Valutazione e modellazione su scala paesaggistica di funzioni ecofisiologiche in relazione al ciclo dell’acqua e del carbonio in sistemi agroforestali complessi in Val d’Aniene
Author(s)
Alimonti, Marco
Date Issued
June 7, 2010
Type
Doctoral Thesis
Abstract
Structures and functions of terrestrial ecosystems directly contribute to global biogeochemical cycles. The present work was focused to investigate the potential effects of agroforestry systems on biodiversity services linked to carbon, water and nutrients cycles. To accomplish this main aim, a multidisciplinary approach was applied to some relevant ecosystem functions of Aniene Valley.
Ecophysiological investigations are joined to a land cover analysis of the studied territory in order to highlight the emergent properties from the rural ecosystems to the landscape. Local varieties of Phaseolus spp. are firstly taken into account as relevant elements of the agricultural biodiversity of the Valley. Different cultivars or ecotypes are characterised according to agronomic, physiological
and genetical studies. Relevant diversity was found among the varieties, concerning all the studied characteristics. The seasonal variation of water-use efficiency (WUE), a physiological trait with implications on productivity and adaptedness under water limited conditions, was also investigated.
Following the different perspectives, an agroforestry model was developed in order to enhance the economical and ecological benefits of an agricultural recovery of the Valley. Particularly, the model is planned to enclose linear tree plantations of Salicaceae species (Salix alba) within the farm. In
this way both ecological and agronomic purposes would be satisfied by the complexity
enhancement of the agricultural ecosystem. The potential diffusion of this agroforestry model was also simulated on the basis of geographic information technologies (GIS). An amelioration of water-use patterns, of productivity and of biodiversity level is estimated for the Valley landscape.
The willingness of Valley human population to recover the use of local resources was investigated from a socio-economical perspective. Local stakeholders resulted interested to the innovation enclosed in the idea of a sustainable exploitation of local environmental resources.
Finally, resilience/vulnerability of biocultural landscapes is discussed resuming ecological and
anthropological perspectives on the sustainable use of natural resources. Ecological and socioeconomical problems were highlighted along the frame of the present study. However, the
availability of a considerable amount of local resources and the attention paid by local populations to the matter of sustainable development would aid in the multifunctional recovery of the landscape.
Additional information
Dottorato di ricerca in Ecologia forestale
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