Cork of Niscemi (ITA050007)
Site type: SAC - Special Conservation Area
Code: ITA050007 - Hectares: 3213 mm
Description:
The site falls within the municipality of Niscemi. The substrate is mainly referable to Pleistocene sands, as well as limestone and marly clays; soils are of nature
sandy. Upper dry lower Mesomediterranean bioclimate (Caltagirone station) with average annual rainfall of 552 mm, average annual temperatures
16 ° C. The forest vegetation, described as Stipo bromoidis-Quercetum suberis, has marked xericity characters when compared with other cork oaks. There
series linked to the anthropic disturbance leads from the cork forest to Thymus capitatus, Rosmarinus officinalis, Erica multiflora, which can for further degradation
make way for ephemeral herbaceous communities.
The forest vegetation has an arboreal layer dominated by Quercus suber, to which Q. ilex and Q. are mixed in some cases and depending on the substrate.
calliprinos, as well as deciduous oaks. This layer has variable coverage and is almost never continuous, as it is affected by anthropogenic action (fires,
pasture, etc.), as well as the shrub layer, consisting of Daphne gnidium, Cistus salvifolius, C. incanus, Calicotome infesta, Osyris alba, etc. In these
very rich phytocenosis is the contingent of herbaceous species, in particular grasses among which Ampelodesmos mauritanicus, Stipa bromoides, are very widespread
Oryzopsis miliacea, etc. The vegetation is on the whole very similar to that of the neighboring Santo Pietro wood. As for the vascular flora, in the area
there are some taxa of phytogeographic interest (inserted in section 3.3: D) .The site hosts a very diversified zoocoenosis including rare species of
mammals, birds and reptiles.
Source: Ministry of the Environment Natura 2000 form
Ministerial data: Natura 2000 form
Card insertion: Ignazio Caloggero
Photo: web
Information contributions: Ignazio Caloggero, Region of Sicily
