<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><xml><records><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">La Mantia, T</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Rühl, J</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Pasta, S</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Campisi, D G</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Terrazzino, G</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Structural analysis of woody species in Mediterranean old fields</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Abandonment</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">landscape conservation</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Secondary succession</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Sicily</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Spatial pattern</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2008</style></year></dates><publisher><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Taylor &amp; Francis</style></publisher><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">142</style></volume><pages><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">462-471</style></pages><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Abstract The study analyses the changes in vegetation structure and composition within a sere of secondary succession at Pantelleria Island (Sicilian Channel, Italy). It aims to show that not only phytosociological data but also structural parameters, like woody species? height and spatial distribution indices are useful to describe and interpret renaturation processes. Woody species structure was recorded on abandoned terraces, both on north-facing and on south-facing slopes. Relevés were made in fallows representing five different stages of succession. The pace of succession, measured through the analysis of woody species cover, basal area, height distribution and spatial indices, resulted quite rapid: already after 50 years of abandonment terraces are covered by dense maquis communities. Our study also revealed that different plant species or groups prevail during colonisation dynamics, mostly depending on exposition, a factor which strongly influences also the speed of colonisation by woody species. In this case study, human activity seems to be unnecessary to accelerate the process of renaturation, except in some unfavourable contexts. Species turnover rate, biodiversity value, and structural evolution along progressive succession must be taken into account in nature management and conservation policies of terraced landscapes, which are nowadays one of the most endangered landscape types throughout the Mediterranean area.</style></abstract><notes><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">doi: 10.1080/11263500802410793</style></notes><research-notes><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">doi: 10.1080/11263500802410793</style></research-notes></record></records></xml>