Search

2023 Acuerdos transformativos CRUE, The development of indices of ecosystem quality makes it possible to obtain robust information with less human and material effort. These indices are especially useful for assessing the quality of ecosystems disturbed by anthropogenic impact since they can inform management decisions designed to recover their functionality. The abandonment of agricultural activity is a major environmental challenge, and it is important to understand its consequences on ecosystem functioning. The main objective of this work was to develop a robust quality index of abandoned agrosystems based on detailed information on soil properties and structure and the composition of the vegetation. A chronosequence was built of abandoned vineyards over the last 60 years. Seventeen soil physical-chemical properties and ten enzymatic activities related to the cycles of C, N, P and S were determined in 21 plots along the chronosequence. Total vegetation cover, cover of cryptograms and phanerogams and cover of plant functional groups was also recorded. The main factors involved in the quality of the ecosystem were detected by means of network analyses based on these variables. Models were then developed to calculate ecosystem quality indices. Our results showed how the evolution of soil properties occurred simultaneously with variations in the composition and structure of the vegetation. The major factors that determined the functionality of abandoned agrosystems were the quantity and quality of soil organic matter (high TOC and WHN) and the lesser abundance of sulphur accumulator plants. The ecosystem quality index model found to be the most robust was the index with integration by weights and non-linear scores, which followed a sigmoid pattern throughout the chronosequence. Our results highlight the importance of developing robust quality indices based on an interdisciplinary approach., Comunidad de Madrid, Depto. de Química en Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Depto. de Biodiversidad, Ecología y Evolución, Fac. de Farmacia, Fac. de Ciencias Biológicas, TRUE, pub, APC financiada por la UCM

The introduction of exotic species to new regions offers opportunities to test fundamental questions in ecology, such as the context-dependency of community structure and assembly. Annual grasslands provide a model system of a major unidirectional introduction of plant species from Europe to North America. We compared the community structure of grasslands in two Mediterranean regions by surveying plots in Spain and in California with similar environmental and management conditions. All species found in Spanish grasslands were native to Spain, and over half of them (74 of 139 species) are known to have colonized California. In contrast, in California, over half of the species (52 of 95 species) were exotic species, all of them native to Spain. Nineteen species were found in multiple plots in both regions (i.e., shared species). The abundance of shared species in California was either similar to (13 species) or greater than (6 species) in Spain. In California, plants considered pests were more likely than non-pest species to have higher abundance. Co-occurring shared species tended to maintain their relative abundance in native and introduced communities, which indicates that pools of exotic species might assemble similarly at home and away. These findings provide interesting insights into community assembly in novel ecosystems. They also highlight an example of startling global and local floristic homogenization.

The introduction of exotic species to new regions offers opportunities to test fundamental questions in ecology, such as the context-dependency of community structure and assembly. Annual grasslands provide a model system of a major unidirectional introduction of plant species from Europe to North America. We compared the community structure of grasslands in two Mediterranean regions by surveying plots in Spain and in California with similar environmental and management conditions. All species found in Spanish grasslands were native to Spain, and over half of them (74 of 139 species) are known to have colonized California. In contrast, in California, over half of the species (52 of 95 species) were exotic species, all of them native to Spain. Nineteen species were found in multiple plots in both regions (i.e., shared species). The abundance of shared species in California was either similar to (13 species) or greater than (6 species) in Spain. In California, plants considered pests were more likely than non-pest species to have higher abundance. Co-occurring shared species tended to maintain their relative abundance in native and introduced communities, which indicates that pools of exotic species might assemble similarly at home and away. These findings provide interesting insights into community assembly in novel ecosystems. They also highlight an example of startling global and local floristic homogenization.

The introduction of exotic species to new regions offers opportunities to test fundamental questions in ecology, such as the context-dependency of community structure and assembly. Annual grasslands provide a model system of a major unidirectional introduction of plant species from Europe to North America. We compared the community structure of grasslands in two Mediterranean regions by surveying plots in Spain and in California with similar environmental and management conditions. All species found in Spanish grasslands were native to Spain, and over half of them (74 of 139 species) are known to have colonized California. In contrast, in California, over half of the species (52 of 95 species) were exotic species, all of them native to Spain. Nineteen species were found in multiple plots in both regions (i.e., shared species). The abundance of shared species in California was either similar to (13 species) or greater than (6 species) in Spain. In California, plants considered pests were more likely than non-pest species to have higher abundance. Co-occurring shared species tended to maintain their relative abundance in native and introduced communities, which indicates that pools of exotic species might assemble similarly at home and away. These findings provide interesting insights into community assembly in novel ecosystems. They also highlight an example of startling global and local floristic homogenization.

The introduction of exotic species to new regions offers opportunities to test fundamental questions in ecology, such as the context-dependency of community structure and assembly. Annual grasslands provide a model system of a major unidirectional introduction of plant species from Europe to North America. We compared the community structure of grasslands in two Mediterranean regions by surveying plots in Spain and in California with similar environmental and management conditions. All species found in Spanish grasslands were native to Spain, and over half of them (74 of 139 species) are known to have colonized California. In contrast, in California, over half of the species (52 of 95 species) were exotic species, all of them native to Spain. Nineteen species were found in multiple plots in both regions (i.e., shared species). The abundance of shared species in California was either similar to (13 species) or greater than (6 species) in Spain. In California, plants considered pests were more likely than non-pest species to have higher abundance. Co-occurring shared species tended to maintain their relative abundance in native and introduced communities, which indicates that pools of exotic species might assemble similarly at home and away. These findings provide interesting insights into community assembly in novel ecosystems. They also highlight an example of startling global and local floristic homogenization.

The introduction of exotic species to new regions offers opportunities to test fundamental questions in ecology, such as the context-dependency of community structure and assembly. Annual grasslands provide a model system of a major unidirectional introduction of plant species from Europe to North America. We compared the community structure of grasslands in two Mediterranean regions by surveying plots in Spain and in California with similar environmental and management conditions. All species found in Spanish grasslands were native to Spain, and over half of them (74 of 139 species) are known to have colonized California. In contrast, in California, over half of the species (52 of 95 species) were exotic species, all of them native to Spain. Nineteen species were found in multiple plots in both regions (i.e., shared species). The abundance of shared species in California was either similar to (13 species) or greater than (6 species) in Spain. In California, plants considered pests were more likely than non-pest species to have higher abundance. Co-occurring shared species tended to maintain their relative abundance in native and introduced communities, which indicates that pools of exotic species might assemble similarly at home and away. These findings provide interesting insights into community assembly in novel ecosystems. They also highlight an example of startling global and local floristic homogenization.

The introduction of exotic species to new regions offers opportunities to test fundamental questions in ecology, such as the context-dependency of community structure and assembly. Annual grasslands provide a model system of a major unidirectional introduction of plant species from EuropetoNorthAmerica. WecomparedthecommunitystructureofgrasslandsintwoMediterranean regions by surveying plots in Spain and in California with similar environmental and management conditions. AllspeciesfoundinSpanishgrasslandswerenativetoSpain,andoverhalfofthem(74of 139species)areknowntohavecolonizedCalifornia. Incontrast,inCalifornia,overhalfofthespecies (52 of 95 species) were exotic species, all of them native to Spain. Nineteen species were found in multiple plots in both regions (i.e., shared species). The abundance of shared species in California was either similar to (13 species) or greater than (6 species) in Spain. In California, plants considered pests were more likely than non-pest species to have higher abundance. Co-occurring shared species tended to maintain their relative abundance in native and introduced communities, which indicates that pools of exotic species might assemble similarly at home and away. These findings provide interestinginsightsintocommunityassemblyinnovelecosystems. Theyalsohighlightanexampleof startling global and local floristic homogenization

Secondary grasslands are one of the most common vegetation types worldwide. In Europe, and in the Mediterranean basin, human activities have transformed many woodlands into secondary grasslands. Despite their recognized role in the global carbon cycle, very few data are available for estimating the biomass of Mediterranean grasslands. We developed linear regression models in order to predict the biomass of two native Mediterranean grasses (Ampelodesmos mauritanicus and Hyparrhenia hirta) and an invasive alien grass (Pennisetum setaceum). Ampelodesmos mauritanicus is very common throughout the Mediterranean basin, mostly on north-facing slopes, H. hirta characterizes thermo-xeric grasslands, while P. setaceum is an alien species that is rapidly spreading along coastal areas. The measured morphometric attributes of individual plants as potential predictors were considered. The validation results corroborate the ability of the established models to predict above ground and total biomass of A. mauritanicus and P. setaceum. We also evaluated the total biomass per hectare for each species. The highest biomass per hectare was found for A. mauritanicus, whereas biomass was higher for H. hirta than for P. setaceum. The replacement of H. hirta by P. setaceum may reduce the total carbon storage in the ecosystem; however, P. setaceum allocates more resources to the roots, thus increasing the more stable and durable pool of carbon in grasslands., Los pastizales secundarios son uno de los tipos de vegetación más comunes en todo el mundo. En Europa y en la cuenca mediterránea, las actividades humanas han transformado muchos bosques en pastizales secundarios. A pesar de su reconocido papel en el ciclo global del carbono, hay muy pocos datos disponibles para la estimación de la biomasa de los pastizales mediterráneos. Hemos desarrollado modelos de regresión lineal con el fin de predecir la biomasa de dos gramíneas nativas del Mediterráneo (Ampelodesmos mauritanicus e Hyparrhenia hirta) y otra exótica e invasora (Pennisetum setaceum). Ampelodesmos mauritanicus es muy común en toda la cuenca mediterránea, sobre todo en pendientes orientadas al norte, Hyparrhenia hirta es característica de pastizales termo-xerófilos, mientras que Pennisetum setaceum es una especie exótica que se está extendiendo rápidamente a lo largo de las zonas costeras. Se consideraron los caracteres morfométricos de plantas individuales como factores de predicción potenciales. Los resultados han corroborado la capacidad de los modelos establecidos para predecir la biomasa aérea total de A. mauritanicus y P. setaceum. También se ha medido y evaluado la biomasa total por hectárea de cada especie: la mayor fue la que correspondía a A. mauritanicus, mientras que la H. hirta fue mayor que la de P. setaceum. Así pues, la substitución de H. hirta por P. setaceum puede reducir el carbono almacenado en el ecosistema, sin embargo, P. setaceum asigna más recursos a las raíces, lo que implica un almacenaje de carbono más estable y duradero.

The soils of many abandoned mine sites in the central region of Spain are heavily polluted with a number of different metals. Having frequently found Agrostis castellana growing at these old mine sites, this study was designed to assess its remediation capacity for this type of setting. In an initial field study, plant specimens were collected from 4 abandoned mine sites to determine pollutant concentrations in their roots and shoots. This was followed by a 4-year bioassay in a controlled environment in which soils collected from the mines were used to set up microcosms. Maximum root concentrations of the most polluting elements present in the bioassay were 3625 mg kg−1 Zn, 2793 mg kg−1 Cu, 13042 mg kg−1 Pb, 49 mg kg−1 Cd and 957 mg kg−1 As. These concentrations represent root bioaccumulation indices of over 1 and usually >2. In contrast, indices of transfer to above-ground phytomass were always < 1, indicating this species is a good candidate for use as a phytostabilizer. However, the high metal concentrations that could reach the above-ground mass of this plant determines a need for close monitoring and avoiding the use of areas under restoration for hunting or grazing.

Increasing shortage of pasture resources due to land use conversionconstitutes a major challenge to traditional transhumance systems.Reduction of transhumance and related activities leaves the nonconverted areas abandoned. This may lead to change in grazingintensity, which might result into change in species composition andvegetation pattern. A reduction in grazing intensity might thusinfluence the biodiversity and forage quality of previously moreintensively grazed areas. Proper management of Mediterraneangrasslands would require insight on how grazing intensity variesacross a landscape and how it influences the distribution andabundance of plant species.The aim of this study was to investigate methods for mapping oflivestock grazing intensity and vegetation, using hyperspectral remotesensing, geographic information systems (GIS) and participatory GIS(PGIS). Investigations were undertaken at two main levels. Agreenhouse experiment was used to investigate the effects ofdefoliation and defoliation time for two species grown in mono andmixed culture on the height and dry matter yield as measures ofregrowth and competitive ability of two livestock forage grassesselected from a transhumant Mediterranean area. Narrow bandhyperspectral reflectance, indices and the red-edge position wereinvestigated to see if they may be used to study these effects. At fieldlandscape level, we tested the use of local people’s knowledge inmapping grazing intensity through the application of PGIS.The results from the greenhouse experiment showed that the specieswith higher dry matter yield (Lolium multiflorum) had a significantlyhigher relative regrowth rate and possibly higher competitive abilitythan its competitor Dactylis glomerata (P < 0.05). Increase in drymatter yield was shown as the trait that determines competitiveability in the early established stage of the two grass species (periodof 13 to 18 weeks after sowing). The experiment also provided insighton the persistence of forage sp

De keuze voor een gras op een golfbaan is onder Nederlandse golfbaancondities doorgaans een uitgemaakte zaak. Op de greens pakken we roodzwenkgras en struisgras in wisselende verhoudingen. Gaan we voor exotisch kiezen we witstruisgras. Met deze grassoorten is in West-Europa het hele jaar door een goede green te realiseren. Onder mediterrane condities ligt dat duidelijk anders. Struis, witstruis, Engels raaigras en roodzwenk overleven prima in de relatief koele winter, maar leggen vaak het loodje in de zomer. Reizend greenkeeper en golf projectmanager Arne van Amerongen werd met dit dilemma geconfronteerd toen hij de Korineum Golf & Country Club mocht aanleggen en onderhouden op Noord-Cyprus

{ESP}Una de las principales características de los pastos mediterráneos es que tienen una producción de biomasa y calidad nutritiva con fuertes oscilaciones ínteranuales que dependen de una variedad de factores. En este trabajo se estudió la calidad nutritiva de pastos de dehesa de la provincia de Salamanca, durante un período de 10 años (1987-1996). Para ello se controlaron las comunidades vegetales de pasto de 30 dehesas, considerando además dos posiciones topográficamente diferenciadas: zona alta y zona baja. La calidad nutritiva del pasto, representada por el contenido en proteína y fibra y la digestibilidad, presentó fluctuaciones interanuales con los siguientes rangos de valores (referidos a materia seca): proteína 8,4 -12,8 g kg-l; FND 44,6 -59,5 g kg-I; FAD 28,9 -37,4 g kg-I ; digestibilidad 60,3 70,6 g kil . Los distintos parámetros de calidad se encuentran fuertemente correlacionados con la composición florística del pasto, destacando la correlación entre la proteína y proporción de leguminosas, y entre FND y digestibilidad y la proporción de gramíneas., {ENG}Interannual variations in biomass production and nutritional quality are characteristics of the Mediterranean grasslands. Nutritional quality of the dehesa pastures in the province of Salamanca was controlled over a 10-year period (1987-1996). For this purpose, herbaceous community in 30 dehesa farms were considered, at two topographic positions: upper and lower zones. Nutritional quality of pasture varied among sampling years with the following mean values: protein 8.4 12.8 g kg-1DM; NDF 44.6 -59.5 g kg·1DM; ADF 28.9 -37.4 g kg-1DM; digestibility 60.3 -70.6 g kg-1DM. Nutritional quality parameters were strongly correlated to botanical composítion of the pasture. Thus, the proportion of legumes was related to the protein content, and the proportion of grasses was related to NDF and digestibility.