New data on the river ecosystem vegetation pattern in the Molise Region (central-southern Italy).

River ecosystems host diverse biological communities and for their dynamic and physical conditions are among the most threatened environments by human activities like dams, pollution, and water extraction. EU policies, such as the Habitats Directive and the Water Framework Directive aim to protect and restore river habitats. Floristic and vegetation knowledge is essential for identifying protected habitats, guiding conservation efforts and aiding regional conservation planning. Despite that, the available phytosociological data and syntaxonomic frameworks concerning the river plant communities occurring in the Molise region are currently very low. This study investigates the vegetation communities along two rivers in the Molise region (centralsouthern Italy) the Sordo and Biferno Rivers, focusing on their relationship with fluvial geomorphic and hydrological features.