Description of the Studied Areas

The studied areas were located in the Regional Park of Migliarino - San Rossore - Massaciuccoli, in the Pisa province (Tuscany, Italy). The protected area is characterized by a wide diversity of ecosystems and a high presence of lands suitable for agriculture. The project focused on three study areas characterized by different ecosystems: Area 1 (Massaciuccoli Lake), Area 2 (Serchio River) and Area 3 (Arno River). In each area, permanent study areas and, within them, the sub-areas (transect, plot, etc.) needed for data collection were identified. During the first months of the project plot/sampling points, some plants and trees (poplar and maple) of interest for the project were defined. The plots were staked, the plants marked with labels, and the geographic coordinates of the plots were determined using a GPS and registered in a GIS. Within these plots investigations of plant biodiversity, animal and microbial were carried out. The identification of permanent plots allowed to repeat the investigations of biodiversity in the same points for the duration of the project allowing to compare data between different years. In consideration with the needs of the project, the three weather stations with different characteristics according to the study area were placed in the three study areas.