What can historical floristic data tell us? A case study from Sardinia (Italy).

The interest in historical floristic data has been increasing during recent years because of their potential to give insight covering historical periods for which few other data are available. The recent discovery of a historical flora referred to an area of Sardinia (Italy) named Sassarese, for which a relatively updated flora was known, was an opportunity to verify the potentiality of historical data and to provide information for interpreting biodiversity history identifying possible shifts in the flora related to land use changes. Comparing the two floras, we found that 60% of segetal/crop relative species and 20% of freshwater habitat species disappeared and that the introduction of seven alien species has to be dated back. The trends detected may be helpful for future management choices, which should consider the possibility of recovering habitats and activities that encourage the return of disappeared species, perhaps even thinking about restoration projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]