Isoëtes iapygia from the Apulia region (southern Italy) is described as a new species and illustrated. It differs in several characters from the other Mediterranean Isoëtes species, but has some intermediate characteristics similar to terrestrial and amphibious Isoëtes. I. iapygia is similar to the amphibious species for the lack of phyllopodia, even if it has scales; it is similar to terrestrial species for the complete velum and tuberculate macrospores. A completely unique character is represented by the two air chambers. Its habitat is on limestone rocks, in temporary pools.

A survey of 18 watercourses of the Tiber River basin was carried out to define the ecological niche breadth of some aquatic bryophyte species in relation to environmental factors. Aquatic bryophytes were sampled and water environmental parameters were measured at 99 stations distributed along the catchment (from the headwater regions to the downstream reaches). The datasets of the collected species and environmental data were analyzed by using a multivariate statistical analysis (PCA biplot). Ecological responses of the recorded aquatic bryophytes were obtained using a fuzzy set approach, and were compared with data from literature. The results show that the presence of the aquatic bryophytes in watercourses is affected negatively by the reduction of water velocity, clearness, substratum size and the worsening quality of the water physico-chemical status. In fact, aquatic bryophytes show a general preference for stations characterized by medium-large granulometry, and fast-flowing, clear, oxygenated (mean value 9.2 mg/l), cool waters (mean value 15.0 ◦C), with low loads of nutrients, particularly ammonia (mean value 0.10 mg/l) and phosphates (mean value 0.09 mg/l). However, ecological responses reveal different patterns in the distribution of aquatic bryophyte species mainly in relation to water physicochemical parameters (e.g. temperature, conductivity, ammonia, hosphates). E.g. Palustriella commutata var. commutata, Cratoneuron filicinum, Fissidens viridulus and Cinclidotus aquaticus show high preference for clear, turbulent and fast-flowing waters, with temperature below 12 ◦C, conductivity below 300 S/cm, and concentrations about 0.01 mg/l for phosphates, not exceeding 0.10 mg/l for ammonium ions and 0.90 mg/l for nitrates. Leptodictyum riparium and Riccia fluitans are for their part more linked to turbid and slow waters affected by eutrophication, showing optimum values for about 0.30 mg/l for ammonia concentration, 0.90 mg/l for nitrates and 0.11 and 0.22 mg/l for phosphates respectively. Conversely, Fontinalis antipyretica is not closely related to specific conditions, showing wide ecological ranges for most of the analyzed environmental factors. This paper has evaluated and discussed the possible use of sampled species as bioindicators for biomonitoring of the water quality.

This study analyses the plant colonization of the stone embankments along the Tiber River (the Lungotevere) in relation to changes of lithotype (travertine, tuff, cement), inclination (80°, 60°, 45°), stone size, and exposure. The surveys of plant communities were carried out according to the phytosociological method and considering the variability of the ecological conditions. The vegetation data were analyzed using multivariate statistical analysis (cluster analysis) in order to highlight the affinity among the various groups of sampling areas. The ecological features of the vegetation, according to Ellenberg indicator values, were considered for the ecological interpretation. Results showed that many environmental factors interact in giving rise to a differential plant cover and species richness, but that some are more relevant than others, such as the lithotype nature, especially in relation to the differential stone porosity. Also, changes in inclination of the walls cause variations in plant colonization, especially in the case of travertine and less in the case of tuff, as a consequence of the differing porosity of these materials. The study also confirms the subordinate role of exposure with respect to other factors.

This article presents the floristic, structural, and syntaxonomical features of plant assemblages in temporary wetlands and the pattern of the corresponding habitat types; according to the Habitats Directive. Nine pristine temporary wetlands covering a wide range of shapes, elevations and substrates were monitored. The “within temporary wetlands” hydrological gradient was strong enough to drive the vegetation and habitat type patterns. Plant assemblages presented a spatial arrangement in three concentric belts repeatedly present in each site in the same relative position. The presence of the H3120 habitat type was recognized in the central and in the intermediate belt. The outer belt was the more suitable for the presence of the H3170* priority habitat. Therefore, it should represent the main conservation target within temporary wetlands. On the other hand, it was the smallest in size (only 13% of the total surface) and in some cases absent, inconspicuous, or severely fragmented

Tribulus terrestris L. (Zygophyllaceae) is an annual plant commonly known as Puncture vine. It is dramatically gaining interest as a rich source of saponins. T. terrestris is a promising ingredient for many industries and recent patents on dermatological applications support the use of this plant for cosmetics and hygiene. Nonetheless problems arise in the selection of the material to be used. The extracts of different origins may differ substantially. Natural speciation processes normally influence ‘variations’ in wild-crafted medicinal plants. The genus Tribulus is emblematic. Taxonomic status of T. terrestris is complicated by the wide geographical distribution leading to high levels of genetic polymorphism. Being aware of such variability we selected 3 commercial Tribulus extracts and compared their biological effect on Candida albicans with the effect produced by an extract from local plants (South of Apulia, Italy). One of the commercial extracts with the best anti-candida performance was used to substitute triclosan in a detergent formulation and it proved to improve the product performance in the control of potentially pathogenic skin flora such as C. albicans.

Common reed die-back is a widely investigated phenomenon in Central Europe, not frequently recorded in S-European areas and almost unknown in the Mediterranean Basin. Symptoms of reed decline recently observed in the Italian Peninsula provided the starting point for a detailed investigation on a reed population in one of the largest freshwater ecosystems in Central Italy. The analyses were conducted over two vegetative seasons in 19 plots at seven locations. A set of 13 morphologic and phenologic reed traits were screened, monitored and statistically analysed. The data indicated the presence of the reed die-back syndrome in a wet Mediterranean ecosystem and enabled us to highlight a set of usable traits to detect the condition of decline. Among them, the stem height and diameter, the number of nodes, the relative growth rate and the lateral root diameter resulted the most significant factors highlighting the declining condition. Some environmental characteristics of the reed stands were also taken into account. The period of submersion and the presence of standing litter emerged as important features of the stands, strictly related to the degree of decline in the population. The results draw attention to the risk, in southern Europe too, of the loss of an ecosystem which plays an important role in biodiversity conservation.

The aquatic plant communities of the Tiber River basin have been examined to evaluate their role as bioindicators of the water quality of the Italian peninsular rivers. The compatibility curves of phytocoenoses to water chemico-physical gradients show a correlation between the distribution pattern of the vegetation types and the water’s chemico-physical features, such as different levels of water pollution. In particular, Fontinaletum antipyreticae, Ranunculo-Sietum, Elodeo-Potametum crispi and Nasturtietum officinalis develop in meso-eutrophic and fairly clean water, Potamogeton nodosus community and Ceratophylletum demersi in eutrophic water of medium quality, while Myriophylletum spicati and especially Potametum pectinati and algal communities with Entheromorpha flexuosa are found in hypertrophic water of poor quality. These phytocoenoses can be utilised as valid bioindicators of water quality. On the contrary, Callitrichetum stagnalis, Myriophylletum verticillati, Najadetum marinae and algal communities with Cladophora glomerata are not effective bioindicators, showing a wide and sometimes unclear synecology.

Chronic exposure to solar UVB radiation damages skin, increasing the risk to develop cancer. Hence the identification of compounds with a photoprotective efficacy is essential. This study examined the role of saponins derived from Tribulus terrestris L. (TT) on the modulation of apoptosis in normal human keratinocytes (NHEK) exposed to physiological doses of UVB and to evaluate their antitumoral properties. In NHEK, TT saponins attenuate UVB-induced programmed cell death through inhibition of intrinsic apoptotic pathway. In squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) TT saponins do not make the malignant keratinocytes more resistant to UVB and determine an enhanced apoptotic response. The photoprotective effect of TT saponins is tightly correlated to the enhancement of NER genes expression and the block of UVB-mediated NF-κB activation. Collectively, our study shows experimental evidence that TT has a preventive efficacy against UVB-induced carcinogenesis and the molecular knowledge on the mechanisms through which TT saponins regulate cell death suggests great potential for TT to be developed into a new medicine for cancer patients.

VOLUME CON SCHEDE DI 20 STAGNI TEMPORANEI MEDITERRANEI PUGLIESI, 2O SCHEDE FLORISTICHE E 32 SCHEDE FAUNISTICHE

a study carried out on 141 temporary waters in Apulia, allowed to classify 20 of them as Mediterranean temporary waters (code 3170 of the Habitat Directive), on the basis of biological data.

The flora of the archaeological area of Maxentius’s villa (Rome) was tested as bioindicator of buried remains of masonry and pavements. A total of 53 floristic surveys provided the occurrence of each species in sample units, as well as some their phenological features. The data were elaborated through multivariate statistical analysis in order to assess floristic affinities/differences among sample units, and define their ecological characteristics. The fuzzy set methodology was applied to evaluate relation between floristic richness, plant cover and soil depth. Results showed that the buried remains of stonework create a discontinuity in the ground, influencing the flora growing above it. This phenomenon may give rise to differential presence of some species (e.g., Cota tinctoria, Trifolium scabrum ssp. scabrum on thin soil; Ranunculus bulbosus, Trifolium pratense on deeper soil), but will not have such a great effect on floristic richness. The bioindication of this phenomenon also occurs through phenological irregularities in single specimens and changes in plant cover. Nevertheless other environmental factors (soil moisture/aridity, trampling, enrichment of nitrogen, cutting, ground depression) can interfere with the use of plants as bioindicators of buried structures. It is therefore necessary to consider other ecological factors influencing each site when you want to use plants as bioindicators in archaeological prospection.

Subject of this article is the study of the residual woods of cork oak (Quercus suber L.) in the southern part of the Puglia region, which in the area find their eastern distribution limit in Europe. They are survivors of a more extensive forest formations occupying the plain near the city of Brindisi and some areas in the territory of Ostuni. Of these are presented the environmental conditions in which they are and the historical analysis of their variation in the time, deduced by analyzing literature from the early nineteenth century. The diachronic analysis of their distribution is presented in maps at 1:25000 scale. The analysis of plant communities present in the investigated area, were carried out by the sinphytosociological method that led to recognize the communities that are connected in relation to the serial dynamics, to these forests belonging to the association of Carici halleranae-Quercetum suberis of which the new subassociation arbutetosum unedonis is described and the subassociation typus is explained. This is a post-fire shrub attributed to the new association Calicotomo infestae-Phillyreetum mediae characterized by Phillyrea media, Calicotome infesta and Pyrus amygdaliformis which are in dynamic relationship with the forest subassociation of arbutetosum unedonis of Carici halleranae-Quercetum suberis while to the subassociation caricetosum halleranae binds the more mesophilous shrub described with the new association Rhamno alaterni-Pyretum amygdaliformis.

In this article, we consider the meaning of the phytosociological relevé of the Braun-Blanquet's approach as a source of biodiversity matrices. We stress the importance of phytosociological relevé for the integrated vegetation studies dedicated to understand the vegetation system and its ecosystem role at different hierarchical levels. We review the state of the art of building databases of the Italian vegetation under the perspective to develop a knowledge database of Italian vegetation based on formal ontologies. This would constitute a node in the possible network of knowledge databases of European Union and of the world that is proposed within the International Association of Vegetation Science.