A 500-year-old herbarium from Italy, namely the northern city of Bologna, has been discovered by researchers. Ulisse Aldrovandi, the Italian naturalist, painstakingly assembled this collection between 1551 and 1586, providing a glimpse into history.
Aldrovandi’s Herbarium
- Floristic Changes: The 5,000 specimens in the herbarium revealed a historical tapestry of changes in Italy’s flora over five centuries.
- Human Impact: The pressed and conserved plant specimens revealed hints of human interference, habitat loss, alteration, and the invasion of alien species.
- Climate Change: The collection included information about how Italy’s floral landscape is being affected by climate change.
- Demographic Trends: The herbarium represented changes in the European population, with the exception of the European region of the former USSR.
- Extinct and Unknown Species: The herbarium included references to both native and alien species that are either extinct or have not yet been found in modern times.
Legacy of Transformation
- Influence of the New World: The herbarium of Aldrovandi preserves the recollections of Europe’s initial experiences with American species that subsequently colonized the continent.
- Transforming Flora: It records the first indications of a significant change in the ecosystems and flora of Europe, opening the door for the influx of new species and ecological changes.