The vascular flora and vegetation of “Foce del Crati” Regional Nature Reserve (Calabria, South Italy) – Data about floristic and phytosociological survey carried out in the nature reserve placed around the mouth of the Crati River are reported. This reserve is a very important humid area regarding the high floristic and faunistic biodiversity, threatened to human influence. Particularly, this area have recently become endangered by irrational farming and profit-orientated mass tourism in the “Laghi di Sibari” residential buildings, threatening the coastal biotopes. The vascular flora comprising 482 taxa, belonging to 83 families and 293 genera. Among them, 13 species were considered doubtful and 15 species are new for the calabrian flora. Finally, 18 species pertaining to the Red List of Italy are recorded. The analysis of biological spectrum of the flora shows the prevalence of Mediterranean elements. In reserve, several psammophylous dune communities, salt-marsh, brackish swamp and floating fresh-water vegetation are observed, as much as riparian woods with poplars, willows and alders, all the phytocoenosis varying in relation to the smallest fluctuations in salinity and water content of the soil. On the whole, 46 vegetation types are described, often localized in very small area, some of these new to the Calabrian or South-Italian vegetation, any other very rare, like Clematido scandentis-Populetum albae association or the mosaic of halophylous associations belonging to Saginetea maritimae, Salicornietea fruticosae and Thero-Suaedetea classes. At present, eucalyptus and pine artificial stands have been included in the reserve, despite very interesting plant communities grow out of the boundary lines. The protected area must to be extended by a regional law providing meantime for a sustainable land use in harmony with the existing vegetation and fauna.
Sono presentati i risultati di uno studio sulla flora e sulla vegetazione effettuato nella Riserva Naturale della Foce del Crati, zona umida caratterizzata da una notevole biodiversità, minacciata dalla presenza di attività agricole e pastorali condotte irrazionalmente e dall’espansione di complessi turistici edificati proprio a contatto con le cenosi costiere più sensibili all’antropizzazione. La flora, costituita soprattutto da elementi mediterranei, consiste di 482 taxa, comprendenti 15 specie nuove per la Calabria e 18 specie inserite nelle Liste Rosse regionali. Notevole risulta la presenza di specie sinantropiche. La vegetazione è rappresentata dalle fitocenosi della geoserie psammofila litoranea, da quelle tipiche delle paludi salmastre, da vegetazione prettamente alofila e da cenosi delle zone umide dulciacquicole prossime al corso del fiume. Essa è differenziata notevolmente in funzione anche di piccole variazioni del contenuto salino o di umidità del suolo. Nel complesso, sono state individuate 46 tipologie di vegetazione, spesso distribuite su superfici molto limitate. Alcune associazioni sono nuove per la Calabria o per l’Italia Meridionale, altre sono degne di nota per la particolare rarità, quali i pioppeti a Clematis scandens e le associazioni della geoserie alofila. Nonostante le vaste superfici rimboschite ad eucalipti e pini, la riserva mantiene ancora un elevato grado di naturalità. Tuttavia, le misure di protezione devono essere rinforzate ed estese anche alle aree limitrofe, onde garantire la migliore conservazione di un così fragile ecosistema.
Flora vascolare e vegetazione della Riserva Naturale Regionale “Foce del Fiume Crati” (Calabria, Italia meridionale)
SPAMPINATO, Giovanni;
2007-01-01
Abstract
The vascular flora and vegetation of “Foce del Crati” Regional Nature Reserve (Calabria, South Italy) – Data about floristic and phytosociological survey carried out in the nature reserve placed around the mouth of the Crati River are reported. This reserve is a very important humid area regarding the high floristic and faunistic biodiversity, threatened to human influence. Particularly, this area have recently become endangered by irrational farming and profit-orientated mass tourism in the “Laghi di Sibari” residential buildings, threatening the coastal biotopes. The vascular flora comprising 482 taxa, belonging to 83 families and 293 genera. Among them, 13 species were considered doubtful and 15 species are new for the calabrian flora. Finally, 18 species pertaining to the Red List of Italy are recorded. The analysis of biological spectrum of the flora shows the prevalence of Mediterranean elements. In reserve, several psammophylous dune communities, salt-marsh, brackish swamp and floating fresh-water vegetation are observed, as much as riparian woods with poplars, willows and alders, all the phytocoenosis varying in relation to the smallest fluctuations in salinity and water content of the soil. On the whole, 46 vegetation types are described, often localized in very small area, some of these new to the Calabrian or South-Italian vegetation, any other very rare, like Clematido scandentis-Populetum albae association or the mosaic of halophylous associations belonging to Saginetea maritimae, Salicornietea fruticosae and Thero-Suaedetea classes. At present, eucalyptus and pine artificial stands have been included in the reserve, despite very interesting plant communities grow out of the boundary lines. The protected area must to be extended by a regional law providing meantime for a sustainable land use in harmony with the existing vegetation and fauna.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
