**2.4.2 Class** *Molinio-Arrhenatheretea*

*Molinio-Arrhenatheretea* is the vegetation class to which the regularly cut grasslands are referred, or in some cases pastured, that develop on deep, wet, neutral to subacid soils that

Environmental Evaluation and Monitoring of Agro-Ecosystems Biodiversity 343

 *Paspalo-Heleochloetalia*: This order includes grassland coenoses that are characeristic of the river banks that are sometimes flooded or submerged, or of the edges of small stagnant ponds or pools of water. These grow on muddy terrains that are rich in minerals and nitrogenous substances, and they are often characterised by being

 *Trifolio-Hordeetalia*: This syntaxon includes the permanent grasslands that grow on the previously lacustrine basins or on the alluvial plains. Its distribution area is limited to the Balcan peninsula and the central-southern Apennines, in which environment it is well represented by various associations that can be found on the karst high-plains,

 *Holoschoenetalia vulgaris*: This includes grasslands with a dominance of rushes with a Mediterranean or Submediterranean distribution area and summer development. These coenoses are found on deep and muddy soils with a mainly silty and clayey fabric, although in other cases also on gravely or sandy sediments. They are well represented

The class *Festuco-Brometea* includes the grasslands of human origins that in general are used for animal pasture. The communities included in this syntaxon are mainly composed of hemicryptophyte species characterised by good forage value; of the grasslands, these represent those with greater levels of stability and maturity. These formations are often particularly rich from a floristic point of view and they play host to numerous entities of

The distribution area of this syntaxonomic unit includes the Eurosiberian and the western Mediterranean regions. From an edaphic point of view, the grasslands of *Festuco-Brometea* are baso-neutrophilous or, in some case, slightly acidophilous, and they generally prefer deep and rich soils, and anyway well drained, although they sometimes also grow on

In the agroecosystem, the coenoses of this class are relatively diffuse in well conserved contexts that are under techniques of extensive cultivation, while their diffusion is lower in the zones that are more subjected to human influence. From the management point of view,

great interest, among which there are various species of orchids.

relatively superficial substrata (Rivas Martinez et al., 2002).

mainly in depressions that are particularly subjected to occasional flooding.

mainly corresponding to or near to bends in rivers with weak water currents.

physiognomically dominated by stolonate exotic plants

conservation.

Fig. 5. *Festuco fenas-Caricetum hirtae*

**2.4.3 Class** *Festuco-Brometea*

slight depressions and with surface water. They belong to the alliance *Mentho-Juncion* and in the agroecosystem their presence is limited to the zones that are under good

are well supplied with nutrients, in territories with a prevalently flat or slightly sloped morphology (Rivas Martinez et al., 2002). The species of this class are mesophilous, nitrophilous, and well used as forage, and they are favoured by human practices, with the cutting and removal of the biomass.

In the agroecosystem, the communities of this syntaxonomic unit are spread in particular in the valley bottoms, along with grasslands or in strips of grassed terrain at the edges of ditches, fields or farm tracks. In some cases, they collonise contexts subjected to great human disturbance, such as the compacted environments or the grass areas by farm houses.

The phytocoenoses of *Molinio-Arrhenatheretea* can survive short periods of flooding, which frequently occur during spring, but they cannot tolerate periods of drought. This class has a Mediterranean, thermo-boreal and temperate distribution area, although it finds its optimum in the Eurasiatic area. From an evolutive point of view, the coenoses of this syntaxon can be considered among those herbaceous with intermediate maturity and stability levels. In the temperate and Submediterranean contexts, the hierarchical subdivision reveals the presence of six orders.


*\*Lolio perennis-Plantaginetum majoris*: This association is dominated by *Lolium perenne* and *Plantago major*. It is included in the alliance *Lolio-Plantaginion*, and is linked to conditions of compact soil that is rich in nutrients and is wet. It is well enough spread in the investigation area, and in particular at the sides or along the centres of farm tracks, or in herbaceous areas subjected to intense impaction and enriched in nitrates due to the pasturing of animals.

*\*Festuco fenas-Caricetum hirtae* (Fig. 5): The grasslands of *Carex hirta* of the alliance *Mentho-Juncion* find their ecological optimum in small depressions that are flooded and disturbed due to compacting, pasturing and ruderalisation (Ninot et al., 2000). Although they were not previously found in the area investigated, the association was found in some locations in Marche, along the banks of rivers and ditches, where it tends to grow on deep and wet substrata that are rich in nutrients and are periodically flooded.

*\*Ranunculetum repentis*: Overall, these formations are dominated by *Ranunculus repens* and are characterised by their hygrophilous condition, as they can colonise the valley bottoms that are adjacent to water courses and often flooded, or plain areas that have

are well supplied with nutrients, in territories with a prevalently flat or slightly sloped morphology (Rivas Martinez et al., 2002). The species of this class are mesophilous, nitrophilous, and well used as forage, and they are favoured by human practices, with the

In the agroecosystem, the communities of this syntaxonomic unit are spread in particular in the valley bottoms, along with grasslands or in strips of grassed terrain at the edges of ditches, fields or farm tracks. In some cases, they collonise contexts subjected to great human disturbance, such as the compacted environments or the grass areas by farm houses. The phytocoenoses of *Molinio-Arrhenatheretea* can survive short periods of flooding, which frequently occur during spring, but they cannot tolerate periods of drought. This class has a Mediterranean, thermo-boreal and temperate distribution area, although it finds its optimum in the Eurasiatic area. From an evolutive point of view, the coenoses of this syntaxon can be considered among those herbaceous with intermediate maturity and stability levels. In the temperate and Submediterranean contexts, the hierarchical

 *Molinietalia caeruleae*: This order has a central-European distribution area and includes temperate and mesophilous grasslands and pastures that are often cut and are linked to the presence of terrain that is almost always wet. They include both the communities of the non-fertilised and oligo-mesotrophilous grasslands and the fertilised and often

 *Arrhenatheretalia eliatioris*: This includes fertilised grasslands and pastures with a Eurosiberian and Submediterranean distribution area. The communities are mainly dominated by *Arrhenatherum eliatius* or *Cynosurus cristatus*, and grow on deep and wet soils that have clayey or calcareous origins and good levels of mineral fertility, and that

 *Plantaginetalia majoris*: This syntaxonomic unit includes the herbaceous communities that grow on wet eutrophic soils, which are sometimes flooded and are pastured and compacted, with a temperate and Medierranean distribution area. They are particularly well represented in the agroecosystem, on substrata that are mainly clayey or on alluvial plains, at the edges of ditches or at the sides of tracks, in edaphic contexts

*\*Lolio perennis-Plantaginetum majoris*: This association is dominated by *Lolium perenne* and *Plantago major*. It is included in the alliance *Lolio-Plantaginion*, and is linked to conditions of compact soil that is rich in nutrients and is wet. It is well enough spread in the investigation area, and in particular at the sides or along the centres of farm tracks, or in herbaceous areas subjected to intense impaction and enriched in nitrates due to

*\*Festuco fenas-Caricetum hirtae* (Fig. 5): The grasslands of *Carex hirta* of the alliance *Mentho-Juncion* find their ecological optimum in small depressions that are flooded and disturbed due to compacting, pasturing and ruderalisation (Ninot et al., 2000). Although they were not previously found in the area investigated, the association was found in some locations in Marche, along the banks of rivers and ditches, where it tends to grow on deep and wet substrata that are rich in nutrients and are

*\*Ranunculetum repentis*: Overall, these formations are dominated by *Ranunculus repens* and are characterised by their hygrophilous condition, as they can colonise the valley bottoms that are adjacent to water courses and often flooded, or plain areas that have

flooded habitats that are found on the low-montane to montane zones.

cutting and removal of the biomass.

subdivision reveals the presence of six orders.

are well drained.

generally wet also in summer.

the pasturing of animals.

periodically flooded.

slight depressions and with surface water. They belong to the alliance *Mentho-Juncion* and in the agroecosystem their presence is limited to the zones that are under good conservation.


Fig. 5. *Festuco fenas-Caricetum hirtae*

#### **2.4.3 Class** *Festuco-Brometea*

The class *Festuco-Brometea* includes the grasslands of human origins that in general are used for animal pasture. The communities included in this syntaxon are mainly composed of hemicryptophyte species characterised by good forage value; of the grasslands, these represent those with greater levels of stability and maturity. These formations are often particularly rich from a floristic point of view and they play host to numerous entities of great interest, among which there are various species of orchids.

The distribution area of this syntaxonomic unit includes the Eurosiberian and the western Mediterranean regions. From an edaphic point of view, the grasslands of *Festuco-Brometea* are baso-neutrophilous or, in some case, slightly acidophilous, and they generally prefer deep and rich soils, and anyway well drained, although they sometimes also grow on relatively superficial substrata (Rivas Martinez et al., 2002).

In the agroecosystem, the coenoses of this class are relatively diffuse in well conserved contexts that are under techniques of extensive cultivation, while their diffusion is lower in the zones that are more subjected to human influence. From the management point of view,

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of the groups referred to this class are generally characterised by a good ability to live under shady conditions. They prefer deep soils with a good water content and rich in nutrients. In the agroecosystem the plant associations of this syntaxon can be seen in sites such as the margins of ditches or the edges of copses, rows of trees, or hedges, and they can often be found also in human contexts, like in and around urban areas. They can grow on acidic

From the serial point of view, the vegetation of this syntaxon can be identified as a pre-forest herbaceous stage that grows in the contact zones beween the herbaceous hemicryptophytic and shrub-arboreal vegetation. From the evolutive aspect, as it is mainly linked to the influence of man, and it is considered less mature with respect to the edge vegetation of the class *Trifolio-Geranietea*, which instead is found in contact with arboreal formations that are

*Galio-Urticetea* can be subdivided into two orders according to their ecological

 *Galio-Alliarietalia*: This order is represented by the coenoses of the nitrophilous preforest or forest margins (Font et al., 1988). These can also be seen in small clearings, and they are linked to temperate and Mediterranean bioclimates, and require conditions of deep soil. The formations of this syntaxon can be more or less sciaphilous and their survival depends on good water availability of the soil also in summer; they are.

*\*Galio aparines-Smyrnietum olusatri*: This association was described by Allegrezza et al. (1987). It is dominated by the *Smyrnium olusatrum* species, and it can be found at the edges of semi-natural and artificial arboreal formations, often along the sides of roads in shady and wet areas in and around urban zones. This coenosis is included in the alliance *Galio-Alliarion* and is particularly nitrophilous and distributed both on marlycalcareous substrata and on arenaceous and clayey hills. It is well enough represented

*\*Alliario petiolatae-Chaerophylletum temuli* (Fig. 7): This nitrophilous edge association with *Alliaria petiolata* and *Chaerophyllum temulum* is also included in the alliance *Galio-Alliarion*, and has a sciaphilous character and grows in locations with soil rich in nutrients, e.g. in the zones next to the banks of rivers and edges of ditches, where the fine and rich soils are deposited (Hruska, 1988). Moreover, it is present at the edges of forest formations and in dense coenoses along the sides of roads. It is very well

*\*Petasitetum hybridi*: This association is characterised physiognomically by the large leaves of the species *Petasites hybridus*, and it is usually found on the external parts of the banks of the water courses, sometimes at the edges of riparian formations of *Salix alba*, generally under conditions of high atmospheric humidity (Baldoni & Biondi, 1993). The soil on which this grows is rich in organic matter and is constantly wet. This belongs to the alliance *Aegopodion podagrariae* and is well represented in the

 *Calystegietalia sepium*: The phytocoenoses of this syntaxonomic unit are instead closely linked to the presence of water. Indeed, they can be found mainly on the banks of ditches and small pools of water, on soils with a high content of nitrates and water. Often, these associations can survive also under conditions of temporary stagnant water. The plants that form a part of these communities are climbers and

However. never linked to situations characterised by stagnant water.

substrata as well as on alkaline terrain.

better conserved and structured.

in the rural landscape.

terriory analysed.

moderately sciaphyle.

represented in the egroecosystem environment.

characteristics.

the abandonment of grasslands of *Festuco-Brometea* favours the recollonisaton of the pastures by shrub species, with the consequent floristic impoverishment and drastic reduction in the plant biodiversity. The associations that grow on calcareous substrata are protected according to the specific Community Directive 92/43/EEC, as habitat 6210, and therefore they need to be managed in such a way as to guarantee their conservation.

In the territories that were included in our analysis, the grasslands of this class can be included in the order *Brometalia erecti*.

 *Brometalia erecti*: This order includes the grasslands that substitute the forest vegetation and that are found on calcareous or marly-arenaceous substrata, which is more or less deep, in the temperate bioclimate areas, including the zones that fall within the Submediterranean variant. Its distribution area includes central and western Europe (Royer, 1991). The coenoses of this syntaxon are diffusely represented throughout the Italian peninsula.

*\*Centaureo bracteatae-Brometum erecti* (Fig. 6): The grasslands attributed to *Centaureo-Brometum* are mesophilous continuous formations that to grow often as a postcultivation stage and that are present on marly-arenaceous, arenaceous-clayey, and marly-calcareous substrata of the hilly slopes. These are widely diffuse in the northern and central Apennines (Biondi et al., 2006). They are included in the alliance *Bromion erecti* and their characteristic species are *Brachypodium rupestre*, *Galium album*, *Carex flacca* ssp. *flacca* and *Centaurea bracteata*.

Fig. 6. *Centaureo bracteatae-Brometum erecti*.
