Detecting Phytogeographic Units Based on Native Woody Flora: A Case Study in Central Peninsular Italy

We present a statistically derived phytogeographic regionalization based on the spatial distribution of native woody flora, investigating environmental correlates and assessing congruence between the spatial patterns of species, genera, and families. A sector of central peninsular Italy (Lazio and A...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Botanical review Vol. 83; no. 3; pp. 253 - 281
Main Authors Latini, Marta, Bartolucci, Fabrizio, Conti, Fabio, Iberite, Mauro, Nicolella, Gianluca, Scoppola, Anna, Abbate, Giovanna
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York Springer Science and Business Media 01.09.2017
Springer US
New York Botanical Garden
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Botanical research
Case studies
Clustering
Clusters
Flora
Forest ecology
Genera
Life Sciences
Lithology
Observations
Phytogeography
Plant Anatomy/Development
Plant Ecology
Plant Physiology
Plant Sciences
Plant Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography
Spatial distribution
Species
Temperature effects
Italy
Biogeographic regionalization
Higher-taxon approach
Transition zone
βsim index
Indicator species analysis
Floristic database
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Summary:We present a statistically derived phytogeographic regionalization based on the spatial distribution of native woody flora, investigating environmental correlates and assessing congruence between the spatial patterns of species, genera, and families. A sector of central peninsular Italy (Lazio and Abruzzo regions) was selected as a case study. A rich georeferenced floristic database was compiled, including information from different sources. A total of 43,968 occurrence data, 290 10 × 10 km cells, 224 species, 103 genera, and 80 families was used; Ward's clustering was performed to identify phytogeographic units. Three well-defined and relatively spatially coherent units were identified at the species, genus, and family levels: a Mediterranean unit, a Transition unit, and a Eurosiberian one. Congruence between taxonomic levels was well supported. Further divisions in subunits were detected using species data. The main environmental descriptors of the clusters were distance from the sea, elevation, temperature, and lithology.
ISSN:0006-8101
1874-9372
DOI:10.1007/s12229-017-9185-2