https://doi.org/10.4081/nhs.2019.427
[Wetlands in the Continental biogeographical region of Northern Italy: from scenarios of change to conservation perspectives]
Submitted: 19 July 2019
Accepted: 11 November 2019
Published: 27 November 2019
Accepted: 11 November 2019
Abstract Views: 817
PDF: 794
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Authors
[Wetlands are extremely important ecosystems for supporting biodiversity and providing services. Nonetheless, although they are mostly protected through several regulations, wetlands are affected by many negative factors that are leading to progressive deterioration of their conservation status. This circumstance is especially obvious in the Continental biogeographical region of Northern Italy, which is included in Piedmont and Lombardy on the left hydrographic side of the River Po. The goal of this study was to assess the main ecological drivers, i.e. the most important ecological factors, including pressures and threats, that shape negatively ecosystem dynamics, hence affecting conservation targets, and finally to suggest actions for counteracting them. Analyses were done at different scales, through bibliographic researches and site-specific data processing. As a result, we identified groups of ecological drivers, among which three were recognized as prevalent: a) the anthropic alteration of water levels; and b) the natural ecological succession in combination to c) the abandonment of traditional land use practices. The last two main ecological drivers were regarded as those to be counteracted by removing biomass (through digging, mowing, fire), because they may produce cascading effects and work against all the other ecological drivers. However, it is necessary to define a new reference framework based on pointing out conservation priorities at large scale (regional or supra-regional) and conservation actions at local scale, both focused on adaptive management.]
[Article in Italian]
AA.VV., 2017 – Piano d’azione per la flora in direttiva Habitat (allegati II e IV). Life Gestire 2020, Azione A10. Regione Lombardia, ERSAF.
Agapito Ludovici A., Di Cerbo A.R., Ferri V., Giovine G., Manenti R., Oneto F., Rambaldi S. & Valota M., 2018 – Piano di interventi prioritari per Salamandra atra, Triturus carnifex, Rana latastei, Pelobates fuscus insubricus, Bombina variegata ed Emys orbicularis. Life Gestire 2020, Azione A14. WWF, Regione Lombardia.
Alexander M., 2018 – Adaptive Management Planning. In: Finlayson C. et al. (eds.), The Wetland Book. Springer.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9659-3_276
Banfi E., 1985a – I biotopi di Brabbia, Biandronno e Ganna (Prov. VA): flora e vegetazione - dati preliminari. Amministrazione Provinciale di Varese.
Banfi E., 1985b – I biotopi di Brabbia, Biandronno e Ganna (Prov. VA): stato attuale della vegetazione e proposte di gestione a fini conservazionistici. LIPU.
Bobbink R., Beltman B., Verhoeven J.T. & Whigham D.F. (Eds.), 2007 – Wetlands: functioning, biodiversity conservation, and restoration (Vol. 191). Springer Science & Business Media.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-33189-6
Bojardi S., 1985-1986 – Contributo agli studi geobotanici dei luoghi umidi dell’Alta Pianura Lombarda: la Palude Brabbia. Università degli Studi di Milano. Tesi di Laurea, Corso di Laurea in Scienze Biologiche.
Brusa G., 2005 – Monitoraggio della sfagneta a fini gestionali nella Riserva Naturale Regionale “Palude Brabbia”. LIPU.
Brusa G., 2016 – Dinamiche della vegetazione e obiettivi di conservazione nella Palude Brabbia: proposte di modelli gestionali. LIPU, Provincia di Varese, non pubbl.
Brusa G., Cerabolini B.E.L., Dalle Fratte M. & De Molli C., 2017 – Protocollo operativo per il monitoraggio regionale degli habitat di interesse comunitario in Lombardia. Versione 1.1. Università degli Studi dell’Insubria - Fondazione Lombardia per l’Ambiente, Osservatorio Regionale per la Biodiversità di Regione Lombardia.
Cattin M.F., Blandenier G., Banašek-Richter C. & Bersier L.F., 2003 – The impact of mowing as a management strategy for wet meadows on spider (Araneae) communities. Biological conservation, 113(2): 179-188.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3207(02)00297-5
Čížková H., Květ J., Comín F.A., Laiho R., Pokorný J. & Pithart D., 2013 – Actual state of European wetlands and their possible future in the context of global climate change. Aquatic Sciences, 75(1): 3-26.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-011-0233-4
Cuizzi D., Casale F., Viaroli P., Bartoli M., Longhi D., Tomaselli M., Bolpagni R., Fracasso G., Present M. & Maragna P., 2005 – Gestione delle zone umide e conservazione attiva degli habitat e delle specie di interesse comunitario. Il progetto LIFE-Natura 2000/IT7161 delle Paludi di Ostiglia.
D’Antoni S., Battisti C., Cenni M. & Rossi G.L. (eds), 2011 – Contributi per la tutela della biodiversità delle zone umide. Rapporti ISPRA, 153/11.
D’Auria G. & Zavagno F. – 1999. Indagine sui “bodri” della provincia di Cremona. Monografie di Pianura, n. 3.
Del Favero R. (ed.), 2002 – I tipi forestali della Lombardia. ERSAF - Regione Lombardia. Cierre Edizioni.
DG Environment, 2017 – Reporting under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive: Explanatory notes and guidelines for the period 2013-2018. Brussels.
Dudgeon D., Arthington A.H., Gessner M.O., Kawabata Z.I., Knowler D.J., Lévêque C., Naiman R.J., Prieur-Richard A.-H., Soto D., Stiassny M.L.J. & Sullivan C.A., 2006 – Freshwater biodiversity: importance, threats, status and conservation challenges. Biological reviews, 81(2): 163-182.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1464793105006950
Duflot R., Aviron S., Ernoult A., Fahrig L. & Burel F., 2015 – Reconsidering the role of ‘semi-natural habitat’ in agricultural landscape biodiversity: a case study. Ecological research, 30(1): 75-83.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-014-1211-9
Ellenberg H., 1974 – Zeigerwerte der Gefässpflanzen Mitteleuropas. Scripta Geobotanica, 9: 9-166.
Galloway J. N., Dentener F.J., Capone D.G., Boyer E.W., Howarth R.W., Seitzinger S.P., Asner G.P., Cleveland C.C., Green P.A., Holland E.A., Karl D.M., Michaels A.F., Porter J.H., Townsend A.R. & Vörösmarty C.J., 2004 – Nitrogen cycles: past, present, and future. Biogeochemistry, 70: 153-226.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-004-0370-0
Gherardi F., 2007 – Biological invasions in inland waters: an overview. In: Gherardi F. (ed.), Biological invaders in inland waters: Profiles, distribution, and threats. Springer.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6029-8
Hellawel T., 2018 – Management Planning for Nature Conservation: Core Principles. In: Finlayson C. et al. (eds.), The Wetland Book. Springer.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9659-3_272
Janssen J.A.M., Rodwell J.S., Criado M.G. et al., 2016 – European Red List of Habitats: Part 2. Terrestrial and freshwater habitats. European Union.
Keddy P.A., 2010 – Wetland ecology: principles and conservation. Cambridge University Press.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511778179
Klimkowska A., Dzierża P., Grootjans A.P., Kotowski W. & Diggelen R.V., – 2010. Prospects of fen restoration in relation to changing land use—An example from central Poland. Landscape and Urban Planning, 97(4): 249-257.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2010.06.009
Landis J.R. & Koch G.G., 1977 – The measurement of observer agreement for categorical data. Biometrics. 33 (1): 159-174.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/2529310
Landolt E., 2010 – Flora Indicativa. Haupt Verlag.
Jia G. & Shevliakova E. (eds.) 2019 – Chapter 2: Land-Climate Interactions. Final Government Draft versions. Climate Change and Land. IPCC.
Jensen K. & Schrautzer J., 1999 – Consequences of abandonment for a regional fen flora and mechanisms of successional change. Applied Vegetation Science, 2(1): 79-88.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1478884
Macchi P., 2005 – La flora della provincia di Varese. Edizioni Provincia di Varese.
Mérő T.O. & Žuljević A., 2014 – Effect of reed quality on the breeding success of the Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus (Passeriformes, Sylviidae). Acta Zoologica Bulgarica, 66(4): 511-516.
Middleton B.A., Holsten B. & van Diggelen R., 2006 – Biodiversity management of fens and fen meadows by grazing, cutting and burning. Applied Vegetation Science, 9(2): 307-316.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1654-109X.2006.tb00680.x
Millenium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005 – Ecosystems and human well-being (Vol. 5). Island press.
Mitsch W.J., Bernal B., Nahlik A.M., Mander Ü., Zhang L., Anderson C.J., Jørgensen S.E. & Brix H., 2013 – Wetlands, carbon, and climate change. Landscape Ecology, 28(4): 583-597.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-012-9758-8
Morganti M., Manica M., Bogliani G., Gustin M., Luoni F., Trotti P., Perin V. & Brambilla M., 2019 – Multi-species habitat models highlight the key importance of flooded reedbeds for inland wetland birds: implications for management and conservation. Avian Research, 10:15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-019-0154-9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-019-0154-9
Phillips G., Willby N. & Moss B., 2016 – Submerged macrophyte decline in shallow lakes: what have we learnt in the last forty years?. Aquatic Botany, 135: 37-45.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquabot.2016.04.004
Price J.S., Heathwaite A.L. & Baird A.J., 2003 – Hydrological processes in abandoned and restored peatlands: an overview of management approaches. Wetlands Ecology and Management, 11(1-2): 65-83.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022046409485
Ramsar Convention Secretariat, 2016 – The Fourth Ramsar Strategic Plan 2016–2024. Ramsar handbooks for the wise use of wetlands, 5th edition, vol. 2. Ramsar Convention Secretariat.
Rossi G., Montagnani C., Gargano D. et al. (eds.), 2013 – Lista Rossa della Flora Italiana. 1. Policy Species e altre specie minacciate. Comitato Italiano IUCN e Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare.
Saetta Y., 2013 – Valutazione della produttività dei canneti nella riserva naturale "Valli del Mincio" ai fini della trasformazione energetica. Università degli studi di Padova, non pubbl.
Scoppola A. & Spampinato G., 2005 – Stato delle conoscenze sulla flora vascolare d’Italia - Atlante delle specie a rischio di estinzione. Società Botanica Italiana, Ministero dell'Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio, Università degli studi della Tuscia, Università degli Studi di Roma 'La Sapienza'.
Schröder C., Dahms T., Paulitz J., Wichtmann W. & Wichmann S., 2015 – Towards large-scale paludiculture: addressing the challenges of biomass harvesting in wet and rewetted peatlands. Mires and Peat, 16(13): 1-18.
Sundseth K., 2005 – Natura 2000 in the Continental region. European Commission.
Van Asselen S., Verburg P.H., Vermaat J.E. & Janse J.H., 2013 – Drivers of wetland conversion: a global meta-analysis. PloS one, 8(11), e81292.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0081292
Vasander H., Tuittila E.S., Lode E., Lundin L., Ilomets M., Sallantaus T., Heikkilä R., Pitkänen M.-L. & Laine J., 2003 – Status and restoration of peatlands in northern Europe. Wetlands Ecology and Management, 11(1-2): 51-63.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022061622602
Verhoeven J.T., Arheimer B., Yin C. & Hefting M.M., 2006 – Regional and global concerns over wetlands and water quality. Trends in ecology & evolution, 21(2): 96-103.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2005.11.015
Voslamber B. & Vulink J.T., 2010 – Experimental manipulation of water table and grazing pressure as a tool for developing and maintaining habitat diversity for waterbirds. Ardea, 98(3): 329-338.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5253/078.098.0307
Warton D.I. & Hui F.K., 2011 – The arcsine is asinine: the analysis of proportions in ecology. Ecology: 92: 3-10.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1890/10-0340.1
White G., Self M. & Blyth S., 2011 – Bringing Reedbeds to Life: creating and managing reedbeds for wildlife. Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
Wilhere G.F., 2002 – Adaptive Management in Habitat Conservation Plans. Conservation Biology, 16: 20-29.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1739.2002.00350.x
Willby N.J., Abernethy V.J. & Demars B.O., 2000 – Attribute‐based classification of European hydrophytes and its relationship to habitat utilization. Freshwater Biology, 43(1): 43-74.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2427.2000.00523.x
Wichtmann W., Schröder C. & Joosten H., 2016 – Paludiculture-productive use of wet peatlands: climate protection-biodiversity-regional economic benefits. Schweizerbart Science Publishers.
Wood A.P. & van Halsema G.E., 2008 – Scoping agriculture–wetland interactions: Towards a sustainable multiple-response strategy. FAO, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Vol. 33.
Zavagno F., 1995 – Riserva Naturale Regionale Palude Brabbia: Indagine Floristico-Vegetazionale. LIPU-Provincia di Varese.
Zedler J.B., 2000 – Progress in wetland restoration ecology. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 15(10): 402-407.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-5347(00)01959-5
Zhu Z., Piao S., Myneni R.B., Huang M., Zeng Z., Canadell J.G. et al., 2016 – Greening of the Earth and its drivers. Nature climate change, 6(8): 791.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate3004
How to Cite
Brusa, G., Dalle Fratte, M., Bogliani, G., Celada, C., Gaibani, G., Luoni, F., & Soldarini, M. (2019). [Wetlands in the Continental biogeographical region of Northern Italy: from scenarios of change to conservation perspectives]. Natural History Sciences, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/nhs.2019.427
PAGEPress has chosen to apply the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) to all manuscripts to be published.
Similar Articles
- Stefano Aguzzi, Valerio Orioli, Somatochlora arctica (Odonata: Corduliidae) oviposing at a “lower than usual” altitude for Italy and the Mediterranean Region and first observation for the Varese Province (Northern Italy) , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 8 No. 2 (2021)
- Rita Scardino, Marco Arculeo, Vincenzo Arizza, Giuseppe Bazan, Mario Lo Valvo, Federico Marrone, Luca Vecchioni, New distributional data on Haemogregarina stepanowi (Apicomplexa) and Placobdella costata (Hirudinea) parasitising the Sicilian pond turtle Emys trinacris (Testudines) , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 9 No. 1 (2022)
- Enrico Schifani, First report of underwater oviposition by the island bluetail damselfly, Ischnura genei (Zygoptera, Coenagrionidae) , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 9 No. 1 (2022)
- Ernesto Filippi, Valeria Gargini, Maura Brancaleoni, Piero Felici, First observation of partial neoteny in Salamandrina perspicillata (Savi, 1821) , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 7 No. 2 (2020)
- Daniele Beretta, Enzo Moretto, Luca Bolognin, Luis Guariento, First record of the presence and reproduction of the two-tailed pasha Charaxes jasius (Linnaeus 1767) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in northeastern Italy , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 9 No. 2 (2022)
- Stefano Scalercio, Contribution to the knowledge of Ypsolophidae from forested habitats of Southern Italy with an update of the Italian checklist of the genus Ypsolopha Latreille 1796 (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutoidea) , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 9 No. 2 (2022)
- Fabrizio Bartolucci, Gabriele Galasso, Lorenzo Peruzzi, Fabio Conti, Report 2021 on plant biodiversity in Italy: native and alien vascular flora , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 10 No. 1 (2023)
- Fabio Conti, Francesco Falcinelli, Valeria Giacanelli, Bruno Santucci, Marinella Miglio, Aurelio Manzi, Fabrizio Bartolucci, New floristic data of vascular plants from central Italy , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 10 No. 1 (2023)
- Fabio Conti, Valeria Giacanelli, Contribution to the vascular flora of Ventotene and Santo Stefano islands (Pontine Islands, Lazio, Italy) with two taxa new to Lazio , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 10 No. 1 (2023)
- Corrado Battisti, Stefania Chiesa, Luca Gallitelli, Massimiliano Scalici, Further evidence of the occurrence of the Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus (Rathbun 1896) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Portunidae) along the central Tyrrhenian coast , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 10 No. 2 (2023)
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.
