Alicia Acosta Plant Ecology Lab
1) Coastal dune biodiversity along the Italian coasts
2) Environmental and human-related determinants in coastal dune environments
3) Understanding patterns of invasions on Mediterranean coastal dunes
4) Analysis of the distribution of coastal dune habitats of European interest in relation to major global climate and land use changes at national level
5) Monitoring coastal dune biodiversity
6) Analyses of coastal dune vegetation in relation to Posidonia oceanica seagrasses
1) Coastal dune biodiversity along the Italian coasts:
a) Floristic vegetation survey
We analyze the spatial distribution of whole coastal dune vascular flora but focusing on rare and focal species. We followed the European Cartographic Project protocol (Ehrendorfer & Hamman 1965) using cell grids of about 35 km2. . This survey was carried on between 2003-2007 along the coasts of Lazio, Abruzzo and Molise regions with the collaboration of researchers from Molise and Aquila Universities.
b) Detailed vegetation sampling, coastal dune vegetation database and 92/43/CEE Directive habitats identification
From 2003 we are conducting a standard random vegetation sampling along coastal dune systems of Lazio, Campania, Abruzzo, Molise and Puglia. Vegetation plots are included in a database which is continuously updated. We were able to identify different 92/43/EEC Directive habitats, among them:
- Annual vegetation of drift lines, 1210
- Embryonic shifting dunes, 2110
- Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria (white dunes), 2120
- Crucianellion maritimae fixed beach dunes, 2230
- Malcolmietalia dune grasslands, 2230
- * Coastal dunes with Juniperus spp., 2250
- Cisto-Lavenduletalia dune sclerophyllous scrubs, 2260
2) Environmental and human-related determinants in coastal dune environments:
Environmental and human-related determinants play an important role in shaping and modifying communities in coastal dune environments. Native as well as alien species diversity and therefore invasion processes are consequently clearly influenced by external correlates. Understanding rules that govern plant community assembly and native-alien relationships on sandy shores is linked to the analysis of influencing factors at multiple scales. In this context, we analyse the relationship of indigenous and alien species diversity with environmental correlates at different spatial scales in coastal environments in Central Italy: a broad regional scale and a small, local scale. At regional scale we built a data set of environmental drivers (climate and coastline movements) and of human drivers (land cover, urbanization and tourism). For the smaller resolution we built a dataset of environmental field measurements along the sea-inland gradient: soil features related to level of environmental stress (e.g. content in organic matter, soil moisture and salinity, etc.) and wind factors related to natural disturbance (sand burial, wind abrasion, etc.).
3) Understanding patterns of invasions on Mediterranean coastal dunes:
a) Floristic census of alien plants in the coastal dune ecosystems following the protocol of the European floristic mapping. The alien species distribution has been analyzed by digital maps, applying the same methodology proposed for the native species.
b) Analysis of alien plant distribution in the different plant communities of the coastal dune zonation.
c) Analysis of Carpobrotus impact on coastal dune ecosystems in Central Italy. We have compared non-invaded plant communities and Carpobrotus invaded communities.
d) Analysis of Carpobrotus impact on total native species diversity and on focal species diversity.
e) Analysis of Carpobrotus impact on some soil parameters in the invaded habitats. Analysis of the characteristics of the soils in invaded and non-invaded habitats along the dune zonation.
f) Analysis of Carpobrotus impact on the assemblage of plant communities. We tested rules of assemblage along different communities in relation to the sea-inland gradient. Furthermore, we tested the hypothesis that Carpobrotus invasion could alter the assemblage in the invaded communities.
4) Analysis of the distribution of coastal dune habitats of European interest in relation to major global climate and land use changes at national level.
a) Collection of phytosociological information published at national level since the end of 1960s and classification of each relevé in a habitat category (sensu 92/43/CEE Habitats Directive). Building of a national vegetation database of sandy coastal dunes (VegDunes - Database of Italian coastal dune vegetation; EU-IT-005; www.givd.info). Analysis of diversity and geographical distribution of psammophilous habitats at the national level, highlighting main hotspot and areas with missing vegetation information.
b) Developing habitat suitability models for the most widespread psammophilous habitats with the aim of analyse changes in their distribution in the near future, in relation to predicted global climate and land use changes. Comparison of possible future scenarios using two different approaches: direct (habitat-based), that use the current distribution of the habitat itself, and indirect (species-based), that model each habitat in terms of its diagnostic species.
c) Evaluate the present-day efficacy of Italian protected areas overlapping the database information with the Natura 2000 Network. Contribute to present and future conservation of coastal habitats, which are among the most threatened at European level, identifying areas with the highest concentration of EU habitats.
5) Monitoring coastal dune biodiversity
The Italian Long Term Ecological Research Network (LTER Italia) is, since 2006, part of the International LTER Network (ILTER), including 39 member countries. At present LTER Italia encompasses 20 sites where ecological research is active since long time in woody, high mountain, freshwater, transitional, coastal and marine ecosystems.
LTER Italy will help to understand the status of many important Italian ecosystems studying the effects of pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss. As part of the LTER Network we have proposed the site LTER IT-20 “Italian coastal dunes” with study areas in Lazio, Abruzzo and Molise regions. In the framework of the LTER network, we also participate in the European Project Life+ EnvEurope LIFE08 ENV/lT/000399 (“Environmental quality and pressures assessment across Europe: the LTER network as an integrated and shared system for ecosystem monitoring”, 2010-2013).
6) Analyses of coastal dune vegetation in relation to Posidonia oceanica seagrasses
The aim of this research is to analyze the effect of wrack derived from the seagrass Posidonia oceanica accumulated on sandy shores on coastal dune vegetation. The wrack can influence the plant species trough physical and chemical substrate modification, and consequently contribute to the plant diversity of dune ecosystems.
In particular we analyzed the effect of wrack on the vegetation at species and community level, analyzing the effects on:
1) seed germination of the most typical coastal plant species
2) seedling survival and development
3) the structure of coastal dune plant communities
The CCB (Biodiversity Conservation Centre, Botany Department, Cagliari University, Italy) and the IMEDEA research centre (Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, Biodiversity and Conservation Department, Balearic Islands) collaborate with this research.