<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This study provides the first contribution to the knowledge of the non-calcareous grasslands of the arenaceous sector of the Monti Sibillini National Park (central Italy). We conducted 55 relevés using the Braun-Blanquet phytosociological method and analysed the ecology of plant communities by Redundancy analysis using topographic variables and Ellenberg Indicator Values as predictors. We identified nine plant communities, belonging to four classes. Communities of <italic>Calluno-Ulicetea</italic> and <italic>Nardetea strictae</italic> were found on acidic soils at higher elevations, those of <italic>Festuco-Brometea</italic> were mainly associated with steeper south-facing slopes, while <italic>Molinio-Arrhenatheretea</italic> communities were associated with low altitudes and gentle slopes, semi-flat lands, and high soil nutrient and moisture values. We recorded a total of 410 taxa at the species and subspecies level, representing about 20% of the flora of the Monti Sibillini National Park. Some of these are of high conservation interest, e.g. <italic>Calluna vulgaris</italic>, <italic>Genista sagittalis</italic>, <italic>Juncus capitatus</italic>, and <italic>Ophioglossum vulgatum</italic>. Eight species are new to the flora of Sibillini National Park.</p></abstract>

This study provides the first contribution to the knowledge of the non-calcareous grasslands of the arenaceous sector of the Monti Sibillini National Park (central Italy). We conducted 55 relevés using the Braun-Blanquet phytosociological method and analysed the ecology of plant communities by Redundancy analysis using topographic variables and Ellenberg Indicator Values as predictors. We identified nine plant communities, belonging to four classes. Communities of Calluno-Ulicetea and Nardetea strictae were found on acidic soils at higher elevations, those of Festuco-Brometea were mainly associated with steeper south-facing slopes, while Molinio-Arrhenatheretea communities were associated with low altitudes and gentle slopes, semi-flat lands, and high soil nutrient and moisture values. We recorded a total of 410 taxa at the species and subspecies level, representing about 20% of the flora of the Monti Sibillini National Park. Some of these are of high conservation interest, e.g. Calluna vulgaris, Genista sagittalis, Juncus capitatus, and Ophioglossum vulgatum. Eight species are new to the flora of Sibillini National Park.

Contribution to the knowledge of the non-calcareous grasslands of the Monti Sibillini National Park (central Italy): coenological structure, syntaxonomy, ecology, and floristic aspects

Hacquetia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This study provides the first contribution to the knowledge of the non-calcareous grasslands of the arenaceous sector of the Monti Sibillini National Park...

Contribution to the knowledge of the non-calcareous grasslands of the Monti Sibillini National Park (central Italy): coenological structure, syntaxonomy, ecology, and floristic aspects

Published Online: Feb 12, 2022

Page range: 41 - 72

Received: Jul 09, 2021

Accepted: Oct 13, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/hacq-2021-0023

Keywords
arenaceous substrates, flora of conservation interest, grasslands, plant sociology

© 2022 Sandro Ballelli et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Contribution to the knowledge of the non-calcareous grasslands of the Monti Sibillini National Park (central Italy): coenological structure, syntaxonomy, ecology, and floristic aspects

Published Online: Feb 12, 2022

Page range: 41 - 72

Received: Jul 09, 2021

Accepted: Oct 13, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/hacq-2021-0023

Keywordsarenaceous substrates, flora of conservation interest, grasslands, plant sociology

© 2022 Sandro Ballelli et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
arenaceous substrates, flora of conservation interest, grasslands, plant sociology