Page 24 - GainguzziPaniniCusimano

Badlands develop over large clayey or silty banks, and, in Sicily, they are conunon in inland
territories of the "Gessoso-Solfifera" Formation, on more or less steep slopes, falling between
the thermo- and the mesomediterranean bioclimatic belt (Figure SlOc). Therophitic and
pioneer halo-nitrophilous aspects of the Saginetea maritimae class (order Frankenietalia
pulverulentae) are present on the most leached parts at the base of the badlands (Brullo,
1988). These conununities are ascribed to the Gaudinio-Podospermion cani alliance (Brullo
& Giusso del Galdo, 2003; Brullo & Siracusa, 1996, 2000; Pasta, 2001; Sciandrello, 2007;
Scuderi, 2006). Perennial herbaceous aspects with a subhalophilous character of the Lygeo-
Stipetea class (order Lygeo-Stipetalia and alliance Moricandio-Lygeion sparti) are present at
the base of the badlands. These conununities are sometimes dominated by Lygeum spartum
(Bazan et al., 2006; Brullo et al., 2010; Brullo et al., 2000; Gentile & Di Benedetto, 1961), or
by Tripolium sorrentinoi, endemie to the Sicilian inland (Brullo, 1985b; Venturella,
Ottonello, & Raimondo, 1986). Halo-nitrophilous maquis dominated by succulent
Chenopodiaceae (Sa/sola oppositifolia, S. vermiculata, Suaeda fruticosa) establishes on the
most stable part of the badlands. These communities are ascribed to the Pegano-Salsoletea
class (order Sa/solo vermiculatae-Peganetalia harmalae), with the Artemision arborescentis
(Biondi, 1986, 1988; Brullo et al., 2013; Costanzo, Pavone, Spampinato, & Tomaselli, 2005)
and Sa/solo oppositifoliae-Suaedion mollis alliances (Bartolo, Brullo, & Marcenò, 1982;
Brullo, Grillo, & Scalia, 1980; Brullo, Guarino, & Ronsisvalle, 1998; Brullo, Guglielmo, &
Pavone, 1985; Brullo, Scelsi, & Spampinato, 2001; Brullo & Siracusa, 2000).

25. Hygro-hydrophilous conununities of freshwater lakes with predominance of: a) algae (cl.
Charetea); b) floating herbaceous species (Lemnetea minoris); c) submerged herbaceous
species (Potametea pectinati); d) semi-submerged herbaceous species (Phragmito-
Magnocaricetea); e) ephemeral microphytes in temporary humid stations (lsoeto-
Nanojuncetea)

EUNIS Codes: C1.131, C1.32, C1.33, C1.3411, C1.3412, Cl.6, C1.67; Natura 2000 Code: 3150; 3170*

Biviere di Cesarò (Figure S10b) and Trearie lakes are among the few and most extensive
natural freshwater wetlands of Sicily, both on the Nebrodi Mts., in addition to several other
small ponds, located on little permeable clayey layers of the mountains. These ponds, locally
known as "urghi", "urli" and "margi", are usually the result of rainwater stagnation or springs
coming from more or less superficial aquifers; the vegetation is typically distributed in
concentric belts, related to seasonal variations of the water level and to the bottom slope.

From the phytosociological point of view, these include the following vegetation aspects:
l) communities with floating species (class Lemnetea minoris, order Lemnetalia), whose
associations are ascribed to the Lemnion minoris and Lemnion trisulcae alliances (Brullo,
Minissale, & Spampinato, 1994; Gianguzzi & La Mantia, 2002, 2008; Minissale &
Spampinato, 1990); 2) conununities with submerged species (class Potametea pectinati, with
the Potametalia and Utricularietalia orders), within which several associations are reported
(Barbagallo, Brullo, & Furnari, 1979a, b; Bartolo, Brullo, & Marcenò, 1982; Brullo &
Furnari, 1976; Brullo & Grillo, 1978; Brullo et al. , 1994; Brullo & Ronsisvalle, 1975; Brullo
& Sciandrello, 2006; Brullo & Spampinato, 1990; Gianguzzi, 1999a; Gianguzzi & La Mantia,
2004; Marcenò, Colombo, & Princiotta, 1976; Minissale & Spampinato, 1987; Raimondo,
Marino, & Schicchi, 2011; Sciandrello, 2007, 2009; Scuderi, 2006; Sortino et al., 1974); 3)
conunuruues with helophitic species (class Phragmito-Magnocaricetea, orders
Phragmitetalia, Magnocaricetalia, Scirpetalia compacti and Nasturtio-Glycerietalia), with
severa! associations (Barbagallo, Brullo, & Furnari, 1979a, 1990; Bartolo, Brullo, & Marcenò,