Chiara Montagnani

Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca | UNIMIB · Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Ambiente e del Territorio

Given the high number of non-native plants that are being introduced worldwide and the time required to process formal pest risk analyses, a framework for the prioritization of management actions is urgently required. We therefore propose a framework for a replicable and standardized prioritization for management actions (eradication, control and m...

Invasive alien species pose significant threats to global biodiversity and ecosystems. Given the high importance of context-dependency in invasion dynamics, testing fundamental hypotheses of invasion ecology in different environmental contexts is crucial to understand the underlying processes of the establishment and spread of alien species. This s...

Over the last years, world cities have emerged as multiple and complex habitats hosting numerous and varied urban refugia for biodiversity. Therefore, the published literature was systematically reviewed to investigate the increasingly acknowledged role of many urban habitats to function as refugia for species. Many plants and animals were reported...

Over the last years, world cities have emerged as multiple and complex habitats hosting numerous and varied urban refugia for biodiversity. Therefore, the published literature was systematically reviewed to investigate the increasingly acknowledged role of many urban habitats to function as refugia for species. Many plants and animals were reported...

Anthropic diesel-derived contamination of Mediterranean coastal waters is of great concern. Nature-based solutions such as phytoremediation are considered promising technologies to remove contaminants from marine environments. The aim of this work was to investigate the tolerance of the Mediterranean autochthonous seaweed Caulerpa prolifera (Forssk...

Horticulture is a major pathway of introduction of aquatic plants. Among traded aquatic plants, we found two species belonging to the genus Lagarosiphon Harv. (Hydrocharitaceae), native to South and Central Africa, L. major (Ridl.) Moss and L. cordofanus Casp. L. major is the main representative of the genus, having already been introduced via hort...

Invasive alien species are among the main global drivers of biodiversity loss posing major challenges to nature conservation and to managers of protected areas. The present study applied a methodological framework that combined invasive Species Distribution Models, based on propagule pressure, abiotic and biotic factors for 14 invasive alien plant...

The green alga Caulerpa cylindracea Sonder (Chlorophyta; Bryopsidales) is one of the most invasive alien macroalgae in the Mediterranean Sea, where it is also spreading on rhodolith beds, an important biogenic assemblage typical of deep substrates. Despite the importance of rhodoliths, data on the competitive interactions with C. cylindracea are st...

Invasive alien plants may profoundly transform ecosystems over wide areas. The study aimed to assess how the invader Reynoutria bohemica could transform ecosystem components of a native riparian forest in Northern Italy, after about 20 years of invasion. We selected 20 forest sites where we set up two 1 × 1 m plots, one in an invaded and one in a n...

Experimental evidence on the bio-ecological effects of microplastics on terrestrial plants is still lacking. In this study, we hypothesized that soil polluted with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microparticles can negatively influence plant traits, photosynthetic efficiency and phenology of two weeds but with different strength in relation to the species...

Niche dynamics represent an important element in predicting potential invasion areas of alien species and their impacts as well as in understanding mechanisms underlying invasion success. Pueraria lobata, commonly named “kudzu”, is an Asian vine and one of the 100 worst invasive species in the world. In Europe, it is a serious pest although its dis...

Alien species are among the five drivers of environmental change with the largest relative global impacts. In particular, horticulture is a major introduction pathway of alien plants, but, together with intentional introductions, plants can also be introduced and spread via human-mediated involuntary pathways as contaminants and stowaways. Recurrin...

The response of algae to stressors that affect their survival and growth appears to be strictly related to their dimension and shape. Coralline algae (Corallinophycidae, Rhodophyta) show a variety of morphological types that may play a role in their tolerance to stressful conditions. Nevertheless, only a few studies have investigated their response...

In this study, gamete release by Caulerpa cylindracea was investigated for the first time in the Tyrrhenian Sea (Sardinia, Western Mediterranean), focusing on the main environmental factors triggering gametogenesis and spawning of the species. For this purpose, a combination of field and laboratory experiments was conducted. First, a 2-year mensura...

Citation: Gentili, R.; Ambrosini, R.; Augustinus, B.A.; Caronni, S.; Cardarelli, E.; Montagnani, C.; Müller-Schärer, H.; Schaffner, U.; Citterio, S. High Phenotypic Plasticity in a Prominent Plant Invader along Altitudinal and Temperature Gradients. Plants 2021, 10, 2144.

The aim of this study was to define the simplest and least expensive protocol for total protein extraction for three different macroalgae of the genus Caulerpa (the invasive C. taxifolia and C. cylindracea and the autochthonous C. prolifera ). Five multi-step protein extraction procedures, set up for other macroalgal species, were tested. For each...

Allergen-containing subpollen particles (SPPs) are micrometric or sub-micrometric particles (0.12–5 µm) released from pollen. They are able to reach the lower airways, causing allergenic reactions. SPP release occurs through the pore of intact grains or by rupture of the whole grain. In this paper the results of two laboratory experiments investiga...

The investigation of plant assemblages growing in urban ecosystems offers the chance to observe new interactions among biodiversity, urban planning and public health, in the context of a changing world with increasing city surfaces and populations. In this context, the aim of this work is the study of floristic, ecological and functional diversity...

a Department of life and environmental sciences, university of cagliari, cagliari, italy; b Department of life sciences and systems Biology, university of turin, turin, italy; c Biodiversity conservation center (ccB), Department of life and environmental sciences, university of cagliari, cagliari, italy; d Department of science, university of roma...

The results of the 4th National Report for the Italian flora under the 92/43/EEC “Habitats” Directive are presented. The outcomes showed a general negative conservation status for plant species, with the worst situation being in the Mediterranean bioregion. At the National level, significant monitoring and conservation activities are required.

Effects of climate change are particularly important in the Mediterranean Biodiversity hotspot where rising temperatures and drought are negatively affecting several plant taxa, including endemic species. Assisted colonisation (AC) represents a useful tool for reducing the effect of climate change on endemic plant species threatened by climate chan...

Italy has a rich natural heritage, which is dangerously under pressure. In recent years, there is an increased awareness of the crucial role of plants in ecosystem functioning and in providing ecosystem services. Consequently, an updated Red List of the Italian vascular flora was compiled in this work, at the request of the Ministry for Environment...

In limestone quarries, after quarry abandonment, ecological restoration takes place subsequently over several years, often with the use of different procedures and backfilling materials. The success of the different restoration actions performed at a limestone quarry (Colle Pedrino, Lombardy Prealps, Italy) in terms of vegetation cover and biodiver...

Italy is located in the heart of the Mediterranean Basin, a region considered one of the most threatened global biodiversity hotspots. Its environmental and climatic heterogeneity allowed the differentiation of a large number of plant species (more than 8.200 taxa), that however are subjected to an increased number of threats due to changes in soci...

According to projects and practices that the Italian botanists and ecologists are carrying out for bringing “more nature in the city”, new insights for a factual integration between ecological perspectives and more consolidated aesthetic and agronomic approaches to the sustainable planning and management of urban green areas are provided.

“Dai balconi ai parchi urbani: buone pratiche per un giardinaggio consapevole”, prodotto nell’ambito del progetto LIFE ASAP, è un opuscolo di tipo tecnico-pratico che intende fornire alcune informazioni di base sulle piante esotiche invasive presenti in Italia nonché, seguendo le buone pratiche dettate nel Codice di condotta dei florovivaisti, prop...

The integration of international, national and local regulations is one of the fundamental steps for preventing, controlling and managing biological invasions. The aim of the present study is to present and analyse, for the first time, the list of all non-native plant species that are regulated in Italy by the European, Italian and regional legisla...

The European Red List is a review of the status of European species according to IUCN regional Red Listing guidelines. It identifies those species that are threatened with extinction at the regional level – in order that appropriate conservation action can be taken to improve their status. This publication summarises results for all Europe’s native...

The introduction of invasive alien plant species (IAPS) can modify plant-soil feedback, resulting in an alteration of the abiotic and biotic characteristics of ecosystems. Prunus serotina, Quercus rubra and Robinia pseudoacacia are IAPS of European temperate forests, where they can become dominant and suppress the native biodiversity. Assuming that...

In this contribution, the conservation status assessment of four vascular plants according to IUCN categories and criteria are presented. It includes the assessments of Aurinia leucadea (Guss.) K.Koch, Chondrilla chon-drilloides (Ard.) H.Karst., Daphne cneorum L., and Ophioglossum azoricum C.Presl at regional level (Italy).

This paper focuses on the interactive short and long-term effect of three different stressors on a macroalgal assemblage. Three stressors are considered: herbivory, nutrients and mucilage. The experiment was conducted in Tavolara Punta Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area (Mediterranean Sea) during a bloom of the benthic mucilage-producing microalga...

Background Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. is one of the most important sources of allergenic pollen in many regions of the world. Its health impact increased over the last decades and is expected to further increase in consequence of climate change. However little information is available on the specific role played by temperature on allergy rising. Th...

Global plant diversity is at risk due to anthropogenic changes to ecosystems, but given severely limited conservation resources, a reliable prioritisation strategy for species and sites is needed. Our objective was to identify key areas for conserving the phylogenetic diversity (PD) of threatened vascular plants in Italy, one of the most species-ri...

In the summer of 2018 a manipulative experiment was conducted along the North- eastern Sardinian coast in order to investigate the interaction between the native seaweeds Caulerpa prolifera and its allochtonus invasive congeneric invasive Caulerpa taxifolia. The results suggest that the settlement of C. taxifolia on the substratum does not have a s...

Italy is among the European countries with the greatest plant diversity due to both a great environmental heterogeneity and a long history of man-environment interactions. Trait-based approaches to ecological studies have developed greatly over recent decades worldwide, although several issues concerning the relationships between plant functional t...

Mediterranean regional assessment: Vulnerable (VU) This orchid has a disjunct distribution in the Mediterranean region, with two distinct subpopulations, one in North Africa and the other in northwestern Italy. The extent of occurrence (EOO) is large, however, the area of occupancy (AOO) is restricted and has been estimated at 1,260 km2. The popula...

Despite the importance of soil reaction for alien plant establishment, few and incomplete studies have included this key factor so far. In this study, we investigated the effects of soil pH on the germination, growth (plant height, width, dry weight, etc.) and reproductive investment (inflorescence size and n° of flowers) of Ambrosia artemisiifolia...

The aim of this study was to assess the genetic variation and population structure of the geophyte Leucojum aestivum L. across the Po river valley (N-Italy), to inform conservation management actions with the selection of most suitable source populations for translocation purposes. L. aestivum is self-incompatible and occurs in S-Europe in fragment...

Climate change can have significant impacts on the survival of plant species. However, it is seldom included in the assessment of the extinction risk according to IUCN Red List criteria. Lack of data and uncertainties of predictions make difficult such inclusion. In our paper we present an approach, in which the effect of climate change on plant sp...

Taxa endemic to a country are key elements for setting national conservation priorities and for driving conservation strategies, since their persistence is entirely dependent on national policy. We applied the IUCN Red List categories to all Italian endemic vascular plants (1,340 taxa) to assess their current risk of extinction and to highlight the...

Ambrosiaartemisiifolia (common ragweed) is an invasive species native to North America and was accidentally introduced to Europe in the 19 th century. Widespread in disturbed habitats, it is a major weed in spring-sown crops and it causes serious allergic rhinitis and asthma due to its allergenic pollen. The aim of this research was to analyse the...

Ambrosiaartemisiifolia (common ragweed) is an invasive species native to North America and was accidentally introduced to Europe in the 19 th century. Widespread in disturbed habitats, it is a major weed in spring-sown crops and it causes serious allergic rhinitis and asthma due to its allergenic pollen. The aim of this research was to analyse the...

In this paper the results of a manipulative experiment aimed to evaluate the interactive short- and long-term effect of three different stressors, herbivory, nutrient and mucilage, on a macroalgal assemblage are presented. The experiment was conducted in Tavolara Punta Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area during a bloom of the benthic mucilage-produc...

In this paper the results of a manipulative experiment aimed to evaluate the interactive short- and long-term effect of three different stressors, herbivory, nutrient and mucilage, on a macroalgal assemblage are presented. The experiment was conducted in Tavolara Punta Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area during a bloom of the benthic mucilage-produc...

The results of a project for the identification of species-specific monitoring protocols for the Italian plant species protected under the Habitats Directive (Annexes II/IV/V) are presented. The project led to the development of 118 monitoring factsheets, providing an operational guidance for 107 vascular taxa, 10 bryophytes and 1 lichen taxon. Eac...

The Ambrosia species represent one of the most problematic groups of invasive weeds around the world. The ease with which they are introduced and spread in new countries, their generalist ecological requirements, and functional traits facilitate their invasion and subsequent naturalization in new areas. All of these aspects contribute to increasing...

In this contribution, the conservation status assessment of four vascular plants are presented according to IUCN categories and criteria. It includes the assessment at global level of Crepis lacera Ten subsp. titani (Pamp.) Roma-Marzio, G.Astuti & Peruzzi and Anthyllis hermanniae L. subsp. sicula Brullo & Giusso and the regional assessment of Commi...

The Italian vascular flora is one of the richest in the European Union and the Italian peninsula is located at the centre of the Mediterranean Basin, one of the 25 world biodiversity hotspots with an exceptional loss of habitats and species (1). Preliminary to any conservation initiative concerning plant diversity, a prioritization of the most enda...

Nowadays harmful algal blooms (HABs) represent a serious problem for the conservation of the biodiversity in the Mediterranean Sea. Nevertheless the knowledge on the presence of potentially toxic benthic microalgae in particular habitats, such as tide pools, is still scarce. In order to detect HAB-producing benthic microalgae in tide pools of the r...

Elaeagnus pungens, new for Como province. Elaeagnus pungens, nuova per la provincia di Como.

Habitat Directive is the core strategy of nature conservation in Europe aiming at halting biodiversity loss. In this study the results of the third Italian assessment regarding the conservation status (CS) of plants listed in the Habitat Directive (Flora of community interest—FCI) was presented. Data was collected from several sources related to pl...

In this contribution, the conservation status assessment of four vascular plants are presented according to IUCN categories and criteria. It includes the assessment at global level of Crepis lacera Ten subsp. titani (Pamp.) Roma-Marzio, G.Astuti & Peruzzi and Anthyllis hermanniae L. subsp. sicula Brullo & Giusso and the regional assessment of Commi...

Zanthoxylum armatum in Italy

In 2011, MATTM and SBI started a collaboration for the New Red List of Italian Vascular Flora (1, 2), according to the IUCN Categories and Criteria. IUCN Red Lists represent the most widely applied protocol for evaluating species extinction risk, because they facilitate objective and replicable assessments (3). National assessments provide a basis...

Cladina species are likely to suffer the impact of human pressure, resulting in a potential, as well as currently unknown, extinction risk for some of them. In this study, we used herbarium specimen data and literature data combined with geographic information system (GIS)-based analyses to assess the threatened status of Italian Cladina species ac...

The conservation of species listed in the Bern Convention and European Directive 1992/43/EEC (so-called policy species) is mandatory for European Union (EU) countries. We assessed the conservation status of Italian policy species, based on the IUCN categories and criteria, to evaluate the effectiveness of existing protection measures at the nationa...

In this contribution, the conservation status assessment of six plant species according to IUCN categories and criteria are presented. It includes the assessment at global level of Linaria tonzigii Lona, Allium gar- ganicum Brullo, Pavone, Salmeri & Terrasi, Ferula arrigonii Bocchieri, Orchis patens Desf. subsp. patens and Armeria saviana Selvi and...