Anagallis tenella The Friuli Venezia Giulia Region established this biotope through decree of the President of the Regional Council no. 0238/Pres. of 23.06.1998, recognising thereby the Vertigo angustior (Narrow-mouthed whorl snail) This tiny species has white-pink flowers presence of rare environments and species, at risk of extinction. This area forms part of the Site of Community Importance IT3320026 “Risorgive dello Stella”, owing to the This mollusc has palearctic distribution, and is small (ca 2 that appear just a few millimetres from presence of habitats and species of naturalistic value recognised at European level. The biotope falls within the municipalities of Bertiolo and Talmassons. x 1 mm); it is one of the few sinistrorsal species, a pale the ground. yellow-brown colour, and shiny. Snails live mainly in the The small leaves are heart-shaped, dampest parts such as wood edges, close to streams, while the creeping stems allow it to under stones, in litter, in wet grassland and fens. This species is found close to water on plants or in mudbanks. colonise free areas. It is typically found It is considered an indicator of a healthy environment. in Atlantic damp areas, and in the fens survives only on certain moss carpets Lucanus cervus (Stag beetle) shielded from competition from larger This is the largest of Europe's species. The colony in this biotope is the Coleoptera (up to 8 cm). The male D. Ota largest known in Friuli. possesses enormous mandibles (resembling a stag's horns), which Gladiolus palustris are used exclusively by the males The blooms of this species appear at during their mating battles. The the end of springtime and are very stag beetle lives in mature woods, striking. The flowers have violet tepals D. Ota broad-leafed trees, especially oak

and the leaves are almost linear. i woods, where there are rotting n i

Protected by the Habitat Directive, this trunks or wood. The larvan feeds from rotting wood, hosting colonies of a Z species is in fact quite widespread in cellulose-digesting bacteria. in the intestine. This beetle is in regression Friuli, where it grows both in the wettest throughout Europe owingS to the loss of mature oak woods, thinning out of meadows and in some evolved alluvial large trees, and elimination of old wood from the woodlands. flatlands, provided these are not fertilised. It can be found from the coast Triturus carnifex right through to mountain regions. G. Oriolo (Crested newt) This is a large Urodela (reaching Utricularia minor 18 cm including the tail), still The pools of fen water are colonised common throughout the entire by a number of carnivore species. Friuli lowland. To mate, it needs This floating species is characterised still unpolluted water deeper by a large number of bladders for than 30 cm and with good plant cover. The species proves to be S. Zanini capturing small insects. rather long-lived, at times The flower that appears above the reaching even 18 years. The main cause of the decline of this species is the water is rather vivid, of a pale yellow. gradual destruction of its habitats, oversimplification of environment, but The species is in strong regression, also the presence of pollutants in the waters and introduction of d u e p a r t l y t o a g e n e r a l salmonids into the streams. eutrophisation of the waters. G. Oriolo Emys orbicularis (Pond turtle) This turtle normally reaches 20 cm Euphrasia marchesettii (the males are smaller); its shell is This species has an annual cycle, dark brown or blackish, with and is characterised by very late characteristic light markings and flowering of small white flowers spots or stripes that are often with yellow and violet parts. yellow. It prefers still or slow- S. Zanini running water with rich vegetation. The leaves are small and highly S. Zanini Its habits are mainly aquatic but it is denticular. It is often found in rich Autorizzazione ortofotocarta prot. 9787/28.7.2008 also commonly found on land. It is a long-lived species (reaches 20-50 colonies. It is subendemic in the years) and grows very slowly. The species is under threat from the loss and Veneto-Friuli lowlands and lives in The project LIFE 06NAT/IT/000060 “Conservation and restoration of calcareous fens in Friuli” is dedicated to the conservation of the last remaining deterioration in its habitat, but also from capture by man. The release into wet environments from coastal alkaline fens of the Friuli lowland, their recuperation from land used for agriculture, setting out from agricultural land, and protection from extinction of the natural environment of exotic turtles compromise the survival of the areas right up to the hills. D. Ota rare and endemic plants found to be surviving in these places. The four natural biotopes of the Region shown on the map are involved. species with further serious problems. The Risorgive di Virco (Virco Springs) biotope, occupying 81.7 hectares, This publication is one of a number of territory promotion initiatives was created in 1998 and falls within the municipalities of Bertiolo and included in the LIFE 06NAT/IT/000060 project Talmassons. This area lies just below the line of springs: the “Conservation and restoration of calcareous fens in Friuli” abundance of water has over time generated a rich network of surface To find out more, please visit the web site www.lifefriulifens.it water and a system of wet habitats. The many groundwater outcropping form into a stream and a stretched shape fen. Here, there are Cladium beds around the pools and in the most saturated areas, low alkaline fens dominated by Schoenus nigricans and rich in endemisms; wet meadows dominated by Molinia caerulea are rare, being the first to be transformed into cultivated land. There are many interesting amphibian habitats as a result of the wide-scale restoration carried out on previously cultivated areas. There are also o strips of wooded areas, dominated by black alder, created fairly l o i recently. The agricultural landscape surrounding the area, in some r O

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cases, has kept its traditional layout of enclosed fields. The n o o s s a

management and restoration allowed the biodiversity to be a l l Source pool. B B

. maintained and broadened, and it is planned to extend the natural . C 1 C 2 areas and connect up the biotopes. Species present listed in Annex II of the Habitat Directive are Armeria helodes, Erucastrum palustre, Euphrasia marchesettii and Gladiolus palustris. Other rare species are Senecio fontanicola, Centaurea forojulensis and Anagallis tenella. There is a sizable colony of this latter, which grows over a peat layer raised during restoration work. Rediscovered springs A great amount of species characterizes the fauna of the spring area. Notable examples of the reptiles here include the relict populations of the common lizard (vivipara), a microtherm species, which in these a n n environments must truly be considered a post-Wurmian glacial relict. o r s e a v l

The viper is still widespread in the areas, with populations that are now a B

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. C isolated and therefore in particular danger. Snakes present include 3 L 4 the Aesculapian snake and the smooth snake, while the presence of

1. Transport of mown material using winch and tracked vehicle (2.) n o the fresh-water turtle here is of particular Community interest. 3. Transfer of nursery plants to the site for transplant (4.) s a l B

Amphibians include the particularly widespread Italian agile frog, a . species endemic in northern Italy. Many other amphibians live in the C stagnant waters, for example the newts and the yellow-bellied toad. Mown damp meadow at the fen edge. The site also offers considerable ornithological interest, with the presence of many important species in areas that, although Regional natural fragmented, play a vital role of shelter within territories subject to biotope intense anthropic pressure. Of particular note is the presence of various ardeids such as the purple heron, little bittern (also nesting), Risorgive di night heron, great bittern, great egret and little egret. Birds of prey Virco include the hen harrier and Montagu's harrier, the marsh harrier and Municipality of Municipality of Municipality of Municipality of many others. Bertiolo Castions di Strada Gonars Talmassons With the otter now extinct, the main mammal here is the “puzzola” (a type of polecat), a carnivore whose populations everywhere are in FOR INFORMATION: Central directorate for agricultural, natural and forest resources sharp decline. Protection of natural environments and fauna Particular rodents here, in the wettest zones, in sizable populations Direzione centrale risorse agricole, naturali e forestali include the water vole as well as the harvest mouse with its delicate Servizio tutela ambienti naturali e fauna Cyperaceae Graminaceae nest built up on the top of and stalks. The o

Via Sabbadini, 31 - 33100 Udine - Italy l o i water shrew is also very widespread. The presence of the freshwater r

tel. +39 0432 555290 - fax +39 0432 555757 ò O

. crayfish should also be noted, a species of Community interest. m a e-mail: [email protected] G Z

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M Area under restoration.