Abstract
Willow communities (genus Salix) occurring in Mediterranean Europe are presented, showing, through statistical treatment with multivariate cluster analysis, the separation of the different plant communities and their sintaxonomic affiliation. Six willow communities have been identified, whose formations include a set of plants with high heritage value. We highlight plants with legal protection status (Annex IV and II of the Habitats Directive-92/43/EEC), endemic, rare, and endangered species such as Salix salviifolia subsp. australis, Cheirolophus uliginosus, Euphorbia uliginosa and Leuzea longifolia. Therefore, two new willow communities are proposed for the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. The first dominated by Salix atrocinerea, Frangulo baticae-Salicetum atrocinereae ass. nova of ribatagan distribution, under acid substrates, thermomediterranean to lower mesomediterranean, dry to sub-humid. The second, dominated by the endemic Salix salviifolia subsp. australis, Clematis flammulae-Salicetum australis distributed in the Algarve, developing on neutral-basic substrates, exclusively thermomediterranous, dry to sub-humid. In both cases, there are presented on their own floristic serial, ecology, and substitution steps. A new hygrophytic meadows was also identified dominated by Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinaceae, Cheirolopho uliginosii-Molinietum arundinaceae ass. new hoc loco, which lives on substrates rich in organic matter, exclusive to the Ribatagano Sector. Through the deepening of knowledge about the composition and dynamics of riparian vegetation, it is possible to adapt management methods to sustain and protect these important edafo-hygrophilic systems in the Mediterranean.
Highlights
Riparian zones are highly heterogeneous and disturbed environments
This paper provides a phytosociological and syntaxonomical analysis of the riparian woodlands communities dominated by Salix salviifolia subsp. australis and Salix atrocinerea, which occur in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula and in Sardinia
With the information collected from 84 phytosociological relevés, we conducted a comparative and synthetic analysis of riparian woodlands communities dominated by Salix atrocinerea and Salix salviifolia subsp. australis, occurring in Southwestern part of the Iberian Peninsula and Sardinia
Summary
Riparian zones are highly heterogeneous and disturbed environments. They are composed of a wide variety of physical habitats in terms of their size of substrate sediment, moisture, and nutrient conditions, inundation duration and frequency, and susceptibility to drought [1]. It is necessary to increase knowledge on Mediterranean riverside vegetation, in order to contribute to select methods of management and conservation of these highly important systems, especially in territories with a torrential character [2] This importance is related to ecosystem services, guaranteeing environmental sustainability, through the regulation of the hydrological cycle, erosion control, and refuge of a large number of floristic and fauna species. In Iberian Peninsula Salix atrocinerea grows in some in riparian communities or in humid depressions that fall within the Salici atrocinereae-Alnenion glutinosae sub-alliance of the Alnion glutinosae [5]. In Sardinia, Salix atrocinerea grows in some in riparian communities or in humid depressions that fall within the Hyperico hircini-Alnenion glutinosae sub-alliance of the Osmundo Alnion [10]. It is found in other riparian plant communities such as of the riparian woods of the Eupatorio corsici-Alnetum glutinosae were differentiate the sub-association salicetosum atrocinereae
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