This page has only limited features, please log in for full access.
Maria Laura Carranza is full-time professor of Ecology and head of the Envix-Lab of the Dep. BiT (Bioscience and Territory), University of Molise, Italy. She teaches Ecology and Landscape Ecology. She has sound teaching experience on both national and international graduate and postgraduate courses. Her research interest is mainly focused on landscape ecology, plant ecology, RS application to biodiversity and ecosystem assessment, and conservation biology. Her research interests include quantitative ecology mainly applied these disciplines. She has published more than 150 papers on Italian and international journals and books, most of them peer reviewed, and has presented more than 200 papers on national and international congresses (H index = 29, citations = 2240; Scopus source). She currently serves as Editor for several journals with impact factor.
Remote Sensing (RS) is a useful tool for detecting and mapping Invasive Alien Plants (IAPs). IAPs mapping on dynamic and heterogeneous landscapes, using satellite RS data, is not always feasible. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) with ultra-high spatial resolution data represent a promising tool for IAPs detection and mapping. This work develops an operational workflow for detecting and mapping Acacia saligna invasion along Mediterranean coastal dunes. In particular, it explores and tests the potential of RGB (Red, Green, Blue) and multispectral (Green, Red, Red Edge, Near Infra—Red) UAV images collected in pre-flowering and flowering phenological stages for detecting and mapping A. saligna. After ortho—mosaics generation, we derived from RGB images the DSM (Digital Surface Model) and HIS (Hue, Intensity, Saturation) variables, and we calculated the NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index). For classifying images of the two phenological stages we built a set of raster stacks which include different combination of variables. For image classification, we used the Geographic Object-Based Image Analysis techniques (GEOBIA) in combination with Random Forest (RF) classifier. All classifications derived from RS information (collected on pre-flowering and flowering stages and using different combinations of variables) produced A. saligna maps with acceptable accuracy values, with higher performances on classification derived from flowering period images, especially using DSM + HIS combination. The adopted approach resulted an efficient method for mapping and early detection of IAPs, also in complex environments offering a sound support to the prioritization of conservation and management actions claimed by the EU IAS Regulation 1143/2014.
Flavio Marzialetti; Ludovico Frate; Walter De Simone; Anna Rita Frattaroli; Alicia Teresa Rosario Acosta; Maria Laura Carranza. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-Based Mapping of Acacia saligna Invasion in the Mediterranean Coast. Remote Sensing 2021, 13, 3361 .
AMA StyleFlavio Marzialetti, Ludovico Frate, Walter De Simone, Anna Rita Frattaroli, Alicia Teresa Rosario Acosta, Maria Laura Carranza. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-Based Mapping of Acacia saligna Invasion in the Mediterranean Coast. Remote Sensing. 2021; 13 (17):3361.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFlavio Marzialetti; Ludovico Frate; Walter De Simone; Anna Rita Frattaroli; Alicia Teresa Rosario Acosta; Maria Laura Carranza. 2021. "Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-Based Mapping of Acacia saligna Invasion in the Mediterranean Coast." Remote Sensing 13, no. 17: 3361.
Aim Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment (CCVA) prescribes the quantification of species vulnerability based on three components: sensitivity, adaptive capacity and exposure. Such assessments should be performed through combined approaches that integrate trait-based elements (e.g., measures of species sensitivity such as niche width) with correlative tools quantifying exposure (magnitude of changes in climate within species habitat). Furthermore, as land use alterations may increase climate impacts on biodiversity, CCVAs should focus on both climate and land use change effects. Unfortunately, most of such assessments have so far focused exclusively on exposure to climate change. Location Himalaya. Methods We evaluated the vulnerability of three otter species occurring in the Himalayan region, that is, Aonyx cinereus, Lutra lutra and Lutrogale perspicillata, to 2050 climate and land use change through the recently proposed Climate Niche Factor Analysis (CNFA) framework combined with Species Distribution Models. Results Future climate and land use change will reduce (6%–15%) and shift (10%–18%) the geographical range of the three species in the Himalaya, with land use alterations exerting far more severe effects than climate change. Among vulnerability components, sensitivity played a greater role than exposure in determining the vulnerability of the otters. Specifically, the most specialist species, L. perspicillata, showed the highest vulnerability in comparison with the most generalist, L. lutra. Main conclusions Our results underline how coupling climate and land use change components in CCVAs can generate diverging predictions of species vulnerability compared to approaches relying on climate change only. Moreover, intrinsic components, such as species sensitivity, proved significantly more important in determining vulnerability than extrinsic metrics such as habitat exposure.
Pushpinder S. Jamwal; Mirko Di Febbraro; Maria Laura Carranza; Melissa Savage; Anna Loy. Global change on the roof of the world: Vulnerability of Himalayan otter species to land use and climate alterations. Diversity and Distributions 2021, 1 .
AMA StylePushpinder S. Jamwal, Mirko Di Febbraro, Maria Laura Carranza, Melissa Savage, Anna Loy. Global change on the roof of the world: Vulnerability of Himalayan otter species to land use and climate alterations. Diversity and Distributions. 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StylePushpinder S. Jamwal; Mirko Di Febbraro; Maria Laura Carranza; Melissa Savage; Anna Loy. 2021. "Global change on the roof of the world: Vulnerability of Himalayan otter species to land use and climate alterations." Diversity and Distributions , no. : 1.
Aim The number of naturalized (i.e. established) alien species has increased rapidly over recent centuries. Given the differences in environmental tolerances among species, little is known about what factors determine the extent to which the observed size of the naturalized range of a species and hence the extent to which the observed richness of naturalized species of a region approach their full potential. Here, we asked which region- and species-specific characteristics explain differences between observed and expected naturalizations. Location Global. Time period Present. Major taxa studied Vascular plants. Methods We determined the observed naturalized distribution outside Europe for 1,485 species endemic to Europe using the Global Naturalized Alien Flora (GloNAF) database and their expected distributions outside Europe using species distribution models. First, we investigated which of seven socio-economic factors related to introduction pathways, anthropogenic pressures and inventory effort best explained the differences between observed and expected naturalized European floras. Second, we examined whether distributional features, economic use and functional traits explain the extent to which species have filled their expected ranges outside Europe. Results In terms of suitable area, more than 95% of expected naturalizations of European plants were not yet observed. Species were naturalized in only 4.2% of their suitable regions outside of Europe (range filling) and in 0.4% of their unsuitable regions (range expansion). Anthropogenic habitat disturbance primarily explained the difference between observed and expected naturalized European floras, as did the number of treaties relevant to invasive species. Species of ornamental and economic value and with large specific leaf area performed better at filling and expanding beyond their expected range. Main conclusions The naturalization of alien plant species is explained by climate matching but also by the regional level of human development, the introduction pressure associated with the ornamental and economic values of the species and their adaptation to disturbed environments.
Robin Pouteau; Wilfried Thuiller; Carsten Hobohm; Caroline Brunel; Barry J. Conn; Wayne Dawson; Michele De Sá Dechoum; Aleksandr L. Ebel; Franz Essl; Ori Fragman‐Sapir; Trevor Fristoe; Nejc Jogan; Holger Kreft; Bernd Lenzner; Carsten Meyer; Jan Pergl; Petr Pyšek; Alla Verkhozina; Patrick Weigelt; Qiang Yang; Elena Zykova; Svetlana Aćić; Emiliano Agrillo; Fabio Attorre; Ariel Bergamini; Christian Berg; Erwin Bergmeier; Idoia Biurrun; Steffen Boch; Gianmaria Bonari; Zoltán Botta‐Dukát; Helge Bruelheide; Juan Antonio Campos; Andraž Čarni; Laura Casella; Maria Laura Carranza; Milan Chytrý; Renata Ćušterevska; Michele De Sanctis; Jürgen Dengler; Panayotis Dimopoulos; Rasmus Ejrnæs; Jörg Ewald; Giuliano Fanelli; Federico Fernández‐González; Rosario G. Gavilán; Jean‐Claude Gegout; Rense Haveman; Maike Isermann; Ute Jandt; Florian Jansen; Borja Jiménez‐Alfaro; Ali Kavgacı; Larisa Khanina; Ilona Knollová; Anna Kuzemko; Maria Lebedeva; Jonathan Lenoir; Tatiana Lysenko; Corrado Marcenò; Vasiliy Martynenko; Jesper Erenskjold Moeslund; Ricarda Pätsch; Remigiusz Pielech; Valerijus Rašomavičius; Iris de Ronde; Eszter Ruprecht; Solvita Rūsiņa; Pavel Shirokikh; Jozef Šibík; Urban Šilc; Angela Stanisci; Zvjezdana Stančić; Jens‐Christian Svenning; Grzegorz Swacha; Pavel Dan Turtureanu; Milan Valachovič; Kiril Vassilev; Sergey Yamalov; Mark van Kleunen. Climate and socio‐economic factors explain differences between observed and expected naturalization patterns of European plants around the world. Global Ecology and Biogeography 2021, 30, 1514 -1531.
AMA StyleRobin Pouteau, Wilfried Thuiller, Carsten Hobohm, Caroline Brunel, Barry J. Conn, Wayne Dawson, Michele De Sá Dechoum, Aleksandr L. Ebel, Franz Essl, Ori Fragman‐Sapir, Trevor Fristoe, Nejc Jogan, Holger Kreft, Bernd Lenzner, Carsten Meyer, Jan Pergl, Petr Pyšek, Alla Verkhozina, Patrick Weigelt, Qiang Yang, Elena Zykova, Svetlana Aćić, Emiliano Agrillo, Fabio Attorre, Ariel Bergamini, Christian Berg, Erwin Bergmeier, Idoia Biurrun, Steffen Boch, Gianmaria Bonari, Zoltán Botta‐Dukát, Helge Bruelheide, Juan Antonio Campos, Andraž Čarni, Laura Casella, Maria Laura Carranza, Milan Chytrý, Renata Ćušterevska, Michele De Sanctis, Jürgen Dengler, Panayotis Dimopoulos, Rasmus Ejrnæs, Jörg Ewald, Giuliano Fanelli, Federico Fernández‐González, Rosario G. Gavilán, Jean‐Claude Gegout, Rense Haveman, Maike Isermann, Ute Jandt, Florian Jansen, Borja Jiménez‐Alfaro, Ali Kavgacı, Larisa Khanina, Ilona Knollová, Anna Kuzemko, Maria Lebedeva, Jonathan Lenoir, Tatiana Lysenko, Corrado Marcenò, Vasiliy Martynenko, Jesper Erenskjold Moeslund, Ricarda Pätsch, Remigiusz Pielech, Valerijus Rašomavičius, Iris de Ronde, Eszter Ruprecht, Solvita Rūsiņa, Pavel Shirokikh, Jozef Šibík, Urban Šilc, Angela Stanisci, Zvjezdana Stančić, Jens‐Christian Svenning, Grzegorz Swacha, Pavel Dan Turtureanu, Milan Valachovič, Kiril Vassilev, Sergey Yamalov, Mark van Kleunen. Climate and socio‐economic factors explain differences between observed and expected naturalization patterns of European plants around the world. Global Ecology and Biogeography. 2021; 30 (7):1514-1531.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRobin Pouteau; Wilfried Thuiller; Carsten Hobohm; Caroline Brunel; Barry J. Conn; Wayne Dawson; Michele De Sá Dechoum; Aleksandr L. Ebel; Franz Essl; Ori Fragman‐Sapir; Trevor Fristoe; Nejc Jogan; Holger Kreft; Bernd Lenzner; Carsten Meyer; Jan Pergl; Petr Pyšek; Alla Verkhozina; Patrick Weigelt; Qiang Yang; Elena Zykova; Svetlana Aćić; Emiliano Agrillo; Fabio Attorre; Ariel Bergamini; Christian Berg; Erwin Bergmeier; Idoia Biurrun; Steffen Boch; Gianmaria Bonari; Zoltán Botta‐Dukát; Helge Bruelheide; Juan Antonio Campos; Andraž Čarni; Laura Casella; Maria Laura Carranza; Milan Chytrý; Renata Ćušterevska; Michele De Sanctis; Jürgen Dengler; Panayotis Dimopoulos; Rasmus Ejrnæs; Jörg Ewald; Giuliano Fanelli; Federico Fernández‐González; Rosario G. Gavilán; Jean‐Claude Gegout; Rense Haveman; Maike Isermann; Ute Jandt; Florian Jansen; Borja Jiménez‐Alfaro; Ali Kavgacı; Larisa Khanina; Ilona Knollová; Anna Kuzemko; Maria Lebedeva; Jonathan Lenoir; Tatiana Lysenko; Corrado Marcenò; Vasiliy Martynenko; Jesper Erenskjold Moeslund; Ricarda Pätsch; Remigiusz Pielech; Valerijus Rašomavičius; Iris de Ronde; Eszter Ruprecht; Solvita Rūsiņa; Pavel Shirokikh; Jozef Šibík; Urban Šilc; Angela Stanisci; Zvjezdana Stančić; Jens‐Christian Svenning; Grzegorz Swacha; Pavel Dan Turtureanu; Milan Valachovič; Kiril Vassilev; Sergey Yamalov; Mark van Kleunen. 2021. "Climate and socio‐economic factors explain differences between observed and expected naturalization patterns of European plants around the world." Global Ecology and Biogeography 30, no. 7: 1514-1531.
Understanding drivers of success for alien species can inform on potential future invasions. Recent conceptual advances highlight that species may achieve invasiveness via performance along at least three distinct dimensions: 1) local abundance, 2) geographic range size, and 3) habitat breadth in naturalized distributions. Associations among these dimensions and the factors that determine success in each have yet to be assessed at large geographic scales. Here, we combine data from over one million vegetation plots covering the extent of Europe and its habitat diversity with databases on species’ distributions, traits, and historical origins to provide a comprehensive assessment of invasiveness dimensions for the European alien seed plant flora. Invasiveness dimensions are linked in alien distributions, leading to a continuum from overall poor invaders to super invaders—abundant, widespread aliens that invade diverse habitats. This pattern echoes relationships among analogous dimensions measured for native European species. Success along invasiveness dimensions was associated with details of alien species’ introduction histories: earlier introduction dates were positively associated with all three dimensions, and consistent with theory-based expectations, species originating from other continents, particularly acquisitive growth strategists, were among the most successful invaders in Europe. Despite general correlations among invasiveness dimensions, we identified habitats and traits associated with atypical patterns of success in only one or two dimensions—for example, the role of disturbed habitats in facilitating widespread specialists. We conclude that considering invasiveness within a multidimensional framework can provide insights into invasion processes while also informing general understanding of the dynamics of species distributions.
Trevor S. Fristoe; Milan Chytrý; Wayne Dawson; Franz Essl; Ruben Heleno; Holger Kreft; Noëlie Maurel; Jan Pergl; Petr Pyšek; Hanno Seebens; Patrick Weigelt; Pablo Vargas; Qiang Yang; Fabio Attorre; Erwin Bergmeier; Markus Bernhardt-Römermann; Idoia Biurrun; Steffen Boch; Gianmaria Bonari; Zoltán Botta-Dukát; Hans Henrik Bruun; ChaeHo Byun; Andraž Čarni; Maria Laura Carranza; Jane A. Catford; Bruno E. L. Cerabolini; Eduardo Chacón-Madrigal; Daniela Ciccarelli; Renata Ćušterevska; Iris de Ronde; Jürgen Dengler; Valentin Golub; Rense Haveman; Nate Hough-Snee; Ute Jandt; Florian Jansen; Anna Kuzemko; Filip Küzmič; Jonathan Lenoir; Armin Macanović; Corrado Marcenò; Adam R. Martin; Sean T. Michaletz; Akira S. Mori; Ülo Niinemets; Tomáš Peterka; Remigiusz Pielech; Valerijus Rašomavičius; Solvita Rūsiņa; Arildo S. Dias; Mária Šibíková; Urban Šilc; Angela Stanisci; Steven Jansen; Jens-Christian Svenning; Grzegorz Swacha; Fons van der Plas; Kiril Vassilev; Mark van Kleunen. Dimensions of invasiveness: Links between local abundance, geographic range size, and habitat breadth in Europe’s alien and native floras. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2021, 118, 1 .
AMA StyleTrevor S. Fristoe, Milan Chytrý, Wayne Dawson, Franz Essl, Ruben Heleno, Holger Kreft, Noëlie Maurel, Jan Pergl, Petr Pyšek, Hanno Seebens, Patrick Weigelt, Pablo Vargas, Qiang Yang, Fabio Attorre, Erwin Bergmeier, Markus Bernhardt-Römermann, Idoia Biurrun, Steffen Boch, Gianmaria Bonari, Zoltán Botta-Dukát, Hans Henrik Bruun, ChaeHo Byun, Andraž Čarni, Maria Laura Carranza, Jane A. Catford, Bruno E. L. Cerabolini, Eduardo Chacón-Madrigal, Daniela Ciccarelli, Renata Ćušterevska, Iris de Ronde, Jürgen Dengler, Valentin Golub, Rense Haveman, Nate Hough-Snee, Ute Jandt, Florian Jansen, Anna Kuzemko, Filip Küzmič, Jonathan Lenoir, Armin Macanović, Corrado Marcenò, Adam R. Martin, Sean T. Michaletz, Akira S. Mori, Ülo Niinemets, Tomáš Peterka, Remigiusz Pielech, Valerijus Rašomavičius, Solvita Rūsiņa, Arildo S. Dias, Mária Šibíková, Urban Šilc, Angela Stanisci, Steven Jansen, Jens-Christian Svenning, Grzegorz Swacha, Fons van der Plas, Kiril Vassilev, Mark van Kleunen. Dimensions of invasiveness: Links between local abundance, geographic range size, and habitat breadth in Europe’s alien and native floras. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2021; 118 (22):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTrevor S. Fristoe; Milan Chytrý; Wayne Dawson; Franz Essl; Ruben Heleno; Holger Kreft; Noëlie Maurel; Jan Pergl; Petr Pyšek; Hanno Seebens; Patrick Weigelt; Pablo Vargas; Qiang Yang; Fabio Attorre; Erwin Bergmeier; Markus Bernhardt-Römermann; Idoia Biurrun; Steffen Boch; Gianmaria Bonari; Zoltán Botta-Dukát; Hans Henrik Bruun; ChaeHo Byun; Andraž Čarni; Maria Laura Carranza; Jane A. Catford; Bruno E. L. Cerabolini; Eduardo Chacón-Madrigal; Daniela Ciccarelli; Renata Ćušterevska; Iris de Ronde; Jürgen Dengler; Valentin Golub; Rense Haveman; Nate Hough-Snee; Ute Jandt; Florian Jansen; Anna Kuzemko; Filip Küzmič; Jonathan Lenoir; Armin Macanović; Corrado Marcenò; Adam R. Martin; Sean T. Michaletz; Akira S. Mori; Ülo Niinemets; Tomáš Peterka; Remigiusz Pielech; Valerijus Rašomavičius; Solvita Rūsiņa; Arildo S. Dias; Mária Šibíková; Urban Šilc; Angela Stanisci; Steven Jansen; Jens-Christian Svenning; Grzegorz Swacha; Fons van der Plas; Kiril Vassilev; Mark van Kleunen. 2021. "Dimensions of invasiveness: Links between local abundance, geographic range size, and habitat breadth in Europe’s alien and native floras." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 118, no. 22: 1.
Combining field collected and remotely sensed (RS) data represents one of the most promising approaches for an extensive and up-to-date ecosystem assessment. We investigated the potential of the so called spectral variability hypothesis (SVH) in linking field-collected and remote-sensed data in Mediterranean coastal dunes and explored if spectral diversity provides reliable information to monitor floristic diversity, as well as the consistency of such information in altered ecosystems due to plant invasions. We analyzed alpha diversity and beta diversity, integrating floristic field and Remote-Sensing PlanetScope data in the Tyrrhenian coast (Central Italy). We explored the relationship among alpha field diversity (species richness, Shannon index, inverse Simpson index) and spectral variability (distance from the spectral centroid index) through linear regressions. For beta diversity, we implemented a distance decay model (DDM) relating field pairwise (Jaccard similarities index, Bray–Curtis similarities index) and spectral pairwise (Euclidean distance) measures. We observed a positive relationship between alpha diversity and spectral heterogeneity with richness reporting the higher R score. As for DDM, we found a significant relationship between Bray–Curtis floristic similarity and Euclidean spectral distance. We provided a first assessment of the relationship between floristic and spectral RS diversity in Mediterranean coastal dune habitats (i.e., natural or invaded). SVH provided evidence about the potential of RS for estimating diversity in complex and dynamic landscapes.
Flavio Marzialetti; Silvia Cascone; Ludovico Frate; Mirko Di Febbraro; Alicia Acosta; Maria Carranza. Measuring Alpha and Beta Diversity by Field and Remote-Sensing Data: A Challenge for Coastal Dunes Biodiversity Monitoring. Remote Sensing 2021, 13, 1928 .
AMA StyleFlavio Marzialetti, Silvia Cascone, Ludovico Frate, Mirko Di Febbraro, Alicia Acosta, Maria Carranza. Measuring Alpha and Beta Diversity by Field and Remote-Sensing Data: A Challenge for Coastal Dunes Biodiversity Monitoring. Remote Sensing. 2021; 13 (10):1928.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFlavio Marzialetti; Silvia Cascone; Ludovico Frate; Mirko Di Febbraro; Alicia Acosta; Maria Carranza. 2021. "Measuring Alpha and Beta Diversity by Field and Remote-Sensing Data: A Challenge for Coastal Dunes Biodiversity Monitoring." Remote Sensing 13, no. 10: 1928.
Aims Biodiversity is traditionally studied mostly at the species level, but biogeographical and macroecological studies at higher taxonomic levels can provide valuable insights into the evolutionary processes at large spatial scales. Our aim was to assess the representation of vascular plant families within different vegetation formations across Europe. Location Europe. Methods We used a data set of 816,005 vegetation plots from the European Vegetation Archive (EVA). For each plot, we calculated the relative species richness of each plant family as the number of species belonging to that family divided by the total number of species. We mapped the relative species richness, averaged across all plots in 50 km × 50 km grid cells, for each family and broad habitat groups: forests, grasslands, scrub and wetlands. We also calculated the absolute species richness and the Shannon diversity index for each family. Results We produced 522 maps of mean relative species richness for a total of 152 vascular plant families occurring in forests, grasslands, scrub and wetlands. We found distinct spatial patterns for many combinations of families and habitat groups. The resulting series of 522 maps is freely available, both as images and GIS layers. Conclusions The distinct spatial patterns revealed in the maps suggest that the relative species richness of plant families at the community level reflects the evolutionary history of individual families. We believe that the maps and associated data can inspire further biogeographical and macroecological studies and strengthen the ongoing integration of phylogenetic, functional and taxonomic diversity concepts.
Martin Večeřa; Irena Axmanová; Josep Padullés Cubino; Zdeňka Lososová; Jan Divíšek; Ilona Knollová; Svetlana Aćić; Idoia Biurrun; Steffen Boch; Gianmaria Bonari; Juan Antonio Campos; Andraž Čarni; Maria Laura Carranza; Laura Casella; Alessandro Chiarucci; Renata Ćušterevska; Pauline Delbosc; Jürgen Dengler; Federico Fernández‐González; Jean‐Claude Gégout; Ute Jandt; Florian Jansen; Anni Jašková; Borja Jiménez‐Alfaro; Anna Kuzemko; Maria Lebedeva; Jonathan Lenoir; Tatiana Lysenko; Jesper Erenskjold Moeslund; Remigiusz Pielech; Eszter Ruprecht; Jozef Šibík; Urban Šilc; Željko Škvorc; Grzegorz Swacha; Irina Tatarenko; Kiril Vassilev; Thomas Wohlgemuth; Sergey Yamalov; Milan Chytrý. Mapping species richness of plant families in European vegetation. Journal of Vegetation Science 2021, 32, e13035 .
AMA StyleMartin Večeřa, Irena Axmanová, Josep Padullés Cubino, Zdeňka Lososová, Jan Divíšek, Ilona Knollová, Svetlana Aćić, Idoia Biurrun, Steffen Boch, Gianmaria Bonari, Juan Antonio Campos, Andraž Čarni, Maria Laura Carranza, Laura Casella, Alessandro Chiarucci, Renata Ćušterevska, Pauline Delbosc, Jürgen Dengler, Federico Fernández‐González, Jean‐Claude Gégout, Ute Jandt, Florian Jansen, Anni Jašková, Borja Jiménez‐Alfaro, Anna Kuzemko, Maria Lebedeva, Jonathan Lenoir, Tatiana Lysenko, Jesper Erenskjold Moeslund, Remigiusz Pielech, Eszter Ruprecht, Jozef Šibík, Urban Šilc, Željko Škvorc, Grzegorz Swacha, Irina Tatarenko, Kiril Vassilev, Thomas Wohlgemuth, Sergey Yamalov, Milan Chytrý. Mapping species richness of plant families in European vegetation. Journal of Vegetation Science. 2021; 32 (3):e13035.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMartin Večeřa; Irena Axmanová; Josep Padullés Cubino; Zdeňka Lososová; Jan Divíšek; Ilona Knollová; Svetlana Aćić; Idoia Biurrun; Steffen Boch; Gianmaria Bonari; Juan Antonio Campos; Andraž Čarni; Maria Laura Carranza; Laura Casella; Alessandro Chiarucci; Renata Ćušterevska; Pauline Delbosc; Jürgen Dengler; Federico Fernández‐González; Jean‐Claude Gégout; Ute Jandt; Florian Jansen; Anni Jašková; Borja Jiménez‐Alfaro; Anna Kuzemko; Maria Lebedeva; Jonathan Lenoir; Tatiana Lysenko; Jesper Erenskjold Moeslund; Remigiusz Pielech; Eszter Ruprecht; Jozef Šibík; Urban Šilc; Željko Škvorc; Grzegorz Swacha; Irina Tatarenko; Kiril Vassilev; Thomas Wohlgemuth; Sergey Yamalov; Milan Chytrý. 2021. "Mapping species richness of plant families in European vegetation." Journal of Vegetation Science 32, no. 3: e13035.
Aim European grassland communities are highly diverse, but patterns and drivers of their continental‐scale diversity remain elusive. This study analyses taxonomic and functional richness in European grasslands along continental‐scale temperature and precipitation gradients. Location Europe. Methods We quantified functional and taxonomic richness of 55,748 vegetation plots. Six plant traits, related to resource acquisition and conservation, were analysed to describe plant community functional composition. Using a null‐model approach we derived functional richness effect sizes that indicate higher or lower diversity than expected given the taxonomic richness. We assessed the variation in absolute functional and taxonomic richness and in functional richness effect sizes along gradients of minimum temperature, temperature range, annual precipitation, and precipitation seasonality using a multiple general additive modelling approach. Results Functional and taxonomic richness was high at intermediate minimum temperatures and wide temperature ranges. Functional and taxonomic richness was low in correspondence with low minimum temperatures or narrow temperature ranges. Functional richness increased and taxonomic richness decreased at higher minimum temperatures and wide annual temperature ranges. Both functional and taxonomic richness decreased with increasing precipitation seasonality and showed a small increase at intermediate annual precipitation. Overall, effect sizes of functional richness were small. However, effect sizes indicated trait divergence at extremely low minimum temperatures and at low annual precipitation with extreme precipitation seasonality. Conclusions Functional and taxonomic richness of European grassland communities vary considerably over temperature and precipitation gradients. Overall, they follow similar patterns over the climate gradients, except at high minimum temperatures and wide temperature ranges, where functional richness increases and taxonomic richness decreases. This contrasting pattern may trigger new ideas for studies that target specific hypotheses focused on community assembly processes. And though effect sizes were small, they indicate that it may be important to consider climate seasonality in plant diversity studies.
Coline C. F. Boonman; Luca Santini; Bjorn J. M. Robroek; Selwyn Hoeks; Steven Kelderman; Jürgen Dengler; Ariel Bergamini; Idoia Biurrun; Maria Laura Carranza; Bruno E. L. Cerabolini; Milan Chytrý; Ute Jandt; Tatiana Lysenko; Angela Stanisci; Irina Tatarenko; Solvita Rūsiņa; Mark A. J. Huijbregts. Plant functional and taxonomic diversity in European grasslands along climatic gradients. Journal of Vegetation Science 2021, 32, e13027 .
AMA StyleColine C. F. Boonman, Luca Santini, Bjorn J. M. Robroek, Selwyn Hoeks, Steven Kelderman, Jürgen Dengler, Ariel Bergamini, Idoia Biurrun, Maria Laura Carranza, Bruno E. L. Cerabolini, Milan Chytrý, Ute Jandt, Tatiana Lysenko, Angela Stanisci, Irina Tatarenko, Solvita Rūsiņa, Mark A. J. Huijbregts. Plant functional and taxonomic diversity in European grasslands along climatic gradients. Journal of Vegetation Science. 2021; 32 (3):e13027.
Chicago/Turabian StyleColine C. F. Boonman; Luca Santini; Bjorn J. M. Robroek; Selwyn Hoeks; Steven Kelderman; Jürgen Dengler; Ariel Bergamini; Idoia Biurrun; Maria Laura Carranza; Bruno E. L. Cerabolini; Milan Chytrý; Ute Jandt; Tatiana Lysenko; Angela Stanisci; Irina Tatarenko; Solvita Rūsiņa; Mark A. J. Huijbregts. 2021. "Plant functional and taxonomic diversity in European grasslands along climatic gradients." Journal of Vegetation Science 32, no. 3: e13027.
Aim Alpine habitats support unique biodiversity confined to high‐elevation areas in the current interglacial. Plant diversity in these habitats may respond to area, environment, connectivity and isolation, yet these factors have been rarely evaluated in concert. Here we investigate major determinants of regional species pools in alpine grasslands, and the responses of their constituent species groups. Location European mountains below 50° N. Time period Between 1928 and 2019. Major taxa studied Vascular plants. Methods We compiled species pools from alpine grasslands in 23 regions, including 794 alpine species and 2,094 non‐alpines. We used species–area relationships to test the influence of the extent of alpine areas on regional richness, and mixed‐effects models to compare the effects of 12 spatial and environmental predictors. Variation in species composition was addressed by generalized dissimilarity models and by a coefficient of dispersal direction to assess historical links among regions. Results Pool sizes were partially explained by current alpine areas, but the other predictors largely contributed to regional differences. The number of alpine species was influenced by area, calcareous bedrock, topographic heterogeneity and regional isolation, while non‐alpines responded better to connectivity and climate. Regional dissimilarity of alpine species was explained by isolation and precipitation, but non‐alpines only responded to isolation. Past dispersal routes were correlated with latitude, with alpine species showing stronger connections among regions. Main conclusions Besides area effects, edaphic, topographic and spatio‐temporal determinants are important to understand the organization of regional species pools in alpine habitats. The number of alpine species is especially linked to refugia and isolation, but their composition is explained by past dispersal and post‐glacial environmental filtering, while non‐alpines are generally influenced by regional floras. New research on the dynamics of alpine biodiversity should contextualize the determinants of regional species pools and the responses of species with different ecological profiles.
Borja Jiménez‐Alfaro; Sylvain Abdulhak; Fabio Attorre; Ariel Bergamini; Maria Laura Carranza; Alessandro Chiarucci; Renata Ćušterevska; Stefan Dullinger; Rosario G. Gavilán; Gianpietro Giusso del Galdo; Nevena Kuzmanović; Paola Laiolo; Javier Loidi; George P. Malanson; Corrado Marcenó; Đorđije Milanović; Elizabeth R. Pansing; José V. Roces‐Díaz; Eszter Ruprecht; Jozef Šibik; Angela Stanisci; Riccardo Testolin; Jean‐Paul Theurillat; Kiril Vassilev; Wolfgang Willner; Manuela Winkler. Post‐glacial determinants of regional species pools in alpine grasslands. Global Ecology and Biogeography 2021, 30, 1101 -1115.
AMA StyleBorja Jiménez‐Alfaro, Sylvain Abdulhak, Fabio Attorre, Ariel Bergamini, Maria Laura Carranza, Alessandro Chiarucci, Renata Ćušterevska, Stefan Dullinger, Rosario G. Gavilán, Gianpietro Giusso del Galdo, Nevena Kuzmanović, Paola Laiolo, Javier Loidi, George P. Malanson, Corrado Marcenó, Đorđije Milanović, Elizabeth R. Pansing, José V. Roces‐Díaz, Eszter Ruprecht, Jozef Šibik, Angela Stanisci, Riccardo Testolin, Jean‐Paul Theurillat, Kiril Vassilev, Wolfgang Willner, Manuela Winkler. Post‐glacial determinants of regional species pools in alpine grasslands. Global Ecology and Biogeography. 2021; 30 (5):1101-1115.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBorja Jiménez‐Alfaro; Sylvain Abdulhak; Fabio Attorre; Ariel Bergamini; Maria Laura Carranza; Alessandro Chiarucci; Renata Ćušterevska; Stefan Dullinger; Rosario G. Gavilán; Gianpietro Giusso del Galdo; Nevena Kuzmanović; Paola Laiolo; Javier Loidi; George P. Malanson; Corrado Marcenó; Đorđije Milanović; Elizabeth R. Pansing; José V. Roces‐Díaz; Eszter Ruprecht; Jozef Šibik; Angela Stanisci; Riccardo Testolin; Jean‐Paul Theurillat; Kiril Vassilev; Wolfgang Willner; Manuela Winkler. 2021. "Post‐glacial determinants of regional species pools in alpine grasslands." Global Ecology and Biogeography 30, no. 5: 1101-1115.
While climatic research about treeline has a long history, the climatic conditions corresponding to the upper limit of closed alpine grasslands remain poorly understood. Here, we propose a climatic definition for this limit, the ‘grassline’, in analogy to the treeline, which is based on the growing season length and the soil temperature. Eighty-seven mountain summits across ten European mountain ranges, covering three biomes (boreal, temperate, Mediterranean), were inventoried as part of the GLORIA project. Vascular plant cover was estimated visually in 326 plots of 1 × 1 m. Soil temperatures were measured in situ for 2–7 years, from which the length of the growing season and mean temperature were derived. The climatic conditions corresponding to 40% plant cover were defined as the thresholds for alpine grassland. Closed vegetation was present in locations with a mean growing season soil temperature warmer than 4.9 °C, or a minimal growing season length of 85 days, with the growing season defined as encompassing days with daily mean ≥ 1 °C. Hence, the upper limit of closed grasslands was associated with a mean soil temperature close to that previously observed at the treeline, and in accordance with physiological thresholds to growth in vascular plants. In contrast to trees, whose canopy temperature is coupled with air temperature, small-stature alpine plants benefit from the soil warmed by solar radiation and consequently, they can grow at higher elevations. Since substrate stability is necessary for grasslands to occur at their climatic limit, the grassline rarely appears as a distinct linear feature.
Sarah Bürli; Jean-Paul Theurillat; Manuela Winkler; Andrea Lamprecht; Harald Pauli; Christian Rixen; Klaus Steinbauer; Sonja Wipf; Otar Abdaladze; Christopher Andrews; Peter Barančok; José Luis Benito-Alonso; Maria Rosa Fernández Calzado; Maria Laura Carranza; Jan Dick; Brigitta Erschbamer; Dany Ghosn; Khatuna Gigauri; George Kazakis; Martin Mallaun; Ottar Michelsen; Dmitry Moiseev; Pavel Moiseev; Ulf Molau; Joaquín Molero Mesa; Umberto Morra di Cella; Imran Nadeem; Laszlo Nagy; Lena Nicklas; Andrej Palaj; Bård Pedersen; Martina Petey; Mihai Puşcaş; Graziano Rossi; Angela Stanisci; Marcello Tomaselli; Peter Unterluggauer; Tudor-Mihai Ursu; Luis Villar; Pascal Vittoz. A common soil temperature threshold for the upper limit of alpine grasslands in European mountains. Alpine Botany 2021, 131, 41 -52.
AMA StyleSarah Bürli, Jean-Paul Theurillat, Manuela Winkler, Andrea Lamprecht, Harald Pauli, Christian Rixen, Klaus Steinbauer, Sonja Wipf, Otar Abdaladze, Christopher Andrews, Peter Barančok, José Luis Benito-Alonso, Maria Rosa Fernández Calzado, Maria Laura Carranza, Jan Dick, Brigitta Erschbamer, Dany Ghosn, Khatuna Gigauri, George Kazakis, Martin Mallaun, Ottar Michelsen, Dmitry Moiseev, Pavel Moiseev, Ulf Molau, Joaquín Molero Mesa, Umberto Morra di Cella, Imran Nadeem, Laszlo Nagy, Lena Nicklas, Andrej Palaj, Bård Pedersen, Martina Petey, Mihai Puşcaş, Graziano Rossi, Angela Stanisci, Marcello Tomaselli, Peter Unterluggauer, Tudor-Mihai Ursu, Luis Villar, Pascal Vittoz. A common soil temperature threshold for the upper limit of alpine grasslands in European mountains. Alpine Botany. 2021; 131 (1):41-52.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSarah Bürli; Jean-Paul Theurillat; Manuela Winkler; Andrea Lamprecht; Harald Pauli; Christian Rixen; Klaus Steinbauer; Sonja Wipf; Otar Abdaladze; Christopher Andrews; Peter Barančok; José Luis Benito-Alonso; Maria Rosa Fernández Calzado; Maria Laura Carranza; Jan Dick; Brigitta Erschbamer; Dany Ghosn; Khatuna Gigauri; George Kazakis; Martin Mallaun; Ottar Michelsen; Dmitry Moiseev; Pavel Moiseev; Ulf Molau; Joaquín Molero Mesa; Umberto Morra di Cella; Imran Nadeem; Laszlo Nagy; Lena Nicklas; Andrej Palaj; Bård Pedersen; Martina Petey; Mihai Puşcaş; Graziano Rossi; Angela Stanisci; Marcello Tomaselli; Peter Unterluggauer; Tudor-Mihai Ursu; Luis Villar; Pascal Vittoz. 2021. "A common soil temperature threshold for the upper limit of alpine grasslands in European mountains." Alpine Botany 131, no. 1: 41-52.
Question Does spectral diversity captured by unmanned aerial systems (UAS) provide reliable information for monitoring the eco‐geomorphological integrity of Mediterranean coastal dune ecosystems? Can this information discriminate between two coastal areas with low (LP) and high (HP) human pressure? Location Tyrrhenian coast, Central Italy. Methods By processing UAS images, we derived the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and topographic variables at high spatial resolution (0.5 m) for 150 m wide strips starting from the coastline inland on two representative coastal tracts under low and high human pressure. We mapped the sea–inland heterogeneity applying Rao's Q index to the plant biomass (NDVI) and geomorphology variables (elevation and slope). Since Rao's Q index can be calculated in a multidimensional space, we summarized the variability of these three variables into a single eco‐geomorphological layer. We then inspected and compared how the Rao's Q index values for plant biomass, geomorphology and eco‐geomorphology change as a function of the distance from the sea between the two coastal sites. Results Rao's Q heterogeneity values vary along the sea–inland gradient of well‐preserved sites (LP). The maximum eco‐geomorphological heterogeneity was found at intermediate distances from the sea and decreased toward the inner sector where the dune geomorphology was more stable and vegetation more homogeneously distributed. Instead, Rao's Q heterogeneity values featured constant low values along the gradient on the HP site, highlighting a simplified eco‐geomorphological gradient related to the high human pressure. Conclusions Using UAS, the eco‐geomorphological gradient of coastal dunes can be quantified at a very fine spatial resolution over management‐relevant extents. Rao's Q index applied to sensing imagery successfully captured the differences in the eco‐geomorphological heterogeneity along the sea–inland dune gradient and among sites with different levels of anthropic pressure. This approach supports frequent surveys and is particularly suitable for spatial monitoring of key coastal functions and services.
Marco Malavasi; Manuele Bazzichetto; Jan Komárek; Vítězslav Moudrý; Duccio Rocchini; Simonetta Bagella; Alicia T. R. Acosta; Maria L. Carranza. Unmanned aerial systems‐based monitoring of the eco‐geomorphology of coastal dunes through spectral Rao's Q. Applied Vegetation Science 2021, 24, e12567 .
AMA StyleMarco Malavasi, Manuele Bazzichetto, Jan Komárek, Vítězslav Moudrý, Duccio Rocchini, Simonetta Bagella, Alicia T. R. Acosta, Maria L. Carranza. Unmanned aerial systems‐based monitoring of the eco‐geomorphology of coastal dunes through spectral Rao's Q. Applied Vegetation Science. 2021; 24 (1):e12567.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarco Malavasi; Manuele Bazzichetto; Jan Komárek; Vítězslav Moudrý; Duccio Rocchini; Simonetta Bagella; Alicia T. R. Acosta; Maria L. Carranza. 2021. "Unmanned aerial systems‐based monitoring of the eco‐geomorphology of coastal dunes through spectral Rao's Q." Applied Vegetation Science 24, no. 1: e12567.
Coastal dunes are found at the boundary between continents and seas representing unique transitional mosaics hosting highly dynamic habitats undergoing substantial seasonal changes. Here, we implemented a land cover classification approach specifically designed for coastal landscapes accounting for the within-year temporal variability of the main components of the coastal mosaic: vegetation, bare surfaces and water surfaces. Based on monthly Sentinel-2 satellite images of the year 2019, we used hierarchical clustering and a Random Forest model to produce an unsupervised land cover map of coastal dunes in a representative site of the Adriatic coast (central Italy). As classification variables, we used the within-year diversity computed through Rao’s Q index, along with three spectral indices describing the main components of the coastal mosaic (i.e., Modified Soil-adjusted Vegetation Index 2—MSAVI2, Normalized Difference Water Index 2—NDWI2 and Brightness Index 2—BI2). We identified seven land cover classes with high levels of accuracy, highlighting different covariates as the most important in differentiating them. The proposed framework proved effective in mapping a highly seasonal and heterogeneous landscape such as that of coastal dunes, highlighting Rao’s Q index as a sound base for natural cover monitoring and mapping. The applicability of the proposed framework on updated satellite images emphasizes the procedure as a reliable and replicable tool for coastal ecosystems monitoring.
Flavio Marzialetti; Mirko Febbraro; Marco Malavasi; Silvia Giulio; Alicia Acosta; Maria Carranza. Mapping Coastal Dune Landscape through Spectral Rao’s Q Temporal Diversity. Remote Sensing 2020, 12, 2315 .
AMA StyleFlavio Marzialetti, Mirko Febbraro, Marco Malavasi, Silvia Giulio, Alicia Acosta, Maria Carranza. Mapping Coastal Dune Landscape through Spectral Rao’s Q Temporal Diversity. Remote Sensing. 2020; 12 (14):2315.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFlavio Marzialetti; Mirko Febbraro; Marco Malavasi; Silvia Giulio; Alicia Acosta; Maria Carranza. 2020. "Mapping Coastal Dune Landscape through Spectral Rao’s Q Temporal Diversity." Remote Sensing 12, no. 14: 2315.
The present study aimed to investigate the role of propagule pressure (P), abiotic (A), and biotic (B) factors (collectively indicated as PAB) on the suitability of the Mediterranean island of Sardinia (Italy) to be invaded by the tree Acacia saligna, recently included in the list of invasive alien species of European Union concern. To this aim, a binomial Generalized Linear Model was applied for disentangling the relationship between 432 A. saligna occurrence records and 10 thematic layers, at high-resolution (10 x10 m), used as proxies for the 3 categories of PAB variables. The 432 occurrence records of A. saligna were periodically monitored (period 2000–2018) to check the persistence of the populations and their invasive status. The predictive power of the model was evaluated by computing the mean of the AUC scores, through cross-fold validation. The model adequately described how the PAB factors influence the presence of A. saligna which is mainly shaped by abiotic factors such as topography, and biotic factors such as the presence of woody dune vegetation, and to a lesser extent by other predictors. The projection of the model to the whole island clearly shows that suitability varies at the landscape level due to the variation of the PAB across the territory. The probability of A. saligna occurrence near the coast is higher in sand dunes. In the internal areas of the island it occurs close to the roads and urban areas. This study and the tested methodology could represent a suitable tool to prioritize areas for the monitoring of A. saligna to meet the requirements of the Regulation (EU) No. 1143/2014 on Invasive Alien Species (the IAS Regulation).
Vanessa Lozano; Flavio Marzialetti; Maria Laura Carranza; Daniel Chapman; Etienne Branquart; Klara Dološ; André Große-Stoltenberg; Michele Fiori; Paolo Capece; Giuseppe Brundu. Modelling Acacia saligna invasion in a large Mediterranean island using PAB factors: A tool for implementing the European legislation on invasive species. Ecological Indicators 2020, 116, 106516 .
AMA StyleVanessa Lozano, Flavio Marzialetti, Maria Laura Carranza, Daniel Chapman, Etienne Branquart, Klara Dološ, André Große-Stoltenberg, Michele Fiori, Paolo Capece, Giuseppe Brundu. Modelling Acacia saligna invasion in a large Mediterranean island using PAB factors: A tool for implementing the European legislation on invasive species. Ecological Indicators. 2020; 116 ():106516.
Chicago/Turabian StyleVanessa Lozano; Flavio Marzialetti; Maria Laura Carranza; Daniel Chapman; Etienne Branquart; Klara Dološ; André Große-Stoltenberg; Michele Fiori; Paolo Capece; Giuseppe Brundu. 2020. "Modelling Acacia saligna invasion in a large Mediterranean island using PAB factors: A tool for implementing the European legislation on invasive species." Ecological Indicators 116, no. : 106516.
Coastal erosion, in combination with sea-level rise and extreme meteorological events, is globally threatening the biodiversity and functioning of dune ecosystems, along with the essential ecosystem services they provide. In this study, by quantifying the intensity of erosion and accretion processes occurred over two decades in a wide Mediterranean dune system, we explore the influence of sand processes on dune plant communities focusing on a large portion of the sea-inland gradient. In particular, using different regression techniques, we assess how erosion and accretion processes affect richness, cover and diversity of Mediterranean coastal dune plant communities. Results show that the influence of coastal erosion and accretion varies along the sea-inland gradient, with foreseeable consequences on the integrity of dune systems. The negative effect of erosion seems to be particularly marked on foredunes, which play a key role in dune formation, while decreasing in landward communities. On the other hand, accretion features an opposite trend, unexpectedly influencing only Mediterranean shrubs. We highlight the importance of monitoring the effects of erosion and accretion processes on coastal vegetation in order to support the conservation of dune habitats and preserve the associated ecosystem services, especially in the context of climate and human-induced changes.
M. Bazzichetto; M.G. Sperandii; M. Malavasi; M.L. Carranza; A.T.R. Acosta. Disentangling the effect of coastal erosion and accretion on plant communities of Mediterranean dune ecosystems. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 2020, 241, 106758 .
AMA StyleM. Bazzichetto, M.G. Sperandii, M. Malavasi, M.L. Carranza, A.T.R. Acosta. Disentangling the effect of coastal erosion and accretion on plant communities of Mediterranean dune ecosystems. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 2020; 241 ():106758.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. Bazzichetto; M.G. Sperandii; M. Malavasi; M.L. Carranza; A.T.R. Acosta. 2020. "Disentangling the effect of coastal erosion and accretion on plant communities of Mediterranean dune ecosystems." Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 241, no. : 106758.
Mediterranean high mountain grasslands are shaped by climatic stress and understanding their functional adaptations can contribute to better understanding ecosystems’ response to global change. The present work analyses the plant functional traits of high-elevation grasslands growing in Mediterranean limestone mountains to explore, at the community level, the presence of different plant strategies for resource use (conservative vs. acquisitive) and functional diversity syndromes (convergent or divergent). Thus, we compared the functional composition and diversity of the above-ground traits related to resource acquisition strategies of subalpine and alpine calcareous grasslands in the central Apennines, a mountain region characterized by a dry-summer Mediterranean climate. We used georeferenced vegetation plots and field-measured plant functional traits (plant maximum height, specific leaf area and leaf dry matter content) for the dominant species of two characteristic vegetation types: the subalpine Sesleria juncifolia community and the alpine Silene acaulis community. Both communities are of particular conservation concern and are rich in endemic species for which plant functional traits are measured here for the first time. We analysed the functional composition and diversity using the community-weighted mean trait index and the functional diversity using Rao’s function, and we assessed how much the observed pattern deviated from a random distribution by calculating the respective standardized effect sizes. The results highlighted that an acquisitive resource use strategy and relatively higher functional diversity of leaf traits prevail in the alpine S. acaulis community, optimizing a rapid carbon gain, which would help overcome the constraints exerted by the short growing season. The divergent functional strategy underlines the co-occurrence of different leaf traits in the alpine grasslands, which shows good adaptation to a microhabitat-rich environment. Conversely, in the subalpine S. juncifolia grassland, a conservative resource use strategy and relatively lower functional diversity of the leaf traits are likely related to a high level resistance to aridity over a longer growing season. Our outcomes indicate the preadaptation strategy of the subalpine S. juncifolia grassland to shift upwards to the alpine zone that will become warmer and drier as a result of anthropogenic climate change.
Angela Stanisci; Alessandro Bricca; Valentina Calabrese; Maurizio Cutini; Harald Pauli; Klaus Steinbauer; Maria Laura Carranza. Functional composition and diversity of leaf traits in subalpine versus alpine vegetation in the Apennines. AoB PLANTS 2020, 12, plaa004 .
AMA StyleAngela Stanisci, Alessandro Bricca, Valentina Calabrese, Maurizio Cutini, Harald Pauli, Klaus Steinbauer, Maria Laura Carranza. Functional composition and diversity of leaf traits in subalpine versus alpine vegetation in the Apennines. AoB PLANTS. 2020; 12 (2):plaa004.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAngela Stanisci; Alessandro Bricca; Valentina Calabrese; Maurizio Cutini; Harald Pauli; Klaus Steinbauer; Maria Laura Carranza. 2020. "Functional composition and diversity of leaf traits in subalpine versus alpine vegetation in the Apennines." AoB PLANTS 12, no. 2: plaa004.
In the Mediterranean sandy coasts, urban expansion mainly occurs to support seaside tourism, causing a drastic loss of natural coastal dune habitats and the associated ecosystem services. We investigated on a representative tract of the Mediterranean coast to which extent land conversion into urban areas affected natural dune ecosystems and the related recreational Ecosystem Service over 50 years. Using empirical data derived from 591 questionnaires of beach users, we quantified the recreational ecosystem service (ESR) provided by the main dune habitat types of the Adriatic coast (Beach with Pioneer annual Vegetation, Herbaceous Dune Vegetation and Mediterranean macchia). On the basis of detailed multi-temporal land cover maps (years 1954, 1986 and 2006), we quantified the conversion of natural dune habitats into urban areas over time, by means of transition matrices. By combining the results of the assessment of ESR with the transition matrices, we measured how the natural dune habitats’ loss reduced the related ESR supply. Results show that although natural dune habitats have an important role as ESR suppliers, urban expansion eroded them with specific rates, causing a total percent loss of 12% in the ESR. Our work underlines the fragility of natural coastal dunes, which during the last decades have become a privileged destination for touristic and recreational activities and, thus, have been progressively replaced by urban areas, with an unwanted direct impact on their ESR supply. By combining multi-temporal mapping techniques with ecosystem services measurements, we enhanced our understanding of transformation processes on coastal dunes, offering as well new insights for dune management. According to our results, an effective dune management shall favor natural dune zonation, by welcoming sustainable sea-side recreational activities as the only acceptable form of coastal tourism.
Maria Laura Carranza; Mita Drius; Flavio Marzialetti; Marco Malavasi; Maria Carla De Francesco; Alicia T. R. Acosta; Angela Stanisci. Urban expansion depletes cultural ecosystem services: an insight into a Mediterranean coastline. Rendiconti Lincei. Scienze Fisiche e Naturali 2019, 31, 103 -111.
AMA StyleMaria Laura Carranza, Mita Drius, Flavio Marzialetti, Marco Malavasi, Maria Carla De Francesco, Alicia T. R. Acosta, Angela Stanisci. Urban expansion depletes cultural ecosystem services: an insight into a Mediterranean coastline. Rendiconti Lincei. Scienze Fisiche e Naturali. 2019; 31 (1):103-111.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaria Laura Carranza; Mita Drius; Flavio Marzialetti; Marco Malavasi; Maria Carla De Francesco; Alicia T. R. Acosta; Angela Stanisci. 2019. "Urban expansion depletes cultural ecosystem services: an insight into a Mediterranean coastline." Rendiconti Lincei. Scienze Fisiche e Naturali 31, no. 1: 103-111.
Beach litter threatens coastal dunes integrity across the world. European countries are committed to improving the environmental status of the marine and coastal environment by 2020, and to do this, they need to reduce the gap of knowledge about litter accumulation patterns in coastal environments. We analyzed the distribution pattern of waste, differentiated by material and origin, in the coastal dune vegetation mosaic along protected natural areas in the Adriatic seashore (central Italy). Litter data were collected following a random stratified procedure. We registered litter occurrence on 180 (2 × 2 m) sampling plots randomly distributed in the different habitats of European conservation concern mapped for the analyzed protected areas. Litter was classified by origin and material, and their abundance on different habitats was explored by multivariate ordination techniques and tested by nonparametric ANOVA followed by Mann-Whitney pairwise post-hoc tests. Most of the plots included at least one waste element being plastic. Plastic was the most abundant material, and fishing and touristic the most polluting activities. Waste distribution varies across coastal dune vegetation types and involves the back dune zone too. Our results stress the need for (a) specific cleaning tasks able to preserve the ecological value of coastal dune habitats and (b) actions aimed at preventing litter production and accumulation.
Maria Carla De Francesco; Maria Laura Carranza; Marco Varricchione; Francesco Pio Tozzi; Angela Stanisci. Natural Protected Areas as Special Sentinels of Littering on Coastal Dune Vegetation. Sustainability 2019, 11, 5446 .
AMA StyleMaria Carla De Francesco, Maria Laura Carranza, Marco Varricchione, Francesco Pio Tozzi, Angela Stanisci. Natural Protected Areas as Special Sentinels of Littering on Coastal Dune Vegetation. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (19):5446.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaria Carla De Francesco; Maria Laura Carranza; Marco Varricchione; Francesco Pio Tozzi; Angela Stanisci. 2019. "Natural Protected Areas as Special Sentinels of Littering on Coastal Dune Vegetation." Sustainability 11, no. 19: 5446.
Coastal areas harbor the most threatened ecosystems on Earth, and cost-effective ways to monitor and protect them are urgently needed, but they represent a challenge for habitat mapping and multi-temporal observations. The availability of open access, remotely sensed data with increasing spatial and spectral resolution is promising in this context. Thus, in a sector of the Mediterranean coast (Lazio region, Italy), we tested the strength of a phenology-based vegetation mapping approach and statistically compared results with previous studies, making use of open source products across all the processing chain. We identified five accurate land cover classes in three hierarchical levels, with good values of agreement with previous studies for the first and the second hierarchical level. The implemented procedure resulted as being effective for mapping a highly fragmented coastal dune system. This is encouraging to take advantage of the earth observation through remote sensing technology in an open source perspective, even at the fine scale of highly fragmented sand dunes landscapes.
Flavio Marzialetti; Silvia Giulio; Marco Malavasi; Marta Gaia Sperandii; Alicia Teresa Rosario Acosta; Maria Laura Carranza. Capturing Coastal Dune Natural Vegetation Types Using a Phenology-Based Mapping Approach: The Potential of Sentinel-2. Remote Sensing 2019, 11, 1506 .
AMA StyleFlavio Marzialetti, Silvia Giulio, Marco Malavasi, Marta Gaia Sperandii, Alicia Teresa Rosario Acosta, Maria Laura Carranza. Capturing Coastal Dune Natural Vegetation Types Using a Phenology-Based Mapping Approach: The Potential of Sentinel-2. Remote Sensing. 2019; 11 (12):1506.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFlavio Marzialetti; Silvia Giulio; Marco Malavasi; Marta Gaia Sperandii; Alicia Teresa Rosario Acosta; Maria Laura Carranza. 2019. "Capturing Coastal Dune Natural Vegetation Types Using a Phenology-Based Mapping Approach: The Potential of Sentinel-2." Remote Sensing 11, no. 12: 1506.
Invasive Alien Species (IAS) pose a major threat to biodiversity and ecosystem services worldwide. Even if preventing biological invasions should be the most cost-effective way to minimise the impact of IAS on biodiversity, new efforts are necessary to identify early signs of invasion and to assess invasion risk. In this context, the implementation of invasive Species Distribution Models (iSDMs) could represent a sound instrument that merits further research. Acaciasaligna is an Australian vascular plant introduced into Europe during the last half century and is one of the most aggressive IAS in the Mediterranean basin. In this work, we model the occurrence of A.saligna in the coastal landscapes of central Italy (Adriatic coast) while accounting for the simultaneous effect of multiple factors (propagule pressure, abiotic, biotic factors). The iSDM for A.saligna was implemented on a representative tract of the Adriatic coast in central Italy (Molise region), largely included in two Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites which actively contribute to the description of the considered ecosystem status and possible future trends. By using a Generalised Linear Model (GLM) with a binomial distribution of errors based on field and cartographic geo-referenced data, we examined the statistical relationship between the occurrence of A.saligna and a comprehensive set of environmental factors. The iSDM effectively captured the role of the different variables in determining the occurrence of A.saligna in the coastal dunes. Its occurrence is primarily related to Wooded dunes with Pinuspinea and/or P.pinaster (EU Habitat 2270) and distance from the sea and, to a lesser extent, with distance from roads and rivers. This research provides a first exploratory analysis of the environmental characteristics that promote the rapid growth and development of A.saligna in Italian dune ecosystems, identifying the habitats that are mainly affected by the invasive process in coastal areas and, by doing so, contributing to filling the gap between theory and practice in conservation decision-making. Finally, the LTER network benefitted from this research, confirming its relevance in providing useful information for modelling and monitoring invasion processes.
Flavio Marzialetti; Manuele Bazzichetto; Silvia Giulio; Alicia T.R. Acosta; Angela Stanisci; Marco Malavasi; Maria Laura Carranza. Modelling Acacia saligna invasion on the Adriatic coastal landscape: An integrative approach using LTER data. Nature Conservation 2019, 34, 127 -144.
AMA StyleFlavio Marzialetti, Manuele Bazzichetto, Silvia Giulio, Alicia T.R. Acosta, Angela Stanisci, Marco Malavasi, Maria Laura Carranza. Modelling Acacia saligna invasion on the Adriatic coastal landscape: An integrative approach using LTER data. Nature Conservation. 2019; 34 ():127-144.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFlavio Marzialetti; Manuele Bazzichetto; Silvia Giulio; Alicia T.R. Acosta; Angela Stanisci; Marco Malavasi; Maria Laura Carranza. 2019. "Modelling Acacia saligna invasion on the Adriatic coastal landscape: An integrative approach using LTER data." Nature Conservation 34, no. : 127-144.
Preserving species within protected areas (PAs) does not guarantee adequate levels of protection if not coupled with conservation of functional connectivity for a target species. We propose an analytical framework to assess the effectiveness of PAs in preserving habitat and functional connectivity for mobile vertebrates. We implemented it in central Italy by using as a case study a bat species (common noctule, Nyctalus noctula) to: (i) determine suitable areas by means of Species Distribution Models (SDMs); (ii) identify potential commuting corridors through a functional connectivity analysis; (iii) develop a new tool to rank corridors according to their functional irreplaceability; (iv) implement a gap analysis on both suitable areas and functional corridors; and (v) propose management recommendations for the conservation of N. noctula. The SDM output and a set of proxies of commuting routes were used to build a resistance layer for the connectivity analysis. The resulting functional corridors were ranked according to their isolation (distance to other corridors and to suitable areas) to obtain an irreplaceability index, with isolated corridors scoring high values. The PA effectiveness assessed by overlapping the PA map with the SDM and the ranked functional corridors highlighted that PAs cover just a small portion of suitable sites (20.3%) and functional corridors for the species (20.8%). The irreplaceability index allowed us to identify those areas inside and outside the PAs that critical for persistence of the species in question require immediate protection regimes. The approach we present could be easily extended to other taxa and offers sound insight on how to promote the conservation at landscape scale.
L. Ducci; F. Roscioni; M. L. Carranza; P. Agnelli; D. Russo; L. Frate; A. Loy; G. Santini; M. Di Febbraro. The role of protected areas in preserving habitat and functional connectivity for mobile flying vertebrates: the common noctule bat (Nyctalus noctula) in Tuscany (Italy) as a case study. Biodiversity and Conservation 2019, 28, 1569 -1592.
AMA StyleL. Ducci, F. Roscioni, M. L. Carranza, P. Agnelli, D. Russo, L. Frate, A. Loy, G. Santini, M. Di Febbraro. The role of protected areas in preserving habitat and functional connectivity for mobile flying vertebrates: the common noctule bat (Nyctalus noctula) in Tuscany (Italy) as a case study. Biodiversity and Conservation. 2019; 28 (6):1569-1592.
Chicago/Turabian StyleL. Ducci; F. Roscioni; M. L. Carranza; P. Agnelli; D. Russo; L. Frate; A. Loy; G. Santini; M. Di Febbraro. 2019. "The role of protected areas in preserving habitat and functional connectivity for mobile flying vertebrates: the common noctule bat (Nyctalus noctula) in Tuscany (Italy) as a case study." Biodiversity and Conservation 28, no. 6: 1569-1592.
Coastal sand dunes are complex transitional systems hosting high levels of biodiversity and providing important benefits to society. In this paper we aimed to evaluate the multi-service nature of ecosystem services (ES) supply in the dunes of the Italian Adriatic coast within Natura 2000 (N2K) sites. We i) identified ES indicators and assessed the supply capacity (Climate regulation, Protection from wind and aerosol, Erosion regulation, Recreation and Tourism and Existence value of biodiversity) of natural dune ecosystems of European conservation concern; ii) upscaled this data to create an inventory of ES supply for all dune N2K sites in the study area; iii) explored the trade-offs among ES; and iv) summarized and spatially compared the overall multi-service value of the N2K sites. The study provides a method for quantifying the role of N2K sites in supplying benefits for our society. We found that the multi-service capacity of coastal dunes is uneven within sites and within administrative regions. This variability is related to both ecological (e.g. distribution, ecological integrity, extent and conservation status of dune habitats) and administrative (e.g. local implementation of the Habitats Directive) characteristics of the analysed area. ES are not coupled as several sites with high values for one ES show very low values for others. The results suggest that conservation actions should favour restoration of the natural dune zonation, since this underpins multi-service ES supply. The approach can distinguish regions with high ES values and regions where the paucity of protected areas represents a gap in ES supply, fact that offers an incentive to enhance the protection strategy but also suggests an urgent need to improve the N2K network by enlarging existent sites and including new ones.
Mita Drius; Laurence Jones; Flavio Marzialetti; Maria Carla de Francesco; Angela Stanisci; Maria Laura Carranza. Not just a sandy beach. The multi-service value of Mediterranean coastal dunes. Science of The Total Environment 2019, 668, 1139 -1155.
AMA StyleMita Drius, Laurence Jones, Flavio Marzialetti, Maria Carla de Francesco, Angela Stanisci, Maria Laura Carranza. Not just a sandy beach. The multi-service value of Mediterranean coastal dunes. Science of The Total Environment. 2019; 668 ():1139-1155.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMita Drius; Laurence Jones; Flavio Marzialetti; Maria Carla de Francesco; Angela Stanisci; Maria Laura Carranza. 2019. "Not just a sandy beach. The multi-service value of Mediterranean coastal dunes." Science of The Total Environment 668, no. : 1139-1155.