Vegetation Science

Our research focuses on understanding plant communities across different organizational levels and perspectives. We investigate the factors shaping their structure, composition, diversity, and functioning to uncover the underlying ecological rules governing vegetation. To achieve this, we employ a broad range of approaches, from field-based vegetation surveys to advanced modelling and remote sensing techniques

The specific topics of our research include:

  1. Drivers of Plant Diversity: Analysing and modelling the effects of environmental and human-driven factors on plant community diversity, composition, and structure
  2. Ecological Restoration: Developing strategies for habitat restoration
  3. Remote Sensing of Plant Diversity: Acquiring and analysing LiDAR, multispectral, and thermal-based data from Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and satellite imagery
  4. Biological Invasions: Assessing the impacts of alien species on native plant communities and ecosystems
  5. Temporal Dynamics: Investigating long-term changes in vegetation composition and structure
  6. Vegetation & Habitat Classification: Defining, refining, and applying classification systems for plant communities and habitats
  7. Habitat Monitoring: Assessment and monitoring of habitats included in the Annex I of EU Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC) and European nature information system (EUNIS)
  8. Conservation & Protected Areas: Evaluating the effectiveness of protected areas in preserving biodiversity
  9. Species Distribution & Conservation: Mapping and assessing the conservation status of vascular plants, bryophytes, and macroalgae
  10. Vegetation Data & Floristics: Development and management of vegetation databases and floristic checklists
  11. Cross-Taxon Indicators: Evaluating the effectiveness of plants as indicators for other taxonomic groups in biodiversity assessments

 

Involved Researchers

Claudia Angiolini

Gianmaria Bonari

Ilaria Bonini

Francesco Candini

Silvia Cannucci

Diego Cantini

Paolo Castagnini

Martina D’Agostino

Leopoldo de Simone

Emanuele Fanfarillo

Hamid Gholizadeh

Simona Maccherini

Emilia Pafumi

Emanuele Pelella

PROJECTS

NBFC PNRR

  • AgriEcoDiv – Patterns of plant diversity in agricultural landscapes: identifying the relative contribution of habitat types to biodiversity for a sustainable land use
  • MIRIAPs – Monitoring invasive alien plants in Italy: effects on multi-taxa diversity in different Nature 2000 habitats
  • PriorDune – Prioritisation of coastal areas for plant diversity conservation in Italy

PRIN 2022

  • PRIORCOAST – Prioritisation of coastal areas for plant diversity conservation through a multidisciplinary approach

PRIN 2022 PNRR

  • BECAUSE  – Plant Biodiversity and Ecosystem Change in protected Areas: land-Use impacts and Scenario Evaluation

 

Other projects

  • TracEve – Tracing the evergreen broad-leaved species and their spread
  • Convenzione Consorzio di Bonifica Toscana 6 – Indagine ecologica, botanica e faunistica per la realizzazione di una zonizzazione e di linee guida per la gestione della vegetazione ripariale delle Province di Siena e Grosseto

 

COMPLETED PROJECTS

  • European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme
  • NI – Natural Intelligence: robotic monitoring of habitats

 

Other projects

  • Regione Toscana “PSGO 45/2017 “Vero aglione della Valdichiana – VAV” CUP ARTEA
  • NAT.NE.T  – NATura NEtwork Toscana