The present study, carried out within the framework of the project code CN_00000033, Concession Decree No. 1034 of 17 June 2022 adopted by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, CUP, H43C22000530001377 Project title “National Biodiversity Future Center - NBFC”, aims to evaluate the anthropogenic constraints on the seasonal dynamics of vegetation biodiversity in urban ecosystems. The adopted approach focused on analysing, using seasonal phytosociological relevées from October 2023 to July 2024, the structural and functional diversity of the herbaceous communities colonizing two urban areas in southern Italy, subjected to different levels of management but similar climate. Taxa were identified at the species level, estimating their abundance through measures of number of individuals, dry mass and Braun-Blanquet cover, while Raunkiaer biological forms, chorology and Ellenberg indices were adopted to evaluate vegetation functional diversity. Results show clear seasonal dynamics in vegetation composition and structure where subjected only to occasional mowing, with dominance-diversity relationships cycling through pre-emption models in winter to lognormal distributions in spring and autumn, passing through Mandelbrot models in summer. This sequence highlights the seasonal evolution of constraints due to endogenous processes (e.g. competition) and external pressures (e.g. summer drought), and is coherent with clear shifts in community composition. Where regular mowing, irrigation and fertilization occur, the seasonal signature on vegetation dynamics fades and the dominance-diversity community structure follows similar pre-emption models throughout the year, with limited variations in species richness and evenness. The relative seasonal variations in different diversity indices between the study areas further support the effects of anthropogenic constraints on vegetation seasonal dynamics. Findings shed light on the temporal evolution of vegetation communities in complex urban ecosystems, with clear interpretations in terms of diverse anthropogenic constraints.

Anthropogenic constraints on vegetation seasonal dynamics in urban ecosystems

Baldi V.;Bellino A.;Napoletano M.;Baldantoni D.
2024-01-01

Abstract

The present study, carried out within the framework of the project code CN_00000033, Concession Decree No. 1034 of 17 June 2022 adopted by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, CUP, H43C22000530001377 Project title “National Biodiversity Future Center - NBFC”, aims to evaluate the anthropogenic constraints on the seasonal dynamics of vegetation biodiversity in urban ecosystems. The adopted approach focused on analysing, using seasonal phytosociological relevées from October 2023 to July 2024, the structural and functional diversity of the herbaceous communities colonizing two urban areas in southern Italy, subjected to different levels of management but similar climate. Taxa were identified at the species level, estimating their abundance through measures of number of individuals, dry mass and Braun-Blanquet cover, while Raunkiaer biological forms, chorology and Ellenberg indices were adopted to evaluate vegetation functional diversity. Results show clear seasonal dynamics in vegetation composition and structure where subjected only to occasional mowing, with dominance-diversity relationships cycling through pre-emption models in winter to lognormal distributions in spring and autumn, passing through Mandelbrot models in summer. This sequence highlights the seasonal evolution of constraints due to endogenous processes (e.g. competition) and external pressures (e.g. summer drought), and is coherent with clear shifts in community composition. Where regular mowing, irrigation and fertilization occur, the seasonal signature on vegetation dynamics fades and the dominance-diversity community structure follows similar pre-emption models throughout the year, with limited variations in species richness and evenness. The relative seasonal variations in different diversity indices between the study areas further support the effects of anthropogenic constraints on vegetation seasonal dynamics. Findings shed light on the temporal evolution of vegetation communities in complex urban ecosystems, with clear interpretations in terms of diverse anthropogenic constraints.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11386/4883463
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