Vegetation of abandoned areas in the northern Apennines (Italy): phytosociological aspects and biodiversity analysis

We describe plant communities occurring in an abandoned area in the northern Apennines using a phytosociological approach. We evaluate the biodiversity in and between the identified plant communities using the following indices: species richness, diversity, dominance and equitability. Ten vegetation types were identified in the study area. Because of the still active dynamics only three types were classified at the association level, while the other seven types were classified at alliance level. The alpha-diversity is generally high in all the identified plant communities. Two main secondary successions characterize the study area: a high hilly mesophilous succession (> 800 m above sea level where precipitation is more abundant) with Knautio drymeiae-Ostryetum carpinifoliae as final stage and a low hilly thermophilous succession (< 800 m above sea level where precipitation is less abundant) with Quercus pubescens woods as final stage. Trochiscantho-Fagetum represents the final stage of a third succession that develops above 1000 m above sea level. The study area is evolving towards the final stages of the three secondary successions. This will soon cause a loss of biodiversity at different levels: landscape, vegetation communities, flora and fauna. Grasslands and low shrub communities are the most threatened communities, occupying low percentages of the study area.