of southeastern Sicily

Aquatic halophilous cormophyte communities (Ruppietea maritimae J. Tx. ex Den Hartog et Segal 1964) Tab. 1

The salt-tolerant plant communities growing in shal-low waters of saltmarshes belong to the Ruppietea maritimae class. The plant communities recorded fall into the Ruppion maritimae alliance that includes the halo-hydrophytic communities of brackish water (Tomaselli & Sciandrello, 2017). In salt marshes of southern Sicily, the associations Enteromorpho intes-tinalidis-Ruppietum maritimae and Ruppietum spiralis (Ruppion maritimae) have been observed. Enteromor-pho intestinalidis-Ruppietum maritimae is distributed in brackish, more or less deep waters, and is dominated by Ruppia maritima, which sometimes is associated with green algae, such as Enteromorpha intestinalis and Chara sp. pl. (Sciandrello et al., 2014). In the study area this vegetation is favoured by the presence of waters rich in nitrates originating from the agricul-

Fig. 2 - Cluster analysis of the Salicornietea fruticosae class (A) and Juncetea maritimi class (B). Plant communities: 1. Arthrocaulo meridionalis-Juncetum subulati; 2. Junco subulati-Sarcocornietum alpini; 3. Junco subulati-Sarcocornietum fruticosae; 4. Hali-miono portulacoidis-Sarcocornietum alpini; 5. Halimiono-Suaedetum verae; 6. Agropyro scirpei-Inuletum crithmoidis; 7. Schoeno-Plantaginetum crassifoliae; 8. Limonio virgati-Juncetum acuti; 9. Juncetum subulati; 10. Inulo crithmoidis-Juncetum maritimi; 11. Junco maritimi-Spartinetum junceae; 12. Junco maritimi-Caricetum extensae; 13. Aeluropo lagopoidis-Sarcocornietum alpini.

tural activities in the surrounding areas. Ruppietum spiralis, characterized by Ruppia spiralis and Althe-nia filiformis, much rare and localized, replaces the Enteromorpho-Ruppietum maritimae in the brackish marshes with shallow waters normally subject to sum-mer drying, showing a more thermophilous character. Natura 2000 Habitat: 1130 “Estuaries” and 1150* “Coastal lagoons”.

Aquatic cormophyte communities (Potametea Klika in Klika & Novak 1941)

This class includes the perennial macrophytic plant communities of fresh or brackish, mesotrophic or eu-trophic, running or standing waters of lakes, salines, salt marshes (Biondi et al., 2014). The association ob-served in the study area is Potametum pectinati, a sub-merged vegetation dominated by rooted macrophytes (Bartolo et al. 1982). Potametum pectinati tolerates waters poor in O2 and rich in phosphates and nitro-

84 S. Sciandrello et al.

observed in the area are hereafter listed and described. Phragmitetum communis, characterized by the domi-nance of Phragmites australis, is widely distributed in the wetlands of central and southern Italy (Minis-sale & Spampinato, 1986; Maiorca et al., 2002, 2007; Pavone et al., 2007; Tomaselli & Sciandrello, 2017). It is widespread in the whole study area, already reported by Bartolo et al. (1982); in particular, it forms wide and dense stands in many salt marshes of south-eastern Sicily. This vegetation is favoured by the presence of waters rich in nitrates originating from the surrounding agricultural areas and, because of its trend to rapidly expand in such altered environments, it represents a se-rious threat to the biodiversity of the coastal wetlands. Scirpo compacti-Juncetum subulati (Tab. 2) grows on shallow clay-silt soils, and tolerates short periods of aridity in summer. It is characterized by the dominance of Bolboschoenus maritimus var. compactus and Jun-cus subulatus. This sub-halophilous vegetation, that has a wide western Mediterranean distribution (Rivas-Martinez et al., 2001; Brullo & Sciandrello, 2006), covers large areas in some salt marshes of southern Sicily. Scirpetum compacti, reported by Bartolo et al. (1982), prefers soils with higher concentrations of salt and more humid in the summer. This halophilous veg-etation is characterized by the dominance of Bolbosch-oenus maritimus var. compactus. Furthermore, in the study area, the following communities were reported by Bartolo et al. (1982): Scirpo lacustris-Phragmite-tum australis and Caricetum hispidae.

Sub-halophilous perennial grasslands (Juncetea maritimi Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. et al. 1952) Tabs. 3, 4, 5

The perennial herbaceous vegetation dominated by tall rushes and sedges and forming extended and thick formations in wetlands and salt marshes, falls within the Juncetea maritimi class. It is represented by the Juncetalia maritimi order (with Mediterranean dis-tribution) and by the alliances: Inulion crithmoidis (communities of halomorphic soils rarely subjected to submersion), Juncion maritimi (Juncus-dominated communities that develop on soils with a prolonged flooding regime), and Plantaginion crassifoliae (Plantago crassifolia-dominated communities that develop on sand soils in the margins of lagoons and damp dune-slacks). In the study area, six associations (Limonio virgati-Juncetum acuti, Junco maritimi-Caricetum extensae, Limbardo crithmoidis-Juncetum maritimi, Junco maritimi-Spartinetum junceae, Agro-pyro scirpei-Inuletum crithmoidis, Schoeno-Plantagi-netum crassifoliae) were identified. Limonio virgati-Juncetum acuti is distributed in back dune areas, on sand-silty soils rich in salt periodically flooded, and is dominated by Juncus acutus and Limonium virgatum (Tab. 3). This association is widely widespread along

gen, from eutrophic to hypertrophic and its presence is an indicator of organic pollution (Brullo & Scian-drello, 2006; Lastrucci et al., 2014). In the study area, this aquatic community is essentially monospecific with high coverage values of Potamogeton pectina-tus, therefore it was considered useless to propose a phytosociological table. Natura 2000 Habitat: 1150* “Coastal lagoons”.

Helophytic communities (Phragmito-Magnocaricetea Klika in Klika & Novák 1941) Tab. 2

This class groups the helophytic communities colo-nizing marshes, fens and fluvial areas, with brack-ish or fresh, eutrophic or meso-oligotrophic waters. Phragmito-Magnocaricetea, in the study area, is rep-resented by the three alliances Phragmition commu-nis (including the subhalophilous reed communities), Magnocaricion (communities of mesotrophic to dys-trophic soils flooded for prolonged periods) and Scir-pion compacti (that groups the hygrophilous marsh communities of brackish waters). The associations

Relev. Nr. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7Area (m2) 40 50 50 8 40 10 20Cover (%) 100 100 100 90 100 100 100

Diagnostic species Juncus subulatus Forssk. 1 + 2 + 1 2 3 7

Phragmito-MagocariceteaBolboschoenus maritimus (L.) Palla var. compactus 5 4 4 5 5 5 3 7Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. . + + . + . . 3

Transgressive species from Salicornietea fruticosaeSarcocornia alpini (Lag.) Rivas Martinez . + + 1 . . . 3Arthrocaulon meridionalis Ramirez, Rufo, Sànchez-Mata & de La Fuente . . + . . 2 . 2

Sarcocornia fruticosa (L.) A. J. Scott . . . . . 1 2 2Halimione portulacoides (L.) Aellen . + . . . . . 1Limonium narbonense Mill. . . . . . 1 . 1

Other speciesLimbarda crithmoides (L.) Dumort. 1 . . . . . . 1Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf. + . . . . + . 2Juncus maritimus Lam. . 1 . . . . . 1Lythrum junceum Banks & Solander + . . . . . . 1Medicago ciliaris (L.) All. . . . + . . . 1Cressa cretica L. . . . . . 1 . 1

Pres

ence

Tab. 2 - Scirpo compacti-Juncetum subulati (rels. 1-7).

Relev. Nr. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7Area (m2) 4 20 20 10 10 10 10Cover (%) 90 90 80 90 100 90 85

Diagnostic species Ruppia cirrhosa (Petagna) Grande . 5 3 4 5 . . 4Entheromorpha intestinalis (L.) Nees 1 + + . . + 1 5

Ruppietea maritimaeRuppia maritima L. 5 . . 1 1 4 4 5

Other speciesAlthenia filiformis Petit . 1 1 2 1 . . 4Lamprotamnium papulosum (Wallroth) J. Groves

. . . 1 + . . 2

Chara sp. . + 1 . . . . 2

Pres

ence

Tab. 1 - Enteromorpho intestinalidis-Ruppietum maritimae (rels.1, 6-7), Ruppietum spiralis (rels.2-5).


Cluster Nr. 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108Relev. Nr. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 48 53Area (m2) 10 50 50 10 30 50 40 30 50 20 50 20 10 10 50 50 30 30 50 20Cover (%) 90 90 95 100 100 100 100 100 70 70 90 80 90 100 90 85 100 100 100 100

Diagnostic species Plantago crassifolia Forssk. 2 4 2 4 5 4 4 4 4 3 4 4 3 . . . + . + . 15Juncus acutus L. . 3 2 . 3 . . 3 . . . . . 4 4 4 5 4 4 4 11

Juncetea maritimiLimbarda crithmoides (L.) Dumort. + 2 1 + 1 . + 2 . . . . . 2 2 1 2 2 3 3 14Schoenus nigricans L. 4 1 4 . . 2 1 . 1 3 2 1 4 + 1 . . . . . 12Juncus maritimus Lam. 3 . . . . 1 2 1 . . . + 1 . . . + 2 . 1 9Carex extensa Good. . . . 2 . . 1 . . . . . . . . . 1 2 . . 4Panicum repens L. . . . . . . . . + + + . . . . . . . . . 3Spartina versicolor Fabre . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Transgressive species from Salicornietea fruticosaeLimonium narbonense Mill. . 2 1 2 1 + + 1 . . . . . + + 2 2 2 2 1 14Limonium virgatum (Willd.) Fourr. . . . . . 1 2 + 1 + 1 1 2 + 1 + 1 1 1 . 14Elytrigia scirpea (C. Presl.) Holub . . . 2 . . + . . . . . . 1 2 1 1 + . + 8Sarcocornia alpini (Lag.) Rivas Martinez . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + 1 1 3Juncus subulatus Forssk. . + + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . 3Arthrocaulon meridionalis Ramirez, Rufo, Sànchez-Mata & de La Fuente . . . . . . + . . . . . . . + . . . . . 2

Halimione portulacoides (L.) Aellen . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Aeluropus lagopoides (L.) Trin. ex Thwaites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . 1Suaeda vera J.F. Gmel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . 1

Other speciesMedicago ciliaris (L.) All. . . . + . 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . + . . . 4Daucus carota L. subsp. maritimus (Lam.) Batt. . + + . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 . . . . . 4Dittrichia viscosa (L.) Greuter . + + . . . . . . . . . . 1 + . . . . . 4Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. . + . . + . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Parapholis filiformis (Roth) C. E. Hubb. . . . . . + . . . . . . . 1 + . . . . . 3Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 + . . . + 3Sonchus bulbosus (L.) Kilian & Greuter . . . . + . . . . . . . . + . . . . + . 3Sporobolus virginicus (L.) Kunth . . . . . . . . 1 1 . + . . . . . . . . 3Sagina maritima Don . . . . . . . . + + + . . . . . . . . . 3Melilotus siculus (Turra) All. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . 1 2Lotus preslii Ten. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . + . 2Centaurium tenuiflorum subsp. acutiflorum (Schott) Zeltner . + + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Briza minor L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . 1Cressa cretica L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + 1Oxalis pes-caprae L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . 1Suaeda spicata (Willd.) Moq. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + 1Asparagus acutifolius L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . 1Blackstonia acuminata (W. D. J. Koch & Ziz) Domin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . 1Centaurium spicatum (L.) Fritsch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . 1Atriplex prostrata Boucher ex DC. subsp. latifolia (Wahlenb.) Rauschert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + 1

Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Piptatherum miliaceum (L.) Coss. . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . 1

Pres

ence

Tab. 3 - Schoeno-Plantaginetum crassifoliae (rels. 1-13), Limonio virgati-Juncetum acuti (rels. 14-18, 48, 53).

the coastal environments of the Italian peninsula, even if it is often subjected to various pressures and distur-bance factors determining alterations in its structure and floristic composition (Frondoni & Iberite, 2002; Sciandrello et al., 2014). Agropyro scirpei-Inuletum crithmoidis occurs in the most raised parts of the salt marshes, generally not or rarely subject to flooding. Physiognomically, it is characterized by the domi-nance of Limbarda crithmoides, with Thinopyrum elongatum and many other halophytes (Tab. 5). Junco maritimi-Caricetum extensae, dominated by Carex extensa and Juncus maritimus, replaces the Limonio

virgati-Juncetum acuti in areas subject to prolonged flooding periods and loamy soils (Tab. 4). Limbardo crithmoidis-Juncetum maritimi, dominated by Lim-barda crithmoides and Juncus maritimus, replaces the Limonio virgati-Juncetum acuti in areas subject to prolonged flooding periods and loamy-clayey soils (Tab. 4). Junco maritimi-Spartinetum junceae prefers the upper zone of salt marshes with sandy soils, where it forms a monospecific vegetation characterized by Spartinia versicolor, often associated with Juncus maritimus (Tab. 4) and usually in catenal contact with the psammophilous communities of Ammophiletea


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12

.1

+1

1+

21

..

..

..

..

.1

..

..

12Li

mon

ium

virg

atum

(Will

d.) F

ourr.

..

..

1.

.1

..

1+

11

+.

..

++

.+

..

..

1.

11El

ytrig

ia sc

irpea

(C. P

resl

.) H

olub

..

..

+1

.+

..

1+

..

11

++

..

..

..

..

..

9Sa

rcoc

orni

a al

pini

(Lag

.) R

ivas

Mar

tinez

.+

..

1.

..

..

..

..

++

++

..

..

..

..

..

6A

elur

opus

lago

poid

es (L

.) Tr

in. e

x Th

wai

tes

..

..

.1

..

2.

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

2Sa

rcoc

orni

a fru

ticos

a (L

.) A

. J. S

cott

.1

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

.+

..

..

..

2Ju

ncus

subu

latu

s For

ssk.

..

..

..

..

.+

..

..

..

..

..

..

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1

Oth

er sp

ecie

sPh

ragm

ites a

ustra

lis (C

av.)

Trin

. ex

Steu

d..

..

.+

..

..

+.

..

.1

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.+

+.

..

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16

Sym

phyo

trich

um sq

uam

atum

(Spr

eng.

) G.L

. Nes

om.

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

.+

+.

++

11

..

..

.6

Para

phol

is fi

lifor

mis

(Rot

h) C

. E. H

ubb.

..

.1

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

++

+.

..

..

4M

edic

ago

cilia

ris (L

.) A

ll..

..

..

.1

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

1.

.1

.3

Mel

ilotu

s sic

ulus

(Tur

ra) A

ll..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

++

+.

..

..

..

..

.3

Poly

pogo

n m

onsp

elie

nsis

(L.)

Des

f..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

.+

+.

..

..

..

..

.2

Spor

obol

us v

irgin

icus

(L.)

Kun

th.

..

..

..

..

.+

+.

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

.2

Tam

arix

afri

cana

Poi

r..

..

.+

..

..

..

..

..

..

.+

..

..

..

..

.2

Sals

ola

soda

L.

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

.+

.+

..

..

..

..

..

2Su

aeda

spic

ata

(Will

d.) M

oq.

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

.+

.+

..

..

..

..

..

2B

olbo

scho

enus

mar

itim

us (L

.) Pa

lla v

ar. c

ompa

ctus

.1

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

1O

xalis

pes

-cap

rae

L..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

+.

.1

Asp

arag

us a

cutif

oliu

s L.

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

.+

..

1A

risar

um v

ulga

re T

arg.

-Toz

z..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

+.

.1

Aru

ndo

dona

x L.

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

.+

..

1Presence

Tab.

4 -

Lim

bard

o cr

ithm

oidi

s-Ju

ncet

um m

ariti

mi (

rels

. 24-

37, 4

9-52

), Ju

nco

mar

itim

i-Car

icet

um e

xten

sae

(rel

s. 43

-47)

, Jun

co m

ariti

mi-S

part

inet

um ju

ncea

e (r

els.

38-4

2).


Cluster Nr. 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81Relev. Nr. 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81Area (m2) 50 10 5 5 40 50 50 20 50 10 100 20 30 30 30 30 100 100 50 30 20 30 50 50Cover (%) 90 100 100 100 100 95 100 95 90 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 90 100 90 100

Diagnostic species Limbarda crithmoides (L.) Dumort. 5 4 4 4 4 4 5 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 3 4 3 2 4 4 24Elytrigia scirpea (C. Presl.) Holub 3 2 2 1 1 + 2 1 2 + + 2 1 3 1 . 2 2 3 2 2 3 + 1 23

Juncetea maritimiJuncus acutus L. 2 2 . . 2 . + . 1 . + . . . . + 1 2 . . 1 . . . 10Juncus maritimus Lam. . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . 1 2 + . 1 + 2 . + 8Plantago crassifolia Forssk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . + . . 2Spartina versicolor Fabre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . 1

Transgressive species from Salicornietea fruticosaeLimonium narbonense Mill. 2 2 . . 1 . . . + + + 2 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 + + + 3 2 19Arthrocaulon meridionalis Ramirez, Rufo, Sànchez-Mata & de La Fuente

+ + 1 . + . . . + . . . . 1 2 1 2 2 + 1 1 1 + 216

Halimione portulacoides (L.) Aellen . . . . . . . . . 1 1 2 2 2 2 . 2 1 2 + + 1 1 2 14Juncus subulatus Forssk. . + . . 1 2 1 1 1 . 1 2 . . 2 . . . 1 . . . . . 10Sarcocornia alpini (Lag.) Rivas Martinez + . 2 1 + . + . . . . + . . + . . . . . . . . . 7Limonium virgatum (Willd.) Fourr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + 1 1 . . + + . . 5Aeluropus lagopoides (L.) Trin. ex Thwaites . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . 1Suaeda vera J.F. Gmel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . 1

Other speciesPhragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. . . . 2 . 1 . . . . 2 . + . . . + . . + . + . + 8Medicago ciliaris (L.) All. + . . . . . . . . + 1 1 + . . + . . . . . . . . 6Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf. . . . . + + + 1 + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Parapholis filiformis (Roth) C. E. Hubb. 1 + + 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Melilotus siculus (Turra) All. + . . . . . + + . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . 4Sonchus bulbosus (L.) Kilian & Greuter . + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . 2Lotus preslii Ten. . . . . . . + . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . 2Tamarix africana Poir. . . . . . . . + . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . 2Bolboschoenus maritimus (L.) Palla var. compactus . . . . . + . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Briza minor L. . . . . . . + + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Cressa cretica L. + . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . 2Lythrum junceum Banks & Solander . . . . . + . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . 2Daucus carota L. subsp. maritimus (Lam.) Batt. + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Oxalis pes-caprae L. . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . 1Salsola soda L. . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Blackstonia acuminata (W. D. J. Koch & Ziz) Domin . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Centaurium spicatum (L.) Fritsch + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Pres

ence

Tab. 5 - Agropyro scirpei-Inuletum crithmoidis (rels. 58-81).

Br.-Bl. & Tüxen ex Westhoff, Dijk & Passchier 1946 class (Sciandrello et al., 2014, Tomaselli et al., 2011). In the salt marshes of southern Sicily this vegetation is very rare and localized (Pantano Baronello and Pantano Bruno). Schoeno-Plantaginetum crassifoliae grows in the outer parts of the salt marshes on sandy-clayey soils, behaving as a transition belt between the halophilous vegetation of Salicornietea fruticosae and the psammophilous communities of Ammophiletea. It is characterized by the dominance of Schoenus nigri-cans and Plantago crassifolia (Tab. 3). This vegeta-tion is very localized and covers small areas in some salt marshes of southern Sicily (Pantano Auruca, P. Longarini, P. Ponterio, Gorgo Salato and Vendicari). Natura 2000 Habitat: 1410 “Mediterranean salt mead-ows (Juncetalia maritimi)”.

Halophylous succulent dwarf shrubs communities (Salicornietea fruticosae Br.-Bl. et Tx. ex A. Bolòs y Vayreda et. O. de Bolòs in A. Bolòs et Vayreda 1950) Tabs. 6, 7, 8

The Salicornietea fruticosae class includes halophil-ous shrub plant communities of both coastal and inland areas, developing on halomorphic soils of salt marsh-es, estuaries, coastal lagoons (Sciandrello & Tomasel-li, 2014). This vegetation is characterized by succulent Chenopodiaceae with a chamaephytic or nanophaner-ophytic habitus. In the salt marshes of southern Sicily, seven associations were identified (Junco subulati-Sar-cocornietum alpini, Aeluropo lagopoidis-Sarcocornie-tum alpini, Halimiono portulacoidis-Sarcocornietum alpini, Juncetum subulati, Arthrocaulo meridionalis-Juncetum subulati, Junco subulati-Sarcocornietum fruticosae, Halimiono-Suaedetum verae), belonging to the following alliances: Sarcocornion fruticosae (ha-lophilous shrub plant communities, subject to periodic flooding and dominated by Sarcocornia fruticosa and Sarcocornia alpini), Arthrocnemion glauci [hyper-ha-lophylous shrub plant communities subject to periodic flooding and dominated by Arthrocaulon meridionalis (= Arthrocnemum macrostachyum), Suaedion verae (halo-nitrophilous shrub communities)]. Junco sub-


ulati-Sarcocornietum alpini usually colonizes areas subject to long periods of submersion (Giusso et al. 2008). It is physiognomically characterized by Sarco-cornia alpini and is well differentiated by the presence of Juncus subulatus (Tab. 7). In areas subjected to long periods of submersion, close to the coast and with very salty sandy soils, the Junco subulati-Sarcocornietum alpini is replaced by Aeluropo lagopoidis-Sarcocorn-ietum alpini, thermo-halophilous vegetation, very lo-calized in Sicily (Brullo et al., 1988, 2000; Minissale & Sciandrello, 2010), physiognomically characterized by Sarcocornia alpini and Aeluropus lagopoides (Tab. 7). Halimiono portulacoidis-Sarcocornietum alpini develops on well-drained soils rich in organic matter and flooded for long periods (Tab. 8). Juncetum subu-lati is located in the most depressed salt marshes on sandy-muddy soils subject to longer periods of sub-mersion. This monospecific vegetation is differentiat-ed by the dominance of Juncus subulatus, which tends to form dense submerged grasslands (Tab. 6). Arthro-caulo meridionalis-Juncetum subulati grows mainly on clayey soils subject to long periods of submersion. The physiognomy of this plant community is given by the bushes of Arthrocaulon meridionalis, whilst Juncus subulatus is diagnostic of association (Tab. 6). According to a recent taxonomic research carried out by Ramírez et al. (2019), the Sicilian populations of

Arthrocaulon (=Arthrocnemum) has to be attributed to the species Arthrocaulon meridionalis, rather than A. macrostachyum having mainly a western Mediterra-nean distribution. Therefore, it is necessary to correct the name of the association Arthrocnemo-Juncetum subulati, according to Art. 43 of the ICPN (Weber et al., 2000), with the new name of the association Ar-throcaulo meridionalis-Juncetum subulati Brullo & Furnari 1976 nom. corr. hoc loco (Arthrocnemo-Juncetum subulati Brullo & Furnari in Not. Fitosoc. 11: p.14 1976, art. 43). This vegetation finds its op-timal conditions even on hypersaline soils. Usually the Arthrocaulon meridionalis stands are enriched by halophilous species, as Halimione portulacoides, Ar-throcaulon meridionalis, Triglochin bulbosum subsp. barrelieri, Limbarda crithmoides, Limonium narbon-ense. The Junco subulati-Sarcocornietum fruticosae is localized in areas subject to moderate periods of submersion, usually forming dense communities cov-ering limited areas and adjacent, in the most raised parts, to the Agropyro scirpei-Inuletum crithmoidis. This association is characterized by the dominance of Sarcocornia fruticosa, which forms dense popula-tions, and is differentiated by Juncus subulatus (Tab. 8). This vegetation, very rare, was observed only in the Pantano Baronello and Vendicari. Halimiono-Suaede-tum verae usually occurs in the external parts of salt

Cluster Nr. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 109 110 111 112 113Relev. Nr. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 82 83 58 59 60 61 62Area (m2) 10 40 40 100 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 100 50 50 50 50 100 30 100 100 20 20 40 20 100 30 30Cover (%) 95 100 100 100 100 100 100 90 90 90 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 90 90 85 95 100 100 100

Diagnostic species Arthrocaulon meridionalis Ramirez, Rufo, Sànchez-Mata & de La Fuente

3 4 4 4 4 5 5 4 4 4 4 5 4 3 2 5 4 5 5 5 4 4 1 . . . + 24

Juncus subulatus Forssk. . + . 3 3 2 1 3 2 . 3 3 2 1 4 2 3 2 2 1 . . 4 5 4 4 5 22

Salicornietea fruticosaeHalimione portulacoides (L.) Aellen . . . . + 1 2 1 + 1 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 1 + 1 . . . . . + 2 18Limonium narbonense Mill. . + . . 1 + 1 1 + + + . 1 . . 1 . + . . + . 1 . . 2 . 14Sarcocornia alpini (Lag.) Rivas Martinez 1 2 1 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 1 1 2 + . 11Elytrigia scirpea (C. Presl.) Holub 1 . 1 . + . + . . + . . . + . + . + . . . . + . . + . 10Sarcocornia fruticosa (L.) A. J. Scott . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 . . . . . + . . . . . . . 2Aeluropus lagopoides (L.) Trin. ex Thwaites . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Limonium virgatum (Willd.) Fourr. . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Transgressive species from Juncetea maritimiLimbarda crithmoides (L.) Dumort. 2 + 1 . 1 + 1 + + 1 + . 1 . . 2 . + . . 1 . 1 + . 2 . 17Juncus maritimus Lam. . . . . + 1 1 . . + . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . 2 . 6Juncus acutus L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . + + . 2 . 4Carex extensa Good. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . 1

Other speciesPolypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf. . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + 1 . + + . . . . 5Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. + . . . . . + . 2 . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Parapholis filiformis (Roth) C. E. Hubb. . + + . . . . + + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Suaeda spicata (Willd.) Moq. + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + 1 . . . . . 3Salsola soda L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + + 1 . . 3Bolboschoenus maritimus (L.) Palla var. compactus

. . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Sonchus oleraceus L. + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Cressa cretica L. . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Oxalis pes-caprae L. + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Tamarix africana Poir. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . 1Pistacia lentiscus L. . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Pres

ence

Tab. 6 - Arthrocaulo meridionalis-Juncetum subulati (rels. 1-20, 82-83), Juncetum subulati (rels. 58-62).


Cluster Nr. 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153Relev. Nr. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74Area (m2) 50 5 20 50 40 25 50 50 4 4 4 5 8 10 100 30 30 20 5 20 15 5 5 20 10 10 4 10 10 20Cover (%) 90 100 90 100 90 100 100 100 80 100 80 95 100 100 100 80 80 80 100 100 100 100 60 80 100 100 100 100 100 90

Diagnostic species Sarcocornia alpini (Lag.) Rivas Martinez 5 4 4 5 4 4 5 5 5 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 4 30Aeluropus lagopoides (L.) Trin. ex Thwaites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 13

Salicornietea fruticosaeArthrocaulon meridionalis Ramirez, Rufo, Sànchez-Mata & de La Fuente

1 . . . 1 1 1 . . . . . 1 2 + 1 1 2 1 2 + + 1 1 1 + 1 + . . 20

Halimione portulacoides (L.) Aellen . . . . . + + . . . + . 1 1 3 1 . . + . . + . . . + . . 1 1 12Limonium narbonense Mill. . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . 1 2 . . 1 1 1 . 1 + 1 . . 1 1 . 11Juncus subulatus Forssk. . . 1 1 + 2 + 2 1 . . + . 1 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Sarcocornia fruticosa (L.) A. J. Scott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . 1 . + . . . . . + 4Elytrigia scirpea (C. Presl.) Holub . 1 1 + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Limonium virgatum (Willd.) Fourr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Transgressive species from Juncetea maritimiLimbarda crithmoides (L.) Dumort. . 2 + + . . . . . . 1 1 . . + . . . . . . . + + . . . 1 . + 10Juncus maritimus Lam. 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . + . . . . . . 3Carex extensa Good. . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Other speciesSuaeda spicata (Willd.) Moq. . . . . 1 . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . + 1 . 1 . + . . + 1 8Bolboschoenus maritimus (L.) Palla var. compactus

. . . + . . . . 1 2 1 . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. . . . + . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . 1 4Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf. . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Parapholis filiformis (Roth) C. E. Hubb. . + + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Salsola soda L. . . . . 1 . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Salicornia emericii Duval-Jouve . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . 2Medicago ciliaris (L.) All. . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Cressa cretica L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Centaurium tenuiflorum subsp. acutiflorum (Schott) Zeltner

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Pres

ence

Tab. 7 - Junco subulati-Sarcocornietum alpini (rels. 21-38), Aeluropo lagopoidis-Sarcocornietum alpini (rels. 63-74).

Cluster Nr. 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64Relev. Nr. 39 40 41 42 43 84 85 86 87 88 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57Area (m2) 50 50 30 30 20 20 20 20 20 20 30 50 50 20 20 20 20 50 50 100 20 50 10 30Cover (%) 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 90 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 90 100 100 100

Diagnostic species Halimione portulacoides (L.) Aellen + 2 1 1 + + . + . + 4 5 5 4 5 4 4 5 3 5 1 4 3 1 22Sarcocornia fruticosa (L.) A. J. Scott 5 4 5 4 4 4 5 4 5 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Suaeda vera J. F. Gmelin . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . 1 . . . . 4 3 4 4 6

Salicornietea fruticosaeSarcocornia alpini (Lag.) Rivas Martinez + + . . . 1 + . . . 1 + + + 2 + 1 + 2 2 + . + . 16Arthrocaulon meridionalis Ramirez, Rufo, Sànchez-Mata & de La Fuente

. . 1 2 1 + + 1 + . 2 . 2 . . . . + . + . + 1 . 13Limonium narbonense Mill. . + . . . + + . . + + . . 1 . 1 1 + 2 1 . . . 1 12Juncus subulatus Forssk. . . . + . 1 + . . . 1 2 1 . 1 . . 1 . + . 2 . . 10Elytrigia scirpea (C. Presl.) Holub . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . 1 . 2 . . 2 + 1 6Aeluropus lagopoides (L.) Trin. ex Thwaites + + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . 3Limonium virgatum (Willd.) Fourr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . 1

Transgressive species from Juncetea maritimiLimbarda crithmoides (L.) Dumort. + 2 . . . 1 + + 1 + . . . 3 . 2 3 . 2 . 1 1 1 1 15Juncus maritimus Lam. 1 2 . . . 1 1 2 2 2 . . . . . . 1 . 1 . . . . . 9

Other speciesPhragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. . . 1 1 . . + + 1 . . . . . . . . . + + 1 . . . 8Medicago ciliaris (L.) All. . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . + . + . . . . . . . 3Sonchus oleraceus L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + + . . . + . . . 3Asparagus acutifolius L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . + + . . . . . . . 3Bromus racemosus L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . + + . . . . . . . 3Melilotus siculus (Turra) All. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . + + . . . . . . . 3Bolboschoenus maritimus (L.) Palla var. compactus + . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . . . . . . . . 2Oxalis pes-caprae L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + 1 . . . . . . . 2Galactites elegans (All.) Soldano . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + + . . . . . . . 2Tamarix africana Poir. . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Suaeda spicata (Willd.) Moq. . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Cressa cretica L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + 1Arundo donax L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + 1Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . 1Daucus carota L. subsp. maritimus (Lam.) Batt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . 1Dittrichia viscosa (L.) Greuter . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . 1Lotus preslii Ten. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + 1Lythrum junceum Banks & Solander . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . 1Piptatherum miliaceum (L.) Coss. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . 1Sonchus bulbosus (L.) Kilian & Greuter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . 1

Pres

ence

Tab. 8 - Junco subulati-Sarcocornietum fruticosae (rels. 39-43, 84-88), Halimiono portulacoidis-Sarcocornietum alpini (rels. 44-53), Halimiono-Suaedetum verae (rels. 54-57).

marshes, rarely subject to flooding. This associa-tion has halo-sub-nitrophilous requirements, grows on clay-silty soils and forms dense communities dominated by Suaeda vera and Halimione portula-coides (Tab. 8). Natura 2000 Habitat: 1420 “Medi-terranean and thermo-Atlantic halophilous scrubs (Sarcocornietea fruticosi)”.

Therophytic succulent plant communities (Thero-Salicornietea Tx. in Tx. et Oberd. 1958) Tab. 9

This class includes the annual halophilous or halo-nitrophilous vegetation of brackish and salt marsh-es, with optimum growing season in late summer-autumn (Biondi & Casavecchia, 2010; Biondi et al., 2014, Tomaselli et al., 2020) and is characterized by succulent therophytes belonging to the family Chenopodiaceae. The class, according to Biondi et al. (2014), is represented by the two orders: The-ro-Salicornietalia, typical of areas subject to long flooding periods and including the alliance Sali-cornion patulae, and Thero-Suaedetalia splenden-tis, including the halo-subnitrophilous communities of the Thero-Suaedion splendentis alliance. Five associations have been here identified (Suaedo-Sal-icornietum patulae, Salicornietum emerici, Salso-letum sodae, Atriplici salinae-Suaedetum spicatae, Cressetum creticae), belonging both to the Thero-Salicornietalia and Thero-Suedetalia splendentis orders. Suaedo maritimae-Salicornietum patulae, develops in the central part of the salt marshes subject to long periods of submersion. It begins de-veloping in early summer when the surfaces are al-ready dried but the soil still remains moist in depth. It is a thermo-xerophilous community characterized by the dominance of Salicornia patula that forms scattered populations together with other succulent therophytes, such as Suaeda spicata, Salsola soda, etc. Salicornietum emerici, characterized by the dominance of Salicornia emerici, forms more or less dense and almost monospecific plant communi-ties. It differs from the Suaedo maritimae-Salicorn-ietum patulae, for both the dominance of Salicornia emerici, and for the ecology, as it is linked to very wet soils, flooded for longer periods and muddy even during the summer period. Salsoletum sodae is a termo-xerophilous association characterized by Salsola soda that usually forms almost monospe-cific communities; it grows on halomorphic, well drained soils rich in nitrates or organic material (Bi-ondi & Bagella, 2005). Atriplici salinae-Suaedetum spicatae is a halo-nitrophilous vegetation growing on wet soils rich in nitrates and is well differentiated by Suaeda spicata (=S. maritima). Cressetum creti-cae is a halo-subnitrophilous and termophilous veg-etation type, characterized by Cressa cretica, often

90 S. Sciandrello et al.Re

lev.

Nr.

12

34

56

78

910

1112

1314

1516

1718

1920

2122

2324

2526

2728

2930

3132

3334

3536

3738

39A

rea

(m2 )

44

44

44

415

104

1020

1010

1010

1010

1010

1010

1010

1010

1010

1010

1010

1010

1010

55

5Co

ver (

%)

7070

6040

6070

5070

6010

050

6070

5050

8075

8085

8585

8085

8080

9090

9010

090

9085

100

100

8590

8585

90

Dia

gnos

tic sp

ecie

s Su

aeda

spic

ata

(Will

d.) M

oq.

+1

11

34

34

45

31

++

+1

+1

12

..

34

4+

+1

+4

44

55

21

21

137

Sals

ola

soda

L.

33

33

+1

..

..

1.

.1

+3

44

44

..

..

1.

++

++

21

..

++

..

.23

Cres

sa c

retic

a L.

+.

..

..

..

..

..

.3

3.

..

..

43

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

.5

Salic

orni

a em

eric

i Duv

al-J

ouve

..

..

..

.1

..

.3

3.

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

.3

Ther

o-Su

aede

tea

sple

nden

tis

Salic

orni

a pa

tula

Duv

al-J

ouve

+1

++

+.

..

..

.1

..

..

..

..

..

..

.5

44

5.

..

+.

44

44

516

Salic

orni

a do

licho

stac

hya

Mos

s.

..

..

..

..

..

+.

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

1

Tran

sgre

ssiv

e sp

ecie

s fro

m S

alic

orni

etea

frut

icos

aeA

rthro

caul

on m

erid

iona

lis R

amire

z, R

ufo,

Sàn

chez

-Mat

a &

de

La F

uent

e.

..

..

..

+.

+1

+.

..

..

++

+.

.+

1+

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

10Sa

rcoc

orni

a al

pini

(Lag

.) Ri

vas M

artin

ez.

..

..

..

..

.+

..

.+

..

1.

..

.+

++

..

..

..

..

.+

..

..

7Li

mba

rda

crith

moi

des

(L.)

Dum

ort.

..

..

++

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

++

+5

Sarc

ocor

nia

frutic

osa

(L.)

A. J

. Sco

tt.

..

..

..

.+

..

.+

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

2

Oth

er sp

ecie

sA

tripl

ex p

rost

rata

Bou

cher

ex

DC.

subs

p. la

tifol

ia (W

ahle

nb.)

Raus

cher

t1

++

.1

2.

..

..

..

..

..

++

+.

.+

1+

..

.+

1+

+.

..

..

..

15Ph

ragm

ites a

ustra

lis (C

av.)

Trin

. ex

Steu

d..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

.+

+.

..

..

.+

3Sp

ergu

laria

salin

a J.

& C

. Pre

sl.

+.

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

1Bo

lbos

choe

nus m

ariti

mus

(L.)

Palla

var

. com

pact

us.

..

1.

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

1Ju

ncus

subu

latu

s Fo

rssk

..

..

..

.+

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

1M

edic

ago

cilia

ris (L

.) A

ll..

..

..

.+

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

1Ju

ncus

subu

latu

s For

ssk.

..

..

..

..

..

.+

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

.1

Junc

us m

ariti

mus

Lam

..

..

..

..

..

..

+.

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

1Sy

mph

yotri

chum

squa

mat

um (S

pren

g.) G

.L. N

esom

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

.+

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

..

.1Presence

Tab.

9 -

Sals

olet

um s

odae

(rel

s.1-4

, 16-

20),

Atri

plic

i sal

inae

-Sua

edet

um s

pica

tae

(rel

s. 5-

11, 2

3-25

, 30-

34),

Salic

orni

etum

em

eric

i (re

ls. 1

2-13

, 21-

22),

Cre

sset

um c

retic

ae (r

els.

14-1

5),

Suae

do-S

alic

orni

etum

pat

ulae

(rel

s. 26

-29,

35-

39).

colonizing abandoned fields after farming, on clayey and salty soils. Natura 2000 Habitat: 1310 “Salicornia and other annuals colonizing mud and sand”.

Pioneer ephemeral coastal communities (Saginetea maritimae Westhoff et al. 1962) Tab. 10

This class is characterized by small therophytic, xerophilous, halophilous and sub-halophilous species of the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts (Biondi et al., 2014). In Southern Italy, according to Biondi et al. (2014), this class is represented by the Frankeni-etalia pulverulentae and Crypsidetalia aculeatae Vi-cherek 1973 orders. Frankenietalia includes the three alliances: Frankenion pulverulentae, widespread in salt-marshes and rocky coasts; Limonion avei Brullo 1988, replacing the previous one in markedly thermo-xerophilous environmental conditions; and Gaudinio-Podospermion cani Brullo & Siracusa 2000, linked to clayey places of inland salt marshes. Crypsidetalia

aculeatae includes only the Crypsidion aculeatae Pig-natti 1954, alliance that groups the therophytic vegeta-tion growing on temporarily inundated substrates. All the associations observed in the study area fall within Frankenion pulverulentae and are briefly described below. Parapholido-Frankenietum pulverulentae grows on markedly salty soils, often forming mosaic with the halophilous shrubs dominated by Arthrocau-lon meridionalis; Polypogonetum subspathacei pre-fers mainly wet sandy soils, forming mosaic with the perennial hygrophilous communities dominated by Juncus maritimus; Parapholidetum filiformis is char-acterized by the dominance of Parapholis filiformis, along with numerous other halophilous and halo-nitrophilous therophytes (Juncus hybridus, Plantago coronopus, Centaurium tenuiflorum, Sphenopus di-varicatus, Polypogon monspeliensis, Sagina maritima, Parapholis incurva, etc.), and is largely widespread in the coastal wetlands of Sicily, especially on sand-


Relev. Nr. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7* 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32Area (m2) 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 3 1 1 2 0.5 1 1 1 1.5 2 1Cover (%) 90 85 90 85 85 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 85 85 90 80 85 80 85 70 80 60 50 60 60 70 70 80 60 70 80

Diagnostic species Parapholis filiformis (Roth) C. E. Hubb. . . . . + 1 1 1 + 5 5 4 4 3 4 2 1 1 2 2 . . 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 26Isolepis cernua (Vahl) Roem. & Schult. + + 1 1 2 2 3 2 + . . . . . . . 4 3 3 2 + 1 . . . . . 1 2 3 3 2 20Briza minor L. 2 3 1 2 1 1 2 + 1 . . . . . . . + 1 + + . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Parapholis incurva (L.) C.E. Hubb. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 3 3 2 1 1 + 1 + 10Frankenia pulverulenta L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 1 1 2 . + + . . 7Sagina maritima Don . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 . . . . . 3 4 2 3 3 7Polypogon subspathaceus Req. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 4 . . . . . . . . . . 2

Saginetea maritimaePolypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf. 1 + 1 2 1 3 1 1 + + + 1 + 1 1 3 + 1 + 1 . . . 1 + 1 + + + . + + 28Juncus hybridus Brot. 3 3 3 2 3 2 3 2 2 . + . 1 3 1 3 1 1 + + + 1 . . . . . 2 + 1 1 2 25Centaurium tenuiflorum (Hoffmanns. & Link) Fritsch . . + 1 + + + + 1 . . . . + + + + . + + 2 1 . . . + + + + + + + 22Blackstonia acuminata (W. D. J. Koch & Ziz) Domin . . + + + 1 1 + + . . + . + + + . + + + . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Juncus ambigus Guss. 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 3 . . . . . . . 2 1 2 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Centaurium spicatum (L.) Fritsch . . . . . + + . . . . . . . + 1 . . . . . . . . . . . + + + 1 + 9Plantago coronopus L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + 2 1 + . . 1 1 1 1 + . . . . . 9Hordeum marinum Huds. . . . . . . . . . . 1 + + . . . . . . . . . 1 1 2 2 + . . . . . 8Spergularia salina J. & C. Presl . . . . . . . . . 1 + + 1 . . . . . . . . . 2 . + 2 1 . . . . . 8Juncus foliosus Desf. . . . . . + + . . . . . . . . . . + + 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Sphenopus divaricatus (Gouan) Rchb. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 1 2 3 . . . . . 5Bupleurum semicompositum L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 2 2 3 . . . . . 5Parapholis incurva (L.) C. E. Hubb. . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Other speciesAnagallis arvensis L. + + + + . + + + + + . . . + + . . . + + . . . . . . . 1 + 1 1 1 18Triglochin barrelieri Loisel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 + 1 1 . . + + . + 1 . + + + . 11Plantago crassifolia Forssk. . . . + + + + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 1 2 9Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeusch. + + + + + + + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Lythrum junceum Banks & Solander + 1 + + + . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Lythrum hyssopifolia L. . + + + + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + 2 . . . . . . . . . . 6Melilotus siculus (Turra) All. + + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . + + . + . . . . . 6Trifolium panormitanum C. Presl (=T. squarrosum) 2 1 1 + + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 2 + 2 . . . . . 5Bellis annua L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 3 1 2 5Lotus preslii Ten. . + + . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Salicornia patula Duval-Jouve . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . + + . . . . . . . 3Bromus racemosus L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + + . . + . . . . . 3Trifolium lappaceum L. + + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Cressa cretica L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Mentha pulegium L. . . . . . + + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Sonchus oleraceus L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + + . . . . . . . 2Helminthotheca echioides (L.) Holub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . + . . . . . . 2Samolus valerandi L. . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Trifolium campestre Schreb. . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Suaeda spicata (Willd.) Moq. . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Pres

ence

Tab. 10 - Brizo minoris-Isolepidetum cernui ass. nova (rels. 1-9, 17-20), Parapholidetum filiformis (rels. 10-16), Polypogonetum subs-phatacei (rels. 21-22), Parapholido incurvae-Frankenietum pulverulentae (rels. 23-27), Isolepido-Saginetum maritimae (rels. 28-32).

silty soils subject to short flooding periods (Brullo & Giusso, 2003). Brizo minoris-Isolepidetum cernui is an annual spring vegetation type growing on sandy or clayey-silty soils and subject to periodic flooding. It is in catenal contact with the sub-halophilous plant communities of the Inulo-Juncetum maritimi or Junco maritimi-Caricetum extensae (Juncetea maritimi). This halo-nitrophilous vegetation is characterized by the dominance of Isolepis cernua, a small plant belong-ing to the Cyperaceae family, which grows together with several sub-halo-nitrophilous species of Saginetea maritimae, such as Juncus hybridus, J. ambiguus, J. fo-liosus, Blackstonia acuminata, Polypogon monspelien-sis, Plantago coronopus, Parapholis filiformis, Briza minor ect. For its floristic peculiarity, this community is here proposed as a new association, named Brizo minoris-Isolepidetum cernui ass. nova (Holotypus: rel. 7, Tab. 10 this paper). For its floristic set Brizo minor-is-Isolepidetum cernui shows some relations with the Isolepido-Saginetum maritimae, association described by Brullo (1988) for Vendicari, found within the com-munities belonging to Schoeno-Plantaginetum crassi-foliae. It is characterized by less hygrophilous species, such as Sagina maritima, Parapholis filiformis, P. in-curva. Natura 2000 Habitat: 1310 “Salicornia and other annuals colonizing mud and sand”.

Dwarf woodlands, scrubs permanent communities (Nerio-Tamaricetea Br.-Bl. & O. Bolòs 1958) Tab. 11

The class includes the halophilous vegetation charac-terized by Tamarix species of the intermittent/permanent water courses and coastal wetlands. This vegetation is typical of the thermo-Mediterranean thermotype, occa-

sionally occurring in the meso-Mediterranean thermo-type (Brullo & Spampinato, 1997; Biondi et al., 2014).

Traditionally, one order (Tamaricetalia) and four al-liances have been distinguished in the Mediterranean region (Asensi & Dìez-Garretas, 2011): Tamaricion africanae Br.-Bl. & O. Bolós 1958 (fresh water and brackish waters), Tamaricion boveano-canariensis (brackish water), Imperato cylindricae-Saccharion ravennae Br.-Bl. & O. Bolós 1958 (communities of tall grasses) and Rubo ulmifolii-Nerion oleandri Bolós 1985 (oleander or chaste tree communities developing on stony and sandy streambeds). The plant communi-ties recorded in the saltmarshes of southeastern Sicily are dominated by Tamarix africana and were referred to the Tamaricion africanae alliance, that groups com-munities developing on water courses and coastal wet-lands (Brullo & Sciandrello, 2006). This halophilous woody vegetation develops along the edges of salt marshes, subjected to long periods of submersion and characterized by mainly silty soils. Physiognomically, it is characterized by Tamarix africana and some ha-lophilous species of the Salicornietea fruticosae, such as Elytrigia scirpea, Sarcocornia alpini, Arthrocaulon meridionalis, Halimione portulacoides, ect. Limbarda crithmoides is here identified as diagnostic halophil-ous species of a new association, with the name Lim-bardo crithmoidis-Tamaricetum africanae ass. nova (Holotypus: rel. 4, Tab. 11 this paper). It is in catenal contact with the halophilous vegetation of the Sali-cornietea fruticosae or sub-halophilous plant commu-nities of the Juncetea maritimi. Natura 2000 Habitat: 92D0 “Southern riparian galleries and thickets (Nerio-Tamaricetea and Securinegion tinctoriae)”.


Relev. Nr. 1 2 3 4* 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18Area (m2) 10 20 40 50 50 50 50 50 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20Cover (%) 90 95 95 80 90 90 90 90 100 100 100 100 80 80 100 80 80 85

Diagnostic species Limbarda crithmoides (L.) Dumort. 3 2 1 2 1 2 1 + 2 1 1 + + + + 2 1 + 18

Nerio-TamariceteaTamarix africana Poir. 4 3 5 4 5 5 4 4 3 4 4 4 3 4 4 3 3 3 18Tamarix gallica L. . . . + . 1 . 2 . . + + + . . . . . 6

Transgressive species from Salicornietea fruticosaeSarcocornia alpini (Lag.) Rivas Martinez 1 + . 1 + . . + . . . . 1 . + + 1 2 10Halimione portulacoides (L.) Aellen . . . 1 . + . 1 + 2 3 2 3 . . . . . 8Elytrigia scirpea (C. Presl.) Holub + . + + . . . + + . . . . . . . . 6Arthrocaulon meridionalis Ramirez, Rufo, Sànchez-Mata & de La Fuente 2 . . + . . . 2 . . . . . + . . + 1 6Juncus subulatus Forssk. . . 1 + . . . + . . . . . . . . . . 3

Other speciesPhragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. . 1 + . . 1 + . . . . . 1 . . . . . 5Atriplex prostrata Boucher ex DC. subsp. latifolia (Wahlenb.) Rauschert . . . . . . . . . . . . . + + + + + 5Centaurea sphaerocephala L. . . . . . . . . . + + + . . . . . . 3Juncus maritimus Lam. . . . . . + 1 . . . . . . . . . . . 2Carex extensa Good. . . . . . 2 + . . . . . . . . . . . 2Spartina versicolor Fabre . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . 1Sonchus bulbosus (L.) Kilian & Greuter + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Arundo donax L. . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Bolboschoenus maritimus (L.) Palla . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeusch. . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Parapholis filiformis (Roth) C. E. Hubb. . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . 1Suaeda spicata (Willd.) Moq. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . 1

Pres

ence

Tab. 11 - Limbardo crithmoidis-Tamaricetum africanae ass. nova


Conclusion

The study of the plant communities with the phytoso-ciological method is basic for detecting and assessing the habitats of conservation interest in line with the ob-jectives of the European Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC (Biondi et al., 2012; European Commission, 2013; Gigante et al., 2016; Angiolini et al., 2017; Tomaselli et al., 2017). The present study allowed us to identi-fy six habitats well-typified in terms of their floristic composition and structure [1130 “Estuaries”, 1150* “Coastal lagoons”, 1410 “Mediterranean salt mead-ows (Juncetalia maritimi)”, 1420 “Mediterranean and thermo-Atlantic halophilous scrubs (Sarcocornietea fruticosi)”, 1310 “Salicornia and other annuals colo-nizing mud and sand”, 92D0 “Southern riparian galler-ies and thickets (Nerio-Tamaricetea and Securinegion tinctoriae)”].

In addition, the study reports two new associations for Sicily: the first one is Brizo minoris-Isolepidetum cernui (Saginetea maritimae), the second one Lim-bardo crithmoidis-Tamaricetum africanae (Nerio-Tamaricetea). We also reported, for the first time in Sicily, both the Junco maritimi-Caricetum extensae, hemicriptophytic grassland dominated by Juncus maritimus and Carex extensa, widespread in Corsica, Sardinia and Apulia (Biondi, 1992; Géhu & Biondi, 1995; Sciandrello & Tomaselli, 2014) and the Scirpo compacti-Juncetum subulati, described by Géhu et al. (1992) for the wetland of Camargue, south of Arles (France), and known also from Corsica, Sardinia, the Adriatic coast (Géhu & Biondi, 1994, 1996; Filighed-du et al., 2000, Sciandrello & Tomaselli, 2014) and Calabria (Maiorca et al., 2007).

From a phytosociological point of view, the salt marsh communities of Sicily show a remarkable au-tonomy, as evidenced by several vicariant taxa, such as Arthrocaulon meridionalis, Sarcocornia alpini, Ae-luropus lagopoides, Elytrigia scirpea, Halocnemum cruciatum, Limonium pachynense, and Triglochin bul-bosa subsp. barrelieri (Bacchetta et al., 2012; de La Fuente et al., 2013; Biondi et al., 2013; Sciandrello & Tomaselli, 2014; Ramírez et al., 2019). The floristic composition analysis of the Sicilian halophilous veg-etation highlights, in fact, phytogeographic differences between the central Mediterranean area, with a xeric climate, and the northern Mediterranean, influenced by a temperate climate (Sciandrello et al., 2014). Further-more, our study confirms the disappearance of some syntaxa, recorded in the past for the salt marshes of south-eastern Sicily and no longer found to date, due to reclamation activities started in the years 1970-80 to recover surfaces for agriculture, mainly vineyards and then greenhouse crops. Some examples are the Soncho-Cladietum marisci reported by Bartolo et al. (1982) for Pantano Arezzi (Marina di Marza), which formed dense populations in the central part of the salt marsh, and Halopeplidetum amplexicaulis, reported by Brullo & Furnari (1976) for Pantano Ciaramiraro and P. Longarini. Together with these plant communities, some diagnostic and rare species have disappeared in saltmarshes of southeastern Sicily, such as Halopeplis amplexicaulis (Vahl) Ces., a very rare halophilous an-nual species in Sicily, and Linum maritimum, species known only for Pantano Arezzi. In conclusion, this alarming scenery highlights how important are the ac-tivities of habitat monitoring, in order to preserve plant communities and rare and threatened species.

Syntaxonomic scheme

RUPPIETEA MARITIMAE J. Tx. ex Den Hartog et Segal 1964RUPPIETALIA J. Tx. ex Den Hartog et Segal 1964Ruppion maritimae Br.-Bl. ex Westhoff in Bennema et al. 1943 Enteromorpho intestinalidis-Ruppietum maritimae Westhoff ex R.Tx. & Böckelmann 1957Ruppietum spiralis Hocquette 1927 corr. Iversen 1934

POTAMOGETONETEA Klika in Klika et Novak 1941POTAMOGETONETALIA Koch 1926Potamogetonion Libbert 1931Potametum pectinati Cartensen 1955

PHRAGMITO-MAGNOCARICETEA Klika in Klika & Novák 1941PHRAGMITETALIA Koch 1926Phragmition communis Koch 1926Phragmitetum communis (W. Koch 1926) Schmale 1939Scirpo lacustris-Phragmitetum australis Koch 1926MAGNOCARICETALIA PIGNATTI 1954Magnocaricion elatae Koch 1926 Caricetum hispidae Brullo & Ronsisvalle 1975


SCIRPETALIA COMPACTI Heijný in Holub, Heijný, Moraveć et Neuhäusl 1967 corr. Rivas-Martínez, Costa, Cas-troviejo et E. Valdés 1980 Scirpion compacti Dahl & Hadaĉ 1941 corr. Rivas-Martínez et al.1980 Scirpetum compacti Van Langendonck 1931 corr. Bueno et F. Prieto in Bueno 1997Scirpo compacti-Juncetum subulati Géhu, Biondi, Géhu-Franck et Costa 1992

JUNCETEA MARITIMI Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. et al. 1952 JUNCETALIA MARITIMI Br.Bl. ex Horvatic 1934Inulion crithmoidis Brullo et Furnari 1988Limonio virgati-Juncetum acuti Brullo et Di Martino ex Brullo et Furnari 1976Agropyro scirpei-Inuletum crithmoidis Brullo in Brullo et al. 1988Juncion maritimi Br.Bl. ex Horvatic 1934Junco maritimi-Caricetum extensae Géhu 1976Junco maritimi-Spartinetum junceae O. de Bolòs 1962 (nom. inv. prop. Filigheddu, Farris et Biondi 2000)Limbardo crithmoidis-Juncetum maritimi Brullo in Brullo et al.1988Plantaginion crassifoliae Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl. et al. 1952Schoeno-Plantaginetum crassifoliae Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl., Roussine et Negre 1952

SALICORNIETEA FRUTICOSAE Br.-Bl. et Tx. ex A. Bolòs y Vayreda et. O. de Bolòs in A. Bolòs et Vayreda 1950 SALICORNIETALIA FRUTICOSAE Br.-Bl. 1933 Salicornion fruticosae Br.-Bl. 1933 Junco subulati-Sarcocornietum alpini Brullo et Sciandrello in Giusso et al. 2008Aeluropo lagopoidis-Sarcocornietum alpini Brullo in Brullo et al. 1988 corr. Barbagallo et al. 1990Junco subulati-Sarcocornietum fruticosae Brullo 1988Arthrocnemion glauci Rivas-Mart. et Costa M. 1984 Arthrocaulo meridionalis-Juncetum subulati Brullo et Furnari 1976 nom. corr. hoc locoJuncetum subulati Caniglia, Chiesura, Curti, Lorenzoni, Marchiori, Razzara, Tornadore 1984Suaedion brevifoliae Br.-Bl. et O. de Bolòs 1958 (= Suaedion verae Brullo et Furnari 1988)Halimiono-Suaedetum verae Molinier et Tallon 1970 corr. Géhu 1984Halimiono portulacoidis-Sarcocornietum alpini Rivas-Martínez et Costa 1984

THERO-SUAEDETEA SPLENDENTIS Rivas-Martínez 1972THERO-SALICORNIETALIA Tüxen in Tüxen et Oberdorfer ex Géhu et Géhu-Franck 1984Salicornion patulae Géhu et Géhu-Franck ex Rivas-Martínez 1990Salicornietum emerici O. Bolòs 1962 ex Brullo et Furnari 1976Suaedo-Salicornietum patulae Brullo et Furnari ex Géhu et Géhu-Franck 1984THERO-SUAEDETALIA SPLENDENTIS Br.-Bl. et O. Bolòs 1958Thero-Suaedion splendentis Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl., Roussine et Nègre 1952Salsoletum sodae Pignatti 1953 Atriplici salinae-Suaedetum spicatae O. Bolòs et Vigo 1984 corr. Rivas-Martínez, T.E. Díaz, Fernández-González, Izco, Loidi, Lousã et Penas 2002Cressetum creticae Brullo & Furnari 1976

SAGINETEA MARITIMAE Westhoff, Van Leeuwen et Adriani 1962FRANKENIETALIA PULVERULENTAE Rivas-Mart. ex Castroviejo et Porta 1976 Frankenion pulverulentae Rivas-Mart. ex Castroviejo et Porta 1976 Parapholido-Frankenietum pulverulentae Rivas-Martínez ex Castroviejo et Porta 1976Isolepido-Saginetum maritimae Brullo 1988Brizo minoris-Isolepidetum cernui ass. nova Parapholidetum filiformis Brullo, Scelsi et Siracusa 1994Polypogonetum subspathacei Gamisans 1992

NERIO-TAMARICETEA Br.-Bl. et O.Bolòs 1958


Funding

This research was financially supported by the re-search programme (22722132138, 2016-2018) funded by the University of Catania and by Convention with PIM in the frame of the project Mediswet funded by MAVA foundation.

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Appendix I: Localities, data and authors of the re-léves

Tab. 1 - Enteromorpho intestinalidis-Ruppietum mari-timae (rels. 1, 6-7) and Ruppietum spiralis (rels. 2-5); in brackets the authors of the relevés: Rel. 1, Pantano Morghella, 21.10.2011 (Sciandrello); Rels. 2-3, Vendi-cari, 29.04.2011 (Minissale & Sciandrello); Rels. 4-5, Pantano Morghella, 29.04.2011 (Minissale & Sciandrel-lo); Rels. 6-7, Pantano Morghella, 4.4.2019 (Giusso & Sciandrello).

Tab. 2 - Scirpo compacti-Juncetum subulati (rels. 1-7); in brackets the authors of the relevés: Rel. 1, Panta-no Ponterio, 31.05.2012 (Sciandrello); Rel. 2, Pantano Baronello, 08.12.2011 (Sciandrello); Rel. 3, Pantano Ciaramiraro, 30.09.2011 (Sciandrello); Rel. 4, Pantano Cuba, 07.11.2011 (Sciandrello); Rel. 5, P. Marzamemi, 30.09.2011 (Sciandrello); Rel. 6, P. Cuba, 08.12.2011 (Sciandrello); Rel. 7, P. Auruca, 08.12.2011 (Sciandrello).Tab. 3 - Schoeno-Plantaginetum crassifoliae (Rels. 1-13); Limonio virgati-Juncetum acuti (Rels. 14-18, 48, 53); in brackets the authors of the relevés: Rel. 1, Pantano Ponterio, 06.12.2011 (Sciandrello); Rels. 2-3, Pantano Ponterio, 14.03.2011 (Sciandrello); Rel. 4, Pan-tano Auruca, 21.10.2011 (Sciandrello); Rel. 5, Pantano Auruca, 15.03.2012 (Sciandrello); Rel. 6, Pantano Ven-dicari, 20.12.2011 (Sciandrello); Rel. 7, Pantano Ven-dicari, 03.02.2010 (Sciandrello); Rel. 8, Gorgo Salato, 20.12.2011 (Sciandrello); Rels. 9-13, Pantano Vendicari (Minissale & Sciandrello, 2010, Tab. 7, Rels. 8-12); Rel. 14, Pantano Ponterio, 06.12.2011 (Sciandrello); Rels. 15-16, Pantano Ponterio, 31.05.2012 (Sciandrello); Rels. 17-18, Pantano Auruca, 21.10.2011 (Sciandrello); Rel. 48, Pantano Cannone (Portopalo), 21.02.2019 (Giusso, Minissale & Sciandrello); Rel. 53, Pantano Ponterio, 4.9.2013 (Sciandrello).Tab. 4 - Limbardo crithmoidis-Juncetum maritimi (Rels. 24-37, 49-52); Junco maritimi-Caricetum exten-sae (Rels. 43-47); Junco maritimi-Spartinetum junceae (Rels. 38-42); in brackets the authors of the relevés: Rel. 24, Pantano Ponterio, 31.05.2012 (Sciandrello); Rel. 25, Pantano Baronello, 08.12.2011 (Sciandrello); Rel. 26, Pantano Bruno, 07.11.2011 (Sciandrello); Rel. 27, Pantano Vendicari, 20.12.2011 (Sciandrello); Rel. 28, Pantano Vendicari (Costa Eloro), 14.01.2011 (Minissale & Sciandrello); Rel. 29, Pantano Vendicari, 03.02.2010 (Sciandrello); Rel. 30, Gorgo Salato, 20.12.2011 (Scian-drello); Rels. 31-37, Pantano Vendicari (Minissale & Sciandrello, 2010, Tab.7, Rels. 1-7); Rel. 38, Pantano Baronello, 08.12.2011 (Sciandrello); Rels. 39-40, Panta-no Bruno, 07.11.2011 (Sciandrello); Rel. 41, Gorgo Sa-lato, 20.12.2011 (Sciandrello); Rel. 42, Pantano Ciara-miraro, 27.09.2012 (Sciandrello); Rels. 43-47, Pantano Pozzallo, 11.04.2019 (Minissale & Sciandrello); Rel. 49, Pantano Cannone (Portopalo), 21.02.2019 (Giusso, Mi-nissale & Sciandrello); Rels. 50-52, Pantano Ponterio, 4.9.2013 (Sciandrello).Tab. 5 - Agropyro scirpei-Inuletum crithmoidis (Rels. 58-81); in brackets the authors of the relevés: Rel. 58, Pan-tano Ponterio, 30.09.2011 (Sciandrello); Rel. 59, retro-duna (Pantano Ponterio), 06.12.2011 (Sciandrello); Rels. 60-61, Pantano Ponterio, 14.03.2012 (Sciandrello); Rel. 62, Pantano Ponterio, 31.05.2012 (Sciandrello); Rel. 63, Pantano Ponterio, 31.05.2012 (Sciandrello); Rels. 64-66, Pantano Ponterio, 31.05.2012 (Sciandrello); Rels. 67-68, Pantano Baronello, 08.12.2011 (Sciandrello), Rel. 69, Pantano Morghella, 21.10.2011 (Sciandrello); Rel. 70,


Pantano Morghella, 29.04.2011 (Minissale & Sciandrel-lo); Rels. 71-72, Pantano Longarini, 07.11.2011 (Scian-drello); Rel. 73, Gorgo Salato, 20.12.2011 (Sciandrello); Rels. 74-81, Pantano Vendicari (Minissale & Sciandrel-lo, 2010, Tab.6, Rels. 16-23).Tab. 6 - Arthrocaulo meridionalis-Juncetum subulati (Rels. 1-20, 82-83); Juncetum subulati (Rels. 58-62); in brackets the authors of the relevés: Rel. 1, Pantano Ponterio, 06.12.2011 (Sciandrello); Rels. 2-3, Pantano Ponterio, 31.05.2012 (Sciandrello); Rel. 4, Pantano Cia-ramiraro, 30.09.2011 (Sciandrello); Rel. 5, Pantano Lon-garini, 07.11.2011 (Sciandrello); Rel. 6, Pantano Vendi-cari, 20.12.2011 (Sciandrello); Rel. 7, Pantano Vendicari (Costa Eloro), 14.01.2011 (Minissale & Sciandrello); Rels. 8-10, Pantano Vendicari, 03.02.2010 (Sciandrello); Rel. 11, Pantano Vendicari, 08.10.2008 (Sciandrello); Rels. 12-20, Pantano Vendicari (Minissale & Scian-drello, 2010, Tab.6, Rels. 1-9); Rels. 82-83, Pantano Ponterio, 4.9.2013 (Sciandrello). Rels. 58-59, Pantano Ponterio, 31.05.2012 (Sciandrello); Rel. 60, Pantano Marzamemi, 21.10.2011 (Sciandrello); Rel. 61, Pantano Auruca, 21.10.2011 (Sciandrello); Rel. 62, Pantano Ven-dicari, 20.12.2011 (Sciandrello).Tab. 7 - Junco subulati-Sarcocornietum alpini (Rels. 21-38), Aeluropo lagopoidis-Sarcocornietum alpini (Rels. 63-74); in brackets the authors of the relevés: Rel. 21, Pantano Ponterio, 30.09.2011 (Sciandrello); Rel. 22, Pantano Ponterio, 14.03.2012 (Sciandrello); Rels. 23-24, Pantano Ponterio, 31.05.2012 (Sciandrello); Rels. 25-26, Pantano Baronello, 30.09.2011 (Sciandrello); Rels. 27-28, Pantano Marzamemi, 21.10.2011 (Sciandrello); Rels. 29-31, Pantano Morghella, 29.04.2011 (Minissa-le & Sciandrello); Rel. 32, Pantano Auruca, 21.10.2011 (Sciandrello); Rel. 33, Pantano Cuba, 07.11.2011 (Scian-drello); Rel. 34, Pantano Longarini, 07.11.2011 (Scian-drello); Rel. 35, Vendicari (Costa Eloro), 14.01.2011 (Minissale & Sciandrello); Rels. 36-38, Pantano Vendi-cari (Minissale & Sciandrello, 2010, Tab.6, Rels. 10-12); Rel. 63, Pantano Gorgo Salato, 06.09.2003 (Sciandrello), Rel. 64, Pantano Bruno, 06.09.2003 (Sciandrello), Rels. 65-67, Pantano Longarini, 06.09.2003 (Sciandrello), Rel. 68, Pantano Cuba, 07.10.2003 (Sciandrello), Rels. 69-70, Pantano Grande Roveto 07.10.2003 (Sciandrel-lo), Rels. 71-72, Pantano Baronello, 07.10.2003 (Scian-drello), Rels. 73-74, Pantano Morghella, 07.10.2003 (Sciandrello).Tab. 8 - Junco subulati-Sarcocornietum fruticosae (Rels. 39-43, 84-88), Halimiono portulacoidis-Sarcocornietum alpini (Rels. 44-53), Halimiono-Suaedetum verae (Rels. 54-57); in brackets the authors of the relevés: Rels. 39-40, Pantano Baronello, 08.12.2011 (Sciandrello); Rels. 41-43, Pantano Vendicari (Minissale & Sciandrello, 2010, Tab.6, Rels. 13-15); Rel. 44, Pantano Baronello, 30.09.2011 (Sciandrello); Rels. 45-46, Pantano Mar-zamemi, 21.10.2011 (Sciandrello); Rels. 47-48, Panta-no Morghella, 21.10.2011 (Sciandrello); Rels. 49-50,

Pantano Morghella, 29.04.2011 (Minissale & Scian-drello); Rel. 51, Vendicari, 20.12.2011 (Sciandrello); Rels. 52-53, Vendicari (Costa Eloro), 14.01.2011 (Mi-nissale & Sciandrello); Rel. 54, Pantano Ponterio, 31.05.2012 (Sciandrello); Rel. 55, Pantano Ciaramiraro, 30.09.2011 (Sciandrello); Rels. 56-57, Pantano Longari-ni, 07.11.2011 (Sciandrello); Rels. 84-88, Pantano Baro-nello, 4.9.2013 (Sciandrello).Tab. 9 - Salsoletum sodae (Rels. 1-4, 16-20), Atriplici salinae-Suaedetum spicatae (Rels. 5-11, 23-25, 30-34), Salicornietum emerici (Rels. 12-13, 21-22), Cresse-tum creticae (Rels. 14-15), Suaedo-Salicornietum pa-tulae (Rels. 26-29, 35-39); in brackets the authors of the relevés: Rels. 1-2, Pantano Ponterio, 22.05.2012 (Sciandrello); Rel. 3, Pantano Ponterio, 31.05.2012 (Sciandrello); Rel. 4, Pantano Morghella, 21.10.2011 (Sciandrello); Rels. 5-6, Pantano Ponterio, 31.05.2012 (Sciandrello); Rel. 7, Pantano Vendicari, 20.12.2011 (Sciandrello); Rel. 8, Pantano Grande, Vendicari (Mi-nissale & Sciandrello 2010, Tab. 5, Rel.3); Rels. 9-10, Pantano Roveto, Vendicari (Minissale & Sciandrello 2010, Tab.5, Rels. 4-5); Rel. 11, Pantano Baronello, 27.09.2012 (Sciandrello); Rel. 12, Pantano Roveto, Vendicari (Minissale & Sciandrello 2010, Tab.5, Rel. 1); Rel. 13, Pantano Grande, Vendicari (Minissale & Sciandrello 2010, Tab.5, Rel.2); Rels. 14-15, Pantano Baronello, 27.09.2012 (Sciandrello); Rels. 16-25, Pan-tano Ponterio, 23.09.2013 (Sciandrello); Rels. 26-34, Pantano Morghella, 24.09.2013 (Sciandrello); Rels. 35-39, Pantano Morghella, 11.11.2013 (Sciandrello).Tab. 10 - Brizo minoris-Isolepidetum cernui (Rels. 1-9, 17-20), Parapholidetum filiformis (Rels. 10-16), Polypogonetum subsphatacei (Rels. 21-22), Parapho-lido incurvae-Frankenietum pulverulentae (Rels. 23-27), Isolepido-Saginetum maritimae (Rels. 28-32); in brackets the authors of the relevés: Rels. 1-5, Panta-no Ponterio, 22.05.2012 (Sciandrello & Spampinato); Rels. 6-7, Pantano Ponterio, 31.05.2011 (Sciandrello); Rels. 8-16, Pantano Ponterio, 31.05.2011 (Sciandrel-lo); Rels. 17-20, Pantano Pozzallo, 11.04.2019 (Minis-sale & Sciandrello); Rels. 21-22, Vendicari (Cittadel-la), (Minissale & Sciandrello 2010, Tab. 10, Rel. 1-2); Rels. 23-27, Vendicari (1-3) and Pantano Ciaramira-ro (4-5) (Brullo 1988, Tab. 1, Rels. 1-5); Rels. 28-32 Pantano Sichilli, Vendicari (Brullo 1988, Tab. 2, Rels. 1-5).Tab. 11 - Limbardo crithmoidis-Tamaricetum africanae ass. nova (Rels. 1-18); in brackets the authors of the relevés: Rel. 1, Pantano Ponterio, 06.12.2011 (Scian-drello & Spampinato); Rels. 2-3, Pantano Ponterio, 15.03.2012 (Spampinato & Sciandrello); Rels. 4-5, Pantano Ponterio, 27.09.2012 (Sciandrello); Rels. 6-7, Pantano Ciaramiraro, 27.09.2012 (Sciandrello); Rels. 8, Pantano Longarini, 27.09.2012 (Sciandrello); Rels. 9-13, Pantano Morghella, 4.11.2013 (Sciandrello); Rels. 15-18, Pantano Ponterio, 4.11.2013 (Sciandrello).


doi 10.7338/pls2019562/06 · 2019. 12. 19. · 2department of agraria, “mediterranea”...

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