Phytosociology and ecology of the Mediterranean forests ecosystems in the Amalfi Coast (Monti Lattari, Italy)

The forest vegetation of the southern sector of the Monti Lattari complex (Amalfi Coast) has been investigated due to the lack of information on vegetation within an area of worldwide relevance and with a high floristic richness. This area shows several environmental peculiarities due to the marked orography, with pedologic features varying from carbonate to volcanic character, and bioclimatic conditions varying in a relatively short space from Mediterranean to temperate types. The study involved an extensive phytosociological survey and the analyses revealed clear differences among the forest communities, whose syntaxonomical queries and the biogeographic and ecological characters have been discussed. The communities varied from the coastal sclerophyllous forests (Cyclamino repandi–Quercetum ilicis) to the mixed thermophilous deciduous forests (Festuco exaltatae–Aceretum neapolitani, Seslerio autumnalis–Aceretum obtusati), and from the mountain neutral–subacid forests (Salvio glutinosae–Alnetum cordatae, Castanea sativa groupment, Asperulo taurinae–Alnetum cordatae) to the mountain beech forest (Anemono apenninae–Fagetum sylvaticae). Multivariate analysis showed the high relevance of steepness, elevation and pyroclastic presence, and a low relevance of aspect in the discrimination of forest communities. Syntaxonomical interpretations showed the affinity of the local communities with those of the southern Italy, but also some interesting peculiarity. Data highlight the area as a geographical boundary and phytogeographic hinge between central and southern Italy.