Page 11 - GainguzziPaniniCusimano

Betula aetnensis is a forest species endemie to the Etna, located in the supramediterranean
belt (humid-hyperhumid ombrotype), between 1,400 and 2,000 m a.s.L (Figure S7b). It is
present along the north-eastem slopes, where it tends to form pioneer thickets on volcanic
scoria, ascribed to the Cephalanthero longifoliae-Betuletum aetnensis. The coenosis is
marginally in contact with the Pinus nigra subsp. calabrica pinewood (Junipero-Pinetum), as
well as with the pulvinate aspects of the Astragaletum siculi upwards (Brullo et al., 2012).

9. Coniferous woods: a) thermophilous pinewoods with Pinus halepensis (Pistacio-Pinetum
h., Erico-Pinetum h., Coridothymo-Pinetum h.), Pinus pinea (Cisto crispi-Pinetum p., Cisto
cretici-Pinetum p.) or Pinus pinaster subsp. hamiltonii (Genisto-Pinetum hamiltonii); b)
mesophilous woods with Taxus baccata (llici-Taxetum baccatae), Abies nebrodensis
(Junipero-Abietetum n.) or Pinus nigra subsp. calabrica (Junipero-Pinetum n.)

EUNIS Codes: 03.1A, 03.5, G3.73, 03.726, 0 3.736, G3.9; Natura 2000 Codes: 9220*, 9530*, 9540, 9580*

This typology comprises Pinus halepensis, P. pinea, P. pinaster subsp. hamiltonii and P.
nigra subsp. calabrica natural pine woods, as well as fragments of Abies nebrodensis flr
wood and Taxus baccata yew wood (Figures S7c-f).

Pinus halepensis natural pinewoods are present in Sicily with residual aspects spread in
the thermomediterranean belt. They are ascribed to the Quercetea ilicis class (Brullo et al.,
2009), with the associations: - Pistacio lentisci-Pinetum halepensis, reported for Pantelleria
(Brullo et al., 1977; Di Martino, 1963; Gianguzzi, 1999b, c) and Marettimo islands (Brullo &
Marcenò, 1983), and in south-eastem Sicily, along the basins of Tellaro (Bartolo, Brullo,
Minissale, & Spampinato, 1986) and Ippari rivers (Bartolo, Brullo, Lo Cicero, Marcenò, &
Piccione, 1978); - Erico arboreae-Pinetum halepensis, coenosis indicated for the Aeolian
Islands (Barbagallo, Brullo, & Signorello, 1983; Brullo & Furnari, 1990).

Pinus pinaster subsp. hamiltonii natural pinewoods gravitate in the Mediterranean-Atlantic
area, reaching their south-eastem limit in Pantelleria Island; these aspects are referred to the
Genisto aspalathoidis-Pinetum hamiltonii (Brullo et al., 1977; Gianguzzi, 1999b, c).

Pinus pinea natural pinewoods are located in Sicily in the mesomediterranean belt
(subhumid-humid ombrotype), although with a relict character. These aspects are framed
within the Cisto-Lavanduletea class and the Lavanduletalia stoechadis order, referred to the
associations: - Cisto crispi-Pinetum pineae, described for the Peloritani Mts., in particular in
the neighbourhood of Messina (Bartolo, Brullo, & Pulvirenti, 1994); - Cisto cretici-Pinetum
pineae, located along the heights of northem Sicily (Gratteri, Cefalù area, Montemaggiore
Belsito) up to the Nebrodi area (Tusa, Caronia), as well as inward (Nicosia, Alia) up to Piazza
Armerina (Brullo, Giusso del Galdo, Minissale, Siracusa, & Spampinato, 2002).

Pinus nigra subsp. calabrica natural pinewoods are widespread along the eastem side of
the volcanic eone of Etna, between 1,000 and 1,900 m a.s.L These communities fall within
the Junipero sabinae-Pinetea sylvestris class (order Juniperetalia hemisphaericae, alliance
Berberidion aetnensis), ascribed to the following associations: - Daphno laureolae-Pinetum
calabricae, thermophilous coenosis located up to 1,400-1,600 m a.s.l. (Brullo et al., 2012); -
Junipero hemisphaericae-Pinetum calabricae, mesophilous aspects located between 1,600
and 1,900 m a.s.l. (Barbagallo, Guglielmo, & Scalia, 1982; Brullo, Giusso del Galdo, &
Guarino, 2001; Pirola & Zappalà, 1959).

Taxus baccata yew woods, widespread in the Euro-Asian and Mediterranean area (Abbate
et al., 2003), are present in Sicily only on the Nebrodi Mts. area, with small thickets located
between the meso- and supramediterranean bioclimatic belts (subhumid-humid ombrotype).
They are ascribed to the Querco-Fagetea class (order Fagetalia sylvaticae, alliance Geranio