Vegetation, plant landscape and habitat analyses of a fluvial ecosystem in central Italy

We propose a model for the analysis and cartographic representation of the vegetation, plant landscape and habitats of a fluvial ecosystem. We present here the results of a study aimed at drafting the management plan of a natural reserve along a river on the Adriatic side of the Italian peninsula. The study involves the identification of phytocoenoses and vegetation seres for the definition of the plant landscape units. The results of these analyses are shown through a phytosociological map of the vegetation and a geosynphytosociological map of the plant landscape (scales 1:5000). The map of the habitats of community interest (according to the 92/43/EEC directive), at a scale of 1:5000, shows how most of the phytocoenoses sampled within the river bed belong to habitats of community interest (92/43/EEC directive: 91E0*, 3150, 3260, 3270, 3280 and 6430).