scholarly journals Preference by Donkeys and Goats among Five Mediterranean Forest Species: Implications for Reducing Fire Hazard

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1302
Author(s):  
Jordi Bartolomé ◽  
Jordi Miró ◽  
Xavier Panadès ◽  
Maria José Broncano ◽  
Josefina Plaixats ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fires ◽  
Pinus Halepensis ◽  
Fire Hazard ◽  
Mediterranean Forest ◽  
Mediterranean Forests ◽  
Forest Species ◽  
Rubus Ulmifolius ◽  
Key Species ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Cafeteria Test

During the second half of the 20th century, European countries experienced an increase in their forest area due to the global change. Consequently, there has been an increase in large forest fires, mainly in the Mediterranean basin, and this has forced the development of several types of prevention programs. One of them is the control of the understory by livestock. In this sense, browsing with a combination of donkeys and goats could be a good option, as both animals usually feed on forest species. However, little is known about their preferences for the key species of the Mediterranean forest. Using a cafeteria test, the preferences and consumption of both animals have been determined for five typical species of the Mediterranean forest, such as Quercus ilex, Pinus halepensis, Phillyrea latifolia, Rubus ulmifolius, and Brachypodium retusum. Results showed that donkeys and goats could act complementarily in the reduction of the fuel biomass of forests. Donkeys appear to act more on fine fuel, such as B. retusum, and goats on the more pyrophyte species, in this case P. halepensis. In addition, given that donkeys are at severe risk of extinction in Europe, this role of providing ecosystem services could contribute to their conservation. Despite this study only showing that goats and donkeys would consume all five presented plant species and that there are some differences in consumption during a short-term test, it constitutes a useful first step for conservation and fire prevention in the Mediterranean forests.

Forest vulnerability and tree mortality in the Mediterranean: Impacts and Opportunities

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamir Klein
Keyword(s):  
Tree Mortality ◽  
Niche Partitioning ◽  
Common Garden ◽  
Fruit Trees ◽  
Forest Tree ◽  
Aleppo Pine ◽  
Mediterranean Forests ◽  
Mortality Pattern ◽  
Key Species ◽  
The Mediterranean

<p>The Mediterranean basin is a mosaic of human and natural landscapes, many of which are important forests and woodlands. Among global biomes, it has been under the longest anthropogenic stress, and today, in addition to the ongoing warming, it experiences drying. In my talk I will give examples from new research on the impacts of these processes on Mediterranean forests, as well as opportunities for increasing their sustainability under intensifying change.</p><p>Aleppo pine is perhaps the single most important forest tree species for the region, and has been grown for decades in common garden plots of provenances from around the region. Forest scientists from Spain, Italy, Greece and Israel, teamed up to synthesize the results of these provenance trials. Together, we produced the temperature and precipitation growth sensitivity profiles for Aleppo pine. Next, these profiles were applied on future climate maps, to show the potential expansion of this key species northward, as well as its extinction in many southern locations. In a seven decades-long tree mortality study across Israel, this mortality pattern is already occurring, driven by hotter and longer drought periods.</p><p>My current research is focused on finding new avenues to ensure the long-term existence of forests and trees in the Mediterranean. Examples include: (1) Mixed forests, with native broadleaf and conifer species coexisting, have high resilience, thanks to interspecific niche partitioning; (2) Native fruit trees have higher drought resistance than their cultivated relatives, and should be protected and integrated into local agriculture; (3) Native savannah trees from the southern fringes of the region are becoming more important, and offer new resilience strategies; and (4) Variations among Aleppo pine ecotypes give hope for the future suitability of this species across the Mediterranean.</p>

scholarly journals The Footprint of Wildfires on Mediterranean Forest Ecosystem Services in Vesuvius National Park

Fire ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
Roberto Silvestro ◽  
Luigi Saulino ◽  
Carla Cavallo ◽  
Emilia Allevato ◽  
Stefania Pindozzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Forest Ecosystem ◽  
National Park ◽  
Fire Suppression ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Economic Loss ◽  
Mediterranean Forest ◽  
Mediterranean Forests ◽  
Regulation Services ◽  
The Mediterranean

Wildfires are one of the most important natural disturbances in vegetation biomes. In recent decades, both the number and severity of fires have significantly increased in Mediterranean forests, frequently resulting in catastrophic events. In this scenario, we aimed to explore the flow of ecosystem services and their related economic value that was disrupted by human-induced megafires in the Mediterranean forest of Vesuvius National Park in the summer of 2017. We adopted an innovative approach by merging two methodologies: an ecological approach to evaluate the status of the forest ecosystem after the wildfires and an economics methodology to estimate the monetary value of the interruption to ecosystem services. Losses related to the following six services were estimated: woody biomass, soil erosion control, habitat maintenance, pollination, carbon stock, and ecotourism. In 2017, 3350 ha of forest (88% of the total forested area of Vesuvius National Park) burnt over a period of 49 days. The total estimated monetary loss amounted to €14.363 M, 56.9% of which comprised of provisioning ecosystem services, while 34.7% encompassed maintenance and regulation services, and 8.5% were so-called cultural services. Suppression costs accounted for 16% of the total estimated economic loss of ecosystem services. Our results provide useful insights for decision-makers when allocating financial resources, suggesting that they should invest in fire prevention rather than fire suppression and post-fire restoration. This explicit valuation of the footprint of the wildfires, although not exhaustive, can also lead to greater awareness among the public regarding the benefits conferred by Mediterranean forest ecosystems. This is the first study to economically evaluate the interruption of ecosystem services after megafires in the Mediterranean basin.

Somatic embryogenesis in Pinus halepensis Mill.: an important ecological species from the Mediterranean forest

Trees ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 1339-1351 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. A. Montalbán ◽  
A. Setién-Olarra ◽  
C. L. Hargreaves ◽  
P. Moncaleán
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Embryogenesis ◽  
Pinus Halepensis ◽  
Mediterranean Forest ◽  
The Mediterranean

Mediterranean forests responses to drought and forest fires: continuous monitoring through the TreeTalker system

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Niccoli ◽  
Arturo Pacheco-Solana ◽  
Simona Castaldi ◽  
Riccardo Valentini ◽  
Giovanna Battipaglia
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fires ◽  
Sap Flow ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Absorption Capacity ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Mediterranean Forests ◽  
Xylem Cavitation ◽  
The Mediterranean

<p>Forests play a key role in mitigating greenhouse gases and fighting climate change. However, numerous environmental stressors threaten the integrity and ecological functionalities of forests. In recent decades, the increase of drought events and fires occurrence is negatively influencing forest health, causing dieback events and higher rates of mortality, especially in the Mediterranean environments.</p><p>Studying the mechanisms of plants in response to these events and relating them to the duration and intensity of stress can be the key to understand the vulnerability and sensitivity at individual and regional scale. Currently, most of the available studies are severely limited in time and space, providing information with a relatively poor temporal resolution.</p><p>In this context, our research aims to examine the effects of these events on the ecophysiology of <em>Pinus pinaster</em> Aiton, a very common conifer species in the Mediterranean environment, through the use of the innovative TreeTalker device (TT+). This instrument is able to monitor multiple physiological and environmental parameters of the tree such as sap flow, the amount of light absorbed by the canopy, meteorological information etc. The study is conducted in Southern Italy, more precisely at the Vesuvius National Park, affected in recent years by severe drought conditions and where a large wildfire occurred in July 2017. To evaluate the incidence of stress conditions, during the spring of 2020, 10 TT+ devices were installed in a pine stand affected by fire (Burned Site -BS) and 10 TT+ devices in a second stand called Control Site (CS) in which plants were not affected by the 2017 fire.</p><p>The preliminary monitoring data show interesting information about the hydraulic and stomatal strategies implemented by the trees on both stands according to the variation of the climatic conditions. While in the spring a rather regular sap flow trend was observed in both stands, during the summer months (July, August and good part of September), the trees show a reduction in their stomatal activity during the hottest hours of the day (11 am -15 pm), predictably as a mean to avoid episodes of xylem cavitation and to contrast the high temperatures. In the autumn months of October and November, however, vegetative activity has continued uninterrupted although a considerable decrease in hydraulic flow was registered. Finally, from the data collected it emerges that the severe reduction of the crown suffered by the plants of the BS has determined a lower absorption capacity of photosynthetic light, exposing these individuals to a greater possibility of carbon starvation.</p><p>The monitoring activities will continue for the next few years, allowing to understand better the eco-physiological dynamics leading the individuals of this species to overcome or succumb to stress events and/or extreme climatic conditions.</p>

scholarly journals Are quartzite scree slopes used by birds to promote sound transmission in the Mediterranean forest?

2021 ◽  
pp. 175-194
Author(s):  
J. Pérez–González ◽  
G. Rey Gozalo ◽  
D. Montes González ◽  
S. J. Hidalgo de Trucios ◽  
J. M. Barrigón Morillas
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Sound Transmission ◽  
Acoustic Properties ◽  
Mediterranean Forest ◽  
Mediterranean Forests ◽  
Habitat Features ◽  
Natural Element ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Western Spain ◽  
New Evidence

Birds generate vocalisations (songs and calls) to communicate. Acoustic communication may be hindered by habitat features so birds can use several strategies to favour sound transmission. Sound transmission depends on the acoustic properties of their habitats. Scree slopes, also known as ‘pedrizas’, are frequent in the Mediterranean forests of south and central western Spain. As the acoustic properties of these rocky grounds might favour sound transmission, we propose that birds might actively use ‘pedrizas’ to increase sound transmission. We assessed the following prediction of the hypothesis: the number of vocalisations recorded should be higher near the ‘pedrizas’ than in forest areas far away from ‘pedrizas’. Using portable recorders in the Mediterranean forest of Monfragüe National Park, we found that the number of recorded vocalisations was higher near the ‘pedrizas’. As this result was not due to differences in species richness, we consider it supports the prediction of the hypothesis. This is new evidence that birds might use a natural element within their habitat to increase sound transmission.

scholarly journals Effects of Windthrows on Forest Cover, Tree Growth and Soil Characteristics in Drought-Prone Pine Plantations

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 817
Author(s):  
Jesús Julio Camarero ◽  
Michele Colangelo ◽  
Antonio Gazol ◽  
Manuel Pizarro ◽  
Cristina Valeriano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Pinus Halepensis ◽  
Soil Characteristics ◽  
Tree Cover ◽  
Mediterranean Forests ◽  
Soil Microbial Community Structure ◽  
Soil Features ◽  
Disturbance Intensity

Windstorms are forest disturbances which generate canopy gaps. However, their effects on Mediterranean forests are understudied. To fill that research gap, changes in tree, cover, growth and soil features in Pinus halepensis and Pinus sylvestris plantations affected by windthrows were quantified. In each plantation, trees and soils in closed-canopy stands and gaps created by the windthrow were sampled. Changes in tree cover and radial growth were assessed by using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and dendrochronology, respectively. Soil features including texture, nutrients concentration and soil microbial community structure were also analyzed. Windthrows reduced tree cover and enhanced growth, particularly in the P. halepensis site, which was probably more severely impacted. Soil characteristics were also more altered by the windthrow in this site: the clay percentage increased in gaps, whereas K and Mg concentrations decreased. The biomass of Gram positive bacteria and actinomycetes increased in gaps, but the biomass of Gram negative bacteria and fungi decreased. Soil gaps became less fertile and dominated by bacteria after the windthrow in the P. halepensis site. We emphasize the relevance of considering post-disturbance time recovery and disturbance intensity to assess forest resilience within a multi-scale approach.

Biogenic emissions from Pinus halepensis: a typical species of the Mediterranean area

2005 ◽  
Vol 74 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 37-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Simon ◽  
L. Dumergues ◽  
G. Solignac ◽  
L. Torres
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Halepensis ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Biogenic Emissions ◽  
Typical Species ◽  
The Mediterranean

scholarly journals Longitudinal variability of the biogeochemical role of Mediterranean aerosols in the Mediterranean Sea

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 1067-1080 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Ternon ◽  
C. Guieu ◽  
C. Ridame ◽  
S. L'Helguen ◽  
P. Catala
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Saharan Dust ◽  
Aerosol Sampling ◽  
Modest Contribution ◽  
Anthropogenic Contribution ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
June July ◽  
Atmospheric Inputs ◽  
Longitudinal Variability

Abstract. The Mediterranean Sea is a semi-enclosed basin characterized by a strong thermal stratification during summer during which the atmosphere is the main source of new nutrients to the nutrient-depleted surface layer. From aerosol sampling and microcosm experiments performed during the TransMed BOUM cruise (June–July 2008) we showed that: (i) the Mediterranean atmosphere composition (Al, Fe, P) was homogeneous over ~28° of longitude and was a mixture with a constant proportion of anthropogenic contribution and a variable but modest contribution of crustal aerosols. This quite stable composition over a one month period and a long transect (~2500 km) allowed to define the Mediterranean atmospheric "background" that characterizes the summer season in the absence of major Saharan event and forest fires, (ii) primary production significantly increased at all tested stations after aerosols addition collected on-board and after Saharan dust analog addition, indicating that both additions relieved on-going (co)-limitations. Although both additions significantly increased the N2 fixation rates at the western station, diazotrophic activity remained very low (~0.2 nmol N L−1 d−1), (iii) due to the presence of anthropogenic particles, the probable higher solubility of nutrients associated with mixed aerosols (crustal + anthropogenic contribution), conferred a higher fertilizing potential to on-board collected aerosol as compared to Saharan dust analog. Finally, those experiments showed that atmospheric inputs from a mixed atmospheric event ("summer rain" type) or from a high-intensity Saharan event would induce comparable response by the biota in the stratified Mediterranean SML, during summer.

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