This article analyses the problem of damage to historic buildings in the city of Rome due to the ... more This article analyses the problem of damage to historic buildings in the city of Rome due to the growth of higher plants. Some examples of these biological attacks on various building structures examined during the course of detecting the causes of deterioration have been explained. The biological forms of the plants, the colonization speed in pioneer conditions, and the equilibrium, with the bioclimatical and pedological characteristics are the more important parameters affecting their role in the deterioration of stone surfaces of Roman monuments. A list of flora as well as the frequency of their presence due to both ecological and chorological aspects has been given. It was observed that in the deterioration, Mediterranean and cosmopolitan species play an important role.
Evidence is presented that the first images of maize in Europe are to be found in the festoons pa... more Evidence is presented that the first images of maize in Europe are to be found in the festoons painted by Giovanni Martini da Udine about 1515-1517 that surround the frescoes designed by Raphael Sanzio in the fabulous residence, now known as the Villa Farnesina, of the Sienese banker Agostino Chigi. Additional representations of maize by the same artist painted in 1517-1519 are included in festoons in "Raphael's Logge" in the Vatican Palace commissioned for Pope Leo X. The maize images indicate genetic diversity based on ear length and type and display characters found in the races of Spain, Portugal, and Italy. Their presence in Rome as early as 22 to 24 years after Columbus' return from the first voyage to the New World is evidence of the very rapid diffusion of maize into Europe.
In ancient time, life elements, like plants and animals, and unanimated forces of nature were usu... more In ancient time, life elements, like plants and animals, and unanimated forces of nature were usually associated with specific meanings related to deities and sacred rituals. In Roman archeology, the strong symbolic value of plants represented in wall paintings and artifacts was proved by several contributions, but this topic is often neglected. In this paper, for the first time, an interpretation is proposed for the plant represented in one of the most iconic paintings in Pompeii, the so-called “Flora” in Ariadne’s house. Here, the analyzed plant is picked by a girl turned away and holding a floral cornucopia, and it plays a relevant role in the scene. Through the analysis of its morphological elements, and comparing them with other ancient representations, we suggest its identification as flax (Linum usitatissimum L.). Flax was an economically and culturally very important plant, widely represented in objects and paintings in the Mesopotamian and Egyptian area. We also suggest tha...
Herbaria may represent remarkable sources of viable diaspores for recovering lost genetic variati... more Herbaria may represent remarkable sources of viable diaspores for recovering lost genetic variation and extinct plant species, but the application of rewilding extinct species using these collections has not been explored in detail. De‐extinction in plants may be achieved by germinating viable diaspores or culturing tissues preserved in herbarium specimens. Germination of old diaspores (fruits, seeds, spores) preserved in sub‐optimal uncontrolled storage conditions demonstrates that the recovery of extinct plants from herbarium specimens may be possible. Plant de‐extinction via herbarium specimens relies on the availability of samples containing viable diaspores, and on the inclination of curators and the conservation community to use such material for this purpose. We developed an internet‐based survey to assess (i) whether the scientific community would consent to the use of herbarium specimens of extinct species to attempt de‐extinction, and (ii) the limitations of removing diasp...
A wide sampling for isolating highly destructive and extremotolerant black fungi was performed fr... more A wide sampling for isolating highly destructive and extremotolerant black fungi was performed from Italian monuments in selected historical sites which include the “Cortile della Pigna”, Vatican Museum and the St Peter colonnade (Vatican City State), the monumental cemetery of Bonaria (Cagliari), and other monuments in the city of Cagliari. Thirty out of seventy-four strains isolated were identified basing on ITS Blastn comparison. Based on multilocus phylogeny and morphological data, one new genus and species Lithophila guttulata, five new species Knufia marmoricola, K. vaticanii, K. karalitana, K. mediterranea and Exophiala bonariae, order Chaetothyriales and one new genus and species, Saxophila tyrrhenica, and two new species Vermiconia calcicola and Devriesia sardiniae, order Capnodiales, were proposed. Ecological considerations are put forward.
Gardens constantly change during their lifetime due to the growth and death of plants and to the ... more Gardens constantly change during their lifetime due to the growth and death of plants and to the effects (or lack) of management activities. The loss of garden areas, as well as the building's collapse, can drastically impact the view and understanding of archaeological areas. The study and reconstruction of ancient lost gardens is a complex topic, and it seems that there is a lack of a general methodological approach for assessing the revitalization and valorization activities of these gardens, especially when considering the floristic features. Here, we discuss the required steps for developing the various intervention components for achieving a deep knowledge and understanding of natural, historical, and philosophical features of the place and its culture, from the past to the current conditions. Considering this knowledge, we propose a revitalization and a cultural valorization approach of the natural elements, and we discuss the limitations and issues arising in lost garden studies.
Plant colonization on archaeological structures is limited by the substrate conditions of stone s... more Plant colonization on archaeological structures is limited by the substrate conditions of stone surfaces. Despite its relevance for ecological studies and the management plans of archaeological sites, the knowledge on monuments substrate (e.g., stones, microhabitats, microsites), which could be suitable sites for plant establishment, is an underestimated topic. Here, we aim to identify the substrate preference of plants in colonizing stone surfaces as a first step in evaluating the biodeterioration risk. We selected the Pasargadae World Heritage Site (WHS) for its variety of different conditions, and we assessed the substrate preference of 142 ruderal plants occurring on nine monuments, two types of stones, and eight microsites. Our data indicated that stone typology and microsite conditions affected species composition, diversity, and richness. The porosity of the different limestone and the progressive weathering phenomena resulted as relevant factors in plant colonization. Significantly, microsites as a junction of two stone blocks (M1a) and big fractures covered by soil (M3) hosted the most favorable conditions, which needed periodic monitoring during the maintenance activities of the site. Evaluating the substrate preference of ruderal plants can contribute to the identification of the high-risk areas for plant colonization, which need to be considered in the management plans of archaeological sites.
Over the last four centuries several botanists have analysed the Colosseum flora, and by using mo... more Over the last four centuries several botanists have analysed the Colosseum flora, and by using modern ecological and biogeographical approaches to these same floras, we have observed similar trends with respect to the climatic phenomena as those of the historic Torre Calandrelli Observatory and by other older historical records. The elements of which can be summarised as follows: 1) a substantial reduction of all the biogeographical components taken as indicators of cooler and damper habitats, such as the Euro-Asiatic and Boreal areas starting from the 17th Century in particular; 2) a decrease in numbers of all the species more dependent on water (independent of their chorology); 3) similar clear-cut increases in the species belonging to phytosociological classes typical to Mediterranean climatic conditions, to the detriment of those typical to Middle-European temperate bioclimates. All of which can be interpreted as clear indicators of non-negligible climatic changes towards hotter and drier conditions independent of local variations due to urbanisation.
This article analyses the problem of damage to historic buildings in the city of Rome due to the ... more This article analyses the problem of damage to historic buildings in the city of Rome due to the growth of higher plants. Some examples of these biological attacks on various building structures examined during the course of detecting the causes of deterioration have been explained. The biological forms of the plants, the colonization speed in pioneer conditions, and the equilibrium, with the bioclimatical and pedological characteristics are the more important parameters affecting their role in the deterioration of stone surfaces of Roman monuments. A list of flora as well as the frequency of their presence due to both ecological and chorological aspects has been given. It was observed that in the deterioration, Mediterranean and cosmopolitan species play an important role.
Evidence is presented that the first images of maize in Europe are to be found in the festoons pa... more Evidence is presented that the first images of maize in Europe are to be found in the festoons painted by Giovanni Martini da Udine about 1515-1517 that surround the frescoes designed by Raphael Sanzio in the fabulous residence, now known as the Villa Farnesina, of the Sienese banker Agostino Chigi. Additional representations of maize by the same artist painted in 1517-1519 are included in festoons in "Raphael's Logge" in the Vatican Palace commissioned for Pope Leo X. The maize images indicate genetic diversity based on ear length and type and display characters found in the races of Spain, Portugal, and Italy. Their presence in Rome as early as 22 to 24 years after Columbus' return from the first voyage to the New World is evidence of the very rapid diffusion of maize into Europe.
In ancient time, life elements, like plants and animals, and unanimated forces of nature were usu... more In ancient time, life elements, like plants and animals, and unanimated forces of nature were usually associated with specific meanings related to deities and sacred rituals. In Roman archeology, the strong symbolic value of plants represented in wall paintings and artifacts was proved by several contributions, but this topic is often neglected. In this paper, for the first time, an interpretation is proposed for the plant represented in one of the most iconic paintings in Pompeii, the so-called “Flora” in Ariadne’s house. Here, the analyzed plant is picked by a girl turned away and holding a floral cornucopia, and it plays a relevant role in the scene. Through the analysis of its morphological elements, and comparing them with other ancient representations, we suggest its identification as flax (Linum usitatissimum L.). Flax was an economically and culturally very important plant, widely represented in objects and paintings in the Mesopotamian and Egyptian area. We also suggest tha...
Herbaria may represent remarkable sources of viable diaspores for recovering lost genetic variati... more Herbaria may represent remarkable sources of viable diaspores for recovering lost genetic variation and extinct plant species, but the application of rewilding extinct species using these collections has not been explored in detail. De‐extinction in plants may be achieved by germinating viable diaspores or culturing tissues preserved in herbarium specimens. Germination of old diaspores (fruits, seeds, spores) preserved in sub‐optimal uncontrolled storage conditions demonstrates that the recovery of extinct plants from herbarium specimens may be possible. Plant de‐extinction via herbarium specimens relies on the availability of samples containing viable diaspores, and on the inclination of curators and the conservation community to use such material for this purpose. We developed an internet‐based survey to assess (i) whether the scientific community would consent to the use of herbarium specimens of extinct species to attempt de‐extinction, and (ii) the limitations of removing diasp...
A wide sampling for isolating highly destructive and extremotolerant black fungi was performed fr... more A wide sampling for isolating highly destructive and extremotolerant black fungi was performed from Italian monuments in selected historical sites which include the “Cortile della Pigna”, Vatican Museum and the St Peter colonnade (Vatican City State), the monumental cemetery of Bonaria (Cagliari), and other monuments in the city of Cagliari. Thirty out of seventy-four strains isolated were identified basing on ITS Blastn comparison. Based on multilocus phylogeny and morphological data, one new genus and species Lithophila guttulata, five new species Knufia marmoricola, K. vaticanii, K. karalitana, K. mediterranea and Exophiala bonariae, order Chaetothyriales and one new genus and species, Saxophila tyrrhenica, and two new species Vermiconia calcicola and Devriesia sardiniae, order Capnodiales, were proposed. Ecological considerations are put forward.
Gardens constantly change during their lifetime due to the growth and death of plants and to the ... more Gardens constantly change during their lifetime due to the growth and death of plants and to the effects (or lack) of management activities. The loss of garden areas, as well as the building's collapse, can drastically impact the view and understanding of archaeological areas. The study and reconstruction of ancient lost gardens is a complex topic, and it seems that there is a lack of a general methodological approach for assessing the revitalization and valorization activities of these gardens, especially when considering the floristic features. Here, we discuss the required steps for developing the various intervention components for achieving a deep knowledge and understanding of natural, historical, and philosophical features of the place and its culture, from the past to the current conditions. Considering this knowledge, we propose a revitalization and a cultural valorization approach of the natural elements, and we discuss the limitations and issues arising in lost garden studies.
Plant colonization on archaeological structures is limited by the substrate conditions of stone s... more Plant colonization on archaeological structures is limited by the substrate conditions of stone surfaces. Despite its relevance for ecological studies and the management plans of archaeological sites, the knowledge on monuments substrate (e.g., stones, microhabitats, microsites), which could be suitable sites for plant establishment, is an underestimated topic. Here, we aim to identify the substrate preference of plants in colonizing stone surfaces as a first step in evaluating the biodeterioration risk. We selected the Pasargadae World Heritage Site (WHS) for its variety of different conditions, and we assessed the substrate preference of 142 ruderal plants occurring on nine monuments, two types of stones, and eight microsites. Our data indicated that stone typology and microsite conditions affected species composition, diversity, and richness. The porosity of the different limestone and the progressive weathering phenomena resulted as relevant factors in plant colonization. Significantly, microsites as a junction of two stone blocks (M1a) and big fractures covered by soil (M3) hosted the most favorable conditions, which needed periodic monitoring during the maintenance activities of the site. Evaluating the substrate preference of ruderal plants can contribute to the identification of the high-risk areas for plant colonization, which need to be considered in the management plans of archaeological sites.
Over the last four centuries several botanists have analysed the Colosseum flora, and by using mo... more Over the last four centuries several botanists have analysed the Colosseum flora, and by using modern ecological and biogeographical approaches to these same floras, we have observed similar trends with respect to the climatic phenomena as those of the historic Torre Calandrelli Observatory and by other older historical records. The elements of which can be summarised as follows: 1) a substantial reduction of all the biogeographical components taken as indicators of cooler and damper habitats, such as the Euro-Asiatic and Boreal areas starting from the 17th Century in particular; 2) a decrease in numbers of all the species more dependent on water (independent of their chorology); 3) similar clear-cut increases in the species belonging to phytosociological classes typical to Mediterranean climatic conditions, to the detriment of those typical to Middle-European temperate bioclimates. All of which can be interpreted as clear indicators of non-negligible climatic changes towards hotter and drier conditions independent of local variations due to urbanisation.
Defining and understanding the long-term social and ecological evolution of rural cultural landsc... more Defining and understanding the long-term social and ecological evolution of rural cultural landscapes can provide insights into complex dynamics of landscape and environment changes. Land cover changes (LCCs) in Mediterranean-type ecosystems are mainly due to human-induced landscape transformations. Multi-scale spatial analysis can provide useful information in the interpretation of LCCs data and contribute to identifying underlying drivers of landscape change. In the present study, we analyze eight diachronic land cover maps and perform statistical data assessments of human pressure in the Tolfa–Cerite district (Northern Latium, central Italy) to investigate potential changes in the cultural landscape. The Tolfa–Cerite district is a generally dry area with subhumid–humid sites and an interesting mosaic of Mediterranean-temperate vegetation, agricultural and pastoral land, and a millenarian human presence. LCCs were assessed over a period of 57 years (1949–2006) using maps at both low resolution (1:100.000) and high-resolution (1:25.000) with different class nomenclature systems. Three primary land cover changes have been observed during the investigated period: (i) urbanization, (ii) land abandonment, and (iii) deforestation. While the former two classes of landscape change are particularly common in the northern Mediterranean region, forest conversion to pastures and shrub lands due to intensive grazing, fires, climate aridity, and increasing human pressure is, nowadays, rarely observed in Italy. Better understanding the influence of population dynamics at the local scale and other drivers of LCCs can help finetuning conservation policies looking at landscape quality, diversity and fragmentation.
Biodeterioration is a major problem for the conservation of cultural heritage materials. We provi... more Biodeterioration is a major problem for the conservation of cultural heritage materials. We provide a new and original approach to analyzing changes in patterns of colonization (Biodeterioration patterns, BPs) by biological agents responsible for the deterioration of outdoor stone materials. Here we analyzed BPs of four Khmer temples in Angkor (Cambodia) exposed to variable environmental conditions, using qualitative ecological assessments and statistical approaches. The statistical analyses supported the findings obtained with the qualitative approach. Both approaches provided additional information not otherwise available using one single method. Our results indicate that studies on biodeterioration can benefit from integrating diverse methods so that conservation efforts might become more precise and effective. Different biological agents can colonize stone artifacts and monuments in archaeological sites causing their bio-deterioration 1–4. These biological agents generally include bacteria (chemolithoautotrophic and chemoorgano-trophic), cyanobacteria, algae, fungi, lichens, mosses, and even vascular plants in the final stages of colonization 5–7. The BPs of the various organisms depend mostly on edaphic conditions, macro and micro-environmental factors , and frequency of maintenance 7–9. The colonization of stone artifacts and monuments is also affected by the complex interactions among organisms that are co-existing on the stone or growing at different stages of colonization 8,10. Research on colonization dynamics and BPs is generally qualitative, with little attention to ecological considerations (e.g., species niche) 10. Only a few studies, especially among those focusing on lichen communities, have attempted to understand better the relationship between community composition and environmental factors 11,12. A minority of researchers have suggested using an ecological approach in assessing BPs (e.g., on the volcanic substratum in the archaeological site of Copán, Honduras 12 ; on the mural paintings of the Crypt of the Universal Sin, Matera, Italy 13). However, such studies mostly use a qualitative approach for assessing the spatial arrangement (i.e., ecotones) of colonizing communities and lack a robust statistical background that could allow for a generalization of the results. In this context, co-occurrence analysis 14,15 could provide an objective way to identify non-random patterns of associations among the different communities responsible for BPs. This is because the co-occurrence analysis aims at testing if two species tend to occur in the same area more (or less) often than expected according to different ecological hypotheses 16. Most studies have used the co-occurrence analysis mainly to investigate the importance of ecological competition in the establishment of biological communities (e.g., ref. 17). Lately, due to the increasing interest in the study of ecological networks (e.g., ref. 18), the co-occurrence analysis has been proposed as a useful alternative to empirical studies in the identification of species interactions 19. The general assumption behind this idea is that if two species are found together significantly more often than a random expectation, then it is reasonable to
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2019
The interest and demand for nutraceuticals are rapidly increasing in many industrialized countrie... more The interest and demand for nutraceuticals are rapidly increasing in many industrialized countries due to the emergence of health risks associated with the increased consumption of processed foods. Several wild Mediterranean plants used as traditional foods are an extraordinary source of nutraceutical substances with antioxidant properties. This study has two main aims: (1) to quantify the antioxidant properties of traditional wild food plants and (2) to determine if their use in soups (i.e., the cooking process) can alter their beneficial properties. We have evaluated the antioxidant capacity (ABTS, DPPH) and the Total Phenolic Content (Folin-Ciocalteu) of five herbaceous plants traditionally consumed in several areas of Central Italy: (A) Reichardia picroides (L.) Roth, (B) Hypochaeris radicata L., (C) Cichorium intybus L., (D) Tordylium apulum L., and (E) Helminthotheca echioides (L.) Holub. Our analyses show good levels of antioxidant capacity for all plants, with Reichardia picroides and Helminthotheca echioides having the highest levels. There is a high correlation between the antioxidant activity and the Total Phenolic Content especially in Reichardia picroides (R 2 =0.92) and Hypochaeris radicata (R 2 =0.93). Boiling the species caused a general decrease in the antioxidant activity and polyphenols. Our study confirms the health benefits of consuming wild plants, especially raw ones in salads. It also supports the use of ethnobotanical information to study and then promote the consumption of wild food plants.
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Papers by Giulia Caneva
Three primary land cover changes have been observed during the investigated period:
(i) urbanization, (ii) land abandonment, and (iii) deforestation. While the former two classes of landscape change are particularly common in the northern Mediterranean region, forest conversion to pastures and shrub lands due to intensive grazing, fires, climate aridity, and increasing human pressure is, nowadays, rarely observed in Italy. Better understanding the influence of population dynamics at the local scale and other drivers of LCCs can help finetuning conservation policies looking at landscape quality, diversity and fragmentation.