Phytosociological study in coastal salt marshes restoration

The capacity to define suitable habitat is often an important parameter in conservation and restoration projects of plant populations, and it requires previously a fine knowledge of their ecological features and dynamics. This study is a part of the SIMBIOTIC Project - Enhancing SIcily-Malta BIOgeographical Transboundary Insular Connectivity (Operative Programme Italia-Malta 2007– 2013) whose overall objective is to enhance the ecological integrity, connectivity and management effectiveness of protected area landscapes in the Pachino-Gozo cross border area. Coastal salt marshes from southern Sicily, particularly Pantano Ponterio, are the sites chosen for the implementation of the pilot project. According to the bioclimatic classification proposed by Rivas-Martínez (2004), this area can be referred to the Mediterranean pluviseasonal oceanic bioclimate, with low thermomediterranean thermotypes and semiarid ombrotypes (Brullo et al. 1996; Scelsi and Spampinato, 1998). The aim of this research is to recognize the different vegetation zones of salt marshes, to find the characteristic/structurally dominant species of each habitat, to cultivate the target species identified, and to analyze the processes of colonization and development of the target species in their habitats. The main purpose was to produce a model of restoration of salt marshes. The vegetation analysis, carried out with the phytosociological method, has allowed to identify different plant communities. On the basis of a total of 136 relevés 23 plant communities have been defined. The vegetation is represented by flooded communities of Ruppietea “cod.1150*” (Enteromorpho intestinalidis-Ruppietum maritimae, Ruppietum spiralis), by helophytic communities of Phragmito-Magnocaricetea (Phragmitetum communes, Scirpetum compacti), by hygrophyte communities of Juncetea maritimi “cod. 1410” (Schoeno-Plantaginetum crassifoliae, Juncetum maritimo-acuti, Juncetum subulati,Inulo crithmoidis-Juncetum maritimi, Spartino-Juncetum maritimi), by halophytic communities of Sarcocornietea fruticosae “cod. 1420” (Arthrocnemo-Juncetum subulati, Junco subulati-Sarcocornietum alpini, Junco subulati-Sarcocornietum fruticosae, Halimiono portulacoidis-Sarcocornietum alpini, Halimiono-Suaedetum verae, Agropyro scirpei-Inuletum crithmoidis), by annual halo-nitrophytic communities of Saginetea maritimae “cod.1310” (Parapholidetum filiformis), by annual communities of Isoetonanojuncetea “cod.3170*” (Brizo minoris-Isolepidetum cernui ass. nova), by annual halophytic communities of Thero-Salicornietea “cod.1310” (Salicornietum emerici, Suaedo-Salicornietum patulae, Salsoletum sodae, Atriplici salinae-Suaedetum spicatae, Cressetum creticae) and by halo-higrophte wood of Nerio-Tamaricetea “cod. 92D0” (Limbardo crithmoidis-Tamaricetum africanae ass. nova). The target species identified and seeds collected in the salt marshes from southern Sicily are: Sarcocornia alpini, Arthrocnemum glaucum and Juncus subulatus (lower marshes), Sarcocornia fruticosa and Limonium narbonense (middle marshes), Juncus acutus, J. maritimus, Limbarda crithmoides, Elytrigia scirpea (upper marshes). Regarding the processes of colonization and development of the target species we are awaiting the first results. The study has highlighted that the different plant communities are distributed in the salt marshes in relation to length of flooding, water level, salinity and soil texture and suggests guidelines for restoration activities to be held in the Pantano Ponterio.