Flora Rutigliano

The dynamics of N, K, Mg, Mn, Fe and Cu was investigated during litter decomposition, at Mount Vesuvius, of four different pine species (Pinus pinea L., P. laricio Poiret, P. sylvestris L., and P. nigra Arn.). Initial chemical composition of the brown needle litters differed among species. The data presented suggest that nutrient dynamics in studied litters is mainly regulated

The concentrations of Pb, Cu, Fe, and Mn were analyzed in surface deposit and tissue of Quercus ilex leaves from several sites of the urban area of Naples, exposed to different degrees of air pollution. These included some major roads with heavy traffic loads, squares, and three urban parks. The soil from the trunk base area of Q. ilex trees in the same sites was also analyzed for total and available metal contents. Pb, Cu, and Fe contents in the surface deposit and leaf tissue were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in leaves from roadside sites than in leaves from parks; significant correlations were found between deposit- and tissue-contents of Pb, Cu, and Fe. Mn content in leaves from roadside sites and in leaves from parks were similar and Mn content in the leaf deposit was irrelevant. Significant differences (p < 0.001) in both total and available Pb and Cu soil content were found between sampling sites. Also for available Fe and Mn soil content differences among sites were...

Abstract We studied late-stages decomposition of four types of coniferous needle and three types of deciduous leaf litter at two sites, one nutrient-poor boreal and one nutrient-rich temperate. The late stage was identified by that reached by litters at the onset of net loss of lignin ...

... Bjorn Berg, Gunnar Ekbohm, Maj-Britt Johansson, Charles McClaugherty, Flora Rutigliano, and Amalia Virzo De Santo ... RCsumC : Les auteurs ont utilist des donntes de longue durte sur la dicomposition des litikres pour Cvaluer les degrts de dtcomposition finale a l'aide d'une ...

PiroPinus was developed in Portugal as a decision support-tool to prescribed burning use in Pinus pinaster. Although tailored for site-specific conditions, it is empirically-based and so its performance outside the environmental range of development is uncertain. The objective of the present study is to test PiroPinus 2.2 utilities to define prescriptions, implement and evaluate prescribed burning for fire hazard reduction in Pinus halepensis plantations. The study site was located in the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, one of the most fire-prone areas of Southern Italy. The experimental design consisted of 3 burn plots (BU), 0.2 ha in size, and 2 controls (CO). In all plots the plantation presented high fire risk. Pre-burn surface fuels (5.2±1.3 t ha-1 of litter, and flammable Ampelodesmos mauritanicus) and elevated fuels (dominated by Erica arborea) presented horizontal and vertical continuity. Objectives for the burn were: (1) reduce surface fuels; (2) create vertical discontinuity. PiroPinus was used as a reference guide to define burning windows. All plots were burned in May 2009. Most of burning parameters fell within the PiroPinus prescriptions. Fire behaviour was assessed with a microplot scale approach. Observed average surface litter moisture was 17%; rate of spread 0.22 ± 0.06 m min-1; flame length range 0.2-1.0 m; fireline intensity 52 ± 10 kW m-1. PiroPinus provided an accurate estimate of observed values: 17%, 0.25 m min-1, 0.5 m and 48 kW m-1 respectively. Prescribed burning objectives were achieved to some extent. According to the PiroPinus fire interpretation table the burn was conducted at the upper limit of moisture conditions. In fact, in summer 2009 surface fuels in BU were reduced only in part. Major changes were observed in elevated fuels whose cover decreased from 58% to 3%; the vertical continuity was remarkably reduced. Finally, PiroPinus was used to model post-treatment fire behaviour under different weather conditions. It predicted a remarkable mitigation of fire behaviour in BU vs. CO for all weather scenarios. Under the 97.5th scenario, simulated rate of spread, flame length and intensity in BU were respectively 75%, 31% and 12% of the CO values. PiroPinus resulted a useful tool to support prescribed burning in Pinus halepensis plantations of the Cilento Park. Despite constraints (research issues to address are outlined), this study showed that experimental data can be used to improve the performance of PiroPinus, extending its use as a reference guide for Mediterranean pine forests other than Pinus pinaster.