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Salvatore Pasta

  • Biodiversity Journal, 5 (1): 039-054

    Salvatore Pasta, Arnold Sciberras, Jeffrey Sciberras & Leonardo Scuderi
    Analysis of the vascular flora of four satellite islets of the Egadi Archipelago (W Sicily), with some notes on their vegetation and fauna

    ABSTRACT
    This paper represents the first contribution on the vascular flora of the stack named Faraglione di Levanzo and of three satellite islets of Favignana, i.e. Prèveto, Galeotta and a stack located at Cala Rotonda. A sketch of their vegetation pattern is also provided, as well as a list of all the terrestrial fauna, with some more detailed information on the vertebrates. The finding of some bones of Mustela nivalis Linnaeus, 1758 is the first record for the whole archipelago and deserves further investigations. The floristic data have been used in order to analyze life-form and chorological spectra and to assess species-area relationship, the peculiarity of local plant assemblages, the occurrence of islet specialists, the risk of alien plants invasion and the refugium role played by the islets. The significant differences among the check-lists compiled by the two different couples of authors during their own visits to Prèveto and Galeotta underline the need of planning regular and standardized field investigations in order to avoid an overestimation of local species turnover rates.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 3 (4): 311-330

    Pietro Lo Cascio & Salvatore Pasta
    Lampione, a paradicmatic case of Mediterranean island biodiversity

    ABSTRACT
    The papers aims at underlining the “unespected” value of Lampione’s biological heritage, as well as the fragility of its ecosystem. Despite its very little size, this islet harbours a very rich pool of plant and animal species of high biological and/or conservation interest. Special attention is paid to the biogeographic meaning of local endemics, on local extinction and turnover processes, on some ecological or biological patterns which contribute to the distinctiveness of local biota. However, further investigations are needed in order to complete the list of animals and to monitor the demographic trends of all species. In particular, it is necessary to assess if local seagull colony may represent a major threat for local diversity.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 15 (3): 485-492

    Salvatore Pasta & Daniel Jeanmonod
    Revived after two centuries of oblivion: Jean Etienne Duby’s visit to Sicily (1829–1830)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2024.15.3.485.492

    ABSTRACT
    The analysis of the labels of Jean Etienne Duby’s exsiccata kept in the Candolle herbarium has brought to light some previously unpublished information on his botanical journey to Sicily and some of its satellite islands, carried out between 1829 and 1830.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 14 (4): 0615-0622

    Salvatore Pasta
    Cistus ×skanbergii Lojac., the ‘phoenix’ hybrid that became extinct in its type locality to revive in the global plant web market
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2023.14.4.615.622

    ABSTRACT
    This paper is focused on the emblematic case story of Cistus ×skanbergii Lojac., a hybrid rockrose issuing from the breeding between C. parviflorus Lam. and C. monspeliensis L. To this purpose, a bibliographic research has been carried out to trace the available knowledge about the past and current distribution of this hybrid within its primary distribution range. Extinct in its type locality (Lampedusa Island) and very rare in the Mediterranean Basin, this hybrid proves to be intensely traded worldwide instead. The case of C. ×skanbergii shows that the international greening network vehiculated by websites may transform naturally rare plants into cosmopolitan aliens which could become invasive in the near future in several countries subject to Mediterranean or temperate climates. The indiscriminate spread of this rockrose outside its primary distribution range should be discouraged – if not forbidden – also because C. ×skanbergii possesses many of the traits (e.g., tolerance to drought and thermal stress, allelopathy, adaptation to fire disturbance) typical to many well-known invasive plants. Additionally, the use of this hybrid rockrose is troublesome because most of the currently traded material has been obtained by crossing several provenances of both parent species under non-natural conditions to obtain the hardiest, hence even more dangerous, breeds.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (4): 0955-0967

    Ignazio Sparacio, Salvatore Surdo, Salvatore Pasta, Rocco Lo Duca & Tommaso La Mantia
    Past and current distribution of Charaxes jasius jasius (Linnaeus, 1767) (Lepidoptera Nymphalidae) in Sicily in relation to its host plant, Arbutus unedo L. (Ericaceae)
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.4.955.967

    ABSTRACT
    The authors provide an updated overview of the past and present regional distribution of the two-tailed Pasha Charaxes jasius jasius (Linnaeus, 1767) (Lepidoptera Nymphalidae) and its host plant, the strawberry tree Arbutus unedo L. Most of the occurrence data reported in the entomological literature was confirmed, and several new populations have been recently discovered. The distribution pattern of the insect and its host plant overlap almost perfectly. C. jasius jasius is more abundant and forms large and stable populations on the Peloritani Mts. and in some areas of the Madonie Mountains. The high number of new records of C. jasius jasius suggests that the species is experiencing a spreading phase, but the reasons behind this trend are still unexplained and need further field research and monitoring activities. The recent increase of its populations may depend on the current protection of many forest and pre-forest communities hosting the strawberry trees.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 13 (4): 0775-0783

    Salvatore Pasta
    Isola Rossa (Iscra Ruja) of Capo Comino (eastern Sardinia): botanical notes after a short visit in late spring
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2022.13.4.775.783

    ABSTRACT
    A list of the vascular plants growing on Isola Rossa di Comino (eastern Sardinia) is presented. This census derives from a survey carried out in June 2022 and also provides useful information to characterise the local vegetation, the habitats of Community interest according to EU Directive 92/43, as well as the main disturbance factors affecting the islet, on which no botanical data were currently available, and which is little known from a biological point of view. The populous colonies of the Mediterranean herring gull (Larus michahellis) and the tufted plover (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) significantly influence the current patterns of vascular flora and vegetation over large surfaces of the islet.