Italian forest cover has been increasing, mainly as a result of the spontaneous expansion of tree species over abandoned land. Hence, it is important to understand the consequences of such phenomenon on biodiversity. Of increasing concern, in such a context, are the consequences brought by the spread of alien tree species on plant diversity. A sample (n=32) of secondary stands (age ≤ 36 y) dominated by black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), an invasive alien species, were investigated within a north-eastern Italian region, by considering the general characteristics of such stands and by focusing on the vascular plant diversity. Results have highlighted the ability of black locust of invading sites owing a broad range of characteristics and its tendency of forming pure stands by dominating the overstory. A total of 22 and 185 plant species were collected in the tree and in the understory layer, respectively. Furthermore, site species richness were highly variable, both in the tree (range 1-6) and in the understory layer (range 9-42). Nitrogen demanding species were the most frequent, but the number of species typical of woodlands (mean 3.7) and of open-ground environments (mean 1.5) contrasts the thought that these forests are poor and not interesting from the plant diversity perspective. Further research should consider other taxa and focus on a range of stand development stages.

On recent secondary stands of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) and their plant diversity in a north-eastern Italian region

SITZIA, TOMMASO;CAMPAGNARO, THOMAS
2013

Abstract

Italian forest cover has been increasing, mainly as a result of the spontaneous expansion of tree species over abandoned land. Hence, it is important to understand the consequences of such phenomenon on biodiversity. Of increasing concern, in such a context, are the consequences brought by the spread of alien tree species on plant diversity. A sample (n=32) of secondary stands (age ≤ 36 y) dominated by black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), an invasive alien species, were investigated within a north-eastern Italian region, by considering the general characteristics of such stands and by focusing on the vascular plant diversity. Results have highlighted the ability of black locust of invading sites owing a broad range of characteristics and its tendency of forming pure stands by dominating the overstory. A total of 22 and 185 plant species were collected in the tree and in the understory layer, respectively. Furthermore, site species richness were highly variable, both in the tree (range 1-6) and in the understory layer (range 9-42). Nitrogen demanding species were the most frequent, but the number of species typical of woodlands (mean 3.7) and of open-ground environments (mean 1.5) contrasts the thought that these forests are poor and not interesting from the plant diversity perspective. Further research should consider other taxa and focus on a range of stand development stages.
2013
Proceedings of the 9th SISEF National Congress “Multifunzionalità degli Ecosistemi Forestali Montani: Sfide e Opportunità per la Ricerca e lo Sviluppo”
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11577/3040908
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