The cartographic representation of the dynamical tendencies in the vegetation: a case study from the Abruzzo National Park, Italy

Abstract

A map of the dynamical tendencies in the vegetation illustrates the dominance of fundamental ecological processes (fluctuation, primary and secondary succession, regeneration, degeneration, regression) by picturing them as cartographic units. Informations for this map are drawn horn pbytocoenotic characteristics (floristic composition, vertical structure, texture, regeneration strategy, etc.) and historical documents. This study presents a map of the Mainarde complex (central Apennines, Italy), a branched chain formed by ancient glaciers with several peaks over 2,000 m a. s. l. Human impact in the study area is decreasing, and the vegetation is undergoing different dynamical processes over large areas. Ten cartographic units were adopted: 1) Recreative secondary succession; 2) Primary creative succession; 3) Primary replicativa succession; 4) Regies sion; 5) Degeneration under continual disturbance; 6) Degeneration under drastic, periodic disturbance; 7) Regeneration after continual disturbances; 8) Regeneration after drastic, periodic disturbances; 9) Fluctuation in primary vegetation: 10) Anthropogenic fluctuation. The vegetation complex in the survey area shows a good potential for reconstitution. Study of this area confirms that identification of the present dynamical tendencies is a useful tool, especially in protected areas. The map of dynamical tendencies in the vegetation of Val Pagana - Le Forme (1:10,000) is enclosed.