500-Year-Old Pressed Flowers Shed Light on Ecological Changes in Northern Italy

A collection of 5,000 pressed flowers gathered by Italian naturalist Ulisse Aldrovandi 500 years ago in Bologna has become a resource for studying climate change and human impact on landscapes. The dried specimens, part of a herbarium of 15 books with up to 580 specimens each, include detailed notes on species. Modern botanists compared Aldrovandi's flora with collections by Girolamo Cocconi in 1883 and records from the Emilia-Romagna region from 1965 to 2021. The study found a 1,000% increase in non-native American flowers and a 560% increase in Italy's population, indicating profound human impact on the ecosystem. The quality of flora has decreased, especially rare species. Lead researcher Dr Fabrizio Buldrini from the University of Bologna expressed concern over the findings.

A collection of 5,000 pressed flowers gathered by Italian naturalist Ulisse Aldrovandi 500 years ago in Bologna has become a resource for studying climate change and human impact on landscapes. The dried specimens, part of a herbarium of 15 books with up to 580 specimens each, include detailed notes on species. Modern botanists compared Aldrovandi's flora with collections by Girolamo Cocconi in 1883 and records from the Emilia-Romagna region from 1965 to 2021. The study found a 1,000% increase in non-native American flowers and a 560% increase in Italy's population, indicating profound human impact on the ecosystem. The quality of flora has decreased, especially rare species. Lead researcher Dr Fabrizio Buldrini from the University of Bologna expressed concern over the findings.

A collection of 5,000 pressed flowers gathered by Italian naturalist Ulisse Aldrovandi 500 years ago in Bologna has become a resource for studying climate change and human impact on landscapes. The dried specimens, part of a herbarium of 15 books with up to 580 specimens each, include detailed notes on species. Modern botanists compared Aldrovandi's flora with collections by Girolamo Cocconi in 1883 and records from the Emilia-Romagna region from 1965 to 2021. The study found a 1,000% increase in non-native American flowers and a 560% increase in Italy's population, indicating profound human impact on the ecosystem. The quality of flora has decreased, especially rare species. Lead researcher Dr Fabrizio Buldrini from the University of Bologna expressed concern over the findings.

This story involves 1 source and may affect public understanding of pressed flowers / biodiversity.