Abstract
Spring-wells (lowland springs, “fontanili”) are elements of Po Plain (Northern Italy) with ecological and historical importance. There, spring-water flows naturally and rises to the surface at a relatively constant temperature, generating unique ecosystems dependent on the groundwater outflow. Despite their importance, they are endangered by degradation processes as the expansion of urban areas and/or the intensification of agriculture, very marked in Po Plain. This research describes four spring-wells of Po Plain from a botanical and ecological perspective through phytosociological relevés and different ecological indexes. Water chemical-physical features are also considered (pH, temperature and ammonium ion, nitrite, nitrate, orthophosphate, chloride and organic matters contents). Plant communities of the spring-well beds show a low number of species (5.8 ± 2.9) but also no exotic species while the vegetation of the banks has a high number of species (32.4 ± 9.8) but several of them are exotic/ornamental. The low value of the Ecological Index of Maturity of the vegetation of the banks (EIM = 4.4 ± 1.5) indicate disturbances, however moderate compared to the surrounding corn fields (EIM ~ 0). All the water samples has high ammonium content (> 0.50 ppm), the water of the spring-well B results the most polluted and both algae and Callitriche obtusangula (rare native species) grow largely in it, while spring-well C has less phosphates and more nitrite and is marked by Equisetum telmateia. Management proposals to protect and enhance the studied spring-wells, as the gradual removal of exotic species and the planting of native species, are discussed.
Highlights
Wetlands play an important role in providing ecosystem goods and services to human society
The resurgences are located along a large part of Po Plain forming a belt from west to east parallel to the foothills which is known as the “resurgence belt” and which delimits the “high plain” from the “low plain” (Martinis et al 1976; De Luca et al 2014)
This study characterizes the vegetation of some spring-wells in one of the most industrialized and inhabited areas of Europe, Po Plain
Summary
Wetlands play an important role in providing ecosystem goods and services to human society. Loss due to the widespread conversion of wetlands because of shortages of land that is suitable for agriculture and urban settlement (He et al 2015) They are very often environments rich in species, local climate regulators as well as elements that enrich the landscape and the historical-cultural heritage of the territory in which they are located (Ramsar Convention Bureau 2001; Mitra et al 2003). They provide important services, wetlands are declining faster than any other ecosystems (MEA 2005) and this phenomenon affects the whole Globe, in particular those territories where the expansion of urban areas and agricultural activities is more marked (Hu et al 2017). The soils of the “low plain” have finer and impermeable particles (silt and clay) that allow the water to stagnate and generate swamps (covered by hygrophilous forests)
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