Cilento National Park Research Articles

Maximising olive oil by‐products

Maximising olive oil by‐products

Seismic vulnerability analysis and structural rehabilitation of a historical masonry tower

This paper presents the results of the structural performance assessment of an existing masonry tower and the subsequent repair and strengthening intervention. The study deals with an Italian architectural heritage building in the Cilento National Park (Southern Italy): the bell tower in Torre Orsaia. The tower has been the subject of on-site diagnostic investigations including geometrical surveys, laser scanning surveys, flat jack tests, endoscopic tests, sonic pulse velocity tests, geognostic surveys, and tie-rods tests. The multilevel assessment path proposed by the Italian Guidelines for the assessment and mitigation of the seismic risk of the cultural heritage is followed and the corresponding results are discussed. The global inelastic behavior of the masonry tower is studied through a macro-model approach using the nonlinear static (pushover) analysis. The local collapse mechanisms are studied through a kinematic limit analysis based on rigid block rotation. The repair and strengthening interventions have shown their effectiveness to close the existing cracks, preventing damage to the belfry, and improving the seismic performance of the tower. Both the compatibility, durability, and reversibility of the interventions and their reliability and monitoring are finally highlighted since the bell tower of Torre Orsaia is a historical heritage building.

Phytochemical Characterization of Olea europaea L. Cultivars of Cilento National Park (South Italy) through NMR-Based Metabolomics

Olea europaea germplasm is constituted by a huge number of cultivars, each one characterized by specific features. In this context, endemic cultivars evolved for a very long period in a precise local area, developing very specific traits. These characteristics include the production and accumulation of phytochemicals, many of which are also responsible for the nutraceutical value of the drupes and of the oils therefrom. With the aim of obtaining information on the phytochemical profile of drupes of autochthonous cultivars of Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, a metabolomics-based study was carried out on 19 selected cultivars. Multivariate data analysis of 1H-NMR data and 2D NMR analyses allowed the rapid identification of metabolites that were qualitatively and/or quantitatively varying among the cultivars. This study allowed to identify the cultivars Racioppella, Guglia, Pizzulella, Oliva amara, and Racioppa as the richest in health-promoting phenolic compounds. Furthermore, it showed a significant variability among the different cultivars, suggesting the possibility of using metabolic fingerprinting approaches for cultivar differentiation, once that further studies aimed at assessing the influence of growing conditions and environmental factors on the chemical profiles of single cultivars are carried out.

The Reproductive Strategy as an Important Trait for the Distribution of Lower-Trunk Epiphytic Lichens in Old-Growth vs. Non-Old Growth Forests

(1) Research Highlights: The work studied the beta diversity patterns of epiphytic lichens as a function of their reproductive strategies in old-growth and non-old growth forests from the Mediterranean area. (2) Background and Objectives: The reproductive strategies of lichens can drive the dispersal and distribution of species assemblages in forest ecosystems. To further investigate this issue, we analyzed data on epiphytic lichen diversity collected from old-growth and non-old growth forest sites (36 plots) located in Cilento National Park (South Italy). Our working hypothesis was that the dispersal abilities due to the different reproductive strategies drove species beta diversity depending on forest age and continuity. We expected a high turnover for sexually reproducing species and high nestedness for vegetative ones. We also considered the relationship between forest continuity and beta diversity in terms of species rarity. (3) Materials and Methods: we used the Bray–Curtis index of dissimilarity to partition lichen diversity into two components of beta diversity for different subsets (type of forest, reproductive strategy, and species rarity). (4) Results: The two forest types shared most of the common species and did not show significant differences in alpha and gamma diversity. The turnover of specific abundance was the main component of beta diversity, and was significantly greater for sexually reproducing species as compared to vegetative ones. These latter species had also the least turnover and greater nestedness in old-growth forests. Rare species showed higher turnover than common ones. (5) Conclusions: Our results suggest that sexually reproducing lichen species always have high turnover, while vegetative species tend to form nested assemblages, especially in old-growth forests. The rarity level contributes to the species turnover in lichen communities. Contrary to what one might expect, the differences between old-growth and non-old growth forests are not strong.

Low-Carbon Tourism—Technical, Economic and Management Project of a Greenway, for Enhancing Inner Areas of the Cilento National Park, Italy

In the light of recent emergencies represented by climate change and global warming, with the consequent policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, this research aims at offering a response to the need for decarbonization of anthropization processes of territories, on a building and urban scale. This study elaborates a methodology, according to an integrated qualitative-quantitative approach, which combines the strategic need for sustainable mobility with the need to enhance the value of natural and environmental interesting places, typical of the Mediterranean area and in particular the ones which represented the heart of Magna Graecia. This strategy is implemented through a growing mobility offer in recent years: sustainable cycling tourism, which is included in the wider and more widespread strategic action of greenways. However, these strategies do not often meet the interests of the public administration, which is refractory to face great costs in exchange for a hypothetical return on investment, in the long term; the result is the abandonment and degradation of territories characterized by a remarkable naturalistic, landscape and environmental value. The aim of this study, therefore, is to provide operators in the sector (public administration, Cilento National Park Authority, economic operators, etc.) with a decision-maintenance tool, through the definition of priority criteria for interventions, according to an economic sustainability approach of the intervention and adopting an integrated qualitative-quantitative methodology. The intervention, as a whole, involves a cycle path of about 600 km, passing through 70 countries of the territory. Therefore, assuming the impossibility of being carried out at the same time, as a whole, it has been divided into 23 functional lots: the methodology intends, precisely, to define the priority and necessity criteria that determine the classification of importance of the 23 routes (sub-interventions), identified in this study.

Metabolomics of the alimurgic plants Taraxacum officinale, Papaver rhoeas and Urtica dioica by combined NMR and GC-MS analysis.

The phytoalimurgic plants, common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas) and stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) are a source of nutraceuticals. To apply a combined metabolomic fingerprinting approach by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to common dandelion, corn poppy and stinging nettles to obtain simultaneous identification and quantitation of the major classes of organic compounds. The whole plants collected in the Cilento National Park were dried and then extracted to obtain non-polar and polar organic extracts. GC-MS was used for non-polar extracts while 1 H-NMR spectroscopy was used for polar extracts. In both cases, simultaneous identification and quantification of the bioactive metabolites was obtained. Non-polar organic extracts of all plants were mainly composed of palmitic, stearic and oleic acids. The two pentacyclic triterpenols α- and β-amyrin were detected in nettle extract. The analysis of polar organic extracts allowed to detect and quantify organic acids and sugars as main metabolites along with amino acids, caffeoyl derivatives, flavonoids, and nucleotides. In particular, corn poppy leaves contained a huge amount of glyceric acid (55.7% of the total extract). Stinging nettles, instead, exhibited a large amount of choline (19.5%). Metabolomic approach coupling GC-MS with NMR spectroscopy allowed to provide a detailed metabolite profile of three alimurgic plants, common dandelion, corn poppy and stinging nettle, from both a qualitative and quantitative point of view.

From Perceived Values to Shared Values: A Multi-Stakeholder Spatial Decision Analysis (M-SSDA) for Resilient Landscapes

This paper puts forth a Multi-Stakeholder Spatial Decision Analysis (M-SSDA) which combines Multi-Stakeholders Decision Analysis (M-SDA) and GIS processing based on a collaborative, hybrid and adaptive evaluative approach to support the elaboration of enhancement strategies designed for resilient landscapes. This methodology has been tested in the research project “Cilento Labscape: An integrated model for the activation of a Living Lab in the National Park of Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni”, which was conducted in the Cilento National Park (Southern Italy). The aim of the methodology is to find alternative touristic routes for the promotion of the Park. The different steps in the process will be described, as will the employment of multiple tools/techniques (interviews, GIS tools, Semantic Analysis, and Geo-Statistical Analysis) to improve the reliability of the decision-making process. The most relevant results of the methodology will also be outlined in terms of the transition from the identification of the perceived landscape’s values to the acknowledgement of the shared values, and their consequent employment for the outlining of new thematic itineraries for the Park. To realise sustainable territorial strategies and preserve the landscape through bottom-up decision-making processes, the different local communities need to gain a new awareness of their identity shared values and make an active contribution towards promoting and managing their site-specific resources.

Under the shadow of a big plane tree: Why Platanus orientalis should be considered an archaeophyte in Italy

In Italy, Platanus orientalis L. is judged as an endangered species by some authors and non-native by others: these contrasting assessments can mislead the prioritization of management actions to preserve the species and the riparian vegetation that is its host. Based on a multidisciplinary approach, including palaeobotanical and ecological information, we assessed its status in Italy including the ecological and conservation value of the riparian plant communities hosting it in the Cilento National Park (S-Italy). Palaeobotanical data showed that P. orientalis in Italy should be considered an archaeophyte. According to the ecological assessment of the riparian plant communities hosting P. orientalis, the presence of the species can be interpreted as an indicator of an unfavourable state for the conservation of riparian vegetation. Knowing the status of a species remains one of the first steps to take to correctly propose scientifically based solutions for the conservation of plant diversity. However, there are no absolute criteria for conservation because all conservation objectives can be considered as cultural values. In this context, P. orientalis should be protected as a symbolic tree, an archaeophyte testifying an ancient common Mediterranean cultural heritage, worthy of preservation but outside of natural habitats.

Vegetation Database of the Cilento National Park

A TURBOVEG database, including both original and published phytosociological releves from the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park (Southern Italy), was compiled to support environmental monitoring, landscape planning and vegetation classification. Approximately 2,300 releves were stored in the database including all the natural and semi-natural vegetation types, ranging from sand dunes (Cakiletea maritimae) to dwarf shrub subalpine vegetation (Pino-Juniperetea). Data span from 1970 to nowadays, updated with the most recent research project. We considered for inclusion in the database phytosociological releves or any other vegetation plots containing records of species composition (of at least vascular plants) and an estimate of species cover. We extended the standard structure of the database by adding extra fields to fit particular needs, such as including the accuracy of the data location (i.e. a crucial issue for environmental monitoring). A reference check-list of the taxa was set up mostly following Conti et al. (2005) including several largely adopted synonymous to facilitate the correct input of releve data. Ecological databases are linked to the vascular species using Ellenberg indicator values and including life forms or chorotypes. The database contains useful information to test several ecological hypotheses and to perform wide-scale vegetation classifications. Furthermore it facilitates the use of vegetation-plot data for biodiversity and habitat monitoring and also for land use/cover changes evaluation. This report describes the available content in the Vegetation Database of the Cilento National Park (GIVD ID EU-IT-002).

Polyphenol characterization and antioxidant evaluation of Olea europaea varieties cultivated in Cilento National Park (Italy)

Over time, a large number of cultivars of Olea europaea, one of the oldest cultivated trees in the world, appeared as a result of events such as outcrossing, mutation, and selective pressure (including grower requirements) on the original olive germplasm. Some cultivars are characteristic of a particular country, whereas others are scattered over an area of cultivation. In the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, numerous olive varieties are grown as the native cultivars ‘Pisciottana’, ‘Rotondella’, and ‘Salella’, the varieties ‘Frantoio’ and ‘Biancolilla’, widely cultivated in Southern Italy, and a new variety, known as ‘FS17’, obtained by self-pollination of ‘Frantoio’ cultivar. In order to assess the phenolic composition of these cultivars, metabolomic techniques (1D and 2D NMR, and HPLC analyses) were extensively applied. 1H-NMR spectral data were processed and analyzed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to point out possible differences in polyphenol composition between the cultivars. The radical scavenging capacity of the investigated cultivars was also evaluated through 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylydrazyl (DPPH). Folin–Ciocalteu reagent was used to estimate the total phenolic content. The cultivar ‘FS17’ showed lower total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity than the other analyzed varieties.

A multiscale analysis of canopy structure in Fagus sylvatica L. and Quercus cerris L. old‐growth forests in the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park

Broadleaved forest is one of the most severely exploited and threatened ecosystems worldwide such that many authors have highlighted the scarcity of undisturbed old‐growth broadleaved forests, especially in southern Europe. From an ecological perspective, old‐growth forests are considered to be significant for their structural diversity and complex ecological relationships among species. In this paper, we compare ground measurements of leaf area index (LAI) and the remotely sensed normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) autocorrelation pattern of two old‐growth forest stands in the Cilento National Park (southern Italy) with two nearby managed forests stands of the same type. Results show that old‐growth forests have higher fine‐scale variability in both LAI and NDVI values and longer autocorrelation ranges than the corresponding managed forests. The potential relevance of these findings for the single large or several small (SLOSS) debate is also briefly discussed.

Monitoring and assessing old‐growth forest stands by plot sampling

Forest inventories are evolving towards multipurpose resource surveys, broadening their scope by including additional topics such as biodiversity issues. Surprisingly, few quantitative surveys have been devoted to old‐growth forests, even if they constitute the most acknowledged forest biodiversity icons. In this framework, the use of probabilistic sampling may provide an effective as well as rigorous support for monitoring and assessing old‐growth forests. To this purpose, the present paper proposes a two‐phase sampling scheme. In the first phase, a coarse survey of few floristic and stand structural attributes is carried out by means of small plots systematically placed on the study area. Subsequently, in the second phase, a fine assessment of a large number of ecological attributes is performed on a subset of enlarged plots selected among the first‐phase ones by means of simple random sampling without replacement. The proposed sampling scheme is implemented for monitoring and assessing the old forests of Cilento National Park (southern Italy). Results and comments are provided as an exemplicative case study.

Age-related hearing loss in four Italian genetic isolates: An epidemiological study

The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of hearing impairment in four genetically isolated Italian villages (Carlantino, Campora, Gioi-Cardile, and Stoccareddo), 1682 subjects were recruited from all the individuals participating in a multidisciplinary study. They underwent otoscopy and pure-tone audiometry and completed a questionnaire. The audiological data show that the percentage of impaired people increases with age and in particular becomes relevant aged over 40. For this reason we decided to compare the PTA values of individuals aged 40 or older. The PTA values of Stoccareddo and Carlantino are statistically different from PTAs of the other villages. Campora and Gioi-Cardile, both located within the Cilento National Park, have similar middle-low frequency PTA values while some differences are present at high frequencies. Using pedigrees it was possible to calculate the heritability of the trait. For Carlantino and Gioi-Cardile the percentage of the phenotype variation attributable to genetic variation is not significant, while for Campora the heritability value is 0.49 (p = 0.01) suggesting that genetic factors may have an important role.

Characterizing self-similar temporal clustering of wildfires in the Cilento National Park (Southern Italy)

In this paper, we analyze a set of wildfire data in the Cilento National Park for the occurrence of self-similar temporal clustering. We show that the frequency-size distribution of time between successive wildfires is a power-law with significant deviations from random behavior. We also briefly discuss the dependency of the strength of clusterization on wildfire size. In good agreement with previous work, our results show that, for larger wildfires, the temporal fire regime tends to become more random in nature.

Traditional plant use in the areas of Monte Vesole and Ascea, Cilento National Park (Campania, Southern Italy)

The present ethnobotanical field study conducted during summer 2003 in two distinct regions of the Cilento National Park (Mt Vesole and Ascea) documents the local use of 90 different plant species for medicinal, food and domestic purposes. Overall, 59 people native to the area were interviewed, and 883 use-reports have been recorded. The scientific names, local names, plant parts used, preparation and administration processes are given and compared with practices in other Italian regions. In total, 63 species are documented as medicinal, 49 as food, and 22 as craft plants. Over 40% of all species are used in more than one category and over half of the food plants are also used for medicinal purposes. In general the recorded species are well known in the traditional phytotherapy of Campania and Italy. However, some uses are unusual and are discussed in detail.

A decision support system for assessing alternative projects for the design of a new road network: methodology and application of a case study

This study aims to offer an applicable evaluation framework for assessing project alternatives by employing different multicriteria evaluation methods as a tool to reduce conflicts in a decision making process. The first part of the paper consists of a brief survey of the great diversity of modern assessment methods that have been developed in recent decades. This helps to provide a perspective for procedural types of decisions in which various qualitative and quantitative aspects are incorporated. The paper initially focuses on three recently developed techniques: Regime analysis, the Analytical Hierarchic Process (AHP) method and the Flag model. It advocates a merger of these methods. In the second part of the paper, the above-mentioned multicriteria methods are applied to a real-world case concerning the design of a new road network in the area of the Cilento National Park in Italy.