Suoli e ambienti del Parco Naturale del Mont Avic (AO) - 1: piani subalpino superiore e alpino

Mont Avic Natural Park (Ao, Italy) shows interesting and diverse alpine ecosystems, located over the Mont Avic ophiolitic complex (serpentinite with associated mafic rocks and calcshists). The soils show peculiar chemical and physical properties, statistically related with vegetation communities. At the alpine level, soils and vegetation diverge in relation to substrate and slope processes. On serpentinite, in well drained conditions, the typical association is Caricetum fimbriatae, enriched with high metal adapted Brassicaceae. Some soil properties are: pH between 4 and 6, changeable Ca/Mg, high Ni and Cr content (up to 1300 ppm). On stable slopes over mafic rocks and calcschist the main association is Caricetum curvulae, soils are acidified, rich in organic matter, Ni and Cr content is around 200 ppm. On calcschist, pH increases with depth up to 6.5, and the flora is enriched with basifilous species. The Podzol-like morphology disagrees with the analytical results