Over the past four centuries, different lists of the flora of the Colosseum have been published. The rich plant colonization (684 species, as the sum of the various lists) appears to be due to the great variety of habitats in the monument and to its state of abandonment. The comparison among the different floras allows a quantitative estimate of the following general changes to be determined: a gradual yet notable decrease of typical elements of mature dynamic stages; a constant decrease in species related to grazing and animal droppings, as well as in weeds from cultivated fields; and a constant increase of widely distributed and alien species, indicators of a different but ever stronger impact of man on the area.
Caneva, G., Pacini, A., CELESTI GRAPOW, L., Ceschin, S. (2003). The Colosseum‘s use and state of abandonment as analysed through its flora. INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION, 51, 211-219 [10.1016/S0964-8305(02)00173-7].
The Colosseum‘s use and state of abandonment as analysed through its flora
CANEVA, Giulia;CESCHIN, SIMONA
2003-01-01
Abstract
Over the past four centuries, different lists of the flora of the Colosseum have been published. The rich plant colonization (684 species, as the sum of the various lists) appears to be due to the great variety of habitats in the monument and to its state of abandonment. The comparison among the different floras allows a quantitative estimate of the following general changes to be determined: a gradual yet notable decrease of typical elements of mature dynamic stages; a constant decrease in species related to grazing and animal droppings, as well as in weeds from cultivated fields; and a constant increase of widely distributed and alien species, indicators of a different but ever stronger impact of man on the area.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.