title: New occurrence of reed bed decline in southern Europe: do permanent flooding and chemical parameters play a role?
abstract: Based on the experimental design proposed in similar studies, macromorphological and ecological traits of common reed beds were analysed at Lake Chiusi (Central Italy), together with selected chemical parameters in sediments and interstitial waters and aerial images of the site, in order to investigate reed decline and search for possible correlations among data. Typical symptoms of the reed dieback syndrome were detected, thus enlarging the occurrence of this phenomenon in southern Europe. Permanently dry, permanently flooded and partially flooded stands show different levels of decline, with the permanent flooding always co-occurring with reed dieback. Only few of the considered chemical parameters seem to play a role in reed decline (nitrates, rubidium, nickel, barium, manganese), although no clear pattern was identified. Data suggest that the co-occurrence of some chemicals with stressing conditions might affect the growth even of an efficient metal accumulator, as reed is generally considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. Electronic address: daniela.gigante@unipg.it.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gigante
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Angiolini
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy; Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Landucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maneli
authors.affiliation: CNR-IGG Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nisi
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vaselli
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Venanzoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lastrucci
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D005502:Food; D007558:Italy; D060106:Lakes; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D006109:Poaceae / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D008670:Metals
keywords: Biodiversity; Dieback; Mediterranean basin; Phragmites australis; Reed retreat