Work

Profound Transformations of Mediterranean Wetlands Compared to the Past: Changes in the Vegetation of the Fucecchio Marsh (Central Italy)

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Although wetlands are key habitats for biodiversity conservation, they are also among the most threatened ecosystems in the world. They are mainly affected by human pressures and threats, even when they are included in protected areas. The Padule di Fucecchio area is one of the largest and most significant inland marshes in Italy. It is also one of the wetlands of international importance listed in the Ramsar Convention. However, studies of the plant communities it hosts are surprisingly scarce and out of date. To address this, a survey of aquatic and marshy vegetation was conducted. This analysis provided an unprecedented census of the area's current aquatic and marsh vegetation, also reporting community types previously unknown in this territory. Some of these are completely new and are described here for the first time. However, a comparison with previous data revealed that significant changes to the vegetation structure have occurred in recent decades. The hydrophyte communities have almost completely disappeared and many of the most sensitive plants in the most sensitive marsh communities have become rarer or disappeared. They have mostly been replaced by more resilient native plants and invasive alien species.

Source: Land

DOI: 10.3390/land14102096

Authors: Lorenzo Lastrucci, Daniele Viciani

Institution: University of Florence

Language: English

Topic: Botany and Plant Ecology Studies

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Life on land

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137