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

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Abstract

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Biologia Ambientale, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome, Italy

    Marta Latini, Mauro Iberite, Gianluca Nicolella & Giovanna Abbate

  2. Scuola di Bioscienze e Medicina Veterinaria (Università di Camerino) – Centro Ricerche Floristiche dell’Appennino (Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga), San Colombo, Via Prov.le km 4,2, Barisciano, L’Aquila, Italy

    Fabrizio Bartolucci & Fabio Conti

  3. Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Forestali, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Via S. Camillo De Lellis, Viterbo, Italy

    Anna Scoppola

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  1. Marta Latini
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  2. Fabrizio Bartolucci
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  3. Fabio Conti
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  4. Mauro Iberite
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  5. Gianluca Nicolella
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  6. Anna Scoppola
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  7. Giovanna Abbate
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Correspondence to Marta Latini.

Appendix

Appendix

Table 3 Number of cells, number of taxa, and basic statistics of environmental variables for native woody flora phytogeographic units at species level (S1, S2, S3). The acronyms are defined in the text
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Table 4 Number of cells, number of taxa, and basic statistics of environmental variables for native woody flora phytogeographic units at genus level (G1, G2, G3). The acronyms are defined in the text
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Table 5 Number of cells, number of taxa, and basic statistics of environmental variables for native woody flora phytogeographic units at family level (F1, F2, F3). The acronyms are defined in the text
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Table 6 Indicator Species Analysis results: indicator species and indicator values (component A, component B, and IndVal) for each native woody flora phytogeographic unit or combination of units at species level (S1, S2, S3)
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Table 7 Indicator Species Analysis results: indicator genera and indicator values (component A, component B, and IndVal) for each native woody flora phytogeographic unit or combination of units at genus level (G1, G2, G3)
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Table 8 Indicator Species Analysis results: indicator families and indicator values (component A, component B, and IndVal) for each native woody flora phytogeographic unit or combination of units at family level (F1, F2, F3)
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Latini, M., Bartolucci, F., Conti, F. et al. Detecting Phytogeographic Units Based on Native Woody Flora: A Case Study in Central Peninsular Italy. Bot. Rev. 83, 253–281 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12229-017-9185-2

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