Sand Dune Species Distribution and Size Variations in Two Areas Inside a Natural Protected Area Subjected to Different Human Disturbance — Oak Academic Publishing
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Sand Dune Species Distribution and Size Variations in Two Areas Inside a Natural Protected Area Subjected to Different Human Disturbance
Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
1 Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
2 Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
3 Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
4 Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
5 Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
6 Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Sand dune species were analyzed across two areas included in the “Roman Coastal State Nature Reserve” (Italy) : Ostia (O) and Marina di Palidoro (P). Significant variations in species distribution, dry mass and size over the gradient from the water-edge toward the inland between O and P were observed . Species colonize O, on an average, at 79 m from the water-edge extend ed along the gradient toward the inland over a length of 26 m. PD is 40.8 ± 9.9 plants . m - 2 . Ononis variegata and Elymus farctus hav e the highest PD (15.4 ± 1.3 plants . m - 2 ), followed by Silene colorata and Sporobulus pungens (4.3 ± 3.9 plants . m - 2 ), by Cakile maritima , Echinophora spinosa , Eryngium maritimum , Ammophila arenaria , Anthemis maritima , Cyperus capitatus , Medicago marina and Calystegia soldanella (<0.5 plants . m - 2 ) , with C. soldanella having the lowest PD (0.02 plants . m - 2 ) . On an average, in P, t he species colonize the dune at 17 m from the water-edge for a length of 46 m toward the inland, PD is on an average 21.5 ± 16.1 plants . m - 2 . S. pungens , E. farctus and O. variegata have the highest PD (6.0 ± <span style="fon
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