Coastal salt‐marsh zonation in Tyrrhenian central Italy and its relationship with other Mediterranean wetlands

Abstract

The spatial patterns of salt-marsh vegetation in the central Mediterranean district (Tyrrhenian central Italy) were analysed by establishing the plant-community distribution in the Orbetello Lagoon and then carrying out a comparative analysis with other halophytic wetlands belonging to the western Mediterranean district. Floristic sampling was performed in the Orbetello Lagoon through belt transects. Cluster analyses revealed two main vegetation groups centred around Sarcocornia fruticosa and Atriplex portulacoides , and seven plant communities belonging to Sarcocornietea fruticosae and Juncetea maritimi phytosociological classes. The analysis of spatial pattern confirmed the classification results showing a typical plant zonation ranging from Sarcocornia communities in the lower areas of the lagoon to rushes dominated by Juncus acutus in more elevated areas. Alterations to this pattern may indicate the presence of disturbance ( Aetheorhiza bulbosa community) or a geomorphological discontinuity ( Limonium narbonense and Carex extensa communities). A comparative approach with other plant zonations located in the Iberian Peninsula showed a strong correspondence between the Italian Tyrrhenian district and the south-eastern Spanish coast, explained not only by floristic but also by ecological affinities.

Diachronic analysis (1954–2010) of transformations of the dune habitat in a stretch of the Northern Tyrrhenian Coast (Italy)

“…Bertacchi and T. Lombardi 234 simple and concise, so that it could be applied in the measurement of vegetation zonation starting from presence or absence and extension of plant associations as evidence of environmental alteration. This is possible for the concrete detection of vegetation zonation in natural environments and its association with different ecological gradients (Stanisci et al 2001;Bertacchi et al 2007;Cutini et al 2010). The index proposed, even in its absolute simplicity, has proved to be functional for the characterization and quantification of alterations in a dune area near the one studied here (Bertacchi et al 2009).…”

Improved modelling of the impacts of sea level rise on coastal wetland plant communities

“…Salt marshes are an obvious environment for the further application of the dynamic plant community model presented in this study. Several authors have related the zonation of marsh communities to elevation above mean sea level and hence tidal range (Cutini et al, 2010;Moffett et al, 2010;Suchrow & Jensen, 2010;Moffett et al, 2012). However, tidal ranges vary greatly, so any plant community model would likely be valid only for areas with similar tidal regimes.…”

Definition and application of expert knowledge on vegetation pattern, phenology, and seasonality for habitat mapping, as exemplified in a Mediterranean coastal site

“…In order to investigate the application of topological rules for LC to habitat translation based on vegetation pattern, available literature on ecological gradients and vegetation pattern relationships in Mediterranean coastal wetlands was examined (Doing 1985;Alvarez-Rogel et al 2000;Acosta et al 2007;Cutini et al 2010;Feola et al 2011). For the identification of the habitat types and the description of the vegetation zonation, the obtained information was integrated to field research carried out in the framework of previous works on the study site (Tomaselli et al 2011;Medagli et al 2015).…”