Effects of Fire on Soil Macroinvertebrates in a Mediterranean Phryganic Ecosystem

1995 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 113 ◽  
Author(s):  
SP Sgardelis ◽  
JD Pantis ◽  
MD Argyropoulou ◽  
GP Stamou
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Mediterranean Climate ◽  
Ground Vegetation ◽  
Litter Layer ◽  
Soil Layers ◽  
Burnt Site ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Soil Macroinvertebrates

The effect of a summer wildfire on the abundance and community composition of soil macroinvertebrates of a phryganic ecosystem was studied. The numerical responses of macroinvertebrates to fire were variable, most notably the reduction of the saprophagous fauna. The magnitude of the changes in abundance due to fire was comparable or even lower than the variations imposed by the seasonality of the mediterranean climate. fire did not seem to affect strongly the community composition of the soil inhabiting fauna, but caused considerable changes in the composition of the litter-dwellers. Furthermore, seasonal changes in community composition were less pronounced in the burnt site compared to those in the control. The observed effects of fire should be attributed to the destruction of the litter layer and the above ground vegetation cover, rather than to the immediate death of the animals, since most of them were absent from the upper soil layers during summer, that is when fire occured.

scholarly journals Effects and Economic Sustainability of Biochar Application on Corn Production in a Mediterranean Climate

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 3313
Author(s):  
Juan Luis Aguirre ◽  
María Teresa Martín ◽  
Sergio González ◽  
Manuel Peinado
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Mediterranean Climate ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Economic Sustainability ◽  
Corn Production ◽  
Enhanced Production ◽  
Wet Weight ◽  
The Mediterranean

The effects of two types of biochar on corn production in the Mediterranean climate during the growing season were analyzed. The two types of biochar were obtained from pyrolysis of Pinus pinaster. B1 was fully pyrolyzed with 55.90% organic carbon, and B2 was medium pyrolyzed with 23.50% organic carbon. B1 and B2 were supplemented in the soil of 20 plots (1 m2) at a dose of 4 kg/m2. C1 and C2 (10 plots each) served as control plots. The plots were automatically irrigated and fertilizer was not applied. The B1-supplemented plots exhibited a significant 84.58% increase in dry corn production per square meter and a 93.16% increase in corn wet weight (p << 0.001). Corn production was no different between B2-supplemented, C1, and C2 plots (p > 0.01). The weight of cobs from B1-supplemented plots was 62.3%, which was significantly higher than that of cobs from C1 and C2 plots (p < 0.01). The grain weight increased significantly by 23% in B1-supplemented plots (p < 0.01) and there were no differences between B2-supplemented, C1, and C2 plots. At the end of the treatment, the soil of the B1-supplemented plots exhibited increased levels of sulfate, nitrate, magnesium, conductivity, and saturation percentage. Based on these results, the economic sustainability of this application in agriculture was studied at a standard price of €190 per ton of biochar. Amortization of this investment can be achieved in 5.52 years according to this cost. Considering the fertilizer cost savings of 50% and the water cost savings of 25%, the amortization can be achieved in 4.15 years. If the price of biochar could be reduced through the CO2 emission market at €30 per ton of non-emitted CO2, the amortization can be achieved in 2.80 years. Biochar markedly improves corn production in the Mediterranean climate. However, the amortization time must be further reduced, and enhanced production must be guaranteed over the years with long term field trials so that the product is marketable or other high value-added crops must be identified.

scholarly journals First report of caper (Capparis spinosa) serious infestation by Eurydema eckerleini in Cyclades Islands, Greece (Hemiptera: Heteroptera, Pentatomidae)

2017 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 65
Author(s):  
Konstantinos B. Simoglou ◽  
Paride Dioli
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Climate ◽  
First Record ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Hilly Terrain ◽  
First Report ◽  
Drought Conditions ◽  
Capparis Spinosa ◽  
Heteroptera Pentatomidae ◽  
The Mediterranean

The islands of Tinos and Syros in the Cyclades Archipelago, Greece, have a hilly terrain, a mild Mediterranean climate and vegetation adapted to drought conditions. Caper (<em>Capparis</em> <em>spinosa</em> L.) is highly adapted to arid environments and grows successfully during the Mediterranean summer. In August 2015, we detected serious infestations on wild caper by <em>Eurydema</em> <em>eckerleini</em> (Pentatomidae), which was formerly considered a species endemic to Crete and the Peloponnese, with an isolated report in Turkey. This is the first record of the presence of<em> E. eckerleini</em> in the Cyclades.

scholarly journals Can trophic rewilding reduce the impact of fire in a more flammable world?

2018 ◽  
Vol 373 (1761) ◽  
pp. 20170443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher N. Johnson ◽  
Lynda D. Prior ◽  
Sally Archibald ◽  
Helen M. Poulos ◽  
Andrew M. Barton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Ground Vegetation ◽  
Litter Layer ◽  
Theme Issue ◽  
Large Herbivores ◽  
Plant Matter ◽  
The World ◽  
Large Animals ◽  
In Fire ◽  
The Impact

Large vertebrates affect fire regimes in several ways: by consuming plant matter that would otherwise accumulate as fuel; by controlling and varying the density of vegetation; and by engineering the soil and litter layer. These processes can regulate the frequency, intensity and extent of fire. The evidence for these effects is strongest in environments with intermediate rainfall, warm temperatures and graminoid-dominated ground vegetation. Probably, extinction of Quaternary megafauna triggered increased biomass burning in many such environments. Recent and continuing declines of large vertebrates are likely to be significant contributors to changes in fire regimes and vegetation that are currently being experienced in many parts of the world. To date, rewilding projects that aim to restore large herbivores have paid little attention to the value of large animals in moderating fire regimes. Rewilding potentially offers a powerful tool for managing the risks of wildfire and its impacts on natural and human values. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Trophic rewilding: consequences for ecosystems under global change’.

scholarly journals Conservation of the group Piperia (Orchidaceae) and associated plant communities

Lankesteriana ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Lauri
Keyword(s):  
Plant Community ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Human Activity ◽  
Mediterranean Climate ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Mediterranean

The conservation and protection of California native orchids has not been a large focus recently. All California native orchids are terrestrial and many are associated with forest and woodland plant com- munities. However, a number are associated with the Mediterranean Climate plant community known as Chaparral; this includes at least three Piperia Rydb. species. Many Piperia populations and associated Chaparral plant communities have been impacted by human activity over the past several decades, howev- er, there is very little documentation regarding the size, and overall impact to the populations. 

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