PROJECT LIFE00NAT/IT/7258 · Biomass of the arthropods of both soil and herbaceous vegetation was...

CONSORZIO PARCO MONTE BARRO

(Istituito con decreto del Prefetto di Como prot.14694 del 9.1.1974)

INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF INSUBRIC-PREALPINE HABITATS

PROJECT LIFE00NAT/IT/7258

FINAL REPORT

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY

Galbiate (Italy), March 2005 The project supervisor Dr. Mauro Villa

LIFE00NAT/IT/7258 – non-technical summary

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The project started in September 2001 with the formal approval of the Administration of the Park, which was notified of the EC funding and thus modified its own budget. The activities ended within December 2004 as planned. Here we summarize the main activities undertaken.

ACTION A2 – Monitoring plan and definition of the starting point This Action delimited the faunistic, floristic and ecological status at the beginning of the project, for the improved evaluation of project management activities. Through this Action, undertaken in 2001, data on the distribution, range and density of species of interest were collated. This lead to particular adjustments in the activities, with respect to the initial plan, leading to the formulation of a plan for successive monitoring actions. Some of the population characteristics were analysed using past data strictly pertaining to the SIC, in addition to that data gathered in 2001. Monitoring was performed both in managed and undisturbed control areas. For the vegetation and flora, data were gathered from permanent plots using point-quadrat analysis. Species of interest formed the focus of more detailed work, such as the endemic Primula glaucescens or the invasive Laserpitium siler, a weed of limestone grasslands that the intervention aimed to suppress. Specifically, management was not observed to have had a negative effect on Primula glaucescens, while effective methods were identified for the containment of Laserpitium siler. Biomass of the arthropods of both soil and herbaceous vegetation was determined, and spider (Aracnidae), beetle (Coleoptera), cricket (Ortoptera) and butterfly (Lepidoptera) species were identified. Moreover, the importance - in terms of biomass - of ecotonal fly (Diptera) populations was revealed, in addition to the highly relevant increase of Ortoptera in managed prairies. Amongst the beetles, aside from typical species of native grasslands, important species were found in the ecotones between grassland and woodland, including endemic species and rare species collected for the first time west of the river Adda, or in Lombardy (e.g. Neoplinthus caprae). For the vertebrates, activities included the summarization, integration and updating of past observations gained for the migratory and resident bird fauna, while bat (Chiroptera) censuses were conducted for the first time at Monte Barro. The results highlighted the strategic importance of the SIC for transalpine migration, during both spring and autumn. All the information gathered was organised into a database compatible with the GIS system of the SIC, and allowed the construction of the monitoring plan for the flora, vegetation, invertebrates, birds and bats for 2002-2004 (see Action F2 and F3). This plan included the use of specific sampling techniques and bioindicators. ACTION C1 – Limestone grassland management This is the main action of the project, both in terms of its aims (it concerns the main crisis of the SIC) and financial requirement. The interventions allowed the maintenance, and sometimes the restoration, of relevant areas of Insubric prealpine prairies (Caricion austroalpinae: Habitat 6170), semi-natural dry grasslands on calcareous substrates (Mesobromion, Xerobromion: Habitat 6210) and vegetation of calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation (Potentilletalia caulescentis: Habitat 8210), mainly located at the summit of Monte Barro. The activities were performed discontinuously, with particular care to increase the extent of the grassland-woodland ecotonal interface, due to its faunistic importance. Following the requirements of the project, intervention included: • localized cutting of invasive woody vegetation in grasslands. Trees of larger dimensions

(mainly oaks) and shrubs of particular significance (e.g. Cotinus coggygria, Rhamnus saxatilis, Cytisus emeriflorus) were not cut (Fig. 1a).

• mowing of grasslands and abandoned pastures invaded by shrubs. • controlled donkey grazing (Fig. 1b). • localized and selective eradication of invasive species, such as Laserpitium siler, Vinca major,

Hemerocallis fulva, including glyphosate application to prevent regrowth, avoiding any damage to the environment. This treatment was also used following the clearing of shrubs. Attempts to use glyphosate to contain another invasive species, Pteridium aquilinum, had


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negative results, and thus more expensive cutting was performed up to three or four times a year.

• reconstruction of the herbaceous layer using exclusively native plant material in areas where the layer was thinned by cutting of woody vegetation (Fig. 1c).

The work was undertaken in each case either at the end of summer/beginning of autumn or at the end of spring/beginning of summer, to maximize the success of the activities whilst minimizing disturbance to the ecosystem. The activities as a whole lead to the creation of a varied mosaic of ecosystems with particular emphasis on limestone grasslands, dry meadows and grassland/ woodland ecotones (Fig. 1d). ACTION C2 – Management of springs and streams Information discovered during the project1 suggested a partial modification of the original plan, regarding petrifying springs with tufa formation (Cratoneurion commutati: Habitat 7220). This modification was carried out respecting the aims of the project, adding activities without any further financial impact for the project. By concentrating the intervention on four sites, instead of the ten originally planned, it was possible to preserve the faunistic component of interest, particularly Austropotamobius pallipes and Salamandra salamandra. The activities undertaken were: 1) cleaning and restoration of part of the Rio San Michele stream, including the redistribution of

stones to create rock pools; this was fundamental to support the local population of Austropotamobius pallipes;

2) building of a sequence of stone and mortar troughs at Costa Perla (Fig. 2a), which guaranteed the persistence of water in the springs for sufficient time to allow the reproduction of Salamandra salamandra;

3) recovery of a large fossilized tufa cone above the washhouse at Camporeso and the cleaning of the entire area of the spring, additionally reducing leakage and loss of water.

4) uncovering the ancient spring to the west of the Camporeso washhouse, including the construction of a pipe to convey stream water to the washhouse (Fig. 2b). This intervention increased the capacity of the stream, which dried out completely in 2003 but not in 2004, following intervention. The cost of this unforeseen activity caused a reduction in the number of sites, but the restoration of this spring has great additional teaching value, being located next to a well-used path.

ACTION C3 – Forest restoration Intervention was carried out in a woodland damaged by fire and past intensive cutting. The wood is located on land belonging to the town of Valmadrera but managed by the park, and borders on beech woods and lime-maple woodland. The activities thus aimed to promote a natural succession towards Fagion and Tilio-Acerion communities (Habitat 9180). Woodland was thinned to promote the growth of specific individuals. During this cutting particular care was taken to preserve populations of bats and wood-eating insects. To this end, all cut wood was stored in specific sites and bat-boxes and refuges were arranged in the woodland according to monitoring information. In some areas this action also included the cutting of weedy vegetation and the subsequent plantation of 1650 young trees (Fig. 3). ACTION C4 – Restoration of subterranean tunnels and chambers This action allowed a serious pollution danger to be avoided, via the removal of tens of cubic metres of petroleum waste residues stored in a long-abandoned industrial plant. The wastes were stored in subterranean cisterns and pipes, and aquifers had previously been polluted. The intervention included the conversion of the cisterns and the access tunnels into subterranean chambers (Fig. 4) suitable for bats, troglophilous and troglobious species. Following the activities, the recovery of the Niphargidae and gastropod crenobiont populations was verified.

1 i.e. the acknowledgement of the importance of drought events, deleterious not for the ecosystem as a whole but mainly for some component species such as Austropotamobius pallipes.


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ACTION C5 - Ex-situ propagation of plant species Information and material used in Actions C1, C2 and C3 was acquired using this action, in addition to the experimental production of local ecotypes to preserve biodiversity and promote natural dynamics, even for floristically poor sites. The choice of herbaceous species was based either on their importance for conservation (e.g. endemic species) or on their role in the construction of plant communities. In addition to the original species (84 in total) 20 orchids were included, for which maps of their number and distribution at Monte Barro were made (Fig. 5a). Activities included: editing of 57 information sheets depicting the reproductive biology of the species, collection of propagation material and ex-situ propagation, transplantation of approximately 7000 plants of 61 species into the SIC. Moreover, three species were reintroduced into the SIC (Pteris cretica, Campanula raineri and Pinguicula vulgaris; Fig. 5b). Biomolecular analyses were performed for two model species (Primula glaucescens and Sesleria varia) to: 1). characterize the variability of natural populations, 2). evaluate the possibility of mixing propagation material from different sites, 3). measure the genetic polymorphism retained by the propagated material. This analysis showed, amongst other things, that endemic species with entomophilous pollination syndromes differentiated into specific ecotypes on Monte Barro, due to the isolated and marginal position of the mountain. In this case it is not possible to mix plants propagated from different populations, as genetic pollution would result. ACTION E1 – Production of brochures Publicity material was produced: postcards, notepads, posters and jigsaw-puzzles illustrating the main habitats managed in Actions C1, C2 and C3; a brochure describing the entire project (with a summary in English); cotton T-shirts displaying the Park and Life logos; a 2005 calendar depicting the butterflies of the SIC, with particular reference to the dry meadows and their management. These materials were distributed to the volunteering associations, schools and park institutions, and are available to the public at the park visitor centres. ACTION E2 – Organisation of public meetings and seminars Public meetings for visitors were organised in the various Huts of Monte Barro in 2002, during which the main aspects of the project were discussed. In December 2004 a meeting was organised for all the volunteering organisations, the park institutions and the local public in order to distribute the 2005 calendar and to describe the status of the butterflies of the SIC, and the importance of grassland management. During two technical and scientific seminars (25th March 2003, and 7th June 2004) theoretical and practical topics referring to the project were discussed with specialists and this experience was evaluated with that of other Life projects, and similar management plans. A thousand copies of the proceedings were printed. We also presented results at several congresses and meetings, demonstrating topics of this Life project. ACTION E3 – Publicity in the mass media Both at the beginning and at the end of the project press conferences were given to the main local newspapers, summarising the aims and phases of the project. Articles were then widely published in the regional mass media. The public meetings and seminars were also publicised in local newspapers. News of the financing of the project was published in the journal ‘Parks and Reserves of Lombardy’ (Parchi e riserve della Lombardia; volume 4, 2001). ACTION E4 – Publicity on the internet A specific internet domain was registered, and the website www.lifebarro.it was created. At the end of the project this domain will cease to function, but all of the material it contains will still be available at the website of Parco Monte Barro, which is currently being updated with specific pages concerning the Life project. ACTION E5 – Specialised publications A general paper describing the project has been published in Parks and Reserves of Lombardy (volume 2, 2002). Several scientific papers have been submitted to specialised scientific journals, and articles have already been published in the journals Seed Science Research and Biological Conservation. Further contributions have been published in the proceedings of the 4th


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Conference on Biochemistry, Ecophysiology and Population Biology of Alpine and Polar Plants (Trins, Austria, 2003) and of the 99th Congress of the Italian Botanical Society (Congresso della Società Botanica Italiana; Turin, 2004). The publication of the scientific data acquired during the project will be performed even after the end of the project, due to the extent and relevance of the information. ACTION E6 – Information boards explaining the project at the main intervention sites Instead of the three original boards planned four were made in order to better describe the main characteristics of the project. They were located at particularly appropriate sites to showcase the general objectives of the project (Fig. 6), and displayed the logos of the Life project and of Monte Barro, along with diagrams, site descriptions and accounts of the activities undertaken, with a general paragraph on the whole project. Simpler plastified-cardboard display boards were located close to the seat of the park to show visitors some of the plants propagated through Action C5. A similar board was located in the area where Hemerocallis fulva was eradicated using glyphosate. ACTION F1 – Management of the project The organization and general supervision of the project was performed by the director of the park, who assumed a further specific duty to perform this task, distinct from the direction of the park. The director was helped by an undergraduate technician to perform the numerous technical and operational tasks (e.g. scheduling of activities, acquisition, setting up the information boards, printing of publicity material, etc.). Two administrative clerks dealt with the secretarial work, finances and administrative duties. In 2004 an extra administrative collaborator was required for an improved revision of the accounts and to prepare the final report. An independent revision of the accounts was carried out by the park accountants, but the expenses of such a revision are not included in the Life project. ACTION F2 – Monitoring of birds and bats Forty-eight species of nesting resident birds were identified during the project, three of which are previously unknown for the site, and four are listed in the ‘Bird Directive’. A relatively conspicuous population of Emberiza cia (Rock Bunting) was identified in the dry meadows, and its apparent expansion recorded (Fig. 7). The presence of Caprimulgus europaeus (Goat Sucker), a species of interest in Europe, was also recorded on Monte Barro, where a stable population of at least five couples was found. The preferred management of the dry meadows, with the consequent reduction of the woodlands and maintenance and diffusion of shrubland in the gullies, favours the presence of this species. The monitoring also showed the relevance of the SIC for the migratory movement of birds in Lombardy and in Europe. Information concerning eleven migrant species whose diet included pollen were gathered, together with information on 24 species whose diet is apparently based on insects of the dry grasslands. The results showed the greater intensity of the autumn migration compared to the spring migration in the SIC. Through this action artificial or semi-natural bat refuges were established to favour both woodland species and synanthropic species (5 groups of 10 bat-boxes each in 5 different areas). The restoration of subterranean tunnels and chambers (see Action C4) was also performed in order to create a site hospitable to bats. As a whole, the monitoring allowed contact with twelve different taxa, such as Myotis blythi, M. capaccinii, M. myotis e M. emarginatus, listed in the Annex II of the Habitat Directive. The presence of Tadarida teniotis is also relevant. ACTION F3 – Monitoring of invertebrates and flora Grassland management did not appear to affect Primula glaucescens, while clear signs of stress were observed in individuals shaded by un-mown vegetation (Fig. 8a). New species tended to occupy the areas where Laserpitium siler had been eradicated, demonstrating the success of the intervention. This included species of EC interest such as orchids, endemic species and other important species of the endemic Caricion austroalpinae vegetation. The relevés also showed a decrease in the number of species immediately after the cutting, followed by a clear increase which re-established the original number of species. However, species that disappeared after the intervention were mainly woodland species, whereas those that colonised the sites were typical of


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dry meadows and prealpine Insubric prairies, including several orchids, sometimes with extensive flowering apparent (Fig. 8b). In the managed grasslands positive dynamics were observed and the disturbance induced by the activities tended to disappear with time. The analysis also allowed verification of the importance of certain keystone species as well as the identification of species indifferent to the management regime (e.g. Erica carnea), those that responded positively (e.g. Brachypodium rupestre), and those which responded negatively (e.g. Cytisus sessilifolius). For the Arthropods, data on the presence of 295 taxa was acquired: 48 Ortoptera, 35 Carabidae, 49 further Coleoptera, 56 Lepidoptera, 107 Aracnidae. Amongst the Coleoptera, Osmoderma eremita is a species of priority interest according to the habitat directive, while Ophonus stictus, an indicator of dry grassland quality, is extremely rare at the regional level. Several spider species are quoted here as having almost completely unknown distributions: Clubiona terrestris, Xysticus erraticus, Xysticus kempeleni, Xysticus ninnii, Drassyllus praeficus. Of the Ortoptera, Ephippiger vincheti and Odontopodisma decipiens insubrica are included in the Venetian region red list for Ortoptera. The Lepidoptera Maculinea arion, Lasiommata achine and Zerynthia polyxena are listed in Annex IV of the Habitat Directive, Annex II of the Bern Convention and included as priority species in the ‘regional programme for the conservation and management of fauna in protected areas’. Maculinea arion and Lasiommata achine are also classified as endangered in the checklist of the Italian fauna. None of the cited species were previously known for the SIC, and Maculinea arion was found to have a declining population where the dry grasslands were retreating and the management interventions were intense. Sampling of stream macroinvertebrates led to the identification of 37 taxa and demonstrated the importance of drought events in surface waters of Monte Barro, a fact ignored in the past. The springs of the SIC hosted relatively rich communities that included several species of interest for the petrifying spring priority habitat (e.g. Graziana alpestris, Platyla microspira and Niphargus thuringius). Monitoring the presence of N. thuringius confirmed the effectiveness of work to restore the subterranean chambers. The distribution of Austropotamobius pallipes (species of priority interest in the EC) was also ascertained, verifying its presence with a substantial population in the stream of San Michele and with a declining population at Camporeso (see Action C2). Several organisms (e.g. Ecdyonurus, Ephemera danica, Amphinemura, Protonemura, Leuctra) attest to the good quality of the waters of the SIC. Almost all the monitored sites have been used by Salamandra salamandra for reproduction. Continuation of the project Intervention to restore the springs and the subterranean chambers will have positive and lasting effects without requiring further action, but with normal maintenance guaranteed by the ordinary management of the park: a contract for a general campaign of monitoring has been approved to promote specific maintenance if necessary. The management of dry grasslands will be limited to the local control of young woody plants and seedlings of Laserpitium siler as well as the controlled donkey grazing. Monitoring of invertebrates and flora will continue for a further three years, while birds and bats will be monitored by the Costa Perla ornithological station (Stazione Ornitologica di Costa Perla), to whom the acquired instruments have been entrusted. The Regional Centre for Native Flora (Centro regionale per la Flora Autoctona) will continue the analysis of ex-situ plant propagation as well as the reproduction of species of interest, with its own funding. Note that one of the collaborators that principally co-operated with the projects is now employed by the park.


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Figure 1: Action C1. a) Localized cutting of woody vegetation: trees of larger dimensions (mainly oaks) were not cut; b) controlled donkey grazing; c) reconstruction of the herbaceous layer; d) the creation of a varied mosaic of ecosystems.

b)

d)

a) c)


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Figure 2: Action C2. a) Restoration of the spring of Costa Perla; b) restoration of the ancient spring of the Camporeso: the transplantation of Pteris cretica.

Figure 3: Action C3. Enclosure of the area of forest restoration and tree plantation.

a) b)


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INGRESSO

80

200

75

600

SCALA SEZIONI

NSCALA PIANTA

4 m20

280

1215

200

160

90

60880

100

140

90

PIANTA E SEZIONI DEL CUNICOLOCISTERNA PARZIALMENTECROLLATA

10 2 m

CISTERNA

A

A

B

B

C

C

D

D

E

E

SEZIONE A-A

SEZIONE B-B

SEZIONE D-D

SEZIONE C-C

SEZIONE E-E

2050

1950

190

CUNICOLO

270

Figure 4: Action C3. Map of the subterranean tunnels and chambers restored through the elimination of the old pipes, cleaning of the cisterns, creation of a chamber suitable for bats and restoration of the subterranean spring.

Figura 5: Action C5. a) An example of the distribution maps of the Orchids of Monte Barro; b) reintroduction of Campanula raineri.

b) a)


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Figure 6: Action E6. Information board at the spring of Camporeso. Figure 7: Action F2. Distribution of Emberiza cia, showing the expansion towards the restored grassland.

2001 2002

2003 2004


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Figure 8: Action F3. a) Signs of stress in an individual of the endemic Primula glaucescens due to the shade of the un-mown vegetation. b) increase of the herbaceous vegetation and flowering of orchids in the managed grasslands.

a)

b)

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