Ecology of Elba Island

Elba Island 1814 Map

Elba Geography: History

Elba Island was part of Tuscany many millions years ago(7-8 million years ago) [1]

There is common taxa and certain insects and animals that are similar [1]

Current Elba Island Map

Elba Geography: Current Geography

Elba currently houses Tuscany's National Archipelago Park on the West side (2)

the east side is where two thirds of Italy’s iron is mined on the island of Elba (3)

Amazing Views of Elba Island, mainly urban area.

Elba Ecology:

studies how organisms interact with their environment and other organisms

Elba Island Mountains

Endemic vs. Alien Taxa

There are only about 61 alien taxa compared to the 1098 taxa in Elba Island!(4)

Pretty preserved.

Flora

The difference of altitudes of Elba Island has favored the presence of chestnut tree woods; on the mountains there are the European yew and the hop hornbeam(3)

Map of Elba's Habitat, depicting common flora (8)

Endangered Taxa:

Saffron endemic taxa(5).

Only at the top of the Mountain of Caponne (5).

we could try and find it!

Conservation in Flora

Recent scientific article recorded all the taxa in Elba Island and the authors did not consider any endangered (4).

Looks like European Union's, Tuscan's Archipelago National Park Agency, and United Nation boundaries have helped preserve the flora within the National Park boundaries. (10,11)

As wild boars are separated from rare taxa like the Saffron. (8)

Fauna

Nazionle Tuscan Archipelago Parke: Elba Island specifically holds thousands of species ranging from sheeps, birds, insects, frogs all the way to manta rays. (6)

Rare Olvis Sheep (could possibly see one on the Mountains) (6)

Could see one if we scuba dive the north side of Elba Island

Sheeps laying peaceful in the Archipelago National Park

Herring Gull, stable population. (4)

Will see this seagull everywhere

Endangered Fauna

Even though this Island is richer in biodiversity and species than the surrounding National Park Islands, it sadly contains endangered species

The rarest species of seagull in the world:

Audouin gull (6) (diff-Medit Herring gull)

Endangered due to:

competition with Herring Gull
man hunting
land animal and invasive species(cat and rats) hunt it (6)

The critically endangered red-rumped swallow (6).

Due to:

alien species (cats and rats)
land animals like the wild boar (10)

The red legged partridge (aka game-bird)

Endangered due to:

Hunting
Wild boar predator on eggs (10)

Conservation efforts:

EU legislation in effect since 1979 to conserve wild birds and natural habitats of wild flora and fauna of the National Park(9)
LIFT organization helped monitor all the islands and aided in the reproductive success of the Audouin gull when needed(9)

With the National Park agency, such endangered animals like the sparrow and partridge are preserved and not out for hunting (10)

Helped smooth out a meadow, preferred habitats (10)

Here there are species like starfish , molluscs like the octopus and the sea ears together with colorful annelids like the spirograph (11)

Marine ecology

The great biological diversity of the Archipelago is also due to the variety of the coasts and of the bottom of the sea: from the beaches of the Elba to the rocky cliffs of the western Capraia(11)

The Largest Marine Park in the world and carries most of the Mediterrean marine flora and fauna (10)

One of the best places to scuba dive in the world (10)

And then most common ones:

Dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, and the sperm whale (10).

Most likely encounter this through the ferry trip

Rare Sea animals

One of the most difficult to see, swordfish, tuna , and sunfish (13).

On the sandy bottoms we can also try to meet increasingly rare seahorse " (6)

Rare red coral

An unforgettable experience is to immerse yourself in the incredible yellow, blue and red color palettes of one of the most threatened marine organisms: the coralligenous, represented in the Park also by the now rare red coral (13).

Usually in unpolluted waters (13).

Conservation efforts

The Tuscan's Archipelago Marine park is under strict protection by the State Forestry Corps and the Coast Guard. Recreational fishing, bathing and diving are forbidden, as is overnight staying. (16)

Landing are allowed only with permission of the Territorial Office for Biodiversity of the State Forestry Corps of Follonica (16)

Theme: Borders

Our trip to Italy is themed Borders so:

Elba Island is separated from other islands and mainland by the ocean and create like a border within them. Elba's biodiversity is also bordered by the boundaries of the European Union and United Nations in order for the biodiversity of Italy to be preserved Italy's Biodiversity. Here the government intervention of surrounding the biodiversity of Elba and the surrounding islands is a great idea.

Moreover, the ecology within each side of the Elba Island connect with one another to form one of the best biodiverse islands in the world.

Conclusion: Elba Ecology

In the end, Elba is this giant ecosystem that need it's Archipelago park flora and fauna interaction with the whole Island as well as the Marine biology with the pure Mediterrean sea to strive. Glad to go onto the Italy trip to see the rich biodiversity firsthand!

References

1: Fattorini, S. (2009). Faunal patterns in tenebrionids (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) on the Tuscan Islands: The dominance of paleogeography over Recent geography. Eur. J. Entomol., 106(3), 415-423. doi: 10.14411/eje.2009.053.

2: The geography of Elba Island. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.elbaworld.com/en/elba-island/p-393-geography.html

3: Parco Nazionale Arcipelago Toscano. (2019). Retrieved from http://www.parks.it/parco.nazionale.arcip.toscano/Epar.php

4: Galasso, G., Domina, G., Alessandrini, A., Ardenghi, N. M., Bacchetta, G., Ballelli, S., ... & Calvia, G. (2018). Notulae to the Italian alien vascular flora: 6. Italian Botanist, 6, 65.

5: Srl, I. (2019). Saffron from the Island of Elba. Retrieved from https://www.infoelba.com/discovering-elba/curious-facts/saffron-from-the-island-of-elba/

6: The fauna of Elba Island. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.elbaworld.com/en/elba-island/p-329-la-fauna-dell-elba.html

7: Srl, I. (2019). Audouin's Gull (Larus audouinii). Retrieved from https://www.infoelba.com/discovering-elba/curious-facts/audouin-gull/Srl, I. (2019). Audouin's Gull (Larus audouinii). Retrieved from https://www.infoelba.com/discovering-elba/curious-facts/audouin-gull/

8: Chiatante, G., Meriggi, A., Giustini, D., & Baldaccini, N. E. (2013). Density and habitat requirements of red-legged partridge on Elba Island (Tuscan archipelago, Italy). Italian journal of zoology, 80(3), 402-411.

9: Giannini, F. (2007). Tuscan Islands: New actions towards sea birds and habitat. Retrieved from http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.dspPage&n_proj_id=2631

10: Srl, I. (2019). Scuba diving at the Scoglietto in Portoferraio - Le Cernie landslide. Retrieved from https://www.infoelba.com/sports-free-time/water-sports/diving/routes-sub-elba/scoglietto/

11: Marine Environment of Elba Island. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.elbaworld.com/en/elba-island/p-330-marine-environment.html

12: Mare. (2019). Retrieved from http://www.islepark.gov.it/conoscere-il-parco/nascita-arcipelago-toscano/mare

13: Angeletti, L., Ceregato, A., Ghirelli, M., Gualandi, B., Lipparini, E., Malatesta, D., ... & Taviani, M. (2010). ROV-SCUBA integrated survey of the Montecristo Island Nature Reserve (Tuscan Archipelago National Park, Mediterranean Sea). Underwater Technology, 29(3), 151-154.

Questions about this page please contact: Anthony Luis

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