Research area: Botany - Mycology - Agriculture
Coordinators: Francesco Bracco, Silvia Assini, Paola Nola, Emanuela Martino
ERC sectors: LS8_1 Ecosystem and community ecology, macroecology; LS8_2 Biodiversity
1. Flora and Vegetation of the Reserve
The Reserve is a fully protected area where scientific research can be conducted, officially mandated as part of its ordinary management. This includes regular monitoring of the existing flora and vegetation, with particular attention to alien species and tree populations. The natural dynamics of vegetation in the adjacent area owned by the University of Pavia are also analyzed and monitored.
2. Environmental Parameters in the Reserve and Fire Risk
Regular annual surveys are conducted to collect environmental data (temperature, humidity, water table depth) to predict fire risk and develop an appropriate Forest Fire Prevention Plan, as well as to assess the status of the existing flora and vegetation.
3. Ecophysiology of Species Typical of the Reserve
Ecophysiological studies have been conducted on various native and alien, woody and herbaceous species present in the Reserve; These analyses are aimed at defining its strategies and ecological characteristics, collecting data on the forest's role as a carbon sink, and highlighting the presence of significant phytoconstituents.
4. Dissemination of the forest's biodiversity heritage
The Reserve promotes the production of various materials aimed at communicating its biodiversity heritage in an accessible way. These materials are published on its website and relate to tree species, shrub species, and fungi. Other research activities are carried out within the Reserve, closely integrated with those of other laboratories specializing in plant matrix extraction and in the mycological and zoological areas.
Forest Genetic Conservation Unit (GCU) of the European network established and coordinated by EUFORGEN, which represents the main European infrastructure for the ex situ conservation of forest genetic resources; Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources IBBR-CNR, Florence.
Granata M. U., Gratani L., Bracco F., Catoni R. (2019). Carbon dioxide sequestration capability of an unmanaged old-growth broadleaf deciduous forest in a Strict Nature Reserve. Journal of Sustainable Forestry, 38(1), 85-96.
Granata M. U., Bracco F., Catoni R.. (2019). Phenotypic plasticity of two invasive alien plant species inside a deciduous forest in a strict nature reserve in Italy. Journal of Sustainable Forestry, 38(8), 1-19.
Catoni R., Bracco F., Gratani L., Granata M. U., (2019). Physiological, morphological and anatomical leaf traits variation across leaf development in Corylus avellana. Mediterranean Botany, 40(2), 185-192.
Catoni R., Bracco F., Granata M. U., (2020). Analysis of mesophyll conductance in five understory herbaceous species. Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants, 26(1), 261-270.
Granata M. U., Bracco F., Nola P., Catoni R., (2020). Photosynthetic characteristic and leaf traits variations along a natural light gradient in Acer campestre and Crataegus monogyna. Flora, 268, 151-626.