Page 3 - GainguzziPaniniCusimano

Results

The results obtained through photo-interpretation and field validation allowed the
identification of 36 phytocoenotic types, divided into zonal (communities tied to the various
bioclimatic belts, in particular maquis, woods, garrigues and serni-natural grasslands), azonal
(coenoses typical of habitats conditioned by the substrate, such as cliffs, streams, coastal
dunes, etc.) and anthropogenic vegetation (artificial forest plantation, cultivated land, built-up
areas and other habitats affected by human activities). The various types are described below,
following the order of the map legend as shown in Table l.

l. Mediterranean maquis (cl. Quercetea ilicis, ord. Pistacio-Rhamnetalia alatemi) with
prevalence of: a) Pistacia lentiscus, Chamaerops humilis, Olea europaea var. sylvestris, etc.
(all. Oleo-Ceratonion); b) Periploca angustifolia (all. Periplocion angustifoliae); c) Juniperus
macrocarpa (all. Juniperion turbinatae)

EUNIS Codes: B1.63, F5.121, F5.123, F5.132, F5.13 12, F5.514, F5.52, F5.54, F5.55, F5.555, F5.568, F5.569,
F5.56A, G2.4, G2.132; Natura 2000 Codes: 2250*, 5210, 5330, 9320, 9340

Vegetation distributed along the coastline of the entire regional area, between the infra- and
the thermomediterranean (dry sub-hurnid ombrotype), where it has a climax or an edapho-
climacic meaning (Figure S4); rarely it may also play a secondary role, as replacement of
primary thermophilous woods. It is placed within the Quercetea ilicis class and in the
Pistacio-Rhamnetalia alatemi order, divided into the following alliances: a) Oleo-Ceratonion
siliquae [associations dorninated by sclerophytes, with Euphorbia dendroides, Olea europaea
var. sylvestris, Chamaerops humilis, Juniperus turbinata (Gianguzzi, llardi, Caldarella,
Cusimano, Cuttonaro, & Romano, 2012; Gianguzzi, Romano, Caldarella, & La Russa, 2007),
Celtis toumefortii subsp. aetnensis (Gianguzzi, Cusimano, & Romano, 2014; Marcenò,
Ottonello, & Romano, 2002), etc.], common in the xeric hilly-coastal belt, especially on
basiphilous substrates; b) Periplocion angustifoliae (markedly xerophilous coenoses with
presence of Periploca angustifolia, Lycium intricatum, Rhus pentaphylla or Rhus tripartita),
spread in the extreme southern part of Sicily and in the small islands of the Channel of Sicily
(Brullo, Di Martino, & Marcenò, 1977; Brullo, Gianguzzi, La Mantia, & Siracusa, 2009;
Brullo & Marcenò, 1985a; Gentile, 1962, 1968); c) Juniperion turbinatae (coastal juniper
communities with Juniperus macrocarpa, on dunes and paleodunes, now confmed to a few
residua! sites of Sicily, due to the strong anthropogenic influence on coastal areas); d) Ericion
arboreae (thermophilous associations diversified by the presence of Erica arborea, on
acidophilous substrates in the most xeric coastal belt).

2. Quercus ilex woods (cl. Quercetea ilicis, ord. Quercetalia ilicis): a) on calcareous
lithotypes (Pistacio lentisci-Quercetum ilicis, Rhamno alatemi-Quercetum ilicis, Doronico
orientalis-Quercetum ilicis, Ostryo carpinifoliae-Quercetum ilicis, Aceri campestris-
Quercetum ilicis); b) on silicate lithotypes (Erico arboreae-Quercetum ilicis, Teucrio siculi-
Quercetum ilicis, Sorbo graecae-Quercetum ilicis)

EUNIS Code: G2.121A, G2.121B; Natura 2000 Code: 9340

Holm oak woods are widespread in Sicily, in Pantelleria and Marettimo, as well as on the
highest peaks in the Aeolian Archipelago; these coenoses have a climacic or edapho-climacic
meaning, distributed between the thermo- and the mesomediterranean (subhurnid-humid
ombrotype), on various substrates (Figure S5). They are included in the Quercetea