The understorey vegetation of mature Quercus robur L. mixed forests (MF) was compared for richness and composition with that of natural forest gaps (FG) and of 30-year-old artificial Q. robur plantations (AF) in Mediterranean Italy. Richness was similar in AF and MF and was almost double in FG, due to the arrival of species from non-forest habitats, among which 14% were aliens. In these specific conditions, natural gap dynamics did not support forest recruitment, while AF hosted typical nemoral species, demonstrating that afforestation may be successful for nature restoration, provided that connectivity with natural systems is maintained for the supply of forest species propagules.
Can Artificial Plantings Resemble Natural Vegetation? Preliminary Evidence from a Quercus robur L. Stand in Mediterranean Italy
Iduna Arduini
Primo
;Riccardo Lenci;Silvia PampanaUltimo
2026-01-01
Abstract
The understorey vegetation of mature Quercus robur L. mixed forests (MF) was compared for richness and composition with that of natural forest gaps (FG) and of 30-year-old artificial Q. robur plantations (AF) in Mediterranean Italy. Richness was similar in AF and MF and was almost double in FG, due to the arrival of species from non-forest habitats, among which 14% were aliens. In these specific conditions, natural gap dynamics did not support forest recruitment, while AF hosted typical nemoral species, demonstrating that afforestation may be successful for nature restoration, provided that connectivity with natural systems is maintained for the supply of forest species propagules.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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