Valentina Savo | Università Degli Studi Di Roma Tre (original) (raw)
Climate change, Ecology: Articles, book chapters by Valentina Savo
Coastal Social–Ecological Systems (SESs) are subject to several stresses, including climate chang... more Coastal Social–Ecological Systems (SESs) are subject to several stresses, including climate change, that challenge fisheries and natural resource management. Fishers are front-line observers of changes occurring both on the coast and in the sea and are among the first people to be affected by these changes. In this study, we perform a meta-analysis of observations and adaptations to climate change by subsistence-oriented coastal fishers extracted from a global review of peer-reviewed and grey literature. Fishers' observations compiled from across the globe indicate increased temperatures and changes in weather patterns, as well as coastal erosion, sea level rise and shifts in species range and behaviours. Coastal areas offer a wide array of resources for diversifying livelihoods, but climate change is reducing these options. Specifically, climate change could reduce the resilience of fishers' communities, limiting options for diversification or forcing fishers to abandon their houses or villages.
Biodeterioration is a major problem for the conservation of cultural heritage materials. We provi... more Biodeterioration is a major problem for the conservation of cultural heritage materials. We provide a new and original approach to analyzing changes in patterns of colonization (Biodeterioration patterns, BPs) by biological agents responsible for the deterioration of outdoor stone materials. Here we analyzed BPs of four Khmer temples in Angkor (Cambodia) exposed to variable environmental conditions, using qualitative ecological assessments and statistical approaches. The statistical analyses supported the findings obtained with the qualitative approach. Both approaches provided additional information not otherwise available using one single method. Our results indicate that studies on biodeterioration can benefit from integrating diverse methods so that conservation efforts might become more precise and effective. Different biological agents can colonize stone artifacts and monuments in archaeological sites causing their bio-deterioration 1–4. These biological agents generally include bacteria (chemolithoautotrophic and chemoorgano-trophic), cyanobacteria, algae, fungi, lichens, mosses, and even vascular plants in the final stages of colonization 5–7. The BPs of the various organisms depend mostly on edaphic conditions, macro and micro-environmental factors , and frequency of maintenance 7–9. The colonization of stone artifacts and monuments is also affected by the complex interactions among organisms that are co-existing on the stone or growing at different stages of colonization 8,10. Research on colonization dynamics and BPs is generally qualitative, with little attention to ecological considerations (e.g., species niche) 10. Only a few studies, especially among those focusing on lichen communities, have attempted to understand better the relationship between community composition and environmental factors 11,12. A minority of researchers have suggested using an ecological approach in assessing BPs (e.g., on the volcanic substratum in the archaeological site of Copán, Honduras 12 ; on the mural paintings of the Crypt of the Universal Sin, Matera, Italy 13). However, such studies mostly use a qualitative approach for assessing the spatial arrangement (i.e., ecotones) of colonizing communities and lack a robust statistical background that could allow for a generalization of the results. In this context, co-occurrence analysis 14,15 could provide an objective way to identify non-random patterns of associations among the different communities responsible for BPs. This is because the co-occurrence analysis aims at testing if two species tend to occur in the same area more (or less) often than expected according to different ecological hypotheses 16. Most studies have used the co-occurrence analysis mainly to investigate the importance of ecological competition in the establishment of biological communities (e.g., ref. 17). Lately, due to the increasing interest in the study of ecological networks (e.g., ref. 18), the co-occurrence analysis has been proposed as a useful alternative to empirical studies in the identification of species interactions 19. The general assumption behind this idea is that if two species are found together significantly more often than a random expectation, then it is reasonable to
The study of climate change has been based strongly on data collected from instruments, but how l... more The study of climate change has been based strongly on data collected from instruments, but how local people perceive such changes remains poorly quantified. We conducted a meta-analysis of climatic changes observed by subsistence-oriented communities. Our review of 10,660 observations from 2,230 localities in 137 countries shows that increases in temperature and changes in seasonality and rainfall patterns are widespread (≈70% of localities across 122 countries). Observations of increased temperature show patterns consistent with simulated trends in surface air temperature taken from the ensemble average of CMIP5 models, for the period 1955–2005. Secondary impacts of climatic changes on both wild and domesticated plants and animals are extensive and threaten the food security of subsistence-oriented communities. Collectively, our results suggest that climate change is having profound disruptive effects at local levels and that local observations can make an important contribution to understanding the pervasiveness of climate change on ecosystems and societies.
International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology , 2016
Defining and understanding the long-term social and ecological evolution of rural cultural landsc... more Defining and understanding the long-term social and ecological evolution of rural cultural landscapes can provide insights into complex dynamics of landscape and environment changes. Land cover changes (LCCs) in Mediterranean-type ecosystems are mainly due to human-induced landscape transformations. Multi-scale spatial analysis can provide useful information in the interpretation of LCCs data and contribute to identifying underlying drivers of landscape change. In the present study, we analyze eight diachronic land cover maps and perform statistical data assessments of human pressure in the Tolfa–Cerite district (Northern Latium, central Italy) to investigate potential changes in the cultural landscape. The Tolfa–Cerite district is a generally dry area with subhumid–humid sites and an interesting mosaic of Mediterranean-temperate vegetation, agricultural and pastoral land, and a millenarian human presence. LCCs were assessed over a period of 57 years (1949–2006) using maps at both low-resolution (1:100.000) and high-resolution (1:25.000) with different class nomenclature systems. Three primary land cover changes have been observed during the investigated period: (i) urbanization, (ii) land abandonment, and (iii) deforestation. While the former two classes of landscape change are particularly common in the northern Mediterranean region, forest conversion to pastures and shrub lands due to intensive grazing, fires, climate aridity, and increasing human pressure is, nowadays, rarely observed in Italy. Better understanding the influence of population dynamics at the local scale and other drivers of LCCs can help fine-tuning conservation policies looking at landscape quality, diversity, and fragmentation.
The delineation of bioclimatic areas is a key tool in informing sustainable land management strat... more The delineation of bioclimatic areas is a key tool in informing sustainable land management strategies, especially in the light of climate change. It requires an in-depth analysis of climate data but also of the physical and biological factors that affect the distribution of natural vegetation. The present study applies an exploratory data analysis aimed at defining bioclimatic conditions in an area characterized by steep slopes and prone to soil erosion (Amalfi Coast, southern Italy). To this end, we analyzed long-term (1959–1999) monthly rainfall and
temperature data measured at 28 gauging stations within the study area using a geographic information system and multivariate statistical tools. Then, we analyzed how the spatial distribution of rainfall and temperature data relates to topography, vegetation cover, and soil erosion. We also derived bioclimatic indicators from the geostatistical analysis. We then identify and comment on drawbacks found in the procedure used in the present study, discussing possible solutions to overcome such problems. We finally discuss the potential contribution of this study to the development of sustainable land management policies for socio-ecological systems with complex topography.
Terraces are traditional engineered ecosystems that affect the hydro-geological equilibrium, slop... more Terraces are traditional engineered ecosystems that affect the hydro-geological equilibrium, slope stability, and local communities. The aims of this paper are (i) identifying environmental factors that affect terrace stability in the Amalfi Coast, (ii) defining agriculturalists’ observations on environmental changes within that system and (iii) exploring potentiality of these observations to better define conservation strategies. All available data on physical and ecological factors recognized to affect the terrace system were collected and analyzed. Interviews were conducted with agriculturalists to obtain long-term observations on environmental factors that interact with this system. Landslides are more frequent where rainfall is high and during winter. Fires have an uneven annual distribution, with higher frequency during summers. Agriculturalists detailed complex interactions among environmental factors, economic elements, and terraces. These observations represent a valuable resource for defining causes and effects of abandonment and for better addressing conservation strategies.
Journal of Ethnobiology 34(3):335-358. 2014
Agricultural management systems are found at the intersection between human societies and environ... more Agricultural management systems are found at the intersection between human societies and environmental dynamics. Traditional apple orchards are fruit production systems that were developed in Eurasia and transferred to many other regions around the world including a wide range of temperate to subtropical climates. We interviewed 255 long-term (20+ years) apple orchard managers in nine European countries and seven other countries that were former colonies. Patterns and types of management observations were compiled to illustrate descriptive aspects of orchard manager's thinking. Observations and adaptive responses by orchard managers seem to share similarities that go beyond cultural and large-scale environmental differences. Orchard management systems appear to be adaptive responses by traditional orchardists not only for local environments but also for success in unknown, newly encountered environments and therefore might be expected to cope with climate change and functionally adapt to ecosystem variation due to that change.
The need of planning more sustainable cities leads to a wider use of extensive green roofs (EGRs)... more The need of planning more sustainable cities leads to a wider use of extensive green roofs (EGRs) as they provide significant advantages to the urban environment (e.g., energy conservation and increase of biodiversity). In Central and North Europe, as well as in North America and Asia, EGRs are generally included in new building designs, whereas they are still uncommon in Mediterranean countries. The adaptations of many Mediterranean plants to drought stress and their floristic diversity constitute, however, positive elements in finding solutions for them. This research proposes a methodological approach to select wild species for EGRs based on ecological characteristics (using natural ecosystems as templates for green roof design). An extensive bibliographic search on plants proposed for EGRs in Mediterranean countries has led to the creation of a wide database. Other plants were selected considering their synecological, structural, and autoecological characteristics. All the data were integrated in a comprehensive database of 138 taxa potentially suitable for setting EGRs according to their syntaxonomical classification and their ecological behavior (fitting both the Mediterranean and EGR environmental conditions). The selected taxa could enlarge the pool of species for EGRs in Mediterranean cities, increasing urban biodiversity.
Climate change is projected to have severe changes in the Mediterranean area, however, few studie... more Climate change is projected to have severe changes in the Mediterranean area, however, few studies have investigated environmental resource managers’ perceptions and adaptations to climatic change in the area. Our research investigates the use of orchardists' observations for bioindicating climate variations and of their experience for defining possible coping and adaptation strategies. Interviews were conducted with orchardists cultivating apple orchards for at least 30 years in the Campania region (southern Italy) to obtain observations on climate, which were then compared with climate data analyses. Orchardists reported a more unpredictable seasonality and shifting climate conditions, perceived as beginning 20–30 years ago. Climate data analysis seems to corroborate orchardists' perceptions. Traditional Ecological Knowledge specifically addressed to climate and weather is here defined as Traditional Climatic Knowledge (TCK). TCK is a key factor in environmental management.
In: F. Ferrigni, M.C. Sorrentino (Eds). Il futuro dei territori antichi. Problemi, prospettive e questioni di governance dei paesaggi culturali evolutivi viventi. EdiPuglia, Bari, pp. 167-178. ISBN 9788-7228-716-3.
APPLIED …, 2012
Climate change is a major global issue that impacts vegetation, agriculture, biodiversity and hum... more Climate change is a major global issue that impacts vegetation, agriculture, biodiversity and human safety. These impacts are predicted to be intense in the Mediterranean region. The aim of this paper is to define how local climatic trends are affecting plant communities in the Tolfa-Cerite area (Northern Latium), which is a semi-coastal area with Mediterranean to broad-leaf vegetation. Climate data analysis covered a long time period (1951-2007), considering 18 gauging stations. Data were analyzed using geostatistical methods and descriptive statistics. Climate trends and drought indicators, in relation to different vegetation associations, were analyzed using the zonal statistic tool (ArcGIS). During
the investigated period, rainfall showed a uniform decreasing trend, while temperature increased, with an irregular trend. The specialization of climatic data showed a shift towards a thermo-Mediterranean bioclimate. Local climatic trends showed to have more severe impacts on specific plant communities (mesophilous forests, endangered shrubland-pastures, relict associations of meadows, etc). The observed trends towards aridity occurred in many areas covered by vulnerable plant communities. Considering the predicted changes in climate conditions for the Mediterranean area, these communities will face a further aridity increase. A permanent monitoring of these communities may increase the effectiveness of
conservation policies and sustainable regional planning.
A survey of 18 watercourses of the Tiber River basin was carried out to define the ecological nic... more A survey of 18 watercourses of the Tiber River basin was carried out to define the ecological niche breadth of some aquatic bryophyte species in relation to environmental factors. Aquatic bryophytes were sampled and water environmental parameters were measured at 99 stations distributed along the catchment (from the headwater regions to the downstream reaches). The datasets of the collected species and environmental data were analyzed by using a multivariate statistical analysis (PCA biplot). Ecological responses of the recorded aquatic bryophytes were obtained using a fuzzy set approach, and were compared with data from literature. The results show that the presence of the aquatic bryophytes in watercourses is affected negatively by the reduction of water velocity, clearness, substratum size and the worsening quality of the water physico-chemical status. In fact, aquatic bryophytes show a general preference for stations characterized by medium-large granulometry, and fast-flowing, clear, oxygenated (mean value 9.2 mg/l), cool waters (mean value 15.0 °C), with low loads of nutrients, particularly ammonia (mean value 0.10 mg/l) and phosphates (mean value 0.09 mg/l). However, ecological responses reveal different patterns in the distribution of aquatic bryophyte species mainly in relation to water physico-chemical parameters (e.g. temperature, conductivity, ammonia, phosphates). E.g. Palustriella commutata var. commutata, Cratoneuron filicinum, Fissidens viridulus and Cinclidotus aquaticus show high preference for clear, turbulent and fast-flowing waters, with temperature below 12 °C, conductivity below 300 μS/cm, and concentrations about 0.01 mg/l for phosphates, not exceeding 0.10 mg/l for ammonium ions and 0.90 mg/l for nitrates. Leptodictyum riparium and Riccia fluitans are for their part more linked to turbid and slow waters affected by eutrophication, showing optimum values for about 0.30 mg/l for ammonia concentration, 0.90 mg/l for nitrates and 0.11 and 0.22 mg/l for phosphates respectively. Conversely, Fontinalis antipyretica is not closely related to specific conditions, showing wide ecological ranges for most of the analyzed environmental factors. This paper has evaluated and discussed the possible use of sampled species as bioindicators for biomonitoring of the water quality.
In: AA.VV. (Eds) Proceedings of the SIS Conference 2007 “Rischio e previsione”, Venice, Italy, pp. 613-614. , 2007
Alcune problematiche di rischio ambientale sono riconducibili alla presenza di rilevanti e concen... more Alcune problematiche di rischio ambientale sono riconducibili alla presenza di rilevanti e concentrate precipitazioni su versanti acclivi ed in peculiari condizioni
edafiche. La Costa di Amalfi rappresenta un caso di studio di particolare interesse in relazione a questi fattori e a tal fine i dati pluviometrici, spazializzati con applicativo GIS, sono stati analizzati in funzione del rischio di instabilità dei versanti e di quello di erosione, utilizzando alcuni indici agroclimatici e l’equazione USLE. Questi sono stati utilizzati per la creazione di mappe tematiche e per analizzare qualitativamente una loro correlazione con eventi franosi registrati. Zone bioclimatiche ed equazione USLE sono stati anche correlati tra loro per analizzare e prevedere l’entità dei fattori di rischio
In: G. Caneva, L. Cancellieri (Eds). Il paesaggio vegetale della Costa d'Amalfi. Gangemi Ed., Rome, pp. 11-32. ISBN 978.88-492-1292-1. , 2007
In: G. Caneva, L. Cancellieri (Eds). Il paesaggio vegetale della Costa d’Amalfi. Gangemi Ed., Rome, pp. 85-143. ISBN 978.88-492-1292-1., 2007
Ethnobotany: Articles, books and book chapters by Valentina Savo
Economic Botany, 2019
Wild food plants are still part of the culinary traditions of many rural areas in the Mediterrane... more Wild food plants are still part of the culinary traditions of many rural areas in the Mediterranean. This study aims to document these traditions and the food uses of wild plants in an area of the Monti Picentini Regional Park. We performed an ethnobotanical survey between 2013 and 2015 using standard ethnographic methods. We analyzed the gathered data using ethnobotanical indices, and we compared our results with relevant literature pertaining to uses of wild food plants in Central and Southern Italy. We interviewed 64 key informants, whose ages ranged between 40 and 93 years, and we gathered about 1900 use citations about the traditional food uses of 84 wild plant species. Many of these species are still incorporated into traditional dishes. We recorded the previously unknown food use of four plant species (Rubus hirtus Waldst. & Kit.; Petasites hybridus [L.] G. Gaertn., B. Mey. & Scherb.; Asphodelus macrocarpus Parl.; and Oenanthe fistulosa L.). We also highlighted several rare food uses as well as many other uses that are common across Central and Southern Italy. Knowledge concerning the uses of wild food plants is part of Italy’s history and culture, and it should be preserved before modernization of lifestyles and homogenization of food habits extinguish this realm of food and culinary knowledge.
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2019
The interest and demand for nutraceuticals are rapidly increasing in many industrialized countrie... more The interest and demand for nutraceuticals are rapidly increasing in many industrialized countries due to the emergence of health risks associated with the increased consumption of processed foods. Several wild Mediterranean plants used as traditional foods are an extraordinary source of nutraceutical substances with antioxidant properties. This study has two main aims: (1) to quantify the antioxidant properties of traditional wild food plants and (2) to determine if their use in soups (i.e., the cooking process) can alter their beneficial properties. We have evaluated the antioxidant capacity (ABTS, DPPH) and the Total Phenolic Content (Folin-Ciocalteu) of five herbaceous plants traditionally consumed in several areas of Central Italy: (A) Reichardia picroides (L.) Roth, (B) Hypochaeris radicata L., (C) Cichorium intybus L., (D) Tordylium apulum L., and (E) Helminthotheca echioides (L.) Holub. Our analyses show good levels of antioxidant capacity for all plants, with Reichardia picroides and Helminthotheca echioides having the highest levels. There is a high correlation between the antioxidant activity and the Total Phenolic Content especially in Reichardia picroides (R 2 =0.92) and Hypochaeris radicata (R 2 =0.93). Boiling the species caused a general decrease in the antioxidant activity and polyphenols. Our study confirms the health benefits of consuming wild plants, especially raw ones in salads. It also supports the use of ethnobotanical information to study and then promote the consumption of wild food plants.
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Mixtures of wild food plants, part of the Mediterranean diet, hav... more Ethnopharmacological relevance: Mixtures of wild food plants, part of the Mediterranean diet, have potential benefits for their content in bioactive compounds, minerals and fibres. In Italy, wild plants are still consumed in various ways, for their taste, effects on health and nutritional value. In this paper, we provide a list of wild plants used in vegetable mixtures, indicating their phytochemical and nutritional profile, highlighting those not yet studied.
Aim of the study: We provide a first complete review of traditional uses of wild food plants used as vegetables and their preparations (e.g., salads, soups, rustic pies). We also highlight their phytochemical constituents.
Materials and Methods: We carried out an extensive literature review of ethnobotanical publications from 1894 to date for finding plants used in traditional vegetable mixtures. We also performed an online search for scientific papers providing the phytochemical profile of plants that were cited at least twice in recipes found in the literature.
Results: We list a total of 276 wild taxa used in traditional vegetable mixtures, belonging to 40 families. Among these, the most represented are Asteraceae (88), Brassicaceae (33), Apiaceae (21), Amaranthaceae (12). Many plants are cited in many recipes across several Italian regions. Among the most cited plant we note: Reichardia picroides (L.) Roth, Sanguisorba minor Scop., Taraxacum campylodes G. E. Haglund, Urtica dioica L. Tuscany is the region with the highest number of food recipes that incorporate wild plants used as vegetables. We also list the phytochemical constituents and some pharmacological activities of the plants cited at least twice. Finally, we discuss topics such as the taste of plants used in the recipes.
Background: Many ethnobotanical studies have investigated selection criteria for medicinal and no... more Background: Many ethnobotanical studies have investigated selection criteria for medicinal and non-medicinal plants. In this paper we test several statistical methods using different ethnobotanical datasets in order to 1) define
to which extent the nature of the datasets can affect the interpretation of results; 2) determine if the selection for different plant uses is based on phylogeny, or other selection criteria.
Methods: We considered three different ethnobotanical datasets: two datasets of medicinal plants and a dataset of non-medicinal plants (handicraft production, domestic and agro-pastoral practices) and two floras of the Amalfi Coast. We performed residual analysis from linear regression, the binomial test and the Bayesian approach for calculating under-used and over-used plant families within ethnobotanical datasets. Percentages of agreement were calculated to compare the results of the analyses. We also analyzed the relationship between plant selection and phylogeny, chorology, life form and habitat using the chi-square test. Pearson’s residuals for each of the significant chi-square analyses were examined for investigating alternative hypotheses of plant selection criteria.
Results: The three statistical analysis methods differed within the same dataset, and between different datasets and floras, but with some similarities. In the two medicinal datasets, only Lamiaceae was identified in both floras as an over-used family by all three statistical methods. All statistical methods in one flora agreed that Malvaceae was over-used and Poaceae under-used, but this was not found to be consistent with results of the second flora in which one statistical result was non-significant. All other families had some discrepancy in significance across
methods, or floras. Significant over- or under-use was observed in only a minority of cases. The chi-square analyses were significant for phylogeny, life form and habitat. Pearson’s residuals indicated a non-random selection of woody species for non-medicinal uses and an under-use of plants of temperate forests for medicinal uses.
Conclusions: Our study showed that selection criteria for plant uses (including medicinal) are not always based on phylogeny. The comparison of different statistical methods (regression, binomial and Bayesian) under different conditions led to the conclusion that the most conservative results are obtained using regression analysis.
Coastal Social–Ecological Systems (SESs) are subject to several stresses, including climate chang... more Coastal Social–Ecological Systems (SESs) are subject to several stresses, including climate change, that challenge fisheries and natural resource management. Fishers are front-line observers of changes occurring both on the coast and in the sea and are among the first people to be affected by these changes. In this study, we perform a meta-analysis of observations and adaptations to climate change by subsistence-oriented coastal fishers extracted from a global review of peer-reviewed and grey literature. Fishers' observations compiled from across the globe indicate increased temperatures and changes in weather patterns, as well as coastal erosion, sea level rise and shifts in species range and behaviours. Coastal areas offer a wide array of resources for diversifying livelihoods, but climate change is reducing these options. Specifically, climate change could reduce the resilience of fishers' communities, limiting options for diversification or forcing fishers to abandon their houses or villages.
Biodeterioration is a major problem for the conservation of cultural heritage materials. We provi... more Biodeterioration is a major problem for the conservation of cultural heritage materials. We provide a new and original approach to analyzing changes in patterns of colonization (Biodeterioration patterns, BPs) by biological agents responsible for the deterioration of outdoor stone materials. Here we analyzed BPs of four Khmer temples in Angkor (Cambodia) exposed to variable environmental conditions, using qualitative ecological assessments and statistical approaches. The statistical analyses supported the findings obtained with the qualitative approach. Both approaches provided additional information not otherwise available using one single method. Our results indicate that studies on biodeterioration can benefit from integrating diverse methods so that conservation efforts might become more precise and effective. Different biological agents can colonize stone artifacts and monuments in archaeological sites causing their bio-deterioration 1–4. These biological agents generally include bacteria (chemolithoautotrophic and chemoorgano-trophic), cyanobacteria, algae, fungi, lichens, mosses, and even vascular plants in the final stages of colonization 5–7. The BPs of the various organisms depend mostly on edaphic conditions, macro and micro-environmental factors , and frequency of maintenance 7–9. The colonization of stone artifacts and monuments is also affected by the complex interactions among organisms that are co-existing on the stone or growing at different stages of colonization 8,10. Research on colonization dynamics and BPs is generally qualitative, with little attention to ecological considerations (e.g., species niche) 10. Only a few studies, especially among those focusing on lichen communities, have attempted to understand better the relationship between community composition and environmental factors 11,12. A minority of researchers have suggested using an ecological approach in assessing BPs (e.g., on the volcanic substratum in the archaeological site of Copán, Honduras 12 ; on the mural paintings of the Crypt of the Universal Sin, Matera, Italy 13). However, such studies mostly use a qualitative approach for assessing the spatial arrangement (i.e., ecotones) of colonizing communities and lack a robust statistical background that could allow for a generalization of the results. In this context, co-occurrence analysis 14,15 could provide an objective way to identify non-random patterns of associations among the different communities responsible for BPs. This is because the co-occurrence analysis aims at testing if two species tend to occur in the same area more (or less) often than expected according to different ecological hypotheses 16. Most studies have used the co-occurrence analysis mainly to investigate the importance of ecological competition in the establishment of biological communities (e.g., ref. 17). Lately, due to the increasing interest in the study of ecological networks (e.g., ref. 18), the co-occurrence analysis has been proposed as a useful alternative to empirical studies in the identification of species interactions 19. The general assumption behind this idea is that if two species are found together significantly more often than a random expectation, then it is reasonable to
The study of climate change has been based strongly on data collected from instruments, but how l... more The study of climate change has been based strongly on data collected from instruments, but how local people perceive such changes remains poorly quantified. We conducted a meta-analysis of climatic changes observed by subsistence-oriented communities. Our review of 10,660 observations from 2,230 localities in 137 countries shows that increases in temperature and changes in seasonality and rainfall patterns are widespread (≈70% of localities across 122 countries). Observations of increased temperature show patterns consistent with simulated trends in surface air temperature taken from the ensemble average of CMIP5 models, for the period 1955–2005. Secondary impacts of climatic changes on both wild and domesticated plants and animals are extensive and threaten the food security of subsistence-oriented communities. Collectively, our results suggest that climate change is having profound disruptive effects at local levels and that local observations can make an important contribution to understanding the pervasiveness of climate change on ecosystems and societies.
International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology , 2016
Defining and understanding the long-term social and ecological evolution of rural cultural landsc... more Defining and understanding the long-term social and ecological evolution of rural cultural landscapes can provide insights into complex dynamics of landscape and environment changes. Land cover changes (LCCs) in Mediterranean-type ecosystems are mainly due to human-induced landscape transformations. Multi-scale spatial analysis can provide useful information in the interpretation of LCCs data and contribute to identifying underlying drivers of landscape change. In the present study, we analyze eight diachronic land cover maps and perform statistical data assessments of human pressure in the Tolfa–Cerite district (Northern Latium, central Italy) to investigate potential changes in the cultural landscape. The Tolfa–Cerite district is a generally dry area with subhumid–humid sites and an interesting mosaic of Mediterranean-temperate vegetation, agricultural and pastoral land, and a millenarian human presence. LCCs were assessed over a period of 57 years (1949–2006) using maps at both low-resolution (1:100.000) and high-resolution (1:25.000) with different class nomenclature systems. Three primary land cover changes have been observed during the investigated period: (i) urbanization, (ii) land abandonment, and (iii) deforestation. While the former two classes of landscape change are particularly common in the northern Mediterranean region, forest conversion to pastures and shrub lands due to intensive grazing, fires, climate aridity, and increasing human pressure is, nowadays, rarely observed in Italy. Better understanding the influence of population dynamics at the local scale and other drivers of LCCs can help fine-tuning conservation policies looking at landscape quality, diversity, and fragmentation.
The delineation of bioclimatic areas is a key tool in informing sustainable land management strat... more The delineation of bioclimatic areas is a key tool in informing sustainable land management strategies, especially in the light of climate change. It requires an in-depth analysis of climate data but also of the physical and biological factors that affect the distribution of natural vegetation. The present study applies an exploratory data analysis aimed at defining bioclimatic conditions in an area characterized by steep slopes and prone to soil erosion (Amalfi Coast, southern Italy). To this end, we analyzed long-term (1959–1999) monthly rainfall and
temperature data measured at 28 gauging stations within the study area using a geographic information system and multivariate statistical tools. Then, we analyzed how the spatial distribution of rainfall and temperature data relates to topography, vegetation cover, and soil erosion. We also derived bioclimatic indicators from the geostatistical analysis. We then identify and comment on drawbacks found in the procedure used in the present study, discussing possible solutions to overcome such problems. We finally discuss the potential contribution of this study to the development of sustainable land management policies for socio-ecological systems with complex topography.
Terraces are traditional engineered ecosystems that affect the hydro-geological equilibrium, slop... more Terraces are traditional engineered ecosystems that affect the hydro-geological equilibrium, slope stability, and local communities. The aims of this paper are (i) identifying environmental factors that affect terrace stability in the Amalfi Coast, (ii) defining agriculturalists’ observations on environmental changes within that system and (iii) exploring potentiality of these observations to better define conservation strategies. All available data on physical and ecological factors recognized to affect the terrace system were collected and analyzed. Interviews were conducted with agriculturalists to obtain long-term observations on environmental factors that interact with this system. Landslides are more frequent where rainfall is high and during winter. Fires have an uneven annual distribution, with higher frequency during summers. Agriculturalists detailed complex interactions among environmental factors, economic elements, and terraces. These observations represent a valuable resource for defining causes and effects of abandonment and for better addressing conservation strategies.
Journal of Ethnobiology 34(3):335-358. 2014
Agricultural management systems are found at the intersection between human societies and environ... more Agricultural management systems are found at the intersection between human societies and environmental dynamics. Traditional apple orchards are fruit production systems that were developed in Eurasia and transferred to many other regions around the world including a wide range of temperate to subtropical climates. We interviewed 255 long-term (20+ years) apple orchard managers in nine European countries and seven other countries that were former colonies. Patterns and types of management observations were compiled to illustrate descriptive aspects of orchard manager's thinking. Observations and adaptive responses by orchard managers seem to share similarities that go beyond cultural and large-scale environmental differences. Orchard management systems appear to be adaptive responses by traditional orchardists not only for local environments but also for success in unknown, newly encountered environments and therefore might be expected to cope with climate change and functionally adapt to ecosystem variation due to that change.
The need of planning more sustainable cities leads to a wider use of extensive green roofs (EGRs)... more The need of planning more sustainable cities leads to a wider use of extensive green roofs (EGRs) as they provide significant advantages to the urban environment (e.g., energy conservation and increase of biodiversity). In Central and North Europe, as well as in North America and Asia, EGRs are generally included in new building designs, whereas they are still uncommon in Mediterranean countries. The adaptations of many Mediterranean plants to drought stress and their floristic diversity constitute, however, positive elements in finding solutions for them. This research proposes a methodological approach to select wild species for EGRs based on ecological characteristics (using natural ecosystems as templates for green roof design). An extensive bibliographic search on plants proposed for EGRs in Mediterranean countries has led to the creation of a wide database. Other plants were selected considering their synecological, structural, and autoecological characteristics. All the data were integrated in a comprehensive database of 138 taxa potentially suitable for setting EGRs according to their syntaxonomical classification and their ecological behavior (fitting both the Mediterranean and EGR environmental conditions). The selected taxa could enlarge the pool of species for EGRs in Mediterranean cities, increasing urban biodiversity.
Climate change is projected to have severe changes in the Mediterranean area, however, few studie... more Climate change is projected to have severe changes in the Mediterranean area, however, few studies have investigated environmental resource managers’ perceptions and adaptations to climatic change in the area. Our research investigates the use of orchardists' observations for bioindicating climate variations and of their experience for defining possible coping and adaptation strategies. Interviews were conducted with orchardists cultivating apple orchards for at least 30 years in the Campania region (southern Italy) to obtain observations on climate, which were then compared with climate data analyses. Orchardists reported a more unpredictable seasonality and shifting climate conditions, perceived as beginning 20–30 years ago. Climate data analysis seems to corroborate orchardists' perceptions. Traditional Ecological Knowledge specifically addressed to climate and weather is here defined as Traditional Climatic Knowledge (TCK). TCK is a key factor in environmental management.
In: F. Ferrigni, M.C. Sorrentino (Eds). Il futuro dei territori antichi. Problemi, prospettive e questioni di governance dei paesaggi culturali evolutivi viventi. EdiPuglia, Bari, pp. 167-178. ISBN 9788-7228-716-3.
APPLIED …, 2012
Climate change is a major global issue that impacts vegetation, agriculture, biodiversity and hum... more Climate change is a major global issue that impacts vegetation, agriculture, biodiversity and human safety. These impacts are predicted to be intense in the Mediterranean region. The aim of this paper is to define how local climatic trends are affecting plant communities in the Tolfa-Cerite area (Northern Latium), which is a semi-coastal area with Mediterranean to broad-leaf vegetation. Climate data analysis covered a long time period (1951-2007), considering 18 gauging stations. Data were analyzed using geostatistical methods and descriptive statistics. Climate trends and drought indicators, in relation to different vegetation associations, were analyzed using the zonal statistic tool (ArcGIS). During
the investigated period, rainfall showed a uniform decreasing trend, while temperature increased, with an irregular trend. The specialization of climatic data showed a shift towards a thermo-Mediterranean bioclimate. Local climatic trends showed to have more severe impacts on specific plant communities (mesophilous forests, endangered shrubland-pastures, relict associations of meadows, etc). The observed trends towards aridity occurred in many areas covered by vulnerable plant communities. Considering the predicted changes in climate conditions for the Mediterranean area, these communities will face a further aridity increase. A permanent monitoring of these communities may increase the effectiveness of
conservation policies and sustainable regional planning.
A survey of 18 watercourses of the Tiber River basin was carried out to define the ecological nic... more A survey of 18 watercourses of the Tiber River basin was carried out to define the ecological niche breadth of some aquatic bryophyte species in relation to environmental factors. Aquatic bryophytes were sampled and water environmental parameters were measured at 99 stations distributed along the catchment (from the headwater regions to the downstream reaches). The datasets of the collected species and environmental data were analyzed by using a multivariate statistical analysis (PCA biplot). Ecological responses of the recorded aquatic bryophytes were obtained using a fuzzy set approach, and were compared with data from literature. The results show that the presence of the aquatic bryophytes in watercourses is affected negatively by the reduction of water velocity, clearness, substratum size and the worsening quality of the water physico-chemical status. In fact, aquatic bryophytes show a general preference for stations characterized by medium-large granulometry, and fast-flowing, clear, oxygenated (mean value 9.2 mg/l), cool waters (mean value 15.0 °C), with low loads of nutrients, particularly ammonia (mean value 0.10 mg/l) and phosphates (mean value 0.09 mg/l). However, ecological responses reveal different patterns in the distribution of aquatic bryophyte species mainly in relation to water physico-chemical parameters (e.g. temperature, conductivity, ammonia, phosphates). E.g. Palustriella commutata var. commutata, Cratoneuron filicinum, Fissidens viridulus and Cinclidotus aquaticus show high preference for clear, turbulent and fast-flowing waters, with temperature below 12 °C, conductivity below 300 μS/cm, and concentrations about 0.01 mg/l for phosphates, not exceeding 0.10 mg/l for ammonium ions and 0.90 mg/l for nitrates. Leptodictyum riparium and Riccia fluitans are for their part more linked to turbid and slow waters affected by eutrophication, showing optimum values for about 0.30 mg/l for ammonia concentration, 0.90 mg/l for nitrates and 0.11 and 0.22 mg/l for phosphates respectively. Conversely, Fontinalis antipyretica is not closely related to specific conditions, showing wide ecological ranges for most of the analyzed environmental factors. This paper has evaluated and discussed the possible use of sampled species as bioindicators for biomonitoring of the water quality.
In: AA.VV. (Eds) Proceedings of the SIS Conference 2007 “Rischio e previsione”, Venice, Italy, pp. 613-614. , 2007
Alcune problematiche di rischio ambientale sono riconducibili alla presenza di rilevanti e concen... more Alcune problematiche di rischio ambientale sono riconducibili alla presenza di rilevanti e concentrate precipitazioni su versanti acclivi ed in peculiari condizioni
edafiche. La Costa di Amalfi rappresenta un caso di studio di particolare interesse in relazione a questi fattori e a tal fine i dati pluviometrici, spazializzati con applicativo GIS, sono stati analizzati in funzione del rischio di instabilità dei versanti e di quello di erosione, utilizzando alcuni indici agroclimatici e l’equazione USLE. Questi sono stati utilizzati per la creazione di mappe tematiche e per analizzare qualitativamente una loro correlazione con eventi franosi registrati. Zone bioclimatiche ed equazione USLE sono stati anche correlati tra loro per analizzare e prevedere l’entità dei fattori di rischio
In: G. Caneva, L. Cancellieri (Eds). Il paesaggio vegetale della Costa d'Amalfi. Gangemi Ed., Rome, pp. 11-32. ISBN 978.88-492-1292-1. , 2007
In: G. Caneva, L. Cancellieri (Eds). Il paesaggio vegetale della Costa d’Amalfi. Gangemi Ed., Rome, pp. 85-143. ISBN 978.88-492-1292-1., 2007
Economic Botany, 2019
Wild food plants are still part of the culinary traditions of many rural areas in the Mediterrane... more Wild food plants are still part of the culinary traditions of many rural areas in the Mediterranean. This study aims to document these traditions and the food uses of wild plants in an area of the Monti Picentini Regional Park. We performed an ethnobotanical survey between 2013 and 2015 using standard ethnographic methods. We analyzed the gathered data using ethnobotanical indices, and we compared our results with relevant literature pertaining to uses of wild food plants in Central and Southern Italy. We interviewed 64 key informants, whose ages ranged between 40 and 93 years, and we gathered about 1900 use citations about the traditional food uses of 84 wild plant species. Many of these species are still incorporated into traditional dishes. We recorded the previously unknown food use of four plant species (Rubus hirtus Waldst. & Kit.; Petasites hybridus [L.] G. Gaertn., B. Mey. & Scherb.; Asphodelus macrocarpus Parl.; and Oenanthe fistulosa L.). We also highlighted several rare food uses as well as many other uses that are common across Central and Southern Italy. Knowledge concerning the uses of wild food plants is part of Italy’s history and culture, and it should be preserved before modernization of lifestyles and homogenization of food habits extinguish this realm of food and culinary knowledge.
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2019
The interest and demand for nutraceuticals are rapidly increasing in many industrialized countrie... more The interest and demand for nutraceuticals are rapidly increasing in many industrialized countries due to the emergence of health risks associated with the increased consumption of processed foods. Several wild Mediterranean plants used as traditional foods are an extraordinary source of nutraceutical substances with antioxidant properties. This study has two main aims: (1) to quantify the antioxidant properties of traditional wild food plants and (2) to determine if their use in soups (i.e., the cooking process) can alter their beneficial properties. We have evaluated the antioxidant capacity (ABTS, DPPH) and the Total Phenolic Content (Folin-Ciocalteu) of five herbaceous plants traditionally consumed in several areas of Central Italy: (A) Reichardia picroides (L.) Roth, (B) Hypochaeris radicata L., (C) Cichorium intybus L., (D) Tordylium apulum L., and (E) Helminthotheca echioides (L.) Holub. Our analyses show good levels of antioxidant capacity for all plants, with Reichardia picroides and Helminthotheca echioides having the highest levels. There is a high correlation between the antioxidant activity and the Total Phenolic Content especially in Reichardia picroides (R 2 =0.92) and Hypochaeris radicata (R 2 =0.93). Boiling the species caused a general decrease in the antioxidant activity and polyphenols. Our study confirms the health benefits of consuming wild plants, especially raw ones in salads. It also supports the use of ethnobotanical information to study and then promote the consumption of wild food plants.
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Mixtures of wild food plants, part of the Mediterranean diet, hav... more Ethnopharmacological relevance: Mixtures of wild food plants, part of the Mediterranean diet, have potential benefits for their content in bioactive compounds, minerals and fibres. In Italy, wild plants are still consumed in various ways, for their taste, effects on health and nutritional value. In this paper, we provide a list of wild plants used in vegetable mixtures, indicating their phytochemical and nutritional profile, highlighting those not yet studied.
Aim of the study: We provide a first complete review of traditional uses of wild food plants used as vegetables and their preparations (e.g., salads, soups, rustic pies). We also highlight their phytochemical constituents.
Materials and Methods: We carried out an extensive literature review of ethnobotanical publications from 1894 to date for finding plants used in traditional vegetable mixtures. We also performed an online search for scientific papers providing the phytochemical profile of plants that were cited at least twice in recipes found in the literature.
Results: We list a total of 276 wild taxa used in traditional vegetable mixtures, belonging to 40 families. Among these, the most represented are Asteraceae (88), Brassicaceae (33), Apiaceae (21), Amaranthaceae (12). Many plants are cited in many recipes across several Italian regions. Among the most cited plant we note: Reichardia picroides (L.) Roth, Sanguisorba minor Scop., Taraxacum campylodes G. E. Haglund, Urtica dioica L. Tuscany is the region with the highest number of food recipes that incorporate wild plants used as vegetables. We also list the phytochemical constituents and some pharmacological activities of the plants cited at least twice. Finally, we discuss topics such as the taste of plants used in the recipes.
Background: Many ethnobotanical studies have investigated selection criteria for medicinal and no... more Background: Many ethnobotanical studies have investigated selection criteria for medicinal and non-medicinal plants. In this paper we test several statistical methods using different ethnobotanical datasets in order to 1) define
to which extent the nature of the datasets can affect the interpretation of results; 2) determine if the selection for different plant uses is based on phylogeny, or other selection criteria.
Methods: We considered three different ethnobotanical datasets: two datasets of medicinal plants and a dataset of non-medicinal plants (handicraft production, domestic and agro-pastoral practices) and two floras of the Amalfi Coast. We performed residual analysis from linear regression, the binomial test and the Bayesian approach for calculating under-used and over-used plant families within ethnobotanical datasets. Percentages of agreement were calculated to compare the results of the analyses. We also analyzed the relationship between plant selection and phylogeny, chorology, life form and habitat using the chi-square test. Pearson’s residuals for each of the significant chi-square analyses were examined for investigating alternative hypotheses of plant selection criteria.
Results: The three statistical analysis methods differed within the same dataset, and between different datasets and floras, but with some similarities. In the two medicinal datasets, only Lamiaceae was identified in both floras as an over-used family by all three statistical methods. All statistical methods in one flora agreed that Malvaceae was over-used and Poaceae under-used, but this was not found to be consistent with results of the second flora in which one statistical result was non-significant. All other families had some discrepancy in significance across
methods, or floras. Significant over- or under-use was observed in only a minority of cases. The chi-square analyses were significant for phylogeny, life form and habitat. Pearson’s residuals indicated a non-random selection of woody species for non-medicinal uses and an under-use of plants of temperate forests for medicinal uses.
Conclusions: Our study showed that selection criteria for plant uses (including medicinal) are not always based on phylogeny. The comparison of different statistical methods (regression, binomial and Bayesian) under different conditions led to the conclusion that the most conservative results are obtained using regression analysis.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2015.03.079, Apr 8, 2015
Ethnopharmacological relevance Loloh are herbal drinks produced and consumed exclusively in Ba... more Ethnopharmacological relevance
Loloh are herbal drinks produced and consumed exclusively in Bali (Indonesia) to prevent and treat different ailments. This is the first study to document plants species used as Loloh, reporting the phytochemical components and pharmacological properties of the most cited plants. Documenting the plants used in herbal drinks in Bali by local communities to treat various ailments (providing some information on phytochemistry and pharmacology of the most interesting plants).
Materials and methods
Ethnobotanical data were obtained through semi-structured interviews (individual and group discussions) and questionnaires. Plant specimens were collected, identified and made into herbarium vouchers.
Results
A total of 51 plants species (belonging to 32 families) have been documented for their use in the various preparation of Loloh. Different plants and plant parts are used to prepare Loloh to treat heartburn, fever, diarrhea, hypertension, aphthous stomatitis (canker sores), and other minor health problems. These plants are mainly prepared as decoctions, are juiced or simply added to the preparation. The most cited plants (>30 informants) are Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br., Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC., Cinnamomum burmanni Nees ex Bl., and Piper betle L. These plants are well studied with multiple demonstrated pharmacological activities (e.g., antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic).
Conclusion
The Balinese communities still preserve a rich ethnobotanical knowledge. Several species are well known for their pharmacological properties, but some [such as Pneumatopteris callosa (Blume) Nakai and Dendrocnide stimulans (L. f.) Chew] are understudied and could be promising candidates for further research.
Traditional knowledge of local plant uses is rapidly fading away, especially in rural Mediterrane... more Traditional knowledge of local plant uses is rapidly fading away, especially in rural Mediterranean areas. We carried out ethnobotanical research in 2010-2011 in order to investigate the local knowledge of wild plants in the Tolfa–Cerite–Manziate area of Italy (Latium, district of Rome). We carried out a total of 45 semi-structured interviews with farmers, herders, and fishers. Here, a simple diachronic comparison is made between the current study and a previous one conducted in some of the villages of the study area to highlight potential losses of traditional knowledge of local plants. We documented a total of 102 plant species, belonging to 48 families, along with their uses (excluding food uses). We also reported some non-plant based remedies that were primarily used in veterinary medicine. Some plant uses, especially for making handicrafts, have not been reported previously (e.g., those of Celtis australis L. Cannabaceae, Betula pendula Roth Betulaceae). Many plant uses are no longer remembered in the area, which indicates a loss of local ethnobotanical knowledge.
Ethnopharmacological relevance: The area of the “Monte Sicani Regional Park” (Central Western Sic... more Ethnopharmacological relevance: The area of the “Monte Sicani Regional Park” (Central Western Sicily, southern Italy) has been quantitatively and extensively investigated in an ethnobotanical study for the first time. A total of 108 wild species are used for medicinal purposes, while, according to our study, the uses of 9 species have not previously been reported in ethnobotanical studies in Italy (e.g., the use of Kickxia elatine (L.) Dumort. for the treatment of hyperhydrosis of the feet, the use of Lavatera agrigentina Tineo for cough and bronchitis). Aim of the study: The aim of this paper is to analyze, through quantitative indicators, the extent of the current knowledge on medicinal uses of plants in the area, evaluating also the features of uniqueness and commonality of this knowledge in comparison with other Italian and Mediterranean areas.
Methodology: Semi-structured interviews were carried out in the local communities between 2009 and 2010 within the Monti Sicani Regional Park with local people retained experts in rural traditions. A total of 230 people were interviewed about their knowledge on medicinal plant uses. Local plant uses were evaluated using ethnobotanical indices (e.g., cultural importance index, ethnobotanicity index, informant consensus factor) and then compared with uses in other localities in Sicily, Italy and the Mediterranean basin.
Results: Local communities currently use a total number of 108 wild species (43 families) as remedies for human and livestock ailments. The majority of plants are used in the treatment of articular, skin and gastrointestinal problems. The use of some species is limited to Sicily (e.g., Rhus coriaria L., Athamanta sicula L., Senecio delphinifolius Vahl).
Conclusions: The research shows an ongoing process of cultural erosion in an advanced stage, but results still highlight an interesting cultural identity as regards the local folk medicine.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2013
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Many wild and cultivated plants are rich in mineral elements and ... more Ethnopharmacological relevance: Many wild and cultivated plants are rich in mineral elements and bioactive compounds and are consumed for health purposes. Studies have demonstrated the curative properties of many of these food plants. In this paper, we discuss the properties of several plants with potential health benefits that have previously received little attention.
Aim of the study: This review provides an overview and critical discussion of food plants perceived by informants (emic view) as healthy or used as ‘food medicine’ in Italy. Pharmacological activity of these plants is explored, based upon published scientific research (etic view). Preparation methods, taste perception, toxicity and various potentialities of some food plants are also discussed.
Materials and methods: The present review includes literature available from 1877 to 2012. The information was collected from books, scientific papers, and abstracts that reported any plants used as food medicine in Italy. The perceived health properties were analyzed in the framework of recent international phytochemical and phytopharmacological literature.
Results: A total of 67 edible wild plants and 18 cultivated vegetables, distributed into 20 families, were reported by informants (in literature). Several plants were highly cited (e.g., Taraxacum officinale Webb., Crepis vesicaria L., Allium cepa L., Allium sativum L.). The most frequent health properties attributed to edible plants by the informants were: laxative (22 species), diuretic (15), digestive (11), galactagogue (8), antitussive (cough) (8), hypotensive (7), tonic (7), sedative (7), hypoglycemic (6).
Conclusions: Some edible plants are promising for their potential health properties, such as Crepis vesicaria L., Sanguisorba minor Scop. and Sonchus oleraceus L. Several wild species were perceived by informants to maintain health but have never been studied from a phytochemical or pharmacological point of view: e.g., Asparagus albus L., Crepis leontodontoides All., Hyoseris radiata L. subsp. radiata, Phyteuma spicatum L.
Background: Artisanal fisheries in the Mediterranean, especially in Italy, have been poorly inves... more Background: Artisanal fisheries in the Mediterranean, especially in Italy, have been poorly investigated. There is a long history of fishing in this region, and it remains an important economic activity in many localities. Our research entails both a comprehensive review of the relevant literature and 58 field interviews with practitioners on plants used in fishing activities along the Western Mediterranean Italian coastal regions. The aims were to record traditional knowledge on plants used in fishery in these regions and to define selection criteria for plant species
used in artisanal fisheries, considering ecology and intrinsic properties of plants, and to discuss the pattern of diffusion of shared uses in these areas.
Methods: Information was gathered both from a general review of ethnobotanical literature and from original data. A total of 58 semi-structured interviews were carried out in Liguria, Latium, Campania and Sicily (Italy). Information on plant uses related to fisheries were collected and analyzed through a chi-square residual analysis and the correspondence analysis in relation to habitat, life form and chorology.
Results: A total of 60 plants were discussed as being utilized in the fisheries of the Western Italian Mediterranean coastal regions, with 141 different uses mentioned. Of these 141 different uses, 32 are shared among different localities. A multivariate statistical analysis was performed on the entire dataset, resulting in details about specific selection criteria for the different usage categories (plants have different uses that can be classified into 11 main categories). In some uses, species are selected for their features (e.g., woody), or habitat (e.g., riverine), etc. The majority of uses were found to be obsolete (42%) and interviews show that traditional fishery knowledge is in decline. There are several reasons for this, such as climatic change, costs, reduction of fish stocks, etc.
Conclusions: Our research correlates functional characteristics of the plants used in artisanal fishery and habitats, and discusses the distribution of these uses. This research is the first comprehensive outline of plant role in artisanal fisheries and traditional fishery knowledge in the Mediterranean, specifically in Italy.
Etnobotanica - Conservazione di un patrimonio culturale immateriale come risorsa per uno sviluppo sostenibile, 2013
Si è già sottolineato come l’etnobotanica abbia una natura interdisciplinare, abbracciando molti ... more Si è già sottolineato come l’etnobotanica abbia una natura interdisciplinare, abbracciando molti campi diversi, dalla fitoterapia alla conservazione
del paesaggio, trovando forti interazioni anche con discipline apparentemente distanti, come l’antropologia culturale, la sociologia o l’archeologia.
In linea generale, oggetto di studio di un’indagine etnobotanica sono tutti gli usi locali tradizionali delle piante spontanee e quelli delle piante coltivate
che appaiono diversi dagli obiettivi per cui queste vengono normalmente coltivate (ad esempio l’applicazione di fette di patata contro il mal di denti: vedi Camangi et al., 2007; Signorini et al., 2008).
Una delle particolarità più rilevanti dei metodi della ricerca etnobotanica è che in questi si incrociano background e approcci di due settori disciplinari molto
diversi: quelli dell’antropologia/scienze sociali e della biologia/scienze naturali. L’etnobotanica, più di molte altre scienze, ha nella metodologia la sua vera discriminante e il cardine della ricerca etnobotanica è la ricerca diretta sul campo. Esistono poi anche studi di carattere più prettamente umanistico (storici ef olklorici), che verranno analizzati nel successivo capitolo.
Etnobotanica, Conservazione di un patrimonio culturale immateriale come risorsa per uno sviluppo sostenibile , 2013
L’uso delle piante spontanee nella medicina ha radici antichissime ed è stata pratica necessaria ... more L’uso delle piante spontanee nella medicina ha radici antichissime ed è stata pratica necessaria e ampiamente diffusa fin dagli albori della civiltà. Incise
su pareti rocciose o su vasellame di terracotta, le testimonianze dell’interesse dell’uomo per le piante si perdono nei meandri della preistoria, a partire dai tempi dell’uomo di Neanderthal (Akerle, 1993; Plotkin, 1992); i resti di otto diverse specie
di piante furono trovati presso la sepoltura di una femmina di Neanderthal di 50.000 anni fa nell’Iraq nord orientale; sette di queste specie sono ancora usate per scopi medicinali.
Cosi per migliaia di anni le piante hanno costituito la principale fonte di rimedi contro le malattie. Le piante rappresentano, per la medicina, una risorsa non trascurabile anche oggi, soprattutto presso quelle civiltà dove l’accesso a farmaci presenta difficoltà oggettive, o per le prospettive che possono derivare dalla scoperta di nuovi principi attivi. Si tratteranno qui gli aspetti legati alla tradizione
storica dell’uso delle piante per le finalità curative dell’uomo e degli animali o per le pratiche cosmetiche e si lascerà spazio al tema delle risorse per il futuro nel capitolo conclusivo.
Etnobotanica, Conservazione di un patrimonio culturale immateriale come risorsa per uno sviluppo sostenibile, 2013
Nella lunga storia dell’umanità le piante hanno sempre avuto un ruolo di primaria importanza nell... more Nella lunga storia dell’umanità le piante hanno sempre avuto un ruolo di primaria importanza nella vita e nell’economia tradizionale, oltre che per ’uso alimentare e rituale, anche per realizzare attrezzi da lavoro
e utensili domestici, strumenti musicali, mobili e supporti costruttivi, contenitori, oggetti di intreccio, cordami ed in pratiche inerenti l’agricoltura e la vita pastorale.
Nell’ambito di ricerche antropologiche e sulla “cultura materiale” e “immateriale” di un territorio, la descrizione degli usi delle piante e delle pratiche correlate risulta un importante ausilio per comprendere la vita di comunità locali e di culture agricolo-pastorali attualmente in declino. Cio' fornisce inoltre spunti per una riscoperta di materiali e tecniche che possono conservare un interesse economico oltre che culturale, essendo oggetti di vendita in botteghe e sagre artigiane (Fig. 5.1-5.2), come verrà evidenziato nell’ultima sezione di questo volume.
Etnobotanica, Conservazione di un patrimonio culturale immateriale come risorsa per uno sviluppo sostenibile, 2013
Il turismo fonda i suoi elementi di forza e attrattività su aspetti molteplici che sono legati al... more Il turismo fonda i suoi elementi di forza e attrattività su aspetti molteplici che sono legati alla diversa valenza che un territorio può avere. È infatti indiscutibile il rilievo che per esso assumono i valori paesaggistici, storico-artistici e sociali di un territorio, ma nella realtà del nostro Paese non sono da trascurare anche quelli legati alla ricchezza e tradizione dei suoi prodotti gastronomici, del suo artigianato e del suo folklore. Anche qui l’etnobotanica assume
un ruolo di rilievo, in quanto rappresenta un elemento che lega ogni popolo al suo territorio, risultando in una grande ricchezza culturale materiale e immateriale.
Tutto ciò non è scollegato dal tema “risorse” e “attrattori” per il turismo che si deve basare comunque su una rinnovata e più sensibile coscienza ambientale (vedi Aloj Totaro, 2001), che gli amministratori
e chi svolga attività imprenditoriali dovrebbe considerare come elemento di valorizzazione.
Ethnobotany Research & Applications, 2012
Peruvian immigrants in Rome represent a large community, creating microcosms where people retain ... more Peruvian immigrants in Rome represent a large community, creating microcosms where people retain strong interpersonal and family bonds. The aim of this photo essay is to portray, through images, some of the transplanted cultural aspects of Peruvians in Rome and to define the ethno-botanical uses of plants that are still present. An ethno-botanical study was carried out during Spring and Summer 2011 in the city of Rome with Peruvian migrants established in Italy for at least 10 years. We used a snowball sampling approach visiting local markets, rrestaurants and churches, performing semi-structured interviews about uses of medicinal and food plants. We looked for the presence of culturally important plant species, taking note of the maintenance, replacement, incorporation and discontinuation of ethno-botanical uses. A total of 21 informants were interviewed reporting the uses of medicinal and food plant species still present in Rome. Many plants are still used for medicinal (38 species) or food purposes (35 species), while fewer plants are used as nutraceuticals (7 species). Medicinal uses described are, sometimes, associated with rituals and spiritual convictions. The relatively high number of food species still present in Rome could be interpreted by the fact that they are more easily accessible and that some are cultivated in Italy. However, informants generally prefer plants that originate from Peru even if sometimes they found fault about the quality of imported plants. Peruvian immigrants were found to attempt to adhere to their cultural identity, in the use of plants, trying to conserve their pre-migratory traditions as much as they can.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2011
In the Amalfi Coast, Campania (Southern Italy) a total number of 102 plant species are used for m... more In the Amalfi Coast, Campania (Southern Italy) a total number of 102 plant species are used for medicinal purposes, with a total of 276 different uses, among which, 183 are new for the area and 34 are new for Italy.Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with 214 inhabitants of the study area.Folk phytotherapy is intended mainly as a mode of primary health care in order to heal minor illnesses, and especially disease related to the respiratory, urogenital, skeletal and gastrointestinal systems and skin problems. Among the new uses, interesting are those of Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv. subsp. maritima against abdominal pains and in case of cold and coughs; of Calystegia sylvatica (Kit. in Schrad) Griseb as resolvent for pimples and of Santolina neapolitana Jourdan & Fourr., against cough. The knowledge of medicinal plants is mainly retained by middle aged housewives, even though, it is declining. Many remedies are shared in other Italian regions or Mediterranean countries, while some uses seem to be specific to the area.In the study area, the ethnobotanical medicinal knowledge seems to have many elements in common with other areas, but also many unique features. This rich tradition competes with modern ways of life: plants still play an important role in the health care practices, even if the related knowledge is disappearing.
In addition to writing a good scientific paper, another skill that is very important for an ethno... more In addition to writing a good scientific paper, another skill that is very important for an ethnobotanist is the ability to write a good research project proposal. The variety and diversity of grant forms, requirements and guidelines makes it impossible to define a unique and universal set of guidelines for grant writing, but most of them require the same general information. Writing a grant proposal is a time consuming process which does not always result in funded projects. In this editorial, the authors will try to provide useful information specifically addressing one of the major challenges for beginning researchers in the field of ethnobotany: writing a good research project proposal. Informal interviews with experienced grant writers were carried out during three ethnobiology meetings in 2011, in order to collect “tips and tricks” that could be inspiring for other grant seekers. Obviously, this cannot be an exhaustive foray into the field of grant-writing. However, we hope this paper will help make grant writing easier by reducing time and result in a higher percentage of successful proposals.
The science of ethnobotany is reviewed in light of its multi-disciplinary contributions to natura... more The science of ethnobotany is reviewed in light of its multi-disciplinary contributions to natural product research for the development of pharmaceuticals and pharmacological tools. Some of the issues reviewed involve ethical and cultural perspectives of healthcare and medicinal plants. While these are not usually part of the discussion of pharmacology, cultural concerns potentially provide both challenges and insight for field and laboratory researchers. Plant evolutionary issues are also considered as they relate to development of plant chemistry and accessing this through ethnobotanical methods. The discussion includes presentation of a range of CNS-active medicinal plants that have been recently examined in the field, laboratory and/or clinic. Each of these plants is used to illustrate one or more aspects about the valuable roles of ethnobotany in pharmacological research. We conclude with consideration of mutually beneficial future collaborations between field ethnobotanists and pharmacologists.
Life is a journey, why not make it wonderful? This pocket book will tour whereby you will discove... more Life is a journey, why not make it wonderful? This pocket book will tour whereby you will discover the tradition, culture and tastes of one of the most beautiful places of Italy and probably of the world: the Amalfi Coast, a World Heritage Site of UNESCO (1997) (Fig. 1.1, Fig 1.2).
The results of a field research, which was carried out in the area between 2006 and 2009, will be here reported. This research aimed to collect the oral testimonies of local people on the knowledge of plants and their uses. Information that will be reported comes from the elaboration of data collected through 214 interviews which were carried out with 214 local people (called informants). Those informants are inhabitants of the 16 municipalities which for reasons of cultural or geographical significance belong to the Amalfi Coast, for both cultural or geographical reasons (Agerola, Amalfi, Atrani, Cetara, Conca dei Marini, Corbara, Furore, Maiori, Minori, Positano, Praiano, Scala, Ravello, Sant’Egidio del Monte Albino, Tramonti, Vietri sul Mare).
This book will provide descriptions of the most interesting or characteristic uses of plants; which will be listed according to the way they are used or prepared: specifically, medicinal, food and domestic uses will be described....
An Ethnobotanical research has been carried out in the Amalfi Coast in order to record plant uses... more An Ethnobotanical research has been carried out in the Amalfi Coast in order to record plant uses. Data have been collected through interviews in fourteen municipalities in the Amalfi Coast. Plants used for activities and handicraft objects related to the sea are in all fifteen, while twenty-two uses for fishing and navigation activities have been outlined. The different uses have been also compared or associated to similar ones in other Italian regions.
Interpreting plant symbolism in archaeological artifacts can help us better understand humanenvir... more Interpreting plant symbolism in archaeological
artifacts can help us better understand humanenvironment
relationships (Caneva et al. 2014;
Day 2013). In the past, representations of plants
and, more generally, natural elements were not only
decorative or chosen for aesthetic reasons, but they
often had a precise symbolic aim. We argue that in
the past people were able to understand these symbolic
meanings thanks to their deep connection to
and understanding of their environments (Caneva
2010; Caneva et al. 2014).
Understanding human–nature relationships of the past is an important step in reconstructing how t... more Understanding human–nature relationships of the past is an important step in reconstructing how those relationships have evolved. Roman archaeological remains, especially those of the Hellenistic–Alexandrine style (influenced by the Greek and Egyptian cultures), contain several realistic details of plants and plant parts that can provide insights about human–nature relationships.
Orchids have fascinated humans since ancient times. Not only the particular morphology of their f... more Orchids have fascinated humans since ancient times. Not only the particular morphology of their flowers and hypogean organs, but also their reproductive biology have inspired myths, legends and popular traditions in many cultures, all around the world. Despite these facts, their representations on ancient artefacts have never been described in the scientific literature. No clear data exist for Eastern culture, and in Western countries, the first certain representations of orchids in art date back to the XV-XVI century CE. This paper documents different identifications of orchids on Roman monuments changing the common belief that these plants first appeared in art more recently. Floral elements of Cephalanthera spp., Spiranthes spiralis (L.) Chevall, of Orchis tridentata Scop., and of other orchids were observed in different architectonical elements (cornices and ceilings) throughout the Roman period, and in the external frieze of the Ara Pacis monument (I century CE). These representations seem to refer to a symbolism of fertility and sexuality, and their absence in medieval time can be explained only considering religion influences.
Journal of Cultural Heritage, 2009
Damages to hypogeal archaeological monuments, caused by the growth of tree roots, are frequently ... more Damages to hypogeal archaeological monuments, caused by the growth of tree roots, are frequently reported in the city of Rome. Problems of compatibility between trees and underground structures may become complex in the case of historical gardens. The Jewish catacombs of Villa Torlonia show relevant conservation problems, some of them arising from damages due to root growth, and consolidating interventions seem to be urgent. Some species in the gardens, especially Ficus carica L., but also Quercus ilex L. and Pinus pinea L., have developed a strong root system, growing for many meters in lateral distance and for some meters vertically. The plants responsible for the various alterations were identified by their wood anatomy and a methodology to treat similar problems has been proposed. Data collected aim to avoid errors made in managing the plant cover of an archaeological site.
Contributed paper, in: P. Skinner, D. Tumanishvili, A. Shanshiashvili (Eds) Proceedings of the “International symposium of Georgian art”, Tbilisi, Georgia, pp. 351-356., 2008
The biological attack of the mural paintings of the church of the Virgin in Martvili was analysed... more The biological attack of the mural paintings of the church of the Virgin in Martvili was analysed, with a floristic and ecological approach. This problem was
particularly relevant in the case of the western porch of the church, where diffuse growths of blackish, green and pink patinas, due to cyanobacteria (Chroococcales)
and other bacterial forms were detected. These biological colonisations were studied through optical microscopy and SEM, and differences between the
different phenomenologies appeared mainly quantitative, with exception of the pink ones. These latter seem in fact to be referred to other bacterial forms,
with carotenoid pigments, linked to high light input and lower values of humidity. In general, the changes in biodeterioration appear to be correlated mainly to light and air circulation, especially to the direction of humid air and fog during winter. Considering the porosity of the materials (mortars and stone) and the different
environmental conditions in the porch, a map of the humidity level of the walls has been developed, using these organisms and their distribution as bioindicators.
In: Quave C.L. Innovative Strategies for Teaching in the Plant Sciences. Springer Ed., New York, pp. 47-58. ISBN 978-1-4939-0421-1., 2014
Teaching entails a life-long learning process. Some people are naturally gifted orators and teach... more Teaching entails a life-long learning process. Some people are naturally gifted orators and teachers, while others need to learn how to deliver a lesson in an effective way. Whatever the background, skills, and personalities, teachers ideally never stop learning from their experiences and improving their teaching styles over time. This is becoming easier for instructors thanks to available publications on teaching methodologies, blogs, websites, and the increased number of technological resources available in class
Ethno-classification is a science dealing with a search for order, or a pattern, in the ways in w... more Ethno-classification is a science dealing with a search for
order, or a pattern, in the ways in which people name and
categorize plants and animals. An experiment was conducted
in the Botany class during the 2008-2009 academic year at the University of Roma Tre to collect data on the naming and classifying process of students not aware of
the Linnaean system of classification. Forty plant specimens were shown to students who were divided into small groups and asked to name and classify the plants as they like. This paper shows the results of this experiment which
was inspired by a very similar class exercise conducted at the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa during the 2007-2008 Fall semester. Differences and similarities between the two experiences are analyzed here. The hypothesis tested is if the naming and classification process may be influenced by differences in language or culture. The use of binomial terms for plant names was predominant in both experiments even if the Italian language construction may have affected this result reducing the related percentage.
Plant names are mainly constructed using morphological features of the specimen, among which color prevailed. This same result was observed in Hawai`i. Some differences were highlighted in the percentage of used terms, which may sometimes be traced back to experimental settings, while the overall results of the experiments are very similar.
In: E.J. Lynch, A.P. Petrov (Eds). Sense of taste. Nova Science Publishers, New York, pp. 1-20. ISBN: 978-1-61209-748-0., 2011
Apples (Malus pumila Mill., Rosaceae) were chosen for study as model plants that are widely famil... more Apples (Malus pumila Mill., Rosaceae) were chosen for study as model plants that are widely familiar to students in the US and because a number of distinctly different varieties are commonly available. This links to our interview data from cider makers on four continents regarding their knowledge and classification of apples. The interview results showed that many multigenerational cider makers applied experiential knowledge such as tasting rather than mere observations of plant morphology in order to identify the plants with which they worked. They apply classification schemes for apples based on taste and texture that are useful for blending of cider. The cider makers‟ classification of apples is strikingly different from modern botanical classification typically taught to students which focuses on morphological features and not smells or tastes. The lessons learned from cider makers were then applied to the classroom. A curriculum was developed that substitutes experiential for observational learning, thus mimicking traditional learning. Measures of both student learning and course satisfaction improved with the implementation of this alternative strategy. We hope to help education through the development of experiential-based, science-education curricula by focusing on traditional knowledge involving basic senses such as taste and smell.
In the context of a class exercise, students enrolled in the Introductory Ethnobotany course at t... more In the context of a class exercise, students enrolled in the Introductory Ethnobotany course at the University of Hawai`i at Manoa were asked to make up names for 40 fresh plant specimens avoiding the use of any previously known common names. One of the aims of this exercise was to collect data regarding the visual reaction of these students. The students came up with names that were related to shape, color and other morphological features of the plant specimens. An effective and meaningful way to understand the results collected from this exercise is to picture what these students actually did in class. Since images are a powerful way to express information, the method used in this exercise is presented here as a photo essay in the hope that researchers and instructors from other parts of the world can conduct similar class exercises with their students.
Nel contesto di una esercitazione in classe, è stato chiesto agli studenti iscritti al corso “Int... more Nel contesto di una esercitazione in classe, è stato chiesto agli studenti iscritti al corso “Introductory Ethnobotany” dell’University of Hawai`i at Manoa di dare un nome a 40 esemplari di piante fresche evitando di utilizzare nomi comuni. Uno degli scopi di questo esercizio è stato quello di raccogliere informazioni riguardanti la reazione visiva degli studenti. Gli studenti hanno inventato nomi correlati a forma, colore ed altre caratteristiche morfologiche delle piante campione. Un modo significativo ed esplicativo per comprendere i risultati raccolti con questo esperimento è quello di raffigurare quello che effettivamente gli studenti hanno fatto in classe. Poiché le immagini sono uno strumento potente per esprimere informazioni, il metodo utilizzato in questo esperimento è presentato qui come documento fotografico con la speranza che ricercatori e insegnanti di altre parti del mondo possano condurre simili esercitazioni in classe con i propri studenti.