Advancing Knowledge of Wetland Vegetation for Plant Diversity Conservation: The Case of Small Lakes, Ponds and Pools in Maremma (Central Italy)

Wetlands are among the most valuable ecosystems on the planet for biodiversity conservation, but also among the most threatened habitats in the world, strongly affected by human pressures and threats. The Mediterranean basin features numerous small lakes, ponds and pools, whose number and quality are decreasing at an alarming rate, and whose biodiversity is often little or not at all known. As a better knowledge of the biotic components of these minor water bodies is necessary, we carried out a phytosociological survey campaign in southern Tuscany (central Italy), an area with little information on the vegetation of aquatic and palustrine biotopes. Numerous previously unknown water bodies were localized and surveyed in this work, while the others already known were resurveyed. These investigations allowed us to identify 26 plant communities which can be classified into seven phytosociological classes. A new subassociation (Ranunculo ophioglossifolii-Callitrichetum stagnalis subass. ranunculetosum peltati) is newly described. The identification of the site-associated Natura2000 habitats led to the recognition of five habitats of conservation interest at national and European level. The results of these investigations allow to advance our knowledge of the flora and vegetation of these small but valuable natural sites, providing a basis for their preservation.