Conservation status of habitats (Directive 92/43 EEC) of coastal and low hill belts in a Mediterranean biodiversity hot spot (Gargano – Italy)

Abstract

The Gargano is one of the richest Mediterranean areas in biodiversity. The work reports an assessment of the presence and conservation status of the habitats according to the 92/43/EEC Directive of Gargano coastal and low hill belts, their relationships with plant communities, threatened species, phytoclimatology, threats, and suggestions for management purposes. The field surveys revealed 33 habitats of Directive, and 6 of them are priority (1150* Coastal lagoons, 2250* Coastal dunes with Juniperus ssp., 2270* Wooded dunes with Pinus pinea and/or Pinus pinaster, 6220* pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals of the Thero-Brachypodietea, 7210* Calcareous fens with Cladium mariscus and species of the Caricion davallianae, 91AA* Eastern white oak woods). The updates of six Special Areas Conservation and three Special Protection Areas of Natura 2000 network are provided.

Phylogenetic Placement and Phylogeography of Large-Flowered Lotus Species (Leguminosae) Formerly Classified in Dorycnium: Evidence of Pre-Pleistocene Differentiation of Western and Eastern Intraspecific Groups

“…In recent decades, phylogeography of Mediterranean plants has been extensively studied, most of the studies being focused on sclerophytes and woody plants typical for vegetation of this region (reviewed by References [ 27 , 28 , 29 ]). The vast species richness of the Mediterranean basin, one of the world biodiversity hotspots [ 30 , 31 , 32 ], is explained by biogeographic patterns associated with highly heterogeneous landscape, complex geological and climatic history, and long-term human activity [ 29 , 33 ]. The three large Mediterranean peninsulas, i.e., Iberian, Apennine, and Balkan, as well as Anatolia, accumulate much genetic and species diversity, which generally decreases towards higher latitudes.…”

Phenolic Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Plants Belonging to the Cephalaria (Caprifoliaceae) Genus

“…Dipsacoideae A. Eaton [ 13 ]. The genus encompasses approximately 95 species [ 16 , 17 , 18 ] that have been identified especially in the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent western Eurasia which are the major centers of biodiversity at a global level [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. Several species occur also in Asia and eastern and southern Africa [ 13 , 23 , 24 , 25 ].…”

Habitat conservation prioritization: A floristic approach applied to a Mediterranean wetland network

“…A number of authors (Feola et al 2011;Perrino et al 2013;Benavent-Gonzáles et al 2014) evidence the importance of regional determinants Downloaded by [University of Cambridge] at 06:54 14 June 2016 the Directive, or at least a recognition in regional legislation, that specific community types in the Mediterranean basin are critically important because of their rarity and vulnerability. By ranking wetland alliances in a conservation priority list, and by analyzing the areas of agreement and disagreement between our results and the existing conservation legislation (the habitat types included in the Annex I of the HD), this study offers a reference framework for future updating of the HD and/or for supporting new conservation laws at national and regional level.…”

“…As fairly emphasized in recent studies (e.g. Angiolini et al 2007;Perrino et al 2013;Biondi et al 2014), numerous habitats of significant floristic and vegetation conservation value were not included in Annex I of the HD. This shortcoming is particularly evident for the nations in the Mediterranean basin and eastern Europe (Feola et al 2011).…”