Similarities and differences in dune habitats between Tuscan and Dobrogean coasts (North-Western Italy versus Romania & Northern Bulgaria)

Abstract

: We report and compare the foredune habitats of some areas located along the coasts of Tuscany (It) and Dobrogea (Ro, Bu), focusing on the floristic and phytocoenotic features, through phytosociological surveys carried out along the two coasts, very different from the biogeographical point of view. Both coasts are about 300 km long and have approximately 200 km of sandy beaches. Among dune habitats ( sensu Directive 92/43/EEC) only those of the foredunes (upper beach and mobile dunes) seemed to be shared. The comparison of phytosociological relevés performed in the two areas and concerning these foredune habitats, have highlighted: a) a high floristic and phytocoenotic diversity even in the same habitats of the two different sandy coasts; b) a tendency for the floristic differences to increase from ephemeral dune habitats (annual vegetation of drift lines) to the inner dunes (white dunes); c) diagnostic species of habitats are shared significantly only for habitat 1210.