Restoration of Open Oak Woodlands in Mediterranean Ecosystems of Western Iberia and California

2015 ◽  
pp. 392-415
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Ecosystems ◽  
Oak Woodlands

Comparing culture and ecology: conservation planning of oak woodlands in Mediterranean landscapes of Portugal and California

2010 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARIA J. SANTOS ◽  
JAMES H. THORNE
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Mediterranean Ecosystems ◽  
Multiple Use ◽  
Natural Areas ◽  
Oak Woodland ◽  
Oak Woodlands ◽  
Working Landscapes ◽  
Conservation Policies ◽  
Mediterranean Landscapes ◽  
Conservation Plans

SUMMARYMediterranean ecosystems are biodiversity hotspots, however translating conservation need into implementation has been hindered by their function as working landscapes that integrate both human and natural components. This paper compares oak woodland working landscapes in California and Portugal: can conservation policy be reshaped to conserve Mediterranean oak woodland ecosystems with differing sociopolitical cultural contexts? Each oak woodland's cultural-historical legacy and socioecological system (SES) is described, and how each system can cross-inform improvements to conservation policies is assessed. The SES analysis shows that oak woodlands are managed to maximize revenue from one or more of four resources: forestry, rangeland, agriculture and natural areas. Sustainability of extractable resources may be threatened by replacement rate, land-use history and interdependence with other resources. Non-extractable resources (natural areas) are more volatile and sustainable management is dependent on the voluntary nature of collective-choice rules. Conservation planning and implementation require attention to the characteristic heterogeneity of oak woodlands and to the processes that generate biodiversity, such as fire and regeneration. Conservation plans should aim for the preservation of oak woodland functions (for example multiple use systems) and cultural characteristics (such as keeping people on the land), and governmental and public recognition of the value of preserving these woodlands.

scholarly journals Highly restricted dispersal in habitat-forming seaweed may impede natural recovery of disturbed populations

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Florentine Riquet ◽  
Christiane-Arnilda De Kuyper ◽  
Cécile Fauvelot ◽  
Laura Airoldi ◽  
Serge Planes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Mediterranean Ecosystems ◽  
Dispersal Distance ◽  
Genetic Connectivity ◽  
Restricted Gene Flow ◽  
Isolated Populations ◽  
Natural Recovery ◽  
Limited Dispersal ◽  
Ecological Importance

AbstractCystoseira sensu lato (Class Phaeophyceae, Order Fucales, Family Sargassaceae) forests play a central role in marine Mediterranean ecosystems. Over the last decades, Cystoseira s.l. suffered from a severe loss as a result of multiple anthropogenic stressors. In particular, Gongolaria barbata has faced multiple human-induced threats, and, despite its ecological importance in structuring rocky communities and hosting a large number of species, the natural recovery of G. barbata depleted populations is uncertain. Here, we used nine microsatellite loci specifically developed for G. barbata to assess the genetic diversity of this species and its genetic connectivity among fifteen sites located in the Ionian, the Adriatic and the Black Seas. In line with strong and significant heterozygosity deficiencies across loci, likely explained by Wahlund effect, high genetic structure was observed among the three seas (ENA corrected FST = 0.355, IC = [0.283, 0.440]), with an estimated dispersal distance per generation smaller than 600 m, both in the Adriatic and Black Sea. This strong genetic structure likely results from restricted gene flow driven by geographic distances and limited dispersal abilities, along with genetic drift within isolated populations. The presence of genetically disconnected populations at small spatial scales (< 10 km) has important implications for the identification of relevant conservation and management measures for G. barbata: each population should be considered as separated evolutionary units with dedicated conservation efforts.

scholarly journals Short-Term N-Fertilization Differently Affects the Leaf and Leaf Litter Chemistry of the Dominant Species in a Mediterranean Forest under Drought Conditions

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 605
Author(s):  
Helena Vallicrosa ◽  
Jordi Sardans ◽  
Romà Ogaya ◽  
Pere Roc Fernández ◽  
Josep Peñuelas
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Mediterranean Ecosystems ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
Mediterranean Forest ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Species Response ◽  
Drought Conditions

Nitrogen (N) deposition is a key driver of global change with significant effects on carbon (C) cycling, species fitness, and diversity; however, its effects on Mediterranean ecosystems are unclear. Here, we simulated N deposition in an N-fertilization experiment with 15N-labeled fertilizer in a montane evergreen Mediterranean holm oak forest, in central Catalonia, to quantify short-term impacts on leaf, leaf litter elemental composition, and resorption efficiency in three dominant species (Quercus ilex, Phillyrea latifolia, and Arbutus unedo). We found that even under drought conditions, 15N isotope analysis of leaf and leaf litter showed a rapid uptake of the added N, suggesting an N deficient ecosystem. Species responses to N fertilization varied, where A. unedo was unaffected and the responses in P. latifolia and Q. ilex were similar, albeit with contrasting magnitude. P. latifolia benefited the most from N fertilization under drought conditions of the experimental year. These differences in species response could indicate impacts on species fitness, competition, and abundance under increased N loads in Mediterranean forest ecosystems. Further research is needed to disentangle interactions between long-term N deposition and the drought predicted under future climate scenarios in Mediterranean ecosystems.

scholarly journals Soil-vegetation relationships in Mediterranean forests after fire

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Víctor Fernández-García ◽  
Elena Marcos ◽  
Sara Huerta ◽  
Leonor Calvo
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Mediterranean Ecosystems ◽  
Fire Effects ◽  
Mediterranean Forests ◽  
Vegetation Growth ◽  
Burned Areas ◽  
Vegetation Height ◽  
P Content ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Soil Status

Abstract Background Wildfires are one of the major environmental concerns in Mediterranean ecosystems. Thus, many studies have addressed wildfire impacts on soil and vegetation in Mediterranean forests, but the linkages between these ecosystem compartments after fire are not well understood. The aim of this work is to analyze soil-vegetation relationships in Mediterranean burned forests as well as the consistency of these relationships among forests with different environmental conditions, at different times after fire, and among vegetation with different functional traits. Results Our results indicate that study site conditions play an important role in mediating soil-vegetation relationships. Likewise, we found that the nature of soil-vegetation relationships may vary over time as fire effects are less dominant in both ecosystem compartments. Despite this, we detected several common soil-vegetation relationships among study sites and times after fire. For instance, our results revealed that available P content and stoichiometry (C:P and N:P) were closely linked to vegetation growth, and particularly to the growth of trees. We found that enzymatic activities and microbial biomass were inversely related to vegetation growth rates, whereas the specific activities of soil enzymes were higher in the areas with more vegetation height and cover. Likewise, our results suggest that resprouters may influence soil properties more than seeders, the growth of seeders being more dependent on soil status. Conclusions We provide pioneer insights into how vegetation is influenced by soil, and vice-versa, in Mediterranean burned areas. Our results reflect variability in soil-vegetation relationships among study sites and time after fire, but consistent patterns between soil properties and vegetation were also detected. Our research is highly relevant to advance in forest science and could be useful to achieve efficient post-fire management.

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