Izvorni znanstveni članak

https://doi.org/10.1515/botcro-2015-0024

Diatom communities and vegetation of springs in the south-western Alps

Marcella Mogna ; University of Eastern Piedmont, Dept. of Science, Technology and Innovation, Viale T. Michel, 11, Alessandria 15121, Italy
Marco Cantonati orcid.org/0000-0003-0179-3842 ; Museo delle Scienze – MUSE, Limnology and Phycology Research Unit, Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza 3, I-38123 Trento, Italy
Flora Andreucci ; University of Eastern Piedmont, Dept. of Science, Technology and Innovation, Viale T. Michel, 11, Alessandria 15121, Italy
Nicola Angeli ; Museo delle Scienze – MUSE, Limnology and Phycology Research Unit, Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza 3, I-38123 Trento, Italy
Graziella Berta ; University of Eastern Piedmont, Dept. of Science, Technology and Innovation, Viale T. Michel, 11, Alessandria 15121, Italy
Luca Miserere ; Via Melchiorre Voli 14, Torino 10135, Italy

Sažetak

Springs are unique but understudied habitats. Diatom communities have received some attention but have remained largely unknown in the south-western Alps. We therefore studied the springs of the south-western extreme of the Alpine mountain range. We analysed epilithic and epiphytic assemblages in 48 springs of different ecomorphological types, located on contrasting lithological substrata (carbonate/siliceous). Moreover, phytosociological relevés were carried out for carbonate springs. The diatom flora consisted of 223 taxa. Most (198) of the taxa were included in the Red List, and 12.5% belonged to threatened categories. Characteristic spring taxa (crenophiles) were present. The ecological preferences of crenophilous diatom species described in the eastern Alps were confirmed. Diatom species characteristic of the lake-littoral zone were found in pool springs. We observed no significant differences in species richness and diversity between epilithic and epiphytic assemblages, but some species showed a preference for bryophytes, and five occurred in the epibryon only. As regards moisture conditions, 15% of the taxa occurred on wet or temporarily dry sites, and 4% lived mostly outside water bodies. The main environmental factors influencing diatom assemblages were pH, conductivity, altitude, and shading. The carbonate-substratum crenic vegetation was composed of a mixture of vascular plants and bryophytes, which find their ecological optimum in springs. Bryophyte cover was dominant, with the most abundant taxa belonging to the genus Palustriella. The vegetation corresponded to the Cratoneuretum commutati association.

Ključne riječi

bryophyte; diatoms; epibryon; epilithon; Ligurian Alps; phytosociology; springs; vascular plant

Hrčak ID:

146027

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/146027

Datum izdavanja:

1.10.2015.

Posjeta: 2.091 *