Agro-Biodiversity Spatial Assessment and Genetic Reserve Delineation for the Pollino National Park (Italy)

Giovanni Figliuolo, Domenico Cerbino

Agenzia Lucana di Sviluppo e Innovazione in Agricoltura, Rotonda, Italy.
Dipartimento delle Culture Europee e del Mediterraneo: Architettura, Ambiente, Patrimoni Culturali, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, Matera, Italy.

DOI: 10.4236/nr.2014.57029                

Abstract

Ancient fruit trees, grape vines, traditional crop and garden cultivars have been inventoried in Pollino National Park by adopting a spatial sampling grid which covers 23 different municipalities (~1500 Km²) and 190 surveyed sites. Each site is a circle with a visible radius of 200 - 250 m. The spatial analysis of the diversity of plant genetic resources has been conducted with pre-fixed landscape units (size: 4 Km × 4 Km). Overall, 49 different woody long cycle (455 ancient cultivars) and 53 short cycle species (102 ancient cultivars) have been scored. Long cycle species exhibit higher cultivar richness than short cycle species. The analysis has recognized that pre-Columbian indigenous cultivars had not been displaced by the American species introduced after the 16^th century. In addition, it is confirmed that small-scale poly-production, under conditions of spatial niche variation, is associated to high species and cultivar richness. The mapped realized niche, for both pre- and post-Columbian genetic resources, includes the actual genetic reserve suitable for in situ conservation of plant agro-biodiversity. Agro-biodiversity models, drivers of genetic erosion, and realistic responses to genetic erosion are outlined.

Keywords

Genetic Reserve, Genetic Resource, Realized Niche, Richness, Spatial Analysis

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Guarino, L., Jarvis, A., Hijimans, R.J. and Maxted, N. (2002) Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the Conservation and Use of Plant Genetic Resources. In: Engels, J.M.M., Ramanatha Rao, V., Brown, A.H.D. and Jackson, M.T. Eds., Managing Plant Genetic Diversity, International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, 387-404.
[2]	Scheldeman, X. and van Zonneveld, M. (2010) Training Manual on Spatial Analysis of Plant Diversity and Distribution. Bioversity International, Rome, 1-179. http://www.bioversityinternational.org/index.php?id=19&user_bioversitypublications_pi1[showUid]=5052
[3]	Brush, S.B. (1991) A Farmer Based-Approach to Conserving Crop Germplasm. Economic Botany, 45, 153-165. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02862044
[4]	Figliuolo, G. (2010) Ogm e Paesaggio: Il Contesto Europeo. Biologi Italiani, 7, 56-64.
[5]	Bianco, P., Forconi, V., Lazzerini, C., Mandrone, S., Vazzana, C. and Vicini, C. (2010) Agricultural Areas with High Natural Value: Identification and Management. Istituto Superiore Protezione and Ricerca Ambientale, Book and Guideline, Rome.
[6]	UNCED (1992) Biodiversity Convention. United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Geneva.
[7]	FAO (2009) The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.
[8]	Commission Directive EC (2008) Providing for Certain Derogations for Acceptance of Agricultural Landraces and Varieties Which Are Naturally Adapted to the Local and Regional Conditions and Threatened by Genetic Erosion and for Marketing of Seed and Seed Potatoes of Those Landraces and Varieties. Official Journal of the Europe, L162, 13-19.
[9]	Council Regulation EC (2005) On Support for Rural Development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). Official Journal of the Europe, L277, 1-37.
[10]	Altieri, M.A. and Merrick, L.C. (1987) In Situ Conservation of Crop Genetic Resources through Maintenance of Traditional Farming Systems. Economic Botany, 41, 86-96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02859354
[11]	Oldfield, M.L. and Alcorn, J.B. (1987) Conservation of Traditional Agro-Ecosystems. Bioscience, 37, 199-208. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1310519
[12]	Figliuolo, G. (2006) Protocollo 1: Frammentazione del Paesaggio e Variazioni del Contesto Ambientale. Monitoraggio Della Flora Domesticata. The AgriBioDiversity (ABD) Project: Development of a Monitoring Programme for the Val D’Agri, Università Degli Studi Della Basilicata, Potenza, 1-94.
[13]	OECD (1997) OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: A Practical Approach. Organization for Economic CoOperation and Development, Paris, 1-90.
[14]	Bevilacqua, P. (1996) Habitat ed Economia Degli Alberi in Sud Italia. In: Donizelli, Ed., Tra Natura e Storia, Ambiente, Economie, Risorse in Italia, Rome.
[15]	Compagnucci, F. and Mazzoni, F. (2002) Il Territorio dei Parchi Nazionali Italiani. Quaderni di Ricerca, No. 172, Università degli Studi di Ancona Dipartimento di Economia, Ancona.
[16]	Cantore, V., Iovino, F. and Pontecorvo, G. (1987) Climatic Traits and Phitoclimatic Belts of Basilicata. National Research Council, Istituto di Ecologia e Idrologia Forestale, No. 2, 3-49.
[17]	Sereni, E. (1961) Storia del Paesaggio Agrario. Laterza, Bari, 1-499.
[18]	Figliuolo, G., Cerbino, D., Gallo, S., et al. (2010) Gli Antichi Fruttiferi del Pollino. Quaderni Alsia, Agenzia Lucana Sviluppo and Innovazione in Agricoltura, Year X, Matera, 1-110. http://www.biodiversitapollino.it/export/test/documenti/quaderni_alsia.pdf
[19]	Racioppi, G. (1889) Storia dei popoli di Lucania e Basilicata. Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Loescher & C., Rome.
[20]	Cavalli Sforza, L.L., Menozzi, P. and Piazza, A. (1994) History and Geography of Human Genes. Princeton University Press, Princeton.
[21]	Gibson, R.W. (2009) A Review of Perceptual Distinctiveness in Landraces Including an Analysis of How Its Roles Have Been Overlooked in Plant Breeding for Low Input Farming System. Economic Botany, 63, 242-255. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12231-009-9086-3
[22]	Favia, M. (2013) Project Metacultura: General Topics of the Biodiversity Research. Report. http://www.basilicatanet.com/ita/web/nav.asp?nav=biodiversitamontagnamaterana
[23]	Eni (2005) The AgriBioDiversity (ABD) Project: Development of a Monitoring Programme for the Val D’Agri. Report, Eni S.p.A, Exploration & Production Division, Doc. No. 0034, AMTE, Milan, 1-44.
[24]	Cerbino, D., Zienna, P., Illiano, M., et al. (2012) Antiche varietà cerealicole ed orticole del Pollino. Quaderni Alsia, Agenzia Lucana Sviluppo and Innovazione in Agricoltura, Year XII, Matera, 1-112.
[25]	Hijmans, R.J., Guarino, L., Jarvis, A., O’Brien, R., Mathur, P., Bussink, C., Cruz, M., Barrantes, I. and Rojas, E. (2005) Diva-Gis Manual. 1-73. http://www.diva-gis.org
[26]	Rebelo, A.G. and Sigfred, W.R. (1992) Where Should Nature Reserves Be Located in the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa? Models for Spatial Configuration of a Reserve Network Aimed at Maximizing the Protection of Diversity. Conservation Biology, 6, 243-252. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1739.1992.620243.x
[27]	Brown, A.H.D. (2008) Indicators of Genetic Diversity, Genetic Erosion and Genetic Vulnerability for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Bioversity International, Rome, 1-26. http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i1500e/i1500e20.pdf
[28]	Pavari, A. (1916) Valutazione preliminare della coltivazione di specie forestali esotiche in Italia. General Section, Annales of the Regio Istituto Superiore Forestale Nazionale, Florence, 1-221.
[29]	Basilicata, R. (2003) Mappa Pedologica della Basilicata Region. Workshop on Pedologic Survey to Know, Safeguard and Valorise Basilicata Landscape and Agriculture, Basilicata Region, Department Agriculture and Rural Development, 7 April 2003, 1-54.
[30]	Busby, J.R. (1991) Bioclim, a Bioclimatic Analysis and Prediction System. In: Margules, C.R. and Austin, M.P., Eds., Nature Conservation: Cost Effective Biological Surveys and Data Analysis, CSIRO, Canberra, 64-68.
[31]	Sas (2013) Statistical Analysis Software ver. 9.1. North Cary. http://www.sas.com
[32]	Guenaoui, C., Mand, S., Figliuolo, G. and Neffati, M. (2013) Diversity in Allium ampeloprasum: From Small and Wild to Large and Cultivated. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 60, 97-114. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10722-012-9819-5
[33]	Puliam, H.R. (2000) On the Relationship between Niche and Distribution. Ecology Letters, 3, 349-361. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1461-0248.2000.00143.x
[34]	Nava, M.L., Osanna, M. and De Faveri, C. (2007) Antica Flora Della Lucania: Historical and Archeological Inventory. Soprintendenza Beni Archeologici of Basilicata, Osanna, Venosa.
[35]	Negri, V. (2003) Landraces in Central Italy: Where and Why They Are Conserved and Perspectives for Their On-Farm Conservation. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 50, 871-885. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1025933613279
[36]	Pavia, R., Barbagiovanni, I., Della Strada, G., Piazza, M.G., Engel, P. and Fideghelli, C. (2007) Autochthonous Fruit Tree Germplasm at Risk of Genetic Erosion Found in Home Gardens in the Region of Latium (Italy). Proceedings of the Workshop on Crop Genetic Resources in European Home Gardens, Bioversity International, Ljubljana, 3-4 October 2007, 21-25.
[37]	Antonacci, D. (2004) Vitigni della Puglia. Regione Puglia and Istituto Sperimentale Vinicoltura.
[38]	Masi, P., Figliuolo, G. and Zeuli, P.L.S. (1999) Landraces of Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Collected in Basilicata, Italy. FAO/IPGRI Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter, 119, 51-55.
[39]	Verrastro, V., Carbone, E. and Figliuolo, G. (2007) Ricchezza di specie di importanza economica nella Basilicata del XIX secolo. Biologi Italiani, No. 9, 62-69.
[40]	Harlan, J.R. (1975) Crops & Man. 2nd Edition, American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Inc., Madison.
[41]	FAO (2010) The Second Report on the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.
[42]	FAO-PAR (2011) Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Platform for Agrobiodiversity Research, Rome.
[43]	Piergiovanni, A.R., Brandi, M., Cerbino, D., Olita, G., Perrino, P. and Laghetti, G. (2001) Common Bean AgroEcotypes (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) of Sarconi and Rotonda (Basilicata, Italy). Agrifoglio, No. 15, Quaderno No. 2.
[44]	Figliuolo, G. and Cerbino, D. (2011) Il giardino dell'Eden è sul Pollino. Agrifoglio, 40, 13.
[45]	Pretty, J., Adams, B., Berkes, F., Ferreira de Athayde, S., Dudley, N., Hunn, E., Maffi, L., Milton, K., Rapport, D., Robbins, P., Sterling, E., Stolton, S., Tsing, A., Vintinner, E. and Pilgrim, S. (2010) The Intersections of Biological Diversity and Cultural Diversity: Towards Integration. Conservation and Society, 7, 100-112.