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

Abstract

The aim of this work is the diachronic analysis, over the past 60 years, of the vegetation changes in dune environments of a stretch of Tuscan coast. Aerial photos of the years 1954 and 2010 were compared using photointerpretation and GIS software, and phytosociological surveys in the field were carried out. In addition to the spatial dynamics of the identified phytocoenoses, we have analyzed the different degrees of anthropogenic alteration of the examined area by the development of a synthetic index already used in neighboring contexts. The results showed with respect to the past, a deep morphological transformation of the dune system, and a consequent high spatial contraction and fragmentation of psammophilous plant communities. Today, indexed values of anthropogenic alteration, although particularly high especially when compared historically, are mitigated by the marginal and punctiform permanence, in few of those dune areas spared from urban infrastructure, of the main psammophilous plant associations typical of Tyrrhenian coast

Spatial and temporal variation of community composition and species cover following dune restoration in the Devesa de Albufera (Valencia, Spain).

“…The number of species recorded in our survey is in line with those reported for the same area by Escaray et al (2010) and, in general, with the floristic diversity measured in dunal communities, subjected to highly selective environmental factors (Costa & Mansanet 1981;Vagge & Biondi 1999;Acosta et al 2007;Bertacchi & Lombardi 2014). Furthermore, the number of species increased in all beaches but one: this finding points to a positive outcome of the restoration projects in quantitative terms.…”

Floristic and Vegetation Changes on a Small Mediterranean Island over the Last Century

“…The observed strong reduction in the dune system has been recorded in many other places along the Mediterranean coast [ 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 ]. These results highlight that human pressure directly and indirectly triggered the disruption of coastal dune systems, hugely affecting both the structure and the function of the local psammophilous plant communities.…”

Dune habitats of the Migliarino – San Rossore – Massaciuccoli Regional Park (Tuscany – Italy)

“…The analysis and description of the coenoses takes account of the latest methodological acquisitions (Biondi, 2011;Biondi et al, 2014;Géhu & Rivas-Martínez, 1981) in accordance with the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (Weber, Moravec, & Theurillat, 2000). (b) Detection of habitats -On the basis of previous field surveys (Bertacchi & Lombardi, 2014;Bertacchi et al, 2009Bertacchi et al, , 2016Sani et al, 2010;Tomei et al, 2004) and 2016 field updating, the vegetation was typified by the categories described by the Habitats Directive (Directive 92/43/EEC, MD 20 January 1999) (Biondi et al, 2012;Carranza et al, 2008;European Commission DG Environment, 2013). For the purposes of mapping and subsequent processing of the data gathered, the following habitats were con- Mediterranean tall humid herb grasslands and H7210 Calcareous fens, although not exactly distributed in the context of dune habitats, occur in humid dune slacks within the dune field, and were also mapped.…”

“…Previous studies on vegetation traits in this area have described the main psammophilous plant communities and highlighted their distribution and conservation status (Arrigoni, 1990;Bertacchi & Lombardi, 2014;Bertacchi, Lombardi, & Bocci, 2009;Bertacchi, Zuffi, & Lombardi, 2016;Sani & Tomei, 2006;Sani, Monacci, Trimarchi, & Tomei, 2010;Tomei, Bertacchi, Sani, & Consiglio, 2004). However, except for two vegetation maps of two areas of the park, but not specifically of dune areas (Sani et al, 2010;Tomei et al, 2004), or partial technical mapping of some areas of the park (http://www.parcosanrossore.org/), detailed mapping of the dune vegetation landscape of this area has never been carried out.…”