Vegetation analysis of the Taormina Region in Sicily: a plant landscape characterized by geomorphology variability and both ancient and recent anthropogenic influences

The vegetation composition and landscape analysis of the Taormina region (Messina, Sicily) in relation to anthropogenic influences was investigated. A total of 183 phytosociological relevés were performed in the period 2009-2012. Despite strong human influences, the study area is characterized by the occurrence of several plant-communities, mainly represented by woods and shrubs vegetation (Quercetea ilicis), riparian woods and shrubs (Salici purpureae-Populetea nigrae, Rhamno-Prunetea), dry grasslands (Lygeo-Stipetea), hygrophilous communities (Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, Phragmito-Magnocariceteaand Isoëto-Nanojuncetea), rupicolous communities (Asplenietea trichomanis, Parietarietea judaicae), rocky coast communities (Crithmo-Limonietea), pasture coenosis (Poetea bulbosae), spring-flowering meadows (Tuberarietea guttataeand Stipo-Trachynietea distachyae) and nitrophilous communities (Onopordetea acanthii). The vegetation analysis allowedthe identification of 34 vegetation types, with 8 new associations and 4 new sub-associations, and also allowed the reconstructionof the vegetation series and landscape units (geosynphytosociology). The synphytosociological analysis of the plant communities allowed the identification of the main vegetation series: climatophilous acidophilous series of metamorphicsubstrates (Erico arboreae-Querco virgilianae sigmetum); climatophilous basophilous series of sedimentary substrates (Oleo-Querco virgilianae sigmetum); edaphomesophilous series of the cliffs (Bupleuro fruticosi-Querco ilicis sigmetum); edaphoxerophilousseries of the semirupestrian maquis (Euphorbieto dendroidis permasigmetum); edafo-hygrophylous geoseriesof the riparian wood (Platano-Salico gussonei geosigmetum); and chasmophilous permaseries of the cliffs (Erucastro virgati permasigmetum, Limonio ionici permasigmetum). Overall, this territory should be considered an area of remarkable geobotanicalsignificance, which still shows interesting vestiges of natural vegetations deserving of preservation.