Aims Mires are important habitats that provide fundamental ecosystem services. Although they have traditionally been considered stable ecosystems, exhibiting little to no change in floristic composition over several decades to millennia, the effect of contemporary climate change is largely unknown. This study aimed to assess (i) how the vegetation of Sphagnum-dominated mires changed over the last two decades in the Western Alps, where mires are fragmented and at the southern edge of their European distribution, and (ii) whether climate change was a primary driver of these changes.Location Western Alps, Italy.Methods We resurveyed 139 plots across 14 sites, comparing historical vegetation data from 1998 and 2011 with new surveys conducted in 2023, including vascular plants and bryophytes. We analysed the shifts in species composition and the changes in community diversity and ecological indicators. We also evaluated climate trends over the past three decades and their relationship with vegetation dynamics.Results Climate data analyses confirmed increasing air temperatures, decreasing precipitation and increasing evaporation across the study sites. Both short-term and long-term resurveys showed an increase in species diversity, in particular woody and non-specialist vascular plants, and a decrease in or local extinction of mire specialists, including Sphagnum species. These results suggest a lowering of the water table and a consequent drying. Longer term resurveys revealed signs of acidification and eutrophication, likely due to increased mineralisation. Attribution to climate change was supported by the higher increase in species richness in mires with a stronger decrease in precipitation.Conclusion Our results revealed significant vegetation changes under the pressure of climate change, with mires at the southern edge of their European distribution exhibiting more rapid and pronounced vegetation dynamics than previous studies conducted at higher latitudes. Urgent conservation measures, including rewetting, are essential to preserve these mires and their ecosystem services.

In this contribution, new data concerning algae, bryophytes, fungi and lichens of the Italian flora are presented. It includes new records, confirmations or exclusions for the algal genera Cladophoropsis, the bryophyte genera Bryum, Cinclidotus, Dicranella, and Pulvigera, the fungal genera Ascocoryne, Calycina, Echinoderma, Hohenbuehelia, Laccaria, Lasiosphaeria, Leucocoprinus, Neodasyscypha, Propolis, Psathyrella, and Sclerococcum, and the lichen genera Acarospora, Bryoplaca, Caloplaca, Candelariella, Catapyrenium, Cladonia, Lecanora, Lepra, Monerolechia, Mycobilimbia, Pertusaria, Pycnora, Spilonema, Thelopsis, and Xylopsora.

Our work aims to assess how butterfly communities in the Italian Maritime Alps changed over the past 40 years, in parallel with altitudinal shifts occurring in plant communities. In 2019, we sampled butterflies at 7 grassland sites, between 1300–1900 m, previously investigated in 2009 and 1978, by semi-quantitative linear transects. Fine-scale temperature and precipitation data elaborated by optimal interpolation techniques were used to quantify climate changes. The changes in the vegetation cover and main habitat alterations were assessed by inspection of aerial photographs (1978–2018/1978–2006–2015). The vegetation structure showed a marked decrease of grassland habitats and an increase of woods (1978–2009). Plant physiognomy has remained stable in recent years (2009–2019) with some local exceptions due to geomorphic disturbance. We observed butterfly ‘species substitution’ indicating a general loss in the more specialised and a general gain in more tolerant elements. We did not observe any decrease in species richness, but rather a change in guild compositions, with (i) an overall increased abundance in some widespread and common lowland species and (ii) the disappearance (or strong decrease) of some alpine (high elevation) species, so that ‘resilience’ could be just delusive. Changes in butterfly community composition were consistent with predicted impacts of local warming.

Control of lichens on stone cultural heritage is mostly achieved by a combination of mechanical removal with biocide applications. However, there is a lack of scientific evidence on the efficacy of different biocides on different species, and on the consistency of biocide effects on heritage sites in different environmental conditions. This results in some uncertainty when conservation interventions to control lichens are routinely defined on the basis of restoration tradition or empirical evaluation, without experimental measures of how lichens respond. In this work, we quantitatively evaluated (a) the efficacy of five commercially-available biocides, applied using a brush or with a cellulose poultice, against two species (Protoparmeliopsis muralis, Verrucaria nigrescens), and (b) whether the effects on the two species were consistent, per treatment, across three Italian heritage sites. Lichen vitality was quantified through analyses of chlorophyll a fluorescence (ChlaF) and ergosterol content. The results indicated that all the tested biocides, and their organic solvents, affected the vitality of both the species. However, most of treatments displayed different efficacy on each species, across the different sites and between brush and poultice applications. Accordingly, when a conservation intervention to control lichen growth is planned, biocide treatments need both species- and site-specific calibrations and lichen vitality should be properly ascertained in situ by monitoring ChlaF parameters (FV/FM and F0) twenty days after trial biocide applications.

High Alps are characterised by glacial and periglacial environments, which change sensitively in response to climatic changes. The global warming that has been witnessed over the last few decades has caused remarkable effects on high altitude mountain zones. In order to assess the ongoing transition from glacial to periglacial environments, due to climate change, and its effects on cryosphere, geosphere and biosphere, a multidisciplinary approach has been applied in the Sabbione Basin (Italy). In this study, attention has mainly been paid to two selected areas (pilot sites) representative of glacial-periglacial interactions in the investigated basin, Climatological and geomorphological studies have been conducted, together with analyses on the potential permafrost distribution. Furthermore, floristic surveys have been carried out to characterise the vegetation within the periglacial sites and Artemisia genipi has been selected as the monitoring species because of its abundance and its late flowering season. The climatic analyses have indicated that, over the last decades, air temperatures have increased and snow cover duration and thickness have decreased,. thus causing a substantial regression of the glaciers. Periglacial processes and new permafrost-related landforms have been developing in recently deglaciated areas. The distribution, reproductive state and phenology of the monitoring species show a clear relationship with the permafrost -related landforms (i.e. rock glaciers). Moreover, the phenological delay observed in some of the Artemisia genipi individuals shows that micro-morphology and cold water sources have a considerable influence on their development. Finally, it has been found that lower altitude plant species have been colonising the basin, indicating an upward shift due to global warming conditions.

The arctic tundra forms a circumpolar band between the Arctic Ocean and the polar ice caps to the north and the coniferous forests to the south. Smaller, but ecologically similar regions found above the tree line on high mountains are called alpine tundra. Here the soils are perennially cold and often snow-covered and the plants show a high degree of specialization in order to survive in such extreme conditions.In this work, we aimed to evaluate pedogenetic processes, soil nutrient status and plant distribution along an elevation gradient in the alpine tundra in the western Italian Alps.The study area for this investigation is located in North West Italy, close to the Monte Rosa Massif (4634 m as!). Soil profiles were dug and described at 5 sites along an elevation gradient from 2525 m asl to 2840 m asl, in the upper part of a glacial valley. Genetic horizons were identified and physical properties described following standard methodology. Bulk samples were taken from each major horizon, and smaller known-volume samples were taken for determination of bulk density. In the laboratory soil chemistry and particle size distribution were determined following standard methods. Data on the vegetation structure were collected close to each soil profile, covering a surface of 32 m(2); each sampling site has been further divided into 8 sub-areas of 4 m(2). The abundances of species were recorded as cover percentages.Soil depth in the five study areas ranges from 10 to more than 50 cm. Soil profiles exhibit a fairly consistent horizonation. All of the profiles have a black to dark brown A horizon, in some cases underlying thin Oi/Oe horizons. Structure is usually weakly developed fine granular, except at lowest elevation, where is moderately developed subangolar blocky. Textures range from sandy to loamy sand. The major pedogenic processes responsible for soil formation in this environment are: a) organic matter accumulation and melanization; b) cryoturbation; c) erosion and deposition of material. Melanization appeared as a sharp contrast in darkness between the surface horizons and deeper parts of the solum. The accumulation of organic matter is encouraged by low temperatures that reduce rates of decomposition. The presence of irregular horizon boundaries within the profiles are evidence of cryoturbation, as these soils are frost affected, mainly in early winter and late spring, when the reduced snow cover may not be sufficient to insulate the soil from the air temperature. Further, soil erosion and deposition may occur under steep slopes, determining a loss and a subsequent redeposition of soil material and thereby playing a role in pedogenetic processes.A total of 64 plant species were found at the sampling sites. As expected, the harsh alpine conditions influenced both the life form and the chorology of taxa. Hemicryptophytes (91.07%) were dominant, followed by chamaephytes (6.82%), geophytes (1.21%) and therophytes (0.91%). From the phytogeographical point of view, the species were mainly south european mountain (49.44%), artic alpine (29.74%), west alpine (7.81%) and alpine (6.82%) while the ones with wider range, as european or eurosibiric, were less frequent (6.19%).Soils described in this area are surprisingly well developed. The organic carbon content of the surface horizons is quite high, and comparable with forested soils at lower elevation. From the top to bottom positions the synecology of plant populations depicted some clear gradients connected to changes in the most important landscape variables: decreasing in bryophyte cover, increasing in vascular plant cover, nitrogen content and in temperature.

Funaria macrocarpa (Funariaceae) is shown to be an earlier name for Costesia spongiosa (Gigaspermaceae). The species is, however, retained in the genus Costesia and a new combination is hence proposed: Costesia macrocarpa. The species, endemic to central Chile, belongs to the Gigaspermaceae, a small family with six mainly monospecific genera with a widely scattered distribution in the Southern Hemisphere. Both basionyms are lectotypified. A morphological description and a discussion of the geographic distribution of the species are provided.

A reexamination of specimens of Entosthodon balansae Besch. from Chile reveals that they represent either Entosthodon obtusifolius Hook.f., Funaria chilensis (Ther.) Ther. or Physcomitrium sp. (aff. badium Broth.). Entosthodon balansae should therefore be excluded from the Chilean bryophyte flora. Entosthodon obtusifolius and Funaria chilensis are reported as new to the flora of the Provinces of Llanquihue and Nuble. respectively.

Leaf anatomy (light and transmission electron microscopy, immunogold localisation of Rubisco) and physiology (C4 photosynthetic enzyme activities, CO2 assimilation and stomatal conductance) were studied in lemongrass, Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf., cultivated in temperate climates (northwestern Italy). The leaf blade had an NADP-ME Kranz anatomy, with bundle sheath cells containing chloroplasts located in a centrifugal position. Dimorphic chloroplasts, agranal and starchy in the bundle sheath and granal starchless in the mesophyll cells, were also observed. Rubisco, as determined by immunolocalisation, occurred only in the bundle sheath chloroplasts. Pyruvate, orthophosphate dikinase (PPDK), NADP malic dehydrogenase (NADP-MDH), NADP malic enzyme (NADP-ME), PEP-carboxykinase (PCK), and NAD malic enzyme (NAD-ME) activities were also measured, indicating an NADP-ME C4 photosynthetic pathway. Some kinetic properties and chemicalphysical parameters of lemongrass NADP-ME and NADP-MDH as well as CO2 compensation point and stomatal conductance values confirmed these preliminary data. C. citratus appeared to be well adapted to the varying environmental conditions typical of temperate climates, by retaining high NADP-MDH and NADP-ME activities and a low CO2 compensation point.

During a mire vegetation study, conducted mainly in the subalpine-alpine sector of the Western Italian Alps, the ecology of several plant communities and numerous moss species of this kind of vegetation was evaluated. The study area covered the Piedmontese sector of the Graian Alps, the eastern sector of the Aosta Valley as well as certain localities of the Pennine Alps, the Canavese district and the Maritime Alps. They have a rocky substratum representative of the various regional lithologies and include the main sectors characterised by the highest precipitation. Three hundred and twenty two relevées were made using the phytosociological method and the pH and the conductivity of the water table and its depth were measured directly. Cluster Analysis allowed a classification of the samples and the identification of various groups of plant communities. Ordination performed by DCA and CCA allowed us to identify the ecological features of the various plant communities by using the values of the main environmental parameters, measured directly in the field, and certain climatic parameters (altitude and mean annual precipitation) available. The use of climatic parameters is an important result for identifying communities which show greater oceanicity, something that is underlined also by the presence of indicator species such as Sphagnum papillosum and S. subnitens. Furthermore the communities are arranged in a "poor-rich" gradient, and are also profoundly influenced by depth to water table which is inversely correlated to the pH. Therefore we find certain kinds of communities all with a very low water table and which are little affected by its chemistry. Other groups share the fact that the water table is outcropping or near the surface and are distinguishable for their pH values and conductivity. We discuss the different response of the bryophytes and vascular plants of these communities to the environmental parameters considered, in light of their anatomic and functional differences. Bryophytes are more sensitive to environmental and climatic parameters whilst vascular plants are mostly ubiquitous in the relevées with a greater ecological plasticity.

Leaf anatomy (light and transmission electron microscopy), immunogold localization of Rubisco, photosynthetic enzyme activities, CO2 assimilation and stomatal conductance were studied in Vetiveria zizanioides Stapf., a graminaceous plant native to tropical and subtropical areas, and cultivated in temperate mates (Northwestern Italy). Leaves possess a NADP-ME ME Kranz anatomy with bundle sheath cells containing chloroplasts located in a centrifugal position. Dimorphic chloroplasts were also observed; they are agranal and starchy in the bundle sheath and granal starchless in the mesophyll cells. Rubisco immunolocalization studies indicate that this enzyme occurs solely in the bundle sheath chloroplasts. Pyruvate-orthophosphate dikinase, NADP-dependent malate dehydrogenase (NADP-MDH), NADP-dependent malic enzyme (NADP-ME), PEP-carboxykinoe and NAD-dependent malic enzyme (NAD-ME) activities were determined. Enzyme activity and some kinetic properties of NADP-ME and NADP-MDH as well as CO2 compensation point and stomatal conductance values were calculated indicating a NADP-ME C photosynthetic pathway. Biochemical and structural results indicate that V. zizanioides belongs to the C-4 NADP-ME variant. This plant appears to be well adapted to the varying environmental conditions typical of temperate climates, by retaining high enzyme activities and a low CO2 compensation point.

ABSTRACT The oil chemical composition was studied in several populations of Juniperus communis, J. sibirica (J. nana sensu Pignatti) and J. intermedia growing spontaneously in the northwestern Italian Alps. The oil of J. communis was characterized by high percentages of sabinene (32% to 47%) and low values of α-pinene (9% to 22%), whereas J. sibirica showed opposite values (respectively 0.3% to 25% and 9% to 46%). The oil chemical composition of J. intermedia showed intermediate values for both sabinene (28%) and α-pinene (20%) when compared to the other two taxa. The data obtained from GC/MS analyses of the oils were used to study the chemotaxonomic characters of the three taxa. Chemometrics included multivariate statistical analyses such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Cluster Analysis (CA) and Discriminant Analysis (DA). The results of this investigation indicated that most of the populations considered as J. intermedia showed a statistically significant different oil composition when compared to J. communis and J. sibirica. The taxonomic position of J. intermedia was also discussed.

Riassunto La presenza di Chrysosplenium oppositifolium L. in Italia è a tutt'oggi confermata da PAWLOWSKA (1993). PIGNATTI (1982), segnala la specie in due uniche stazioni: Chiesa in Val Malenco e Moncenisio, evidenziando che entrambe sono da verificare. Questi dati si basano sui riferimenti di BERTOLONI (1839) e di ALLIONI (1789). Tuttavia è stato rilevato che la citazione per C. oppositifolium “Habui ex Cenisio a Bonjeannio”, contenuta in BERTOLONI (1839), non concorda con le annotazioni autografe di Bonjean presenti sull'etichetta del corrispondente exsiccatum conservato in BOLO. Un campione di C. oppositifolium raccolto da Bonjean in Savoia e incluso in TO-HG è di supporto all'ipotesi che 1'exsiccatum inviato a Bertoloni non provenga dal Moncenisio. Inoltre la consultazione dei materiali d'erbario (BOLO, TO, FI, G, P, BR, KIEL), la letteratura riguardante le esplorazioni condotte dalla fine del XVIII secolo a oggi nel settore delle Alpi occidentali e in particolare al Moncenisio e le ricerche effettuate in campo consentono di affermare che il versante francese della catena alpina rappresenti il limite Sud-orientale dell'areale della specie e che questa sia pertanto da escludere dalla flora del Piemonte.