Recent reports of Najas marina L. (Hydrocharitaceae) from Sicily have been interpreted as a confirmation of its presence on the island, where it was earlier mentioned in the 1800s. However the recent finds do not represent “N. marina” (currently N. major All.) but N. marina subsp. armata Horn (= N. delilei Rouy), a different taxon, previously not recorded from Sicily. According to those reports and several new finds presented here, it appears to be invading reservoirs and lakes in southern Sicily and seems to be naturally expanding its range. Climate change is suggested as possible cause of this shift. The same trend appears to be taking place across the whole N Mediterranean area, from Portugal to Cyprus. The old Sicilian record of “N. marina” (i.e. N. major) remains unconfirmed: the only site where it was collected was completely destroyed to make space for houses and touristic exploitation.

Troia, A. (2022). The unnoticed northward expansion of Najas marina subsp. armata (Hydrocharitaceae) in the Mediterranean area: an effect of climate change?. WILLDENOWIA, 52(1), 91-101 [10.3372/wi.52.52106].

The unnoticed northward expansion of Najas marina subsp. armata (Hydrocharitaceae) in the Mediterranean area: an effect of climate change?

Troia, A
2022-04-05

Abstract

Recent reports of Najas marina L. (Hydrocharitaceae) from Sicily have been interpreted as a confirmation of its presence on the island, where it was earlier mentioned in the 1800s. However the recent finds do not represent “N. marina” (currently N. major All.) but N. marina subsp. armata Horn (= N. delilei Rouy), a different taxon, previously not recorded from Sicily. According to those reports and several new finds presented here, it appears to be invading reservoirs and lakes in southern Sicily and seems to be naturally expanding its range. Climate change is suggested as possible cause of this shift. The same trend appears to be taking place across the whole N Mediterranean area, from Portugal to Cyprus. The old Sicilian record of “N. marina” (i.e. N. major) remains unconfirmed: the only site where it was collected was completely destroyed to make space for houses and touristic exploitation.
5-apr-2022
Settore BIO/02 - Botanica Sistematica
Settore BIO/03 - Botanica Ambientale E Applicata
Troia, A. (2022). The unnoticed northward expansion of Najas marina subsp. armata (Hydrocharitaceae) in the Mediterranean area: an effect of climate change?. WILLDENOWIA, 52(1), 91-101 [10.3372/wi.52.52106].
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
2022 Troia WILLDENOWIA Najas marina armata.pdf

accesso aperto

Descrizione: articolo principale
Tipologia: Versione Editoriale
Dimensione 4.05 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
4.05 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10447/557990
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 1
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 1
social impact