A5054024130- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Forest ecology and management
- Mediterranean and Iberian flora and fauna
- Plant and animal studies
- Forest Management and Policy
- African Botany and Ecology Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Plant and Fungal Species Descriptions
- Plant Diversity and Evolution
- Plant Ecology and Soil Science
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Lichen and fungal ecology
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Urban Green Space and Health
- Environmental and Cultural Studies in Latin America and Beyond
- Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
University of Bologna
2022-2025
Sapienza University of Rome
2018-2023
National Research Council
2022
Istituto per il Sistema Produzione Animale in Ambiente Mediterraneo
2022
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
2015-2016
Although there is a general consensus on the distribution and ecological features of terrestrial biomes, allocation alpine ecosystems in global biogeographic system still unclear. Here, we delineate map areas above treeline by modelling regional elevation at 30 m resolution, using forest cover data quantile regression. We then used datasets to 1) assess climatic characteristics principal component analysis, 2) define bioclimatic groups an optimized cluster analysis 3) evaluate patterns...
Abstract Aim Alpine ecosystems differ in area, macroenvironment and biogeographical history across the Earth, but relationship between these factors plant species richness is still unexplored. Here, we assess global patterns of alpine their association with environmental, geographical historical at regional community scales. Location Global. Time period Data collected 1923 2019. Major taxa studied Vascular plants. Methods We used a dataset representative vegetation, consisting 8,928 plots...
Plant functional traits are fundamental to ecosystem dynamics and Earth system processes, but their global characterization is limited by the availability of field surveys trait measurements. Recent expansions in biodiversity data aggregation, including large collections vegetation surveys, citizen science observations, measurements, offer new opportunities overcome these constraints. Here we demonstrate that combining diverse sources with high-resolution observation enables accurate...
ABSTRACT Aims This study assessed changes in woody vegetation cover, richness, diversity, and species composition Gonarezhou National Park (GNP) between 2010 2023, focusing on the impacts of fire elephants. Analyses were conducted for entire park its main types ecoregions. Location GNP is located southern Zimbabwe, bordering Mozambique, covering approximately 5000 km 2 . Methods In 2010, 313 sampling areas surveyed, a resurvey was 2022/2023 using plotless method. For each area, cover...
Abstract Aim Alpine habitats support unique biodiversity confined to high‐elevation areas in the current interglacial. Plant diversity these may respond area, environment, connectivity and isolation, yet factors have been rarely evaluated concert. Here we investigate major determinants of regional species pools alpine grasslands, responses their constituent groups. Location European mountains below 50° N. Time period Between 1928 2019. Major taxa studied Vascular plants. Methods We compiled...
Abstract Motivation The intrinsic characteristics of islands make them a unique study system for the investigation ecological and evolutionary dynamics. Mediterranean Basin, an island‐rich biodiversity hotspot, still lacks comprehensive spatial database these geographic features. This presents first all larger than 0.01 km 2 , aiding investigations interdisciplinary research. Main types variable contained MEDIS offers detailed information on 39 geographic, climatic, land‐use variables,...
Understanding and explaining the use of green spaces forests is challenging for sustainable urban planning. In recent years there has been increasing demand novel approaches to investigate infrastructure by capitalizing on large databases from existing citizen science tools. this study, we analyzed iNaturalist data perform an assessment intentional these their value understand main drivers. We retrieved total number observations obtained across a set 672 European cities focused reporting...
Abstract Questions What are the functional trade‐offs of vascular plant species in global alpine ecosystems? How is variation related to vegetation zones, climatic groups and biogeographic realms? relative contribution macroclimate evolutionary history shaping communities? Location Global. Methods We compiled a data set with 5,532 geo‐referenced plots, 1,933 six traits. used principal component analysis quantify among trait probability density assess dissimilarity different realms. multiple...
Protected areas (PAs) are a strategic tool for biodiversity conservation, and conservation planning approaches used to optimize PAs capacity preserve specific target groups. Orchidaceae is one of the most threatened plant families, as species vulnerable habitat changes because their strong ecological specialization. Italy plays key role in biogeography result its geographical position hosts diverse orchid floras Mediterranean Basin. The aim this work depict degree protection granted orchids...
National forest inventories (NFIs) have to be properly designed in order yield statistically representative data and make best use of limited resources. A key element accomplish this is the knowledge local variability sampled stand features. In study, we estimated tree taxonomic richness carbon (C) stock logged-over unlogged lowland tropical forests Papua New Guinea, define optimal plot sample size needed estimate these characteristics context forthcoming implementation new NFI. We used from...
Abstract Small islands represent a common feature in the Mediterranean and host significant fraction of its biodiversity. However, distribution plant species richness across spatial scales—from local communities (alpha) to whole (gamma)—is largely unknown, so is influence environmental, geographical, topographical factors. By building upon classic biogeographic theory, we used species–area relationship about 4500 vegetation plots 54 Central small identify hotspots underlying determinants...
Abstract Aim The study of islands biotas is fundamental to understand biodiversity patterns and process, both on evolutionary ecological time scales. This explores the influence biogeographic climatic factors island species–area relationships (ISARs) in volcanic continental islands, aiming detect differences slopes intercepts between these origins. Methods Data from 5049 vegetation plots 58 Central Mediterranean Sea were collected various sources. Islands categorized as or based their...
Abstract Aim Area and environmental heterogeneity together explain most patterns of species diversity but disentangling their relative importance has been difficult. Here, we empirically examined this relationship parsed importance, that the heterogeneity—effective area trade‐off, at different spatial scales in representations simulations. Location Alpine grasslands 23 mountain ranges southern central Europe. Taxon Vascular plants. Methods We developed metrics climatic edaphic heterogeneity,...
Unsustainable exploitation of tropical forest resources is raising worldwide concern. In Papua New Guinea (PNG) timber harvesting has been identified as a major contributor to deforestation and degradation but its impact on biodiversity still poorly understood. this study we investigated the effect selective logging tree taxonomic composition, structure diversity PNG forests. We used data from 101 one-hectare permanent sample plots (PSPs) belonging two vegetation types: low altitude forests...
Abstract The importance of environmental difference among sites and dispersal limitations species to the explanation diversity differs biological systems geographical regions. We hypothesized that climate then limitation will predominantly explain similarity alpine vegetation at increasing distances between pairs regions subcontinental extent. computed all 23 European mountain below 50° N after dividing lists each region by calcareous or siliceous substrates. Distance decay in was better...
This study appraises the richness of nonwoody species (ferns, herbs, lianas, palms, and shrubs) in 31 sites across undisturbed disturbed forests lowland Papua New Guinea (PNG) at montane forest 2,700 m a.s.l. The assessment was conducted following PNG National Forest Inventory protocol. results indicate that with 463 species, tropical has remarkable richness. No significant difference observed among lowland, logged pristine, forests. shows increases elevation, but this trend is different...
This study aims to analyze the occurrence and composition of ferns along an elevational gradient among different forest types disturbance regimes in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The assessment was conducted using monitoring protocol National Forest Inventory. investigation revealed a high richness ferns, with 122 species or morphospecies from 51 genera 21 families. Among them, 81 were terrestrial 16 epiphytes. project also highlighted increasing elevation, both for epiphytic ferns. Reflecting...
This study surveys liana communities at 26 sites across undisturbed and disturbed forests from 70 to 2,700 m above sea level in northern parts of Papua New Guinea (PNG). The assessment was conducted following the National Forest Inventory (NFI) manual. results show a total diversity 68 genera lianas, belonging 33 families. No significant difference observed abundance species between lowland unlogged (i.e., primary pristine) logged (disturbed) lower montane forests. Richness is not...
The impact of logging activities on species richness, diversity, and composition the ground herbaceous layer lowland forest Papua New Guinea was analyzed. Data from first multipurpose National Forest Inventory were collected in 52 plots logged unlogged low altitude plains fans (P) uplands (H) Madang, West Britain Central Provinces. abundance 10,609 plants classified 174 103 genera 35 families. Based importance values, Arecaceae dominating family both P type, while Urticaceae respectively H...
Abstract Background Harvested wood products (HWPs) have a pivotal role in climate change mitigation, recognition solidified many Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. Integrating HWPs’ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals into accounting requirements relies on typical decision-oriented tools known as product models (WPMs). The study introduces ‘TimberTracer’ (TT) framework, designed to simulate HWP carbon stock, substitution effects, from decay...