Abstract
Wetlands are among the most fragile habitats on Earth and have often undergone major environmental changes. As a study case in this context, the present work aims at increasing the floristic knowledge of a reclaimed land now turned into an agricultural lowland with scarce patches of natural habitats. The study area is named Piana di Rosia, and it is located in southern Tuscany (Italy). The compiled checklist consists of 451 specific and subspecific taxa of vascular plants. The life-form spectrum shows a predominance of hemicryptophytes, followed by therophytes. The chorological spectrum highlights a co-dominance of Euri-Mediterranean and Eurasian species along with many widely distributed species. The checklist includes seven species of conservation concern, three Italian endemics (Crocus etruscus Parl., Polygala vulgaris L. subsp. valdarnensis (Fiori) Arrigoni, and Scabiosa uniseta Savi), 41 alien species, 21 segetal species, and 11 aquatic macrophytes of which five helophytes and six hydrophytes. This study suggests that irreversible land-use changes in wetlands can lead towards a simplification of the flora. However, despite the deep transformations that the former wetland has undergone, the presence of some aquatic and protected taxa is interesting. From a conservation point of view, the natural value of this agricultural area could be enhanced and its current management partly reconsidered, thus preserving the remnants of naturalness present.
Highlights
Wetlands are acknowledged to be among the most biologically productive ecosystems (Ramsar Convention on Wetlands 2018). ey play a major role in the water cycle by receiving, storing and releasing water, regulating flows, and supporting life
One species (Crocus etruscus Parl.) is included in the IUCN Red List of threatened species and in the European Red List of vascular plants, as Near reatened, in the Tuscan attention list, and in Annex IV of the Habitat Directive (Bilz et al 2011; Carta and Peruzzi 2011; Ercole et al 2016). e species included in the Red Lists of threatened vascular plants of Italy are six, five of which are classified as Least Concern (Allium pendulinum Ten., Bellevalia romana (L.) Sweet, Brachypodium phoenicoides (L.) Roem. & Schult., Ruscus aculeatus L., and inopyrum acutum (DC.) Banfi), and one as Data Deficient (Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten. subsp. vulgare)
We studied a reclaimed land of central Italy that is currently an agricultural area
Summary
Wetlands are acknowledged to be among the most biologically productive ecosystems (Ramsar Convention on Wetlands 2018). ey play a major role in the water cycle by receiving, storing and releasing water, regulating flows, and supporting life. Ey play a major role in the water cycle by receiving, storing and releasing water, regulating flows, and supporting life. Floodplains and connected wetlands play a significant role in hydrology. Wetlands work as natural sponges that trap and slowly release surface water, rain, snowmelt, groundwater, and floodwaters. Their holding capacity helps to control floods and prevents water logging of crops (Environmental Protection Agency 2020). Wetlands contribute to the regulation of microclimate, while wetland vegetation slows the speed of floodwaters and helps in distributing them over the floodplain. Land-use changes and the implementation of artificial water systems have reduced the connectivity in many river systems and floodplain wetlands (Ramsar Convention on Wetlands 2018). Human activities often simplified geomorphology, eliminating important environments such as transitional ones that connect wetlands and dryer areas, whose flora and fauna are among the most threatened (Alessandrini 2000)
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