Analisi spaziali sull' Oasi del Simeto; restauro ambientale basato sull'analisi dell'ecologia del paesaggio; environmental restauration [sic] based on a landscape ecological analysis

In this study it is assessed whether the habitat loss for the Foce Simeto nature reserve (Province of Catania, Sicily), due to the housing estate nearby, might lead to increased fragmentation. Three ecosystems were selected: dunes and the littoral coastal ecosystem, marshland and forests. For these ecosystems we studied indicator species present. An assessment was made of dispersal distance and habitat requirements for key populations of these species. In particular littoral and dune ecosystems are hampered. It is therefore recommended that for dune and coastal ecosystems continuity is realized as much as possible by adequate protection of natural areas and restoration of degraded or lost areas. Based on this it would be better if the housing area would be removed or relocated.