Holocene changes in precipitation seasonality in the western Mediterranean Basin: a multi-species approach using δ13C of archaeobotanical remains - Aguilera, M.; Ferrio, J. P.; Pérez, G.; Araus, J. L.; Voltas, J. (Journal of Quaternary Science, 2012)
Precipitation has been of utmost importance in shaping the evolution of landscapes and human settlements in the Mediterranean. However, information on seasonal precipitation patterns through the Holocene is scarce. This study attempts to quantify the evolution of seasonal precipitation in the East Iberian Peninsula (5000 BC to AD 600) based on the carbon isotope composition (δ13C) of archaeobotanical remains. Data on Holm oak, Aleppo pine and small-grain cereals were combined, and precipitation was inferred from models relating present-day records to the δ13C of modern samples. Subsequently, charred grains were used as a proxy for ancient moisture during April–May, whereas oak and pine charcoals provided complementary rainfall estimates for September–December and January–August, respectively. The results reveal aridity changes throughout the Holocene in the western Mediterranean. Past spring–summer precipitation was consistently higher than at present. In contrast, autumn and early winter precipitation showed stronger fluctuations, particularly during the first millennium BC, and often exhibited values below those of the present. The high contribution of autumn precipitation to the annual water budget, typical of the present Mediterranean climate, was definitively established at the beginning of the current era. This study shows how a combination of species holding complementary environmental signals can contribute to a wider knowledge of local precipitation dynamics. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Keywords: carbon isotopes; charred grains; iberian peninsula; Pinus halepensis; Quercus ilex

Holocene vegetation and fire dynamics in the supra-mediterranean belt of the Nebrodi Mountains (Sicily, Italy) - Bisculm, Martina; Colombaroli, Daniele; Vescovi, Elisa; van Leeuwen, Jacqueline F. N.; Henne, Paul D.; Rothen, Julian; Procacci, Giovanni; Pasta, Salvatore; La Mantia, Tommaso; Tinner, Willy (Journal of Quaternary Science, 2012)
High-resolution pollen, macrofossil and charcoal data, combined with accelerator mass spectrometry 14C dating and multivariate analysis, were used to reconstruct Holocene vegetation and fire dynamics at Urio Quattrocchi, a small lake in the supra-mediterranean belt in the Nebrodi Mountains of Sicily (Italy). The data suggest that after 10 000 cal a BP increasing moisture availability supported closed forests with deciduous (Quercus cerris, Fagus sylvatica and Fraxinus spp.) and evergreen (Quercus ilex) species. Species-rich closed forest persisted until 6850 cal a BP, when Neolithic activities caused a forest decline and affected plant diversity. Secondary forest with abundant Ilex aquifolium recovered between 6650 and 6000 cal a BP, indicating moist conditions. From 5000 cal a BP, agriculture and pastoralism led to the currently fragmented landscape with sparse deciduous forests (Quercus cerris). The study suggests that evergreen broadleaved species were more important at elevations above 1000 m a.s.l. before ca. 5000 cal a BP than subsequently, which might reflect less human impact or warmer-than-today climatic conditions between 10 000 and 5000 cal a BP. Despite land use since Neolithic times, deciduous supra-mediterranean forests were never completely displaced from the Nebrodi Mountains, because of favourable moist conditions that persisted throughout the Holocene. Reconstructed vegetation dynamics document the absence of any pronounced mid- or late-Holocene ‘aridification’ trend at the site, an issue which is controversially debated in Italy and the Mediterranean region. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Keywords: climate change; human impact; Ilex aquifolium; macrofossils; pollen; Quercus ilex

Impacts of changing climate and land use on vegetation dynamics in a Mediterranean ecosystem: insights from paleoecology and dynamic modeling - Henne, Paul D.; Elkin, Ché; Colombaroli, Daniele; Samartin, Stéphanie; Bugmann, Harald; Heiri, Oliver; Tinner, Willy (Landscape Ecology, 2012)
Forests near the Mediterranean coast have been shaped by millennia of human disturbance. Consequently, ecological studies relying on modern observations or historical records may have difﬁculty assessing natural vegetation dynamics under current and future climate. We combined a sedimentary pollen record from Lago di Massacciucoli, Tuscany, Italy with simulations from the LANDCLIM dynamic vegetation model to determine what vegetation preceded intense human disturbance, how past changes in vegetation relate to ﬁre and browsing, and the potential of an extinct vegetation type under present climate. We simulated vegetation dynamics near Lago di Massaciucoli for the last 7,000 years using a local chironomid-inferred temperature reconstruction with combinations of three ﬁre regimes (small infrequent, large infrequent, small frequent) and three browsing intensities (no browsing, light browsing, and moderate browsing), and compared model output to pollen data. Simulations with low disturbance support polleninferred evidence for a mixed forest dominated by Quercus ilex (a Mediterranean species) and Abies alba (a montane species). Whereas pollen data record the collapse of A. alba after 6000 cal yr BP, simulated populations expanded with declining summer temperatures during the late Holocene. Simulations with increased ﬁre and browsing are consistent with evidence for expansion by deciduous species after A. alba collapsed. According to our combined paleoenvironmental and modeling evidence, mixed Q. ilex and A. alba forests remain possible with current climate and limited disturbance, and provide a viable management objective for ecosystems near the Mediterranean coast and in regions that are expected to experience a mediterranean-type climate in the future.
Keywords: Abies alba; Chironomids; Fire ecology; Holocene; Italy; Landscape model; mediterranean forest; Neolithic; pollen; Quercus ilex

Implementation of a module for risk of ozone impacts assessment to vegetation in the Integrated Assessment Modelling system for the Iberian Peninsula. Evaluation for wheat and Holm oak. - de Andrés, Juan Manuel; Borge, Rafael; de la Paz, David; Lumbreras, Julio; Rodríguez, Encarnación (Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987), 2012)
A module to estimate risks of ozone damage to vegetation has been implemented in the Integrated Assessment Modelling system for the Iberian Peninsula. It was applied to compute three different indexes for wheat and Holm oak; daylight AOT40 (cumulative ozone concentration over 40 ppb), cumulative ozone exposure index according to the Directive 2008/50/EC (AOT40-D) and POD(Y) (Phytotoxic Ozone Dose over a given threshold of Y nmol m(-2) s(-1)). The use of these indexes led to remarkable differences in spatial patterns of relative ozone risks on vegetation. Ozone critical levels were exceeded in most of the modelling domain and soil moisture content was found to have a significant impact on the results. According to the outputs of the model, daylight AOT40 constitutes a more conservative index than the AOT40-D. Additionally, flux-based estimations indicate high risk areas in Portugal for both wheat and Holm oak that are not identified by AOT-based methods.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier Ltd accession-num: 22398018
Keywords: Air Pollutants; Air Pollutants: analysis; Air Pollutants: toxicity; Chemical; CMAQ WRF; Critical level; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Monitoring: methods; iberian peninsula; Models; Ozone; Ozone risk assessment; Ozone: analysis; Ozone: toxicity; Portugal; Quercus; Quercus: drug effects; Quercus: growth & development; Risk Assessment; Stomatal conductance; Triticum; Triticum: drug effects; Triticum: growth & development

The importance of grazing regime in the provision of breeding habitat for grassland birds: The case of the endangered little bustard (Tetrax tetrax) - Faria, Nuno; Rabaça, João E.; Morales, Manuel B. (Journal for Nature Conservation, 2012)
In Mediterranean dry grasslands, grazing by domestic animals is an important agricultural activity on dry grasslands. Several bird species occur in these grazed habitats and are now experiencing a near continuous decline. We investigated the impact of livestock grazing on the threatened little bustard (Tetrax tetrax L.). The study was conducted at the NATURA 2000 Site/Important Bird Area of Cabrela, Portugal. Our main goals were to investigate responses of little bustard territorial males and breeding females to different livestock management practices, namely pasture types, stocking rates and sward structure. Bird distribution was surveyed using car and foot surveys. Data on grazing was supplied by land managers every 10 days from February to June through ﬁeld interviews. Generalised additive models and model averaging were used to compute predictive models. Results indicate that higher probabilities of occurrence were found in long-term pastures and under light-moderate grazing conditions (stocking rates around 0.4 LU/ha). Conversely, lower probabilities of occurrence were found in ungrazed or heavy grazed ﬁelds. Males occurred mostly in large ﬁelds, but this variable seemed to be less important for females. On the other hand, green plant cover and the vegetation height were good predictors for the occurrence of females but not for males. Females used mostly pastures with vegetation height around 20–25 cm. Our results suggest that grazing management plans that aim to conserve little bustard populations should consider (1) the maintenance of the larger long-term pastures and (2) the use of light-moderate stocking rates (0.2–0.6 LU/ha).
Keywords: Green plants; livestock; pasture management; Stocking rates; Tetrax tetrax; vegetation structure

Improved Genetic Transformation of Cork Oak (Quercus suber L.) - Álvarez-Fernández, Rubén; Ordás, Ricardo-Javier (Plant Cell Culture Protocols SE - 28, 2012)
An Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system for selected mature Quercus suber L. trees has been established. Leaf-derived somatic embryos in an early stage of development are inoculated with an AGL1 strain harboring a kanamycin-selectable plasmid carrying the gene of interest. The transformed embryos are induced to germinate and the plantlets transferred to soil. This protocol, from adult cork oak to transformed plantlet, can be completed in about one and a half years. Transformation efficiencies (i.e., percentage of inoculated explants that yield independent transgenic embryogenic lines) vary depending on the cork oak genotype, reaching up to 43%.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: periodical: Plant Cell Culture Protocols SE - 28 electronic-resource-num: 10.1007/978-1-61779-818-4_28
Keywords: AGL1; Agrobacterium tumefaciens; Cork oak; Fagaceae; Herbicide Resistance; kanamycin resistance; Quercus suber; Somatic embryogenesis; Tree genetic transformation

The Index of Function Suitability (IFS): A new tool for assessing the capacity of landscapes to provide amenity functions - Pinto-Correia, Teresa; Carvalho-Ribeiro, Sónia (Land Use Policy, 2012)
Integrating social demands into landscape management has been proven difﬁcult because of a lack of suitable measures. In order to address this issue this article describes the development of the Index of Function Suitability (IFS). This offers an integrated conceptual tool for incorporating social demands into landscape management. The IFS links preferences to land cover spatial patterns as it uses quantitative indicators for gauging differences between the preferred landscape patterns by users, for a certain activity related to an amenity function (e.g. hunting), and the land cover patterns of a given rural area (either at the present or from scenarios developed for the future). Introducing the measurement of the difference between the preferred spatial patterns and the landscape patterns occurring in a given landscape is a fundamental conceptual development represented in the IFS. By using the same set of indicators to quantify different land cover patterns, the IFS gauges quantitatively the differences between their spatial patterns, thus providing landscape managers with an indication of the suitability of changing land covers to support the selected amenity functions. In this paper, the conceptual aspects, as well as the methodological steps of the IFS were explained and further applied to one empirical case study in the Alentejo region of Portugal. This paper also examines both the strengths and weaknesses of the IFS approach along with a discussion for improvement.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Keywords: Amenity functions; index of function suitability; Indicators; integrated landscape management; Social demands; User based preferences

Influence of aspect in soil and vegetation water dynamics in dry Mediterranean conditions: functional adjustment of evergreen and semi-deciduous growth forms - Gabarrón-Galeote, Miguel Angel; Ruiz-Sinoga, José Damián; Quesada, Miguel a (Ecohydrology, 2012)
This study was undertaken in a watershed at a dry Spanish Mediterranean location. The effects of the north-facing and southfacing aspects on atmospheric parameters, soil water contents (SWCs) and plant water balances were assessed during 18 months including two dry seasons and one wet season. The species studied were the evergreen sclerophyll Quercus suber and the semideciduous shrubs Cistus albidus, Cistus monspeliensis and Lavandula stoechas. Atmospheric parameters were similar in both exposures, but water content of the 30-cm uppermost soil layers was higher under canopy in the south-facing slope during the wet season. Water balances of both slopes were different, and this was related to the lower shrub abundance and the vegetation patchiness observed in the south-facing slope. Autumn plant recovery was faster in the north-facing hillslope and occurred ﬁrst in shrubs. During the whole study, Quercus suber displayed a hydrostable strategy maintaining an optimum water balance in both hillslopes. This was not the case of shrubs that avoided drought using a phenological adjustment and were more affected by aspect. Differences between tree and shrub water economies relied mainly on their respective root systems. The faster recovery of shrubs after the ﬁrst autumn rainfalls allows them to avoid competition with other functional groups for water and nutrients during some days. Leaf-drying curves distinguished the functional behaviour of the tree and the shrubs because stomatal closure occurred at higher relative water content in the former. The coexistence of both functional strategies ensures an efﬁcient use of water and nutritional resources
Keywords: accepted 18 february 2012; aspect; cistus; lavandula; Mediterranean; plant water balance; Quercus; received 23 may 2011; revised 12 december 2011; Soil moisture

Influence of the Size and Amount of Cork Particles on the Impact Toughness of a Structural Adhesive - Barbosa, a Q.; da Silva, L. F. M.; Öchsner, a; Abenojar, J.; del Real, J. C. (The Journal of Adhesion, 2012)
The inclusion of particles (nano or micro) is a method to improve the mechanical properties, such as toughness, of structural adhesives. Structural adhesives are known for their high strength and stiffness but also for their low ductility and toughness. There are many processes described in the literature to increase the toughness, one of the most common being the use of rubber particles. In the present study, natural micro particles of cork were used with the objective to increase the impact resistance of a brittle epoxy adhesive. The idea is for the cork particles to act like crack stoppers and absorb impact leading to higher absorption of energy. The influence of the cork particle size and amount were studied. Particles of cork ranging from 38 to 250 µm were mixed in the epoxy adhesive Araldite? 2020 from Huntsman. The amount of cork in the adhesive was varied between 1 and 5% by weight. Surface treatment (low pressure plasma) was applied to the cork powder to assess the effect of the interaction adhesive-cork with several degrees of adhesion. This evaluation was made using impact tests and it was evident that impact absorption was related to the size and amount of cork particles in the resin, considering a uniform particle distribution.
From Duplicate 2 (Influence of the Size and Amount of Cork Particles on the Impact Toughness of a Structural Adhesive - Barbosa, A Q; da Silva, L F M; Öchsner, A; Abenojar, J; del Real, J C)From Duplicate 2 (Influence of the Size and Amount of Cork Particles on the Impact Toughness of a Structural Adhesive - Barbosa, A Q; da Silva, L F M; Öchsner, A; Abenojar, J; del Real, J C)The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Taylor & Francis
Keywords: Adhesive; Cork; mechanical properties; Surface treatment

In-situ Iberian pig carcass classification using a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS)-based near infrared (NIR) spectrometer. - Zamora-Rojas, E.; Pérez-Marín, D.; De Pedro-Sanz, E.; Guerrero-Ginel, J. E.; Garrido-Varo, A. (Meat science, 2012)
Iberian pig (IP) products are gourmet foods highly appreciated at international markets, reaching high prices, because of its exquisite flavors. At present, there aren't practical and affordable analytical methods which can authenticate every single piece put on the market. This paper reports on the performance of a handheld micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS)-based spectrometer (1600-2400nm) for authentication-classification of individual IP carcasses into different commercial categories. Performance (accuracy and instrumental design) of the instrument was compared with that of high-resolution NIRS monochromators (400-2500nm). A total of 300 carcasses of IPs raised under different feeding regimes ("Acorn", "Recebo" and "Feed") were analyzed in three modes (intact fat in the carcass, skin-free subcutaneous fat samples and melted fat samples). The best classification results for the MEMS instrument were: 93.9% "Acorn" carcasses correctly classified, 96.4% "Feed" and 60.6% "Recebo", respectively. Evaluation of model performance confirmed the suitability of the handheld device for individual, fast, non-destructive, low-cost analysis of IP carcasses on the slaughterhouse line.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier Ltd accession-num: 22075264
Keywords: Authentication; Feeding regime; Iberian pi; In-situ analysis; MEMS device; NIRS

An integrated approach to understanding the sorption mechanism of phenanthrene by cork. - Olivella, M. À; Jové, P.; Bianchi, A.; Bazzicalupi, C.; Cano, L. (Chemosphere, 2012)
Previous studies have shown the high sorption affinity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by cork. The aim of the present work is to go further by investigating the sorption mechanism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (exemplified by phenanthrene) on cork and the availability of the chemical components (i.e. lignin, suberin, holocellulose and extractives) to retain phenanthrene. Two approaches were integrated to reach this objective: (1) statistical multivariate analysis to obtain correlations between the sorption capacity, measured as K(oc), and the sorbent properties (i.e. polarity, acidic functional groups, %dichloromethane extractives, %ethanol and water extractives, %suberin, %lignin and %holocellulose) and (2) modeling calculations to obtain information on interaction at the molecular level. The statistical multivariate analysis demonstrated a strong and positive correlation between K(oc) and the lignin content as well as negative correlations between K(oc) and the phenolic groups and %dichloromethane extractives contents. The modeling study showed that the lignin-phenanthrene interaction is mostly hydrophobic in nature being largely determined by the π-stacking interaction between the aromatic groups of the interacting partners. This result justifies the observed correlations as dichloromethane extractives, being hydrophobic, compete with phenanthrene adsorption, whereas phenolic groups, as well as negatively charged groups, enhance the hydrophilic character of the sorbent surface, thus hindering the adsorption of phenanthrene.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier Ltd accession-num: 23149185
Keywords: Biopolymer; Biosorption; Lignin; PAHs; p–p Interactions; suberin

Intramuscular lipids of Mertolenga-PDO beef, Mertolenga-PDO veal and “Vitela Tradicional do Montado”-PGI veal - a. C.G. Monteiro; Fontes, M. a; Bessa, R. J. B.; Prates, J. a M.; Lemos, J. P. C. (Food Chemistry, 2012)
Three quality branded meats (n = 68), ‘‘Vitela Tradicional do Montado’’-PGI veal, Mertolenga-PDO veal and Mertolenga-PDO beef were analysed for cholesterol (HPLC-UV), a-tocopherol (HPLC-FD), fatty acid composition (GC-FID), including conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomeric proﬁle (Ag + -HPLC), and nutritional value of lipids. All the meats analysed had similar contents (P > 0.05) of cholesterol, a-tocopherol and intramuscular fat. In contrast, the percentage of 18:0 was lower for PGI veal, and that of 18:1 c9 was higher in PDO veal, whilst the percentage of 18:2 n6 was higher in PDO beef, relative to other two meats. The content of total CLA and the percentage of its t11,c13 isomer were higher, and the n6/ n3 ratio was lower, in PDO veal, relative to the other two meats. The data suggested that PGI veal has higher variability for most fatty acids than the other two types of meat. Finally, a discriminant analysis was conducted and the three meat types were well discriminated using the meat fatty acid proﬁle as variables.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: label: Beef;CLA isomers;Cholesterol;Fatty acids;Meat quality;a-Tocopherol
Keywords: a-tocopherol; Beef; Cholesterol; CLA isomers; fatty acids; meat quality

Inventory of fine particulate organic compound emissions from residential wood combustion in Portugal - Gonçalves, Cátia; Alves, Célia; Pio, Casimiro (Atmospheric Environment, 2012)
In the early fall of 2010 a survey questionnaire was conducted to assess residential wood combustion (RWC) practices in the 18 districts of mainland Portugal. This paper describes and analyses the results from a bottom-up approach, based on this telephone survey, which enabled the characterisation of RWC practices in each district. Additionally, emission factors and source proﬁles obtained from different RWC tests, allowed the estimation of CO, CO2, PM2.5 and particulate organic compound emissions on a country-scale. The type and number of RWC appliances, each with their speciﬁc emissions factor and the amount and type of fuel used vary signiﬁcantly on a district scale. The energy consumption in RWC appliances was estimated to be 35 342 TJ y 1 . The estimated emissions of PM2.5 from RWC in Portugal (10.96 kt y 1 ) represent 30% of the estimate for different source activities reported in a recent inventory. The national emissions of OC and EC were estimated to be 5.32 and 0.53 kt y 1 , respectively. It was also estimated that the total CO2 emissions from RWC in Portugal are 1.7 Mt y 1 . The levoglucosan emissions contribute with between 7.8% and 16.1% of PM2.5 emissions from RWC
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Keywords: Burning appliances; Emission factors; Inventory; survey questionnaire; Wood species

Juvenile–adult tree associations in a continental Mediterranean ecosystem: no evidence for sustained and general facilitation at increased aridity - Granda, Elena; Escudero, Adrián; de la Cruz, Marcelino; Valladares, Fernando (Journal of Vegetation Science, 2012)
Question How do tree species identity, microhabitat and water availability affect inter- and intra-specific interactions between juvenile and adult woody plants? Location Continental Mediterranean forests in Alto Tajo Natural Park, Guadalajara, Spain. Methods A total of 2066 juveniles and adults of four co-occurring tree species were mapped in 17 plots. The frequency of juveniles at different microhabitats and water availability levels was analysed using log-linear models. We used nearest-neighbour contingency table analysis of spatial segregation and J-functions to describe the spatial patterns. Results We found a complex spatial pattern that varied according to species identity and microhabitat. Recruitment was more frequent in gaps for Quercus ilex, while the other three species recruited preferentially under shrubs or trees depending on the water availability level. Juveniles were not spatially associated to conspecific adults, experiencing segregation from them in many cases. Spatial associations, both positive and negative, were more common at higher water availability levels. Conclusions Our results do not agree with expectations from the stress-gradient hypothesis, suggesting that positive interactions do not increase in importance with increasing aridity in the study ecosystem. Regeneration patterns are species-specific and depend on microhabitat characteristics and dispersal strategies. In general, juveniles do not look for conspecific adult protection. This work contributes to the understanding of species co-existence, proving the importance of considering a multispecies approach at several plots to overcome limitations of simple pair-wise comparisons in a limited number of sites.
Keywords: faginea; Juniperus thurifera; patterns; Pinus nigra; Quercus; Quercus faginea; Quercus ilex; Regeneration; spatial; spatial patterns; Stress-gradient hypothesis; water; Water availability

Knowledge of ethnoveterinary medicine in the Province of Granada, Andalusia, Spain. - Benítez, Guillermo; González-Tejero, M. Reyes; Molero-Mesa, Joaquín (Journal of ethnopharmacology, 2012)
This paper constitutes an important contribution to the knowledge of biological resources used in ethnoveterinary practices (EVPs) in southern Europe, a territory with a clear lack of information on the subject. Aim of the study: To catalogue, analyze, and disseminate the knowledge of plant and animal use in eth- noveterinary practices in the province of Granada. Data have been analyzed to highlight the similarities between ethnoveterinary practices and human ethnopharmacology for the same study area. Methodology: Information was gathered through open and semi-structured interviews with local people, mainly elderly shepherds and farmers, in the western part of the province. The primary data have been supplemented with information on EVPs from previous ethnobotanical works for the province. Data were gathered using the same field methods. Results: A total of 88 ethnoveterinary uses are documented for the treatment of 24 animal conditions. Of these, 82 uses involve 60 different plant species. Over three-quarters of these plants are also used for some human conditions in the same study area. Moreover, 6 animal species were catalogued for 6 other ethnoveterinary uses; four of these species were also used for similar conditions in humans. Ritual and health-prevention practices are also discussed. Conclusions: EVPs in southern Spain involve a high number of species and conditions and are strongly linked to folk tradition (i.e. how local people understand certain conditions and their treatment, some- times in a ritual manner). Unfortunately, some evidence of their slow disappearance has been found.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier Ireland Ltd accession-num: 22155471
Keywords: Ethnoveterinary; Granada; Spain; Veterinary medicine; Zootherapy

Land use and climate change impacts on soil organic carbon stocks in semi-arid Spain - Albaladejo, Juan; Ortiz, Roque; Garcia-Franco, Noelia; Navarro, Antonio Ruiz; Almagro, Maria; Pintado, Javier Garcia; Martínez-Mena, Maria (Journal of Soils and Sediments, 2012)
Purpose The sensitivity of soil organic carbon to global change drivers, according to the depth profile, is receiving increasing attention because of its importance in the global carbon cycle and its potential feedback to climate change. A better knowledge of the vertical distribution of SOC and its controlling factors—the aim of this study—will help scientists predict the consequences of global change. Materials and methods The study area was the Murcia Province (S.E. Spain) under semiarid Mediterranean conditions. The database used consists of 312 soil profiles collected in a systematic grid, each 12 km 2 covering a total area of 11,004 km 2 . Statistical analysis to study the relationships between SOC concentration and control factors in different soil use scenarios was conducted at fixed depths of 0–20, 20–40, 40–60, and 60–100 cm. Results and discussion SOC concentration in the top 40 cm ranged between 6.1 and 31.5 gkg −1 , with significant differences according to land use, soil type and lithology, while below this depth, no differences were observed (SOC concentration 2.1–6.8 gkg −1 ). The ANOVA showed that land use was the most important factor controlling SOC concentration in the 0–40 cm depth. Significant differences were found in the relative importance of environmental and textural factors according to land use and soil depth. In forestland, mean annual precipitation and texture were the main predictors of SOC, while in cropland and shrubland, the main predictors were mean annual temperature and lithology. Total SOC stored in the top 1 m in the region was about 79 Tg with a low mean density of 7.18 kgCm −3 . The vertical distribution of SOC was shallower in forestland and deeper in cropland. A reduction in rainfall would lead to SOC decrease in forestland and shrubland, and an increase of mean annual temperature would adversely affect SOC in croplands and shrubland. With increasing depth, the relative importance of climatic factors decreases and texture becomes more important in controlling SOC in all land uses. Conclusions Due to climate change, impacts will be much greater in surface SOC, the strategies for C sequestration should be focused on subsoil sequestration, which was hindered in forestland due to bedrock limitations to soil depth. In these conditions, sequestration in cropland through appropriate management practices is recommended.
Keywords: carbon sequestration potential; control factors of soil organic carbon; impact of global change; vertical distribution of soil organic carbon

Late postglacial paleoenvironmental change in the northeastern Mediterranean region: Combined palynological and molecular biomarker evidence - Kouli, K.; Gogou, A.; Bouloubassi, I.; Triantaphyllou, M. V.; Ioakim, Chr; Katsouras, G.; Roussakis, G.; Lykousis, V. (Quaternary International, 2012)
Three gravity cores collected from the NE Mediterranean (NEMR) across a transect from the northern Aegean Sea (North Skyros basin) to the south Cretan margin (SCM), were investigated for pollen and terrestrial biomarkers derived from epicuticular waxes of vascular plants during the last w20 ky. Pollen data show diversiﬁed mixed temperate forest in the northern borderlands and enhanced Mediterranean vegetation in the southern areas, documenting an NeS climatic trend. Terrestrial plant biomarkers and their diagnostic geochemical indices exhibit latitudinal patterns which are interpreted in terms of the different delivery pathways (ﬂuvial/runoff vs. atmospheric transport), resulting from the climate conditions during different periods. During the Late Glacial and early deglaciation periods (20e14 ka BP) relatively increased humidity (H-index) is recorded in the north Aegean Sea, while in the South drier climate was the limiting factor for vegetation development. During this interval, terrestrial n-alkanes showed increased accumulation rates, suggesting massive transport of terrestrial organic matter through runoffs and rivers, followed by weaker input after 14 ka BP. After w11 ka BP a major expansion of forest cover is evidenced in the NEMR, accompanied by a higher H-index because of the climatic amelioration. The forest vegetation exhibited regionally different characteristics, with cool temperate taxa being more abundant in the Aegean cores, while the SCM record is being featured by Mediterranean elements. At the onset of the Holocene and throughout the Holocene Climatic Optimum the delivery of terrestrial biomarkers increased and became more signiﬁcant in the Aegean sites compared to the SCM site. Within the Holocene, the average chain length (ACL) of long chain n-alkanes exhibits lower values in the northern Aegean than in the southeastern Aegean and SCM, indicating the predominance of warmer species southwards. Finally, the H-index records a conspicuous humidity increase between 5.4 and 4.3 ka BP in the south Aegean that coincides with an increase in the terrestrial biomarker supply and the deposition of a distinct sapropel-like layer, SMH (Sapropel Mid Holocene). Similar trends in T (temperature) and H indices are slightly delayed and attenuated in the northern Aegean and are accompanied by an increase in the ACL index. A noticeable increase in the accumulation rates (ARs) of terrestrial biomarkers and the HPA index values during this period are clearly recorded in all three cores, indicative of enhanced terrigenous inputs of organic matter along with higher in-situ preservation.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Keywords: Aegean Sea; climatic variability (voyant); Holocene; Mediterranean; pollen; terrestrial biomarkers; Vegetation

Leaf and stand-level carbon uptake of a Mediterranean forest estimated using the satellite-derived reflectance indices EVI and PRI - Garbulsky, Martín F.; Penuelas, Josep; Ogaya, Romà; Filella, Iolanda (International Journal of Remote Sensing, 2012)
Various aspects of global environmental change affect plant photosynthesis, the primary carbon input in ecosystems. Thus, accurate methods of measuring plant photosynthesis are important. Remotely sensed spectral indices can monitor in detail the green biomass of ecosystems, which provides a measure of potential photosynthetic capacity. In evergreen vegetation types, however, such as Mediterranean forests, the amount of green biomass changes little during the growing season and, therefore, changes in green biomass are not responsible for changes in photosynthetic rates in those forests. This study examined the net photosynthetic rates and the diametric increment of stems in a Mediterranean forest dominated by Quercus ilex using three spectral indices (normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), enhanced vegetation index (EVI), and photochemical reflectance index (PRI)) derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensors. Average annual EVI accounted for 83% of the variability of the diametric increment of Q. ilex stems over a 10 year period. NDVI was marginally correlated with the diametric increment of stems. This study was the first to identify a significant correlation between net photosynthetic rates and radiation use efficiency at the leaf level using PRI derived from satellite data analysed at the ecosystem level. These results suggest that each spectral index provided different and complementary information about ecosystem carbon uptake in a Mediterranean Q. ilex forest.
doi: 10.1080/01431161.2012.718457doi: 10.1080/01431161.2012.718457The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Taylor & Francis
Keywords: carbon uptake (voyant); EVI; mediterranean forest; NDVI; photochemical reflectance index (PRI)

The likely impact of climate change on the biodiversity of Italian forests - Borghetti, M.; La Mantia, T.; Menozzi, P.; Piotti, a (Forest@ - Rivista di Selvicoltura ed Ecologia Forestale, 2012)
Keywords: 2012; 245-250; 9; Adaptation; biodiversità delle foreste italiane; Biodiversity; borghetti m; citation; climate change; climatico sulla; contents; FOREST; http; impact; it; Italy; la mantia t; menozzi p; online 2012-11-19; piotti a; probabili impatti del cambiamento; sisef; url; www

Linking plant composition and arthropod abundance to establish little bustard breeding requirements in pastureland dominated landscapes - Faria, Nuno; Rabaça, João E.; Morales, Manuel B. (Biodiversity and Conservation, 2012)
Most research on steppe bird habitat selection has been focused on the effects of management regimes or vegetation structure. However, much less is known on how plant composition is related with steppe bird occurrence. We investigated microhabitat of little bustard territorial males and females during the nesting and chick-rearing season in areas with dominance of pastureland focusing on plant composition. We searched for relationships between preferred vegetation and arthropod abundance in order to identify the contribution of different vegetation typologies in providing essential trophic resources for the species. Surveys of little bustards were made using car and foot transects. Plant composition was obtained within a 50 9 50 cm square at four sampling replicates and arthropod availability was sampled using a sweep net. Statistical procedures were conducted in three steps: (1) analysis of variance was used to identify at univariate level the plant composition and arthropod variables that were signiﬁcantly related with both male and female occurrence sites; (2) principal components analysis was performed using the variables with signiﬁcant results at univariate level; (3) model averaging on generalized linear and mixed models was applied to evaluate the selection probability of each principal component. The species occurs in sites with high ﬂoristic richness and high abundance of Fabaceae species, although plant composition differs from male to female sites. These variables were found to be crucial to provide higher abundances of arthropods, notably of Acrididea, Formicidae and some groups of Coleoptera which are decisive for the selection of displaying or female breeding sites.
Keywords: Acrididae; Fabaceae; grassland; Microhabitat selection; Plant richness; Tetrax tetrax

Litter production in Holm oak trees subjected to different pruning intensities in Mediterranean dehesas - Andivia, Enrique; VÁZQUEZ-PIQUÉ, JAVIER; FERNÁNDEZ, MANUEL; Alejano, Reyes (Agroforestry systems, 2012)
Litterfall is a key process in forests which is sensitive to climatic conditions like precipitation and temperature, and management practices. Therefore, knowledge about litterfall patterns and its associated variables is important for the conservation of Mediterranean ecosystems under conditions of climate change. We aimed to quantify the temporal pattern of litterfall and to investigate the inﬂuence of abiotic variables and pruning on litter production. Litterfall was collected at monthly intervals for 2 years in trees subjected to different pruning intensities in two locations. The effect of pruning, abiotic variables and tree size on litter production was analyzed using a mathematical model. Leaf fall was strongly seasonal with a peak occurring in the wettest month of the year in this area. The variability in leaf fall was mainly related to rainfall and soil water in 2 years and locations. Pruning reduced the amount of litter production during the ﬁrst year following this practice, and might have negative effect on soil fertility and crop productivity in dehesas ecosystems.
Keywords: á agroforestry systems; á litterfall á; agroforestry systems; climate change; climate change á management; litterfall; management; pruning; Quercus ilex; quercus ilex á pruning

Masting in oaks: Disentangling the effect of flowering phenology, airborne pollen load and drought - Fernández-Martínez, Marcos; Belmonte, Jordina; MARÍA ESPELTA, JOSEP (Acta Oecologica, 2012)
Quercus species exhibit an extreme inter-annual variability in seed production often synchronized over large geographical areas (masting). Since this reproductive behavior is mostly observed in anemophilous plants, pollination efﬁciency is suggested as one hypothesis to explain it, although resource-based hypotheses are also suggested as alternatives. We analyzed the effect of ﬂowering phenology, airborne pollen presence and meteorological conditions in the pattern of acorn production in mixed evergreendeciduous oak forests (Quercus ilex and Quercus pubescens) in NE Spain for twelve years (1998e2009). In both oaks, higher temperatures advanced the onset of ﬂowering and increased the amount of airborne pollen. Nevertheless, inter-annual differences in pollen production did not inﬂuence acorn crop size. Acorn production was enhanced by a delay in ﬂowering onset in Q. ilex but not in Q. pubescens. This suggests that in perennial oaks a larger number of photosynthates produced before ﬂowering could beneﬁt reproduction while the lack of effects on deciduous oaks could be because these species ﬂush new leaves and ﬂowers at the same time. Notwithstanding this effect, spring water deﬁcit was the most relevant factor in explaining inter-annual variability in acorn production in both species. Considering that future climate scenarios predict progressive warmer and dryer spring seasons in the Mediterranean Basin, this might result in earlier onsets of ﬂowering and higher water deﬁcits that would constrain acorn production.
Keywords: acorns; Drought; Mediterranean; Pollination efﬁciency hypothesis; Quercus spp.; Resource-based hypotheses

A model to account for variations in production in southern Spain - García-mozo, Herminia; Dominguez-vilches, Eugenio; Galán, Carmen (Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine, 2012)
One of the characteristics of holm-oak acorn production is its high variability among individuals and years. To examine the main causes of this fact, a study was conducted from 1998-2010 in a natural area of holm-oak in southern Spain, where floral phenology, fruit production, fruit size, airborne pollen emission and meteorology factors were analyzed with the ultimate aim of developing a model for forecasting holm-oak yield. Pollen emission during flowering season was the main factor determining the final acorn harvest, but also some meteorological variables played an important role in explaining acorn crop variations, especially humidity and temperature during the months of April and September. The reliability of the proposed model was externally validated using data not included in its construction; validation yielded acceptable results, with a minimum error of estimation. Our results appear to be very useful for planning cropping and pig feeding strategies. Further research could extend the use of airborne pollen counts in forest studies relating to anemophilous species, in order to optimize agricultural policies.
Keywords: acorn production; Aerobiology; Holm oak; model; oak forest; Phenology; pollen; quercus ilex subsp. ballota

Molecular characterization of Quercus suber MYB1, a transcription factor up-regulated in cork tissues - Almeida, Tânia; Menéndez, Esther; Capote, Tiago; Ribeiro, Teresa; Santos, Conceição; Gonçalves, Sónia (Journal of Plant Physiology, 2012)
The molecular processes associated with cork development in Quercus suber L. are poorly understood. A previous molecular approach identiﬁed a list of genes potentially important for cork formation and differentiation, providing a new basis for further molecular studies. This report is the ﬁrst molecular characterization of one of these candidate genes, QsMYB1, coding for an R2R3-MYB transcription factor. The R2R3-MYB gene sub-family has been described as being involved in the phenylpropanoid and lignin pathways, both involved in cork biosynthesis. The results showed that the expression of QsMYB1 is putatively mediated by an alternative splicing (AS) mechanism that originates two different transcripts (QsMYB1.1 and QsMYB1.2), differing only in the 5 -untranslated region, due to retention of the ﬁrst intron in one of the variants. Moreover, within the retained intron, a simple sequence repeat (SSR) was identiﬁed. The upstream regulatory region of QsMYB1 was extended by a genome walking approach, which allowed the identiﬁcation of the putative gene promoter region. The relative expression pattern of QsMYB1 transcripts determined by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RTqPCR) revealed that both transcripts were up-regulated in cork tissues; the detected expression was several times higher in newly formed cork harvested from trees producing virgin, second or reproduction cork when compared with wood. Moreover, the expression analysis of QsMYB1 in several Q. suber organs showed very low expression in young branches and roots, whereas in leaves, immature acorns or male ﬂowers, no expression was detected. These preliminary results suggest that QsMYB1 may be related to secondary growth and, in particular, with the cork biosynthesis process with a possible alternative splicing mechanism associated with its regulatory function.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: accession-num: 23218545
Keywords: Alternative Splicing; Amino Acid Sequence; Cork biosynthesis; Cork oak; Gene Expression Regulation; Genes; Lipids; Lipids: biosynthesis; Molecular Sequence Data; phellogen; Plant; Plant Bark; Plant Bark: genetics; Plant Bark: metabolism; Plant Growth Regulators; Plant Growth Regulators: biosynthesis; Plant Proteins; Plant Proteins: chemistry; Plant Proteins: metabolism; Quercus; Quercus: genetics; Quercus: metabolism; R2R3-MYB; RNA; Transcription Factors; Transcription Factors: chemistry; Transcription Factors: metabolism; Up-Regulation

Multi-functional approach in forest landscape management planning: an application in Southern Italy - Alessandro, Paletto; Fabrizio, Ferretti; Paolo, Cantiani; Isabella, De Meo (FOREST SYSTEMS, 2012)
Forest Landscape Management Plan (FLMP) is intended to have an intermediate role between forest management plans on a regional level and forest management on a unit level. FLMP addresses long-term management issues, with special attention to social and environmental functions, normally not meticulously considered when working on a single forest property level. This paper presents a method to evaluate forest multifunctionality, in order to define management guidelines and support forest planning. A FLMP was conducted in a district of the Basilicata region (Italy). A total of 92 inventory plots comprising the main forest types: i) turkey oak, Hungarian oak, and sessile oak forests (Quercus cerris L. dominant), ii) downy oak forests (Quercus pubescens Willd. dominant), iii) Mediterranean evergreen oak forests (Quercus ilex L. dominant), were considered. Technicians evaluated the multifunctionality of each area by estimating - in the context of an Index of Importance of Function (I) - the capacity of each forest to fulfil different functions. The index was successively aggregated according to forest type and forest system (high forest and coppice). The results showed that the higher level of multifunctionality was found in the high forests. According to the synthetic indicators of multifunctionality, the turkey oak forests obtained the highest values among all forest types. The last part of the paper illustrates an approach to multi-functional forest management, analysing how different silvicultural systems are able to fulfil the main forest functions. This method, as shown in the results, seems to provide a useful support for technicians to evaluate multifunctionality related to forest types and different silvicultural treatments.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: pub-location: CTRA CORUNA KM 7 5, MADRID, 28040, SPAIN publisher: INST NACIONAL INVESTIGACION TECHNOLOGIA AGRARIA ALIMENTARIA
Keywords: Collina Materana district (Italy); forest landscape management plan; forest multifunctionality; index of function importance; silvicultural system

NATURAL VARIABILITY OF SURFACE POROSITY OF WINE CORK STOPPERS - Oliveira, Vanda; Knapic, Sofia; Pereira, Helena (Journal international des sciences de la vigne et du vin, 2012)
Aim : The aim of this study was to characterize the variability and to quantify the surface porosity of wine cork stoppers of different quality classes. Methods and results: The porosity of 300 cork stoppers was characterized by image analysis on the lateral surface and tops. Porosity coefficient was 2.4%, 4.0% and 5.5% for premium, good and standard stoppers, respectively. The lateral surface of stoppers was heterogeneous with respect to porosity features: the tangential regions presented higher porosity while the radial regions had larger pores. Conclusion : The quality classes of cork stoppers can be differentiated by the mean values of the main porosity features of their surface. There is a natural heterogeneity of the porosity features over the external surface of cork stoppers that can be traced back to the biological basis of cork formation and the production process. Significance and impact of the study: Natural cork stoppers are the premium product of the cork industry, with worldwide recognition of quality and performance as wine sealant. Due to the large sampling and detailed observation, the results presented in this study may be used for reinforcing quality requirements, e.g., with definition of standards to improve the classification system. A better understanding of cork intrinsic variability and of the anisotropy of porosity features shown by cork stoppers is important for performance development.
Keywords: image analysis; lateral surface; natural cork stoppers; Porosity; quality classes

A new species of Metabelbella (Acari: Oribatida: Damaeidae) from Quercus forests of southern Portugal - Ermilov, Sergey G.; Shtanchaeva, Umukusum Y.; Subías, Luis S. (International Journal of Acarology, 2012)
In the course of studies of the oribatid fauna of oak forests from southern Portugal, we found representatives of 60 species (51 genera and 38 families) of which 39 species are registered for the first time for Portugal. One new species, Metabelbella epidamaeiformis sp. nov., is described. It is clearly distinguishable from all other species of the genus by the presence of spinae adnatae. An identification key to known Iberian species of Metabelbella is presented. A checklist, the locality and the distribution of all oribatid taxa recorded by us are presented.
doi: 10.1080/01647954.2011.645284doi: 10.1080/01647954.2011.645284The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Taylor & Francis
Keywords: checklist; fauna; key; Metabelbella; new species; Oribatida; Portugal; Quercus forests

Optimal control for forest management and conservation analysis in dehesa ecosystems - Cerdá, Emilio; Martı´n-Barroso, David (European Journal of Operational Research, 2012)
This paper presents a deterministic ﬁnite time horizon dynamic optimization model aimed to determine optimal paths for artiﬁcial plantations and natural regeneration of two main tree species in dehesa multiple use ecosystems, holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) and cork oak (Q. suber L.). Whilst dehesa forest sustainability problems associated to exhaustive use of grazing resources have been indirectly approached by European Union authorities, providing support for artiﬁcial plantations over treeless land, no mention is made to natural regeneration techniques. In this sense, the formulated model allows for natural regeneration of already established ageing stands as a complement or even a substitute of actual reforestation practices. The proposed methodology is neither designed to determine optimal rotation of tree species nor optimal decorticating or pruning cycles of cork oaks and holm oaks, respectively. Instead, this information enters the model exogenously through knowledge of region speciﬁc silvicultural cycles for those commercially relevant tree species, and the optimisation program acts as an optimal land use allocator and thus a practical tool for policy analysis purposes. In addition to existing cost beneﬁt analysis applications in dehesa ecosystems, the presented model allows in one side eﬃcient evaluation of long term management dynamics —thus oak woodlands sustainability can be tested for suﬃciently large time horizons—, and in the other, management decisions, instead of being forced through predeﬁned scenarios, correspond to the optimal actions a decision agent would take from the complete set of feasible possibilities given actual land use and tree age distributions.
Keywords: artificial plantation (voyant); cork oak woodlands; Forest management; holm oak woodlands; land use; natural regeneration

Optimal Regeneration Regime under Continuous Crown Cover Requirements in Cork Oak Woodlands - Almeida Ribeiro, Nuno; Surový, Peter; Yoshimoto, Atsushi (FORMATH, 2012)
In the present work the cork oak tree spatial growth simulator CORKFITS is used to create candidate scenarios for generating a large set of regeneration regimes combining both time and intensity factors with the individual tree spatial information. An optimal regeneration regime under continuous crown cover requirements is sought by applying a dynamic programming algorithm. It is shown that the crown cover constraint inﬂuences the total cork production potential in a negative way. The target cover constraint of 50% decreases the cork production by 66% from the potential in 40 years in our mature plot, and approximately 43% in our young plot. Higher crown cover constraint of 70% decreases the potential cork production approximately by 54% in the mature plot and does not have any inﬂuence on the younger plot. The observed losses in cork production in relation with the potential with the crown cover constrains need to be compensated economically by the higher availability of growing space for the grazing and livestock part of the montado/dehesa production system
Keywords: cork oak woodland; decision support system; Dehesa; dynamic programming; in the present work; montado; montado/dehesa; optimization; spatial growth simulator; the cork oak tree

Pathways for resilience in Mediterranean cork oak land use systems - Acácio, Vanda; Holmgren, Milena (Annals of Forest Science, 2012)
& Context Loss of woodlands and degradation of vegetation and soil have been described for all Mediterranean-type ecosystems worldwide. In the Western Iberian Peninsula, overexploitation of evergreen cork oak land use systems has led to soil erosion, failures in oak recruitment, and loss of forests. Degraded and dry sites are quickly colonised by pioneer heathland rockrose (Cistus spp.) shrubs forming highly persistent patches. & Aims Although traditionally shrublands have been considered as a transient successional state, we present evidence that they can represent persistent alternative states to former cork oak forests. & Review trends and conclusions We first describe how Mediterranean vegetation evolved in the Iberian Peninsula and the role of fire and long-term human management as main disturbances. We then discuss alternative pathways through state-and-transition models indicating the ecological and land use variables that halt cork oak regeneration and recruitment and drive vegetation transitions towards persistent shrublands. Unless concerted management actions and restoration programmes are undertaken, the cork oak land use systems will not be sustainable.
Keywords: alternative stable state; cistus; mediterranean-type ecosystem; Quercus suber; resilience; Restoration

Patterns of leaf morphology and leaf N content in relation to winter temperatures in three evergreen tree species. - Mediavilla, Sonia; Gallardo-López, Victoria; González-Zurdo, Patricia; Escudero, Alfonso (International journal of biometeorology, 2012)
The competitive equilibrium between deciduous and perennial species in a new scenario of climate change may depend closely on the productivity of leaves along the different seasons of the year and on the morphological and chemical adaptations required for leaf survival during the different seasons. The aim of the present work was to analyze such adaptations in the leaves of three evergreen species (Quercus ilex, Q. suber and Pinus pinaster) and their responses to between-site differences in the intensity of winter harshness. We explore the hypothesis that the harshness of winter would contribute to enhancing the leaf traits that allow them to persist under conditions of stress. The results revealed that as winter harshness increases a decrease in leaf size occurs in all three species, together with an increase in the content of nitrogen per unit leaf area and a greater leaf mass per unit area, which seems to be achieved only through increased thickness, with no associated changes in density. P. pinaster was the species with the most intense response to the harshening of winter conditions, undergoing a more marked thickening of its needles than the two Quercus species. Our findings thus suggest that lower winter temperatures involve an increase in the cost of leaf production of evergreen species, which must be taken into account in the estimation of the final cost and benefit balance of evergreens. Such cost increases would be more pronounced for those species that, like P. pinaster, show a stronger response to the winter cold.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: accession-num: 21969112
Keywords: leaf density; leaf mass per unit area; leaf n content; leaf thickness; winter temperature gradient

Patterns of soil organic carbon, glomalin and structural stability in abandoned Mediterranean terraced lands - Emran, M.; Gispert, M.; Pardini, G. (European Journal of Soil Science, 2012)
Soil carbon (C) storage potential has received considerable attention for its role in climate change mitigation, and much research work has been devoted to studying the effect of land-use change, including land abandonment, on carbon dynamics. A comparative analysis of soil organic carbon (SOC), easily extractable Bradford-reactive soil protein (EE-BRSP) and Bradford-reactive soil protein (BRSP) was carried out at monthly intervals in a land-use sequence including cultivated soils, forest soils, shrubs and pasture in northeast Spain. In general, greater seasonal variations of both EE-BRSP and BRSP were found in soils with less carbon storage capacity. Turnover of glomalin into more stable C forms was associated with a small EE-BRSP:BRSP ratio in better structured soils and BRSP was related to organic carbon, suggesting positive contributions to both the recalcitrant carbon pool and soil structure. This effect seemed to be more pronounced in August when more BRSP was found, probably because of high temperature and dry soils in which glomalin may react to preserve residual adsorbed water and provide better protection in soil microsites. The role of glomalin was further enhanced by the structural stability of aggregates (WSA) investigated in two aggregate fractions (0.25–2.00 and 2.00–5.60 mm), indicating its beneficial effect in aggregation and carbon storage potential. BRSP, SOC and WSA increased significantly (P < 0.001) along the transect and abandonment sequence; the largest WSA values were generally greater in summer in both aggregate fractions. However, values in cultivated soils were always smaller than in soils under shrubs and pasture. Similarly, soils with a smaller carbon pool had the largest proportion of carbon loss as CO2-C when land use changes from vines to pasture. The role of aggregates in protecting organic carbon against mineralization was therefore postulated and highlighted the importance of soil monitoring after land abandonment.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Keywords: Glomalin; Land abandonment; seasonal variability; Soil organic carbon; Soil structure; Water storage (voyant)

Perspectives in dryland restoration: approaches for climate change adaptation - Ramón Vallejo, V.; Smanis, Athanasios; Chirino, Esteban; Ramo, V.; Fuentes, David; Valdecantos, Alejandro; Vilagrosa, Alberto (New Forests, 2012)
Reforestation efforts in dryland ecosystems frequently encounter drought and limited soil productivity, although both factors usually interact synergistically to worsen water stress for outplanted seedlings. Land degradation in drylands (e.g. desertiﬁcation) usually reduces soil productivity and, especially, soil water availability. In dry sub-humid regions, forest ﬁres constitute a major disturbance affecting ecosystem dynamics and reforestation planning. Climate change projections indicate an increase of drought and more severe ﬁre regime in many dryland regions of the world. In this context, the main target of plantation technology development is to overcome transplant shock and likely adverse periods, and in drylands this is mostly related to water limitations. In this paper, we discuss some selected steps that we consider critical for improving success in outplanting woody plants, both under current and projected climate change conditions including: (1) Plant species selection, (2) Improved nursery techniques, and (3) Improved planting techniques. The number of plant species used in reforestation is increasing rapidly, moving from a reduced set of well-known, easy-to-grow, widely used species, to a large variety of promising native species. Available technologies allow for reintroducing native plants and recovering critical ecosystem functions for many degraded drylands. However, climate change projections introduce large uncertainties about the sustainability of current reforestation practices. To cope with these uncertainties, adaptive restoration approaches are suggested, on the basis of improved plant quality, improved techniques for optimizing rain use efﬁciency in plantations, and exploring native plant species, including provenances and genotypes, for their resilience to ﬁre and water use efﬁciency.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Springer Netherlands
Keywords: Mediterranean ecosystems; Nursery cultivation; Reforestation; Species selection; Water harvesting

Phenological variability drives the distribution of wildfires in Sardinia - Angelis, Antonella; Bajocco, Sofia; Ricotta, Carlo (Landscape Ecology, 2012)
Fuel characteristics play an important role in driving ﬁre ignition and propagation; at the landscape scale fuel availability and ﬂammability are closely related to vegetation phenology. In this view, the NDVI proﬁles obtained from high temporal resolution satellites, like MODIS, are an effective tool for monitoring the coarse-scale vegetation seasonal timing. The aim of this paper is twofold: our ﬁrst objective consists in classifying by means of multitemporal NDVI proﬁles the coarse-scale vegetation of Sardinia into ‘phenological clusters’ in which ﬁre incidence is higher (preferred) or lower (avoided) than expected from a random null model. If ﬁres would burn unselectively, then ﬁres would occur randomly across the landscape such that the number of ﬁres in a given phenological cluster would be nearly proportional to the relative area of that land cover type in the analyzed landscape. Actually, certain vegetation types are more ﬁre-prone than others. That is, they are burnt more frequently than others. In this framework, our second objective consists in investigating the temporal parameters of the remotely sensed NDVI proﬁles that best characterize the observed phenology–ﬁre selectivity relationship. The results obtained show a good association between the NDVI temporal proﬁles and the spatio-temporal wildﬁre distribution in Sardinia, emphasizing the role of bioclimatic timing in driving ﬁre regime characteristics.
Keywords: Clustering; Fire selectivity; Image segmentation; MODIS; NDVI proﬁles; Residuals

Photoprotection mechanisms in Quercus ilex under contrasting climatic conditions - Camarero, Jesús Julio; Olano, José Miguel; Arroyo Alfaro, Sandra Jackeline; Fernández-Marín, Beatriz; Becerril, José Maria; García-Plazaola, José Ignacio (Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants, 2012)
Acclimation to local conditions may produce adaptive responses in plants subjected to diverse climatic stresses. However, it has not been assessed how local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity contribute to photoprotection mechanisms in response to contrasting climatic conditions in Mediterranean tree species. We analyzed photoprotectionmechanisms inmature trees oftheMediterranean evergreen oak Quercus ilex at three sites with contrasting climatic conditions, i.e. xeric, continental and mesic sites. We studied morphological and physiological parameters indicative of photoprotection in adult trees in the ﬁeld. In order to establish whether these parameters were genetically determined we compared adults with seedlings germinated from acorns of the three sites and grown under common greenhouse conditions. In the ﬁeld we found no signiﬁcant differences in most of the physiological parameters in summer, but in winter the adulttrees fromthe continental site were photoinhibited. In contrast,there were signiﬁcant differences between seedlings in most photoprotective parameters evaluated. Morphological traits such as trichome density and leaf reﬂectance differed between populations, both in ﬁeld-grown trees and in greenhouse-grown seedlings, being higher in all cases in plants from the xeric site than elsewhere. Our ﬁndings suggest the existence of constitutive differences in leaf photoprotection mechanisms among Q. ilex populations. These divergences may represent an inherent source for more stress tolerant ecotypes in the face of changing climatic conditions.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier GmbH.
Keywords: ecotypes; Holm oak; Mediterranean; photoprotection; Trichomes

A phytoclimatic-based indicator for assessing the inherent responsitivity of the European forests to climate change - García-López, Javier M.; Allué, Carmen (Ecological Indicators, 2012)
We assess the potential inherent responsitivity of the European forests to climate change, as a measure of the degree to which a forest ecosystem is responsive to a climatic stimulus, through an indicator that combines the concepts of resilience and plasticity without involving exposure. The derivatives of two phytoclimatic functions of resilience and plasticity adjusted for 12 climatic variables and 25 European forest types allow evaluating the responsitivity amount and sign of these forest types to likely situations of increased temperature and decreased precipitation. The results show a clear contrast between central and northern European countries. The highest values of positive responsitivity are found in the Scandinavian countries, as well as in the high mountain ranges, while the most negative values are found in the areas of southern Europe located around the Mediterranean Sea. Thus, climate change will tend to have the highest potential beneﬁcial effects on the boreal forests and the most adverse on the Mediterranean ones (particularly on Thermo-Mediterranean forests). A total of 17% of forest lands covered by this study have negative responsitivity to climate change, being the mean value of the indicator negative for Italy, Spain, Greece, Malta and Portugal. Finland and Sweden are the countries with the greatest favorable potentialities facing climate change. Our results suggest that the inherent responsitivity of Mediterranean forests is mainly driven by the summer drought while in boreal forests the key factors are the low temperatures and the short growing season.
Keywords: climate change; European forests; Plasticity; resilience; vulnerability

Plant ethnoveterinary practices in two pyrenean territories of catalonia (iberian peninsula) and in two areas of the balearic islands and comparison with ethnobotanical uses in human medicine. - Carrió, Esperança; Rigat, Montse; Garnatje, Teresa; Mayans, Marina; Parada, Montse; Vallès, Joan (Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2012)
This paper presents the results of an ethnobotanical study centred in veterinarian uses in two Catalan Pyrenean regions (Alt Empordà -AE- and High River Ter Valley -AT-, Iberian peninsula) and two Balearic Islands areas (Formentera -FO- and northeastern Mallorca -MA-). In the areas studied, 97 plant species have been claimed to be useful for veterinary purposes. A total of 306 veterinary use reports have been gathered and analysed. The ten most reported plants are Tanacetum parthenium (24 use reports), Parietaria officinalis (15), Ranunculus parnassifolius (14), Meum athamanticum (13), Olea europaea (13), Quercus ilex (12), Ruta chalepensis (12), Sambucus nigra (10) and Thymus vulgaris (10). According to comprehensive reviews, a high number of novelties for plant ethnoveterinary are contributed: 34 species and one subspecies, 11 genera, and three families have not been reported in previous works in this field, and 21 species had only been mentioned once. Several ethnoveterinary uses are coincidental with those in human medicine. Although ethnoveterinary practices are less relevant than in the past in the territories considered, as in all industrialised countries, the knowledge on plant properties and applications is still rich and constitutes a large pool of evidence for phytotherapy, both in domestic animals and humans.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: accession-num: 22829861
Keywords: Ethnobotany; medicinal plants (PG); Veterinary medicine

Positive cascade effects of forest fragmentation on acorn weevils mediated by seed size enlargement - Bonal, Raul; HERNÁNDEZ, MARISA; ORTEGO, JOAQUÍN; Muñoz, Alberto; ESPELTA, JOSEP M. (Insect Conservation and Diversity, 2012)
Abstract. 1. Today, forest fragmentation is one of the major threats to biodiversity worldwide. In this context, fragmented populations of specialised forest organisms face an increasing risk of extinction because of factors such as local food scarcity. Nonetheless, the role of food availability may differ depending on organism size, which is expected to determine the energy requirements and mobility between fragments. 2. A field study was carried out on Curculio elephas, a forest beetle with low dispersal potential, whose larval development takes place in oak Quercus spp. acorns. 3. For a similar seed crop per tree, acorn size was larger in isolated oaks than in trees located in forest patches. Thus, fragmentation increased local food availability for C. elephas. Larger acorns enabled larval size to increase, a key fitness proxy associated with individual survival, adult size, and potential female fecundity. Indeed, the number of both adults and larvae was higher in isolated trees than in forest patches. 4. In the current scenario of increasing forest fragmentation, the survival likelihood of specialist insects may strongly depend on their ability to adapt to altered environmental conditions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report on how some forest insects may take advantage of fragmentation-mediated changes to survive in isolated trees. 5. From a conservation perspective, management policies should preserve isolated trees as a source of seeds and fauna for the natural regeneration of forest ecosystems after unproductive farmlands have been abandoned.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Keywords: acorn size; Curculio; Forest fragmentation; forest insects; Global change; individual fitness; larval size

Post-Fire Management of Cork Oak Forests - Catry, Filipe X.; Moreira, Francisco; Cardillo, Enrique; Pausas, Juli G. (Post-Fire Management and Restoration of Southern European Forests, 2012)
This chapter concerns the ecology and post-fire management of cork oak forests. It starts with a short overview of ecological and socio-economic context, continuing with an introduction on the cork oak post-fire regeneration strategies and the main factors affecting tree responses. Several post-fire management issues and alternatives, such as tree logging, assisting natural regeneration, reforestation, cork harvesting and pruning, or protecting against herbivory, are also presented and discussed
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: periodical: Post-Fire Management and Restoration of Southern European Forests electronic-resource-num: 10.1007/978-94-007-2208-8
Keywords: cork harvesting; Cork oak forests; crown regeneration; management; natural regeneration

Post-fire salvage logging alters a key plant-animal interaction for forest regeneration - Castro, J.; Puerta-Pinero, C.; Leverkus, A. B.; Moreno-Rueda, G.; Sanchez-Miranda, A. (ECOSPHERE, 2012)
Post-fire salvage logging is widely implemented worldwide, but there is an increasing concern about its potential impact on the ecosystem. Moreover, there is scant information about the effect of salvage logging on ecosystem processes mediated by species interactions. We manipulated a burnt pine forest to experimentally analyze the effect of burnt-wood management on the colonization of Holm oak (Quercus ilex) mediated by acorn dispersal by Eurasian jays (Garrulus glandarius). Three replicates of three treatments were established in an 18-ha plot: salvage logging (SL), non-intervention (NI), and partial cut plus lopping (PCL; felling and lopping most of the trees but leaving all the biomass in situ). We hypothesized that different burnt-wood management could alter jays' landscape perception and thus the pattern of seed dispersal and seedling recruitment. We monitored jay abundance in each treatment for three winters and three breeding periods, and jay flights of potential acorn dispersal between nearby oak trees and the treatments. We also searched for oak seedlings recruited in the experimental plot for five years following the fire. Jays were recorded significantly more times (87%) in NI, and movements to this treatment during the acorn dispersal period were also more frequent (81% of the flights). Oak seedlings were also more abundant in NI (ca. 55%) than in SL or PCL (ca. 25% each), despite a strong effect of small remnants of live pines. The results show that the burnt forest, if unsalvaged, still provides a suitable habitat for jays, while salvage logging reduces the strength of this key plant-animal interaction for oak natural regeneration. Nonintervention policies after a forest fire therefore provide the opportunity for adaptive management that helps reduce restoration costs and increase the resilience of the system.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: pub-location: 1990 M STREET NW, STE 700, WASHINGTON, DC 20036 USA publisher: ECOLOGICAL SOC AMER
Keywords: Garrulus glandarius; jay-oak interaction; oak colonization; Quercus ilex; resilience; salvage harvesting; seed dispersal; Sierra Nevada National Park; succession

Potential Nutritive Value and Condensed Tannin Contents of Acorns from Different Oak Species - KAYA, E.; KAMALAK, A. (Kafkas Universitesi Veteriner Fakultesi Dergisi, 2012)
The potential nutritive values of acorns of Quercus suber, Quercus branti, Quercus coccifera, Quercus cerris and Quercus infectoria were estimated by chemical composition and in vitro gas production technique. Acorns collected at least 10 different trees in three experimental plots. There were significant (P<0.001) differences in the chemical composition among acorns obtained from different oak species. Crude protein (CP) contents of acorns ranged from 25.48 to 61.94 g/kg dry matter (DM). Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents ranged from 231.4 to 326.3 g/kg DM. Acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents ranged from 155.9 to 215.4 g/kg DM. Condensed tannin (CT) contents ranged from 7.2 to 26.7 g/kg DM. Starch contents ranged from 600.0 to 681.5 g/kg DM. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) addition significantly (P<0.001) increased the gas production and some estimated parameters of oak acorns. Although there is no significant (P>0.5) differences in the potential gas production of acorn among oak species when incubated in the absence of PEG, there is significant (P<0.001) differences in the potential gas production of acorn among oak species when incubated in the presence of PEG. Although the estimated organic matter (OMD) and metabolisable (ME) contents of acorn for Q. suber and Q. infectoria were significantly (P<0.001) higher than those for Q. branti, Q. coccifera and Q. cerris when incubated in the absence of PEG, the estimated OMD and ME contents of acorn for Quercus cerris and Q. infectoria were significantly lower than those for Q. suber, Q. branti and Q. coccifera when incubated in the presence of PEG. The improvement in gas production, OMD and ME in the presence of PEG emphasizes the negative effect of tannins on digestibility. As a conclusion, oak acorns have potential nutritive values for ruminant animals such as sheep and goat since acorns have high starch, OMD and ME but low level of CT contents. However these results obtained in the current study should be supported by in vivo feeding experiments.
Keywords: Condensed tannin; digestibility; In vitro gas production; Metabolizable energy; oak acorn; Polyethylene glycol

Preliminary Investigation of LED Lighting as Growth Light for Seedlings from Different Tree Species in Growth Chambers - ASTOLFI, Stefania; MARIANELLO, Chiara; GREGO, Stefano; BELLAROSA, Rosanna (Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, 2012)
The influence of light quality on growth and metabolic activity during pre-cultivation (in miniplug containers) of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) and wild cherry (Prunus avium) plants was investigated. Seedlings were grown in a growth chamber for a month under light-emitting diode (LED) light or fluorescent light. The LED lamps (Valoya) used in this study emitted a continuous spectrum thanks to a mixture of blue, green, red and far-red LEDs. Our results showed that plant response to light quality seems to be related to the plant species. In particular, in beech seedlings fresh and dry weight, shoot height and leaf area were greatest when plants were cultured under LED light, and lowest under fluorescent lamps. Furthermore, we found that LED-induced reduction of chlorophyll contents in beech and holm oak leaves resulted in an increase of the carboxylase capacity of Rubisco in the same plant species suggesting an improvement of light-use-efficiency in these plants. These results indicate that LED light may be suitable for the culture of plants in tightly controlled environments. The comparison of malondialdehyde levels between LED and fluorescent grown plants strongly supports this idea.
Keywords: beech; glutamine synthetase; Holm oak; light; lipid peroxidation; Rubisco; wild cherry

Quality of meat and meat products produced from southern European pig breeds. - Pugliese, Carolina; Sirtori, Francesco (Meat science, 2012)
Genetic and environmental effects on the quality of meat from southern European pig breeds are discussed. In the literature, it is evident that the breeds native to southern Europe have an interesting quality of products with respect to improved pigs. The free-range system increases the value of animal products due to the influence of outdoor rearing on the chemical, physical and organoleptic characteristics of the product. Traditional food products of high quality, such as those obtained from animals reared outdoor, are in high demand. The studies carried out on native pig breeds in southern Europe have focused on various aspects, ranging from studies of population genetics aimed at averting the danger of extinction and reducing inbreeding to studies of the factors affecting the quality of products. The purpose of this review is to analyse the literature on pig breeds native to southern Europe, with particular reference to the effects of genetics and breeding systems on the quality of products.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier Ltd accession-num: 22030111
Keywords: Autochthonous pigs; Dry-cured products; meat quality; outdoor

Quantifying the influence of climate and biological drivers on the interannual variability of carbon exchanges in European forests through process-based modelling - DELPIERRE, N.; SOUDANI, K.; François, C.; Le Maire, G.; BERNHOFER, C.; Kutsch, W.; Misson, L.; Rambal, S.; Vesala, T.; Dufrêne, E. (Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 2012)
It is necessary to increase our understanding of the inﬂuence of climate and biological drivers on the interannual variations in carbon (C) exchange between forests and the atmosphere. To this aim, a processbasedmodel(CASTANEA) was used for simulating C exchanges over four European forests, encompassing a broad latitudinal gradient (from Mediterranean to boreal climate zones), for the years 2000–2007. CASTANEA reproduced 74–95% of the daily and 35–84% of the annual variance in daytime net ecosystem productivity (NEP). Constrained simulations allowed us to isolate the individual contributions of climatic drivers (radiation, temperature and relative humidity), hydrological drivers (soil water) and biological drivers (canopy dynamics, the thermal acclimation of photosynthetic capacities in evergreens, and vegetative and microbial C pools) to the anomalies in C exchange for timescales ranging from daily to annual. Orthonormal wavelet transformation of these single-contribution time series allowed us to quantify the individual drivers’ inﬂuences on ﬂux variance across time scales. High frequency departures from mean annual C exchange patterns were mostly caused by hydroclimate modulations (87–99% of the ﬂux variance from daily to weekly scales). The integration of these anomalies at the annual scale yielded a higher contribution of biological drivers: we identiﬁed a primary controller of gross primary production (GPP) variations through modulations of soil water in both the Mediterranean Quercus ilex and the temperate Fagus sylvatica forests; we also identiﬁed at the annual scale a complex determinism for both coniferous sites, with an unexpectedly higher contribution of the thermal acclimation driver at the temperate (warmer) site. Although all but one site experienced structural perturbations during the study period, interannual variations in ecosystem respiration (Reco) were readily related to changes in temperature and soil water, with a low contribution from variations in C pools at the annual scale. As a result of the preponderant dependence of net ecosystem production (NEP) on GPP ﬂuxes, the inferred determinism of simulated net exchanges appeared similar to that of GPP. However, compensations occurred, leading, for example, to a much lower inﬂuence of soil water modulations on NEP than on GPP or Reco at the Mediterranean site.
Keywords: Carbon exchanges; Climate drivers; Ecosystem functional properties; European forests; Interannual variability; process-based model

Recurrent fires and environment shape the vegetation in Quercus suber L. woodlands and maquis. - Schaffhauser, Alice; Curt, Thomas; Véla, Errol; Tatoni, Thierry (Comptes rendus biologies, 2012)
The effects of fire recurrence on vegetation patterns in Quercus suber L. and Erica-Cistus communities in Mediterranean fire-prone ecosystems of south-eastern France were examined on stands belonging to 5 fire classes, corresponding to different numbers of fires (from 0 to 4) and time intervals between fires since 1959. A common pool of species was identified among the plots, which was typical of both open and closed maquis. Fire recurrence reduced the abundance of trees and herbs, whereas it increased the abundance of small shrubs. Richness differed significantly between the most contrasting classes of fire recurrence, with maximal values found in control plots and minimal values in plots that had burned recurrently and recently. Equitability indices did not vary significantly, in contrast to Shannon's diversity index which mostly correlated with richness. Forest ecosystems that have burnt once or twice in the last 50 years were resilient; that is to say they recovered a biomass and composition similar to that of the pre-fire state. However, after more than 3-4 fires, shrubland communities displayed lower species richness and diversity indices than unburned plots. The time since the last fire and the number of fires were the most explanatory fire variables, governing the structure of post-fire plant communities. However, environmental factors, such as slope or exposure, also made a significant contribution. Higher rates of fire recurrence can affect the persistence or expansion of shrublands in the future, as observed in other Mediterranean areas.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: accession-num: 22721564
Keywords: Acidic soil; biomass; climate; cork-oak; Ecosystem; Erica arborea L.; Fire recurrence; Fires; France; Mediterranean Region; Plant communities; Plants; Plants: classification; Quercus; Seasons; Species Specificity; Trees

Reference Gene Selection for Quantitative Real-time PCR Normalization in Quercus suber - Marum, Liliana; Miguel, Andreia; Ricardo, Cândido P.; Miguel, Célia (PLoS ONE, 2012)
The use of reverse transcription quantitative PCR technology to assess gene expression levels requires an accurate normalization of data in order to avoid misinterpretation of experimental results and erroneous analyses. Despite being the focus of several transcriptomics projects, oaks, and particularly cork oak (Quercus suber), have not been investigated regarding the identification of reference genes suitable for the normalization of real-time quantitative PCR data. In this study, ten candidate reference genes (Act, CACs, EF-1α, GAPDH, His3, PsaH, Sand, PP2A, ß-Tub and Ubq) were evaluated to determine the most stable internal reference for quantitative PCR normalization in cork oak. The transcript abundance of these genes was analysed in several tissues of cork oak, including leaves, reproduction cork, and periderm from branches at different developmental stages (1-, 2-, and 3-year old) or collected in different dates (active growth period versus dormancy). The three statistical methods (geNorm, NormFinder, and CV method) used in the evaluation of the most suitable combination of reference genes identified Act and CACs as the most stable candidates when all the samples were analysed together, while ß-Tub and PsaH showed the lowest expression stability. However, when different tissues, developmental stages, and collection dates were analysed separately, the reference genes exhibited some variation in their expression levels. In this study, and for the first time, we have identified and validated reference genes in cork oak that can be used for quantification of target gene expression in different tissues and experimental conditions and will be useful as a starting point for gene expression studies in other oaks.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Public Library of Science
Keywords: Cork oak; Gene expression; reference genes; RT-qPCR (voyant)

Relationships between leaf morphological traits, nutrient concentrations and isotopic signatures for Mediterranean woody plant species and communities - Domínguez, María T.; Aponte, Cristina; Pérez-Ramos, Ignacio M.; García, Luis V.; Villar, Rafael; Marañón, Teodoro (Plant and Soil, 2012)
Background and aims Soil factors are driving forces that influence spatial distribution and functional traits of plant species. We test whether two anchor morphological traits—leaf mass per area (LMA) and leaf dry matter content (LDMC)—are significantly related to a broad range of leaf nutrient concentrations in Mediterranean woody plant species. We also explore the main environmental filters (light availability, soil moisture and soil nutrients) that determine the patterns of these functional traits in a forest stand. Methods Four morphological and 19 chemical leaf traits (macronutrients and trace elements and δ 13 C and δ 15 N signatures) were analysed in 17 woody plant species. Community-weighted leaf traits were calculated for 57 plots within the forest. Links between LMA, LDMC and other leaf traits were analysed at the species and the community level using standardised major axis (SMA) regressions Results LMA and LDMC were significantly related to many leaf nutrient concentrations, but only when using abundance-weighted values at community level. Among-traits links were much weaker for the crossspecies analysis. Nitrogen isotopic signatures were useful to understand different resource-use strategies. Community-weighted LMA and LDMC were negatively related to light availability, contrary to what was expected. Conclusion Community leaf traits have parallel shifts along the environmental factors that determine the community assembly, even though they are weakly related across individual taxa. Light availability is the main environmental factor determining this convergence of the community leaf traits.
Keywords: Community weighted means; functional traits; isotopes; leaf dry matter content; Leaf mass per area; macronutrients; Specific leaf area

The role of multi-functionality in social preferences toward semi-arid rural landscapes: An ecosystem service approach - García-Llorente, Marina; Martín-López, Berta; Iniesta-Arandia, Irene; López-Santiago, César a; Aguilera, Pedro a; Montes, Carlos (Environmental Science & Policy, 2012)
The present study analyzes the relationship between landscape multi-functionality and social preferences toward Mediterranean landscapes in terms of monetary and nonmonetary techniques. Twenty landscape views were selected as representative of the landscape units characterizing Nacimiento and Adra semi-arid watersheds (southeastern Spain). Face-to-face questionnaires were used to assess social factors that inﬂuence willingness to pay for aesthetic landscape enjoyment (use value) and landscape conservation (non-use value). Meanwhile, an expert focus group analyzed the capacity of the selected semi-arid ecosystems for supplying services to society. The favorite landscape views mainly contained steeper reliefs, water ﬂows, and traditional human activities. Our results suggest a strong positive effect between respondents’ place attachment and the level of support for landscape conservation. Respondents were more willing to pay for the conservation of semiarid rural landscapes when their sense of belonging was greater. We also found that multifunctional landscapes, which provide higher numbers of regulating and cultural services, were also preferred in terms of their visual quality (use value). Additionally, they had more social support for their conservation (non-use value). The conversion of multi-functional landscapes to mono-functional ones disturbs the stability of rural areas, their capacity to provide other ecosystem services, and the social support toward their preservation. To reverse this tendency, two major ideas should be emphasized. The ﬁrst is the necessity of considering the ecological components and processes behind landscapes, and the second is the role of the local population on rural landscape conservation
Keywords: Contingent valuation; Expert focus group; Landscape aesthetic; Mediterranean; Social–ecological system; Value

Root system of Quercus suber L. seedlings in response to herbaceous competition and different watering and fertilisation regimes - Cubera, Elena; Moreno, Gerardo; Solla, Alejandro; Madeira, Manuel (Agroforestry Systems, 2012)
Different management practices are commonly applied to increase pasture yield of Mediterranean open woodlands, but the consequences of increasing competition for soil resources with these practices on tree recruitment are still unknown. In a greenhouse study, belowground competition of Quercus suber L. seedlings growing together with natural (OakNP) or improved pasture (OakIP) was evaluated, and their root systems compared with those of seedlings growing in bare soil (OakBS). Two watering levels and two regimes of P2O5 fertilisation were also tested. Because of competition, the OakIP seedlings had their ﬁne root mass density, coarse root length, and shoot mass reduced by up to 40, 36, and 39%, respectively, when compared to OakNP seedlings. OakNP and OakBS seedlings showed similar average root density parameters and shoot mass values, indicating that Q. suber seedlings growing with natural pasture is a low competitive system. High availability of water and phosphorus did not mitigate the strength of competition between herbaceous plants and oak seedlings, and favoured the pasture to the detriment of the trees. Our ﬁndings suggest that P2O5 fertilisation and irrigation practices performed to improve herbaceous productivity will negatively inﬂuence recruitment of Q. suber seedlings.
Keywords: Cork oak; Dehesa; Improved pasture; Root density; Seedling recruitment

Scale-dependent segregation of seeders and resprouters in cork oak (Quercus suber) forests. - Coca, M.; Pausas, J. G. (Oecologia, 2012)
Recent studies showed that disturbances and water availability determine the richness among plants with different post-fire strategies of Mediterranean-type ecosystems. The aim of this study was to determine whether or not the scale of analysis has an influence on the effects of these factors and, therefore, on the segregation of the dominant post-fire strategies, obligate seeders and obligate resprouters, and facultative species. We recorded all woody species and geographical features on 94 (75 m(2)) plots of cork oak woodlands in the southern Iberian Peninsula. For each regenerative type (resprouters, seeders and species with both traits--facultative species), we tested the relationship between the number of species and the predictors using a generalised linear mixed model. The fixed predictor considered at the large scale was altitude, and fixed predictors considered at the local scale were aspect (north/south) and disturbance (fire and clearing by heavy machinery; yes/no). The random predictor was the factor of site. When this factor did not have significant effect for some regenerative types, these relationships was tested using a generalised linear model. Resprouting species were most represented at lower altitudes and in undisturbed sites, while seeders were also at lower altitudes but mostly on south-facing slopes, especially south-facing disturbed sites. For facultative species, site is the most important variable. The proportion of seeders from the total species is not related to altitude, but it is related to disturbance and aspect. These results suggest that there is no segregation of the richness of seeders and resprouters at the large scale (altitudinal gradient). Differences appeared at the local scale (aspect and disturbance).
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: accession-num: 21863245
Keywords: Cork oak forests; disturbance; Mediterranean vegetation; Moisture regime; Post-fire strategies

Scaling local abundance determinants in mediterranean dung beetles - NUMA, CATHERINE; LOBO, Jorge M.; VERDÚ, JOSÉ R.; Uma, Catherine N. (Insect Conservation and Diversity, 2012)
Abstract. 1. We study the factors that contribute to the variation in the local abundance of dung beetle species inhabiting Cabañeros National Park, a Mediterranean reserve in Central Spain. The relative roles of five different groups of explanatory variables (climatic, local-scale vegetation, landscape-scale vegetation, landscape connectivity and trophic resources) were assessed for 27 sampling sites established by a nested hierarchical sampling design that considered three regional landscapes (woodland, scrubland, grassland) and three local habitat types (forest, scrub, pasture) within each landscape. 2. Connectivity variables related to the spatial configuration of closed vegetation and distance to patches of open or closed vegetation were the best predictors of the species abundance. Precipitation was the most important climatic variable, whereas grassland area at the local- or landscape-scale and woodland area at the landscape-scale were the most important vegetation variables. Dung resources variables had the lowest explanatory ability. 3. More than 60% of the models explained more than 70% of the total variability. Observed and predicted abundance were highly and positively correlated and the mean percentage of absolute predictive errors was approximately 50%. Low-abundance observations had higher predictive errors and model accuracies seemed to be lower for species with narrow distributional ranges and presence in a high number of sampling localities. 4. Mediterranean ecosystems contain a diverse assemblage of dung beetle species whose composition and abundance are influenced by a variety of factors operating across different spatial scales. The most important variables are the spatial configuration and the habitat connectivity around each locality.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Keywords: Abundance models; Cabañeros National Park; landscape connectivity; landscape scale; Scarabaeoidea; species traits

Seasonal evolution of water status after outplanting of two provenances of Holm oak nursery seedlings - Andivia, Enrique; Carevic, Felipe; FERNÁNDEZ, MANUEL; Alejano, Reyes; VÁZQUEZ-PIQUÉ, JAVIER; TAPIAS, RAÚL (New Forests, 2012)
Forest restoration programs using Holm oak (Quercus ilex ssp. ballota [Desf.] Samp.) have had limited success. The effect of plant provenance on plantation success is uncertain, although some previous studies suggest that some provenances may be better able to tolerate stress. We studied the tolerance to drought in seedlings from two Spanish provenances of Holm oak before and after outplanting. One provenance was from a continental climate with cold winters (GR) and the other was from a xeric climate (HU). Seedlings were subjected to a water stress test in the nursery during the summer and survival was visually assessed after 2 weeks. In addition, 35 healthy seedlings of each provenance that were not subjected to the water stress tests were used for outplanting experiment. In these plants the seasonal changes in water potential at dawn (W), speciﬁc leaf area (SLA), cuticular transpiration (Ec ), and loss of xylem hydraulic conductance of twigs (PLC) were measured over 18 months. After the water stress test in summer, mortality was 44.3 % for GR seedlings and 12.6 % for HU seedlings. In addition there were differences between the two provenances in plant water status after planting. The HU provenance had a better water status and was more water conservative in the summer (higher W, lower Ec , lower PLC), but not in the winter. The different drought tolerance and water relations parameters of these two provenances indicate that provenance should be considered in forest restoration and conservation programs involving Holm oak.
Keywords: Adaptation; Drought; Field performance; Physiological traits; water stress

Seedling emergence and growth of Quercus spp. following severe drought effects on a Pinus sylvestris canopy - Galiano, Lucía; Martínez-Vilalta, Jordi; Eugenio, Màrcia; Granzow-de la Cerda, Íñigo; Lloret, Francisco (Journal of Vegetation Science, 2012)
Questions We addressed the following questions: (1) did defoliation and die-off of the dominant Pinus sylvestris, induced by an extreme drought episode, favour emergence of other tree species; (2) did the defoliated canopies of P. sylvestris resulting from drought promote radial growth among other pre-existing tree species seedlings under them? Location P. sylvestris forest in Central Pyrenees (NE Spain) affected by a severe drought in 2004–2005. Methods Despite increased focus on climate-related forest die-off, studies of the effects on regeneration processes following extreme drought remain scarce. We analysed whether an episode of drought-induced mortality on the dominant P. sylvestris L. may act as a driver of vegetation shift. Seedlings of Quercus humilis Mill. and Q. ilex L. from 27 plots were sampled under P. sylvestris canopies with <50% and ≥50% defoliation (standing dead trees included) to determine age distribution and radial growth using a retrospective, dendrochronological approach. Results Drought-induced canopy losses appear not to be compensated by regeneration of P. sylvestris. Recruitment of below-canopy tree species (specifically Q. humilis and Q. ilex) that could potentially become dominant was high in the entire studied area. However, the spatial patterns of Quercus spp. regeneration following the 2004–2005 drought were complex. While the emergence of new Quercus spp. seedlings was reduced under open, drought-induced canopies, growth of seedlings already established was favoured in open-canopy conditions. Conclusions Although the effects of extreme drought events may disfavour the establishment of new recruits, enhanced growth responses of a pre-established seedling bank could still contribute to accelerate forest dynamics under drier conditions. Because of the predicted increases in intensity and frequency of extreme droughts, monitoring studies are key to elucidate whether the initial patterns observed will be maintained in the long term, eventually leading to a vegetation shift.
Keywords: Canopy gap; Extreme climatic episode; Pinus sylvestris; Quercus humilis; Quercus ilex; seedling growth; Seedling recruitment; tree mortality; Vegetation shift

Short communication. Isolation of Aeromonas hydrophila in piglets - Queiroga, M. C.; Amaral, A. S. P.; Branco, S. M. (SPANISH JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, 2012)
The production of Alentejano breed pig started a recovery two decades ago due to increasing demand for gourmet products. These pigs are raised in rotational semi-extensive or extensive outdoor production systems in the ``Montado{''} (green and cork oak forest), grazing and feeding acorns and other associated food resources. Bacteria of the genus Aeromonas are considered as emerging pathogens of importance for man and,animals, but its involvement in swine is not well documented. In the context of a study made at the University of Evora to assess the specific diseases of Alentejano swine, diseased piglets from two farms were submitted for pathological and bacteriological examinations. Pathological examinations revealed changes characteristic of septicemia, and Aeromonas hydrophila was isolated in pure culture from multiple organs of piglets from both farms. Antibiotic sensitivity tests showed that the isolates from one of the farms were susceptible to gentamicin, oxitetracycline, neomycin, enrofloxacin, colistin sulfate, trimethoprim, ceftiofur, and amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid. In contrast, the A. hydrophila isolated in the other farm was resistant to all drugs tested but enrofloxacin. This is the first report in the world showing the relationship between septicemia and A. hydrophila infection in piglets. The importance of this finding is further reinforced by the fact that these bacteria can be highly resistant to antimicrobial agents.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: pub-location: AUTOPISTA A-6, KM 7 5, MADRID, 28040, SPAIN publisher: SPANISH NATL INST AGRICULTURAL & FOOD RESEARCH & TECHNOLO
Keywords: Alentejano swine breed; emerging pathogens; Iberian swine; resistance to antibiotics

Soil carbon stocks and soil solution chemistry in Quercus ilex stands in Mainland Spain - González González, I.; Grau Corbí, J. M.; Fernández Cancio, a; Jiménez Ballesta, R.; González Cascón, M. R. (European Journal of Forest Research, 2012)
The quantiﬁcation of terrestrial carbon pools is important for the modeling of carbon ﬂuxes in forest ecosystems. As a contribution to the understanding of the factors that inﬂuence the carbon sequestration capacity of Mediterranean forest soils, the present study focuses on the quantiﬁcation of the superﬁcial soil carbon stocks in evergreen oak stands (Quercus ilex L.) representative of its distribution area in Mainland Spain and to analyze the inﬂuence of site factors (climate and topography) and the soil chemical properties in the topsoil carbon storage capacity. For that purpose, 103 Quercus ilex stands were studied grouped in four main formations: 40 wooded grassland ecosystems with scattered oak trees (dehesas), 14 open Holm oak stands, 28 mixed Holm oak forests and 21 dense Holm oak forests. The soil organic carbon stocks (SOCS) in the upper organo-mineral soil layer ranged between 1.4–15.6 kg m -2 and total soil carbon stocks (TSCS) between 1.4–17.9 kg m -2 . Tree density was a signiﬁcant factor for SOC storage in the soil. The wooded grassland dehesas presented the minimum superﬁcial SOC stocks (3.6 kg m -2 ), while dense Holm oak forests reached the maximum average values (7.6 kg m -2 ). Maximum SOCS ([10 kg m -2 ) were measured in the mixed and dense Holm oak forests over soils with calcareous substrates. Summer mean temperature (R = -0.46; P\0.001) was the climatic variable that most inﬂuenced the SOCS. Soil properties had stronger positive correlations with SOCS than site factors: nitrogen concentrations (R = 0.70; P\0.001), clay content (R = 0.62; P\0.001), soluble calcium (R = 0.60; P\0.001) and magnesium (R = 0.42; P\0.001). Climatic and topographic variables together explained 30 % of the SOCS variability. An increase up to 63 % was obtained by including soil variables. Under Mediterranean climate conditions, the soil properties that enhance the organic matter protection achieve a notable relevance. The soil carbon storage is favored by large organic matter inputs, high soil clay contents, a calcium-saturated soil matrix and reduced summer aridity.
Keywords: Dehesa; Mediterranean ecosystems; mediterranean ecosystems á soil; Quercus ilex; quercus ilex á; soil carbon stocks; soil carbon stocks á; soil solution; solution á dehesa

Soil chemical properties in abandoned Mediterranean cropland after succession and oak reforestation - Cuesta, B.; Rey Benayas, J. M.; Gallardo, A.; Villar-Salvador, P.; González-Espinosa, M. (Acta Oecologica, 2012)
Large extents of cropland have been abandoned in recent decades and more may be abandoned in the near future. These may undergo secondary succession or reforestation. We experimentally tested the response of soil chemical properties to secondary succession (old ﬁeld) and to Quercus ilex plantation (reforested cropland) in a Mediterranean cropland that was abandoned 13 years ago. We also evaluated the relevance of previous reforestation management (four combinations of presence and absence of irrigation and shading) in addition to current environmental conditions (herbaceous community and cover of oak canopy) on soil chemistry in the reforested cropland. Carbon and NH4 þ eN concentrations and availability of mineral N were higher in the reforested cropland than in the old ﬁeld. However, soil pH, total N, P, K and NO3 eN concentrations, mineralization rates, and available PO4 3 eP were similar in the reforested cropland as well as in the old ﬁeld. Previous reforestation management practices, particularly irrigation, and current environmental conditions, mostly biomass and composition of the herbaceous community, affected soil chemistry. Irrigation increased K and P concentrations and NH4 þ eN availability. This study highlights the overall slow dynamics of soil chemistry in Mediterranean ecosystems, which has resulted in little variation of soil properties in reforested cropland after more than a decade. Reforestation can accelerate the recovery of some soil properties of abandoned cropland in comparison with secondary succession, but these effects will be more noticeable in longer time periods.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier Masson SAS
Keywords: ammonium; Inorganic nitrogen; nitrate; Old ﬁelds; Quercus ilex; Soil fertility; Tree planting

Soil Gypsum and Increased Penetration Resistance Restrict Early Growth of Quercus ilex Plantations - Olarieta, J. R.; Rodríguez-Ochoa, R.; Ascaso, E. (Arid Land Research and Management, 2012)
The objective of this study is to analyze the influence of soil characteristics on the early growth of Quercus ilex in order to support planning of future plantations. We studied 31 200-m2-plots on 10-year-old plantations in fields that were set-aside from agriculture in a semiarid area in northeast Spain. Tree height and diameter, slope, geomorphic position, and various soil characteristics were measured. On north-facing slopes height and diameter of trees were significantly greater (150?200%) in soils without gypsum than in soils with gypsum. In soils without gypsum, increased penetration resistance in the upper 50 cm of soil (from 4.4 MPa to more than 7.0 MPa) decreased dominant height of trees to 40% of the maximum. While plantations of Quercus ilex can achieve satisfactory growth in semiarid conditions, detailed field studies of soil and site conditions are required for successful plantation establishment. The actual need for soil preparation treatments should be carefully evaluated considering species response and soil penetration resistance.
doi: 10.1080/15324982.2012.680654doi: 10.1080/15324982.2012.680654The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Taylor & Francis
Keywords: Afforestation; calcareous soils; land evaluation; soil rootable depth

Soil microarthropod communities from Mediterranean forest ecosystems in Central Italy under different disturbances. - Blasi, Silvia; Menta, Cristina; Balducci, Lorena; Conti, Federica Delia; Petrini, Enrico; Piovesan, Gianluca (Environmental monitoring and assessment, 2012)
The aim of this study is to assess soil quality in Mediterranean forests of Central Italy, from evergreen to deciduous, with different types of management (coppice vs. high forest vs. secondary old growth) and compaction impacts (machinery vs. recreational). Soil quality was evaluated studying soil microarthropod communities and applying a biological index (QBS-ar) based on the concept that the higher is the soil quality, the higher will be the number of microarthropod groups well adapted to the soil habitat. Our results confirm that hardwood soils are characterised by the highest biodiversity level among terrestrial communities and by a well-structured and mature microarthropod community, which is typical of stable ecosystems (QBS value, >200). While silvicultural practices and forest composition do not seem to influence QBS-ar values or microarthropod community structure, the index is very efficient in detecting soil impacts (soil compaction due to logging activities). Several taxa (Protura, Diplura, Coleoptera adults, Pauropoda, Diplopoda, Symphyla, Chilopoda, Diptera larvae and Opiliones) react negatively to soil compaction and degradation (QBS value, <150). In particular, Protura, Diplura, Symphyla and Pauropoda, are taxonomic groups linked to undisturbed soil. This index could also be a useful tool in monitoring soil biodiversity in protected areas and in urban forestry to prevent the negative effects of trampling. QBS-ar is a candidate index for biomonitoring of soil microarthropod biodiversity across the landscape to provide guidance for the sustainable management of renewable resource and nature conservation.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: accession-num: 22585401
Keywords: Biological index; Forest management; microarthropods; Soil disturbance; Soil fauna; Soil monitoring

Soil organic matter characteristics, biochemical activity and antioxidant capacity in Mediterranean land use systems - Cardelli, R.; Marchini, F.; Saviozzi, A. (Soil and Tillage Research, 2012)
The characteristics of soil quality were measured in adjacent agricultural (horticultural cropping sequence, HC), native grassland (naturally grazed, NG) and forest (indigenous wood of holm-oak, F) soils. The objective of the research was to assess the inﬂuence of different land uses on soil organic matter characteristics, biochemical activity and antioxidant capacity in selected ﬁelds of the Mediterranean environment in central Italy under a speciﬁc climatic regime. Land use induced signiﬁcant changes in the content and quality of soil organic matter, biochemical activity and antioxidant capacity, with more pronounced differences between soils under HC and F than soils under HC and NG. The HC soil showed the lowest amounts of total organic carbon (TOC), microbial biomass C (MB-C), water-soluble organic C (WSOC), water- and alkali-soluble phenols. The organic matter of HC was characterized by the lowest percentage of MB-C and of light fraction carbon (LF-C). The dehydrogenase activity (DH-ase), metabolic potential (MP), hydrolyzing coefﬁcient (HyC), potentially mineralizable C (C0) and C mineralized (Cm) were clearly lower in HC. The speciﬁc respiration activity of biomass (qCO2) was the highest in HC soil (1.3 mg CO2–C mg biomass C 1 ) and lowest in F soil (0.5 mg CO2–C mg biomass C 1 ) and was inversely related with pH, TOC and MB-C contents. The antioxidant capacity of soils (TEAC) was the highest in NG and related to the amount of alkali-soluble phenols. The rate constant of organic matter mineralization (k) appeared to depend on TEAC rather than the relative amounts of the labile C pools. These results seem to explain the role of phenols as controller of the mineralization rate of organic matter.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: C mineralization; land use; mediterranean environment; Soil antioxidant capacity; Soil quality indices

Soil water availability strongly modulates soil CO2 efflux in different Mediterranean ecosystems: Model calibration using the Bayesian approach - Correia, a C. C.; Minunno, F.; Caldeira, M. C. C.; Banza, J.; Mateus, J.; Carneiro, M.; Wingate, L.; Shvaleva, a; Ramos, a; Jongen, M.; Bugalho, M. N. N.; Nogueira, C.; et al. (Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 2012)
Soil respiration in drought prone regions is highly dependent on the precipitation regime and soil moisture conditions, which are expected to change in a global warming context. In the present study we used an extensive collection of ﬁeld chamber measurements of soil respiration (Rs ) from forest and grassland sites of centre and south of Portugal distributed over a 10 year period. This data were summarized and analysed with the objective to describe seasonal variability of Rs as affected by soil moisture (Hs ) and soil temperature (Ts ). A Bayesian framework was used to test the effectiveness of soil bioclimatic models in estimating Rs on a daily and monthly time step. Rs seasonality was similar between sites, reaching a maximum in spring and autumn and a minimum in the dry season (July–September). No differences were observed for Rs between sites with different standing biomass or soil carbon stocks either on an annual or seasonal timescale. Hs , and not Ts , was the driving factor of Rs during most of the year. Ts drove Rs response only above certain Hs limits: 10% for forest sites and 15% for grassland sites leading to a Q10 of 2.01, 1.61 and 1.31 for closed forests, open forests and grasslands, respectively. The Bayesian analysis showed that models using Hs as an independent variable performed better than models driven by Ts alone. Monthly estimates of Rs in grasslands can be predicted by simple climatic models based on Hs but none of them was suitable for forest ecosystems, stressing the need for a process-based approach. This study adds to the evidence that Hs controls Rs ﬂuxes for Mediterranean ecosystems and should always be taken into account for extrapolation purposes.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: Bayesian calibration; Empirical model; Mediterranean; Soil CO2 efﬂux; Soil moisture; Soil respiration; Soil temperature

Spatial distribution of the soil organic carbon pool in a Holm oak dehesa in Spain - Simón, Nuria; Montes, Fernando; Díaz-Pinés, Eugenio; Benavides, Raquel; Roig, Sonia; Rubio, Agustín (Plant and Soil, 2012)
Aims Dehesas are agroforestry systems characterized by scattered trees among pastures, crops and/or fallows. A study at a Spanish dehesa has been carried out to estimate the spatial distribution of the soil organic carbon stock and to assess the influence of the tree cover. Methods The soil organic carbon stock was estimated from the five uppermost cm of the mineral soil with high spatial resolution at two plots with different grazing intensities. The Universal Kriging technique was used to assess the spatial distribution of the soil organic carbon stocks, using tree coverage within a buffering area as an auxiliary variable. Results A significant positive correlation between tree presence and soil organic carbon stocks up to distances of around 8 m from the trees was found. The tree crown cover within a buffer up to a distance similar to the crown radius around the point absorbed 30 % of the variance in the model for both grazing intensities, but residual variance showed stronger spatial autocorrelation under regular grazing conditions. Conclusions Tree cover increases soil organic carbon stocks, and can be satisfactorily estimated by means of crown parameters. However, other factors are involved in the spatial pattern of the soil organic carbon distribution. Livestock plays an interactive role together
Keywords: agroforestry systems; Soil C; Spatial variance partition; Tree effect; Universal Kriging

Spatial pattern of soil compaction: Trees’ footprint on soil physical properties - Alameda, David; Villar, Rafael; Iriondo, José M. (Forest Ecology and Management, 2012)
Soil compaction, a determinant of forest regeneration and ecosystem functioning (e.g., biomass production), can show an aggregated spatial pattern which can be shaped by the effect of tree canopy. This work studies the inﬂuence of tree canopy type (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota, and Pinus pinaster) on the spatial distribution of variables related to soil compaction in a Mediterranean forest in southern Spain. The spatial structure of this plant-soil interaction was analyzed using the spatial analysis by distance indices methodology (SADIE). Our results showed that variables related to soil compaction, such as bulk density, penetration resistance, water content and organic matter, showed an aggregated spatial pattern which was associated to the species’ tree canopy and presence of open sites. Thus, high organic matter content and low bulk density were found under the Quercus canopy, whereas the contrary was observed under the Pinus canopy. Open sites showed similar soil properties to those than under the Pinus canopy. Soil compaction pattern and tree canopy had a clear effect on herbaceous production. In two consecutive years (2007 and 2008), herbaceous production was higher under the Quercus canopy than under the Pinus canopy. Mean values of herbaceous production in open sites were similar to those under the Quercus canopy, and no spatial association was found between open sites and herbaceous production. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to describe the causal relationships between tree canopy types, soil compaction related variables and herbaceous production. Results showed that tree canopy affects soil compaction variables and its effects on herbaceous production are mainly produced by a positive effect of organic matter (at 2–7 cm depth) and a negative effect of penetration resistance (at 9–14 cm depth). Therefore, forest management should consider that the replacement of one species for another or changes in tree density are likely to have important consequences in soil compaction and ecosystem functioning.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: Bulk density; Herbaceous production; organic matter; Penetration resistance; Pinus pinaster; Quercus ilex

Spatial patterns of soil pathogens in declining Mediterranean forests: implications for tree species regeneration. - Gómez-Aparicio, LORENA; Ibáñez, Beatriz; Serrano, María S.; De Vita, Paolo; Avila, José M.; Pérez-Ramos, Ignacio M.; García, Luis V.; Esperanza Sánchez, M.; Marañón, Teodoro (The New phytologist, 2012)
Soil-borne pathogens are a key component of the belowground community because of the significance of their ecological and socio-economic impacts. However, very little is known about the complexity of their distribution patterns in natural systems. Here, we explored the patterns, causes and ecological consequences of spatial variability in pathogen abundance in Mediterranean forests affected by oak decline. We used spatially explicit neighborhood models to predict the abundance of soil-borne pathogen species (Phytophthora cinnamomi, Pythium spiculum and Pythium spp.) as a function of local abiotic conditions (soil texture) and the characteristics of the tree and shrub neighborhoods (species composition, size and health status). The implications of pathogen abundance for tree seedling performance were explored by conducting a sowing experiment in the same locations in which pathogen abundance was quantified. Pathogen abundance in the forest soil was not randomly distributed, but exhibited spatially predictable patterns influenced by both abiotic and, particularly, biotic factors (tree and shrub species). Pathogen abundance reduced seedling emergence and survival, but not in all sites or tree species. Our findings suggest that heterogeneous spatial patterns of pathogen abundance at fine spatial scale can be important for the dynamics and restoration of declining Mediterranean forests.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: accession-num: 22428751
Keywords: Biological; Forest decline; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Mediterranean Region; Models; neighborhood models; Phytophthora; Phytophthora: physiology; Pythium; Pythium: physiology; Quercus; Quercus suber; Quercus: microbiology; regeneration dynamics; Seedling; Seedling: microbiology; Soil Microbiology; soil texture; soil-borne pathogens; species coexistence

Spatio-temporal patterns of Holocene environmental change in southern Sicily - Calò, Camilla; Henne, Paul D.; Curry, Brandon; Magny, Michel; Vescovi, Elisa; La Mantia, Tommaso; Pasta, Salvatore; Vannière, Boris; Tinner, Willy (Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 2012)
Few examples of natural forest remain near the Mediterranean coast. Therefore, it is difﬁcult to study how coastal forests respond to climatic change or their resilience to human impact. We developed new sedimentary record of Holocene vegetation and ﬁre history at Lago Preola, a coastal lake in southwestern Sicily (Italy). In order to verify the existence of forest at large scale on the coast, we compare pollen from Lago Preola, a medium-sized lake (33 ha), to Gorgo Basso, a small lake (3 ha) located nearby with the aim of separating local from extra-local vegetation dynamics through time using pollen percentages and inﬂux. We then compare Lago Preola pollen to the record from Biviere di Gela, a large lagoon (120 ha) situated 160 km to the east in southern Sicily, to examine differences in vegetation dynamics between the two coastal areas during the Holocene. Lake-level reconstructions and ostracode analyses from Lago Preola provide vegetation-independent evidence of climate change, and help to disentangle human and climatic impacts on vegetation. Pollen data indicate Pistacia-dominated shrublands replaced open grasslands in the region surrounding Lago Preola by 9500 cal yr BP. This change coincided with rising lake levels and the development of an ostracode fauna typical of fresh waters. Evergreen forest dominated by Quercus ilex and Olea europaea started to expand by 7000 cal BP and consolidated at 6500 cal yr BP, when lake levels were near their Holocene high. Similarities between pollen from Lago Preola and Gorgo Basso demonstrate that forest was the dominant vegetation type in coastal Sicily during the middle Holocene at both regional and local scales, and even developed in the drier climatic setting around Biviere di Gela. Lake levels fell at Lago Preola after 7000 cal yr BP, with a strong decline accompanied by increasing salinity after 4500 cal yr BP. However, no transition in vegetation matched these inferred hydrological changes. Instead, forests persisted in the surrounding region until 2200 cal BP when human disturbance intensiﬁed. We propose that different climatic factors control lake levels and vegetation in coastal Mediterranean ecosystems. Whereas lake levels are most sensitive to the abundance of winter precipitation, coastal forests depend on spring precipitation and are limited by the length of summer drought. Moisture availability remained suitable for evergreen forests in coastal Sicily during the late Holocene, and humans, not a drier climate drove the regional forest decline.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: climate change; Holocene; Mediterranean; paleoecology; Paleohydrology; Sicily

Starch isolation from chestnut and acorn flours through alkaline and enzymatic methods - Correia, Paula Reis; Beirão-da-Costa, Maria Luísa (Food and Bioproducts Processing, 2012)
Two different procedures were used to isolate chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) and acorn (Quercus suber) starch. Starch was extracted from the ﬂour of these dried fruits by: (i) low shear at alkaline pH and successively using three sieves (A3S) at different centrifugation conditions (velocity and time) and (ii) enzymatic treatment at low shear (ENZ) at a different amount/digestion time of protease. In both cases a Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD) was used as an experimental design. Results were treated through the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Based on maximum yield values and the degree of purity, the best modiﬁed conditions encountered were applied in a new trial and mass balance was established for both isolation procedures. The best centrifugation conditions encountered for the A3S isolation method were 800 × g during 15min, and for the ENZ method 900 units of protease despite the incubation time, for the same centrifugation terms. The yields reached with these experimental conditions for the A3S and ENZ methods were 83.9% and 79.9% for chestnut and 88.5% and 86.9% for acorn, respectively. Isolated starches shown to be higher in purity, presented values of 98.3% and 96.3% for chestnut and 98.1% and 97.6% for acorn, respectively for the A3S and ENZ methods
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Institution of Chemical Engineers
Keywords: acorn; chestnut; composition; isolation method; starch; yield

Subcutaneous Fat Triacylglycerols Profile from Iberian Pigs as a Tool To Differentiate between Intensive and Extensive Fattening Systems - Gallardo, Emerenciana; Narváez-Rivas, Monica; Pablos, Fernando; Jurado, J. Marcos; León-Camacho, Manuel (Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2012)
Triacylglycerols of subcutaneous fat of Iberian pigs reared on two different feeding systems, extensive and intensive, have been determined by gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector. Analyses were performed on a column coated with a bonded stationary phase (50% phenyl?50% methylpolysiloxane) with hydrogen as the carrier gas. Lipids were extracted by melting the subcutaneous fat in a microwave oven and then filtering and dissolving in hexane. A total amount of 1995 samples from several campaigns were considered. Palmitoyl-stearyl-oleoyl glycerol and palmitoyl-dioleoyl glycerol were the most abundant triacylglycerols found in the samples. A study on the discriminating power of the triacylglycerols to differentiate samples according to the pig feeding system was performed. By using the triacylglycerols as chemical descriptors, principal component analysis, linear discriminant analysis, and soft independent modeling of class analogy were applied. Dioleoyl-linoleoyl glycerol and oleoyl-dilinoleoyl glycerol were the most discriminating variables. Variable?variable plots of these two glycerols allow separation of the samples according to their content.
doi: 10.1021/jf2045312doi: 10.1021/jf2045312The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: American Chemical Society
Keywords: gas chromatography; iberian pig; pattern recognition; subcutaneous fat; triacylglycerols

Suberin isolation from cork using ionic liquids: characterisation of ensuing products - Ferreira, Rui; Garcia, Helga; Sousa, Andreia F.; Petkovic, Marija; Lamosa, Pedro; Freire, Carmen S. R.; Silvestre, Armando J. D.; Rebelo, Luís Paulo N. Luis Paulo N.; Pereira, Cristina Silva (New Journal of Chemistry, 2012)
Cholinium alkanoates, a class of benign ionic liquids, were demonstrated to efficiently extract suberin domains from cork. A detailed characterisation of the extracted material has yet to be attained. In the present study the significance of the alkylic chain length of the anion and the ionic liquid's basicity was investigated. The results obtained emphasise cholinium hexanoate's selection; it proved to be a straightforward process, also ensuring the recyclability and reusability of the ionic liquid. The extracted suberinic material has been thoroughly characterised for the first time by ATR-FTIR, NMR, GC-MS and thermal analyses. Data showed that it is mainly composed of oligomeric or polymeric aliphatic esterified structures, resulting from suberin partial cleavage. More than 40 wt% of the extracted suberinic material was found to be cross-linked. Even though, the composing monomeric units were similar to those usually identified in suberin samples obtained by the conventional extraction processes. These data pave the way for advanced studies of suberin monomers/oligomers as building-blocks for the development of novel biopolymers and biomaterials.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: The Royal Society of Chemistry
Keywords: Cholinium alkanoates; Cork; Extraction; suberin; suberinic materials (voyant)

Surveying an endangered saproxylic beetle, Osmoderma eremita, in Mediterranean woodlands: a comparison between different capture methods - Chiari, Stefano; Zauli, Agnese; Mazziotta, Adriano; Luiselli, Luca; Audisio, Paolo; Carpaneto, Giuseppe M. (Journal of Insect Conservation, 2012)
Measuring population size is riddled with dif- ﬁculties for wildlife biologists and managers, and in the case of rare species, it is sometimes practically impossible to estimate abundance, whereas estimation of occupancy is possible. Furthermore, obtaining reliable population size estimates is not straightforward, as different sampling techniques can give misleading results. A mark-recapture study of the endangered saproxylic beetle Osmoderma eremita was performed in central Italy by applying four independent capture methods within a study area where 116 hollow trees were randomly selected to set traps. Detection probability and population size estimates were drawn from each of these four capture methods. There were strong differences in detection probability among methods. Despite using pheromone and beetle manipulation, capture histories were not affected by trap-happiness or trapshyness. Population size estimates varied considerably in both abundance and precision by capture method. A number of 0.5 and 0.2 adult beetles per tree was estimated using the whole data set by closed and open population models, respectively. Pitfall trap appeared the optimal method to detect the occurrence of this species. Since in the southern part of its distribution range, a single population of O. eremita is widespread in the landscape, and includes beetles from more than one hollow tree, conservation efforts should focus not only on preserving few and isolated monumental hollow trees, but should be extended to large stands.
Keywords: Coleoptera Scarabaeidae; conservation; Dead Wood; occupancy; Population size estimates; Sex pheromone

Traditional plant use in the National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano, Campania, Southern, Italy. - Di Novella, Riccardo; Di Novella, Nicola; De Martino, Laura; Mancini, Emilia; De Feo, Vincenzo (Journal of ethnopharmacology, 2012)
AIM OF STUDY: This paper reports an ethobotanical survey of the traditional uses of medicinal and useful plants in an area of the National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano, Campania, Southern Italy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study conducted between 2009 and 2011, gathered information on the medicinal plants traditionally used in Southern Italy (Campania Region). In all, we interviewed 70 key informants, whose age ranged between 50 and 85 years. This people belonged to families which had strong links with traditional activities of the area. RESULTS: The research resulted to the identification of 192 plants belonging to 64 families. Among the species reported, 86 are used in human medicine, 15 in veterinary medicine, 69 as human foods, 18 as animal feed, 61 for domestic and 8 for agricultural uses. CONCLUSION: A survey of the available literature on Southern Italy ethnobotany reveals that some species have been never reported and about 10% of cited uses are new. Data obtained show that in the studied area the folk use of plants is alive and still derives from daily practice.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier accession-num: 23159473
Keywords: Agriculture; Agriculture: methods; Animal Feed; Animal Feed: utilization; Data Collection; Ethnobotany; Ethnobotany: methods; Ethnobotany: statistics & numerical data; Ethnomedicine; Food; Humans; Italy; Medicinal; Medicine; National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano; plant traditional uses; Plants; Traditional; Traditional: utilization; Veterinary medicine; Veterinary Medicine: methods

Tree biomass and deadwood density into aged holm oak (Sardinia) and beech coppices (Tuscany) - Bertini, G.; Fabbio, G.; Piovosi, M.; Calderisi, M. (Forest@ - Rivista di Selvicoltura ed Ecologia Forestale, 2012)
Keywords: 108-129; 2011; 2012; 9; accepted; aged coppice forest; beech; bertini g; calderisi m; citation; deadwood; densità di biomassa e; fabbio g; FOREST; Holm oak; http; in toscana; invecchiati di leccio in; it; jul 21; living woody biomass; mar 19; may 07; necromassa legnosa in cedui; online 2012-05-07; piovosi m; published online; received; sardegna e di faggio; sisef; url; wood decay; www

Tree Species Effect on Litter Decomposition and Nutrient Release in Mediterranean Oak Forests Changes Over Time - Aponte, Cristina; García, Luis V.; Marañón, Teodoro (Ecosystems, 2012)
ree species can affect the decomposition process through the quality of their leaf fall and through the species-speciﬁc conditions that they generate in their environment. We compared the relative importance of these effects in a 2-year experiment. Litterbags containing leaf litter of the winter-deciduous Quercus canariensis, the evergreen Q. suber and mixed litter were incubated beneath distinct plant covers. We measured litter carbon loss, 9 macro- and micronutrients and 18 soil chemical, physical and biological parameters of the incubation environment. Tree species affected decay dynamics through their litter quality and, to a lesser extent, through the induced environmental conditions. The deciduous litter showed a faster initial decomposition but left a larger fraction of slow decomposable biomass compared with the perennial litter; in contrast the deciduous environment impeded early decomposition while promoting further carbon loss in the latter decay stages. The interaction of these effects led to a negative litter–environment interaction contradicting the home-ﬁeld advantage hypothesis. Leaf litter N, Ca and Mn as well as soil N, P and soil moisture were the best predictors for decomposition rates. Litter N and Ca exerted counteractive effects in early versus late decay stages; Mn was the best predictor for the decomposition limit value, that is, the fraction of slowly decomposable biomass at the later stage of decomposition; P and soil moisture showed a constant and positive relation with carbon loss. The deciduous oak litter had a higher initial nutrient content and released its nutrients faster and in a higher proportion than the perennial oak litter, signiﬁcantly increasing soil fertility beneath its canopy. Our ﬁndings provide further insights into the factors that control the early and late stages of the decomposition process and reveal potential mechanisms underlying tree species inﬂuence on litter decay rate, carbon accumulation and nutrient cycling.
Keywords: decomposition limit value; Lignin; litter chemistry; litterbag; Plant–soil interactions; Quercus; Soil fertility

Validación de productos MODIS relacionados con la estimación de flujos de carbono en una dehesa - Durá, E.; Mendiguren, G.; Pacheco, J.; Martín, M. P.; Riaño, D.; Iturrate, M.; Gimeno, C.; Carrara, A. (XV Congreso Nacional de Tecnologías de la Información Geográfica, Madrid, AGE-CSIC, 19-21 de Septiembre de 2012, 2012)
Several studies have demonstrated the potential of the images obtained by MODIS TERRA and AQUA platforms for global analysis of parameters related to the structure and functioning of vegetation critical for estimating and modeling the water and carbon exchanges between the biosphere and atmosphere at a global scale. However, recent works have revealed the existence of large errors (Pisek et al., 2007, Sea et al., 2011) showing that some products lack the robustness and consistency required, particularly for drought prone ecosystems with a complex structure of vegetation, such as Mediterranean ecosystems The main objective of this study is the validation of MODIS TERRA and AQUA products using field measurements in order to quantify the possible differences and analyze their potential causes. We have analysed a series of MOD/MYD13, MOD/MYD15, MOD/MYD17products acquired between 2009 and 2011 in a “dehesa” located in Caceres province which has an "eddy covariance" tower included in the FLUXNET international network. These results show low correlation for LAI (Leaf Area Index) (r2 = 0.67), but high correlation for NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) (r2 = 0.92) and gross primary productivity or GPP (r2 = 0.80). However, although MODIS collects fine temporal dynamics of flows and structural changes in the ecosystem, there are some important differences between MODIS products, including NDVI and GPP, and terrain data
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: periodical: XV Congreso Nacional de Tecnologías de la Información Geográfica, Madrid, AGE-CSIC, 19-21 de Septiembre de 2012
Keywords: carbon fluxes; Dehesa; MODIS products; validation

Variability of relationships between soil organic carbon and some soil properties in Mediterranean rangelands under different climatic conditions (South of Spain) - Ruiz Sinoga, Jose Damian; Pariente, Sarah; Diaz, Asuncion Romero; Martinez Murillo, Juan Francisco (Catena, 2012)
Changes in land use and vegetation cover affect various soil properties, including the soil organic carbon (SOC) pool and the transfer of atmospheric CO2 to terrestrial landscapes. In natural or quasi-natural conditions a reduction in biomass increases the risk of erosion, and can reduce the stored soil organic matter content. This can cause (i) consolidation of low levels of organic carbon stored in the soil; (ii) reduction in the levels of organic carbon because of the onset of erosion processes; and (iii) differing rates of recovery of the soil in response to environmental factors including precipitation, which is a principal agent of indirect recharge of soil organic matter. Few comparable studies have analyzed the reduction of SOC because of erosion, and assessed how this contributes to the loss of soil as vegetation cover decreases. This is particularly the case in semiarid Mediterranean environments, where erosion is one of the main causes of soil degradation. This study presents the results of an experiment carried out along a pluviometric gradient from humid to semiarid Mediterranean conditions, in southern Spain. The study involved two soil depths at ﬁve ﬁeld sites having similar lithology, slope and aspect, but differ in vegetation cover and composition related to their location along the gradient. We used soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) as an indicator of soil degradation. The results showed that: a) SOC decreased with decreasing rainfall; b) SOC is greater at the soil surface than at depth; c) CEC is a good indicator of the degradation of soil surface formations, as it is directly related to the SOC storage capacity; and d) the so-called “Mediterranean mountain” landscape, with sparse and mixed vegetation composed of scrubland and woodland species, is a good organic carbon sink with direct implications in relation to climate change.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: Cation exchange capacity; climate change; desertification; Pluviometric gradient; Soil degradation; Soil organic carbon

Vegetation dynamics during the early to mid-Holocene transition in NW Malta, human impact versus climatic forcing - Djamali, Morteza; Gambin, Belinda; Marriner, Nick; Andrieu-Ponel, Valérie; Gambin, Timmy; Gandouin, Emmanuel; Lanfranco, Sandro; Médail, Frédéric; Pavon, Daniel; Ponel, Philippe; Morhange, Christophe (Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 2012)
A pollen diagram was constructed for the earlyto mid-Holocene transition (ca. 7350–5600 cal. B.P./5400– 3650 B.C.) from the Burmarrad ria located in NW Malta. The vegetation at ca. 7350–6960 cal. B.P./5400–5010 B.C. was characterized by an almost tree-less steppe-like open landscape. Early Holocene dry climatic conditions were most probably due to intensiﬁcation of the subtropical monsoon circulation that strengthened the subtropical anticyclonic descent over the central Mediterranean and blocked the penetration of humid air masses from the North Atlantic Ocean. At ca. 6950 cal. B.P./5000 B.C., the steppe-like vegetation was suddenly replaced by a Mediterranean evergreen forest or dense scrub dominated by Pistacia cf. lentiscus trees. This event, which has simultaneously been recorded in southern Sicily, was most probably caused by the southward shift of the ITCZ permitting the eastward movement of the North Atlantic cyclonic systems. Traces of human activities are evident in the pollen diagram since the beginning of the record but become more pronounced from the onset of the Temple Cultural Phase at ca. 6050 cal. B.P./4100 B.C. with a gradual decline of tree pollen. We suggest that the early- to mid-Holocene vegetation transformation was mainly controlled by a regional climatic change that occurred in a landscape only slightly impacted by human activities.
Keywords: Evergreen Pistacia; Mediterranean; Monsoon intensiﬁcation; Neolithic; Pollen analysis; Temple cultural phase

Vegetation, fire, climate and human disturbance history in the southwestern Mediterranean area during the late Holocene - Jiménez-Moreno, Gonzalo; García-Alix, Antonio; Hernández-Corbalán, María Dolores; Anderson, R. Scott; Delgado-Huertas, Antonio (Quaternary Research, 2012)
Detailed pollen, charcoal, isotope and magnetic susceptibility data from an alpine lake sediment core from Sierra Nevada, southern Spain record changes in vegetation, ﬁre history and lake sedimentation since ca. 4100 cal yr BP. The proxies studied record an arid period from ca. 3800 to 3100 cal yr BP characterized by more xerophytic vegetation and lower lake levels. A humid period is recorded between ca. 3100 and 1850 cal yr BP, which occurred in two steps: (1) an increase in evergreen Quercus between 3100 and 2500 cal yr BP, indicating milder conditions than previously and (2) an increase in deciduous Quercus and higher lake levels, between ca. 2500 and 1850 cal yr BP, indicating a further increase in humidity and reduction in seasonal contrast. Humid maxima occurred during the Roman Humid Period, previously identiﬁed in other studies in the Mediterranean region. Intensiﬁed ﬁre activity at this time could be related to an increase in fuel load and/or in human disturbance. An arid period subsequently occurred between 1850 and 650 cal yr BP, though a decrease in Quercus and an increase in xerophytes. The alternation of persistent North Atlantic Oscillation modes probably played an important role in controlling these humid–arid cycles
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: University of Washington
Keywords: climate; Fire history; Late Holocene; Roman Humid Period; Sierra Nevada; southern Spain

Water stress assessment of cork oak leaves and maritime pine needles based on LIF spectra - Lavrov, a; Utkin, a B.; Marques da Silva, J.; Vilar, Rui; Santos, N. M.; Alves, B. (Optics and Spectroscopy, 2012)
The aim of the present work was to develop a method for the remote assessment of the impact of fire and drought stress on Mediterranean forest species such as the cork oak (Quercus suber) and maritime pine (Pinus pinaster). The proposed method is based on laser induced fluorescence (LIF): chlorophyll fluo rescence is remotely excited by frequencydoubled YAG:Nd laser radiation pulses and collected and analyzed using a telescope and a gated high sensitivity spectrometer. The plant health criterion used is based on the I685 /I740 ratio value, calculated from the fluorescence spectra. The method was benchmarked by comparing the results achieved with those obtained by conventional, continuous excitation fluorometric method and water loss gravimetric measurements. The results obtained with both methods show a strong correlation between them and with the weightloss measurements, showing that the proposed method is suitable for fire and drought impact assessment on these two species
Keywords: Cork oak; laser induced fluorescence (LIF); maritime pine (voyant); water stress

Why only some plants emit isoprene. - Monson, Russell K.; Jones, Ryan T.; Rosenstiel, Todd N.; Schnitzler, Jörg-Peter (Plant, cell & environment, 2012)
Isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) is emitted from many plants and it appears to have an adaptive role in protecting leaves from abiotic stress. However, only some species emit isoprene. Isoprene emission has appeared and been lost many times independently during the evolution of plants. As an example, our phylogenetic analysis shows that isoprene emission is likely ancestral within the family Fabaceae (= Leguminosae), but that it has been lost at least 16 times and secondarily gained at least 10 times through independent evolutionary events. Within the division Pteridophyta (ferns), we conservatively estimate that isoprene emissions have been gained five times and lost two times through independent evolutionary events. Within the genus Quercus (oaks), isoprene emissions have been lost from one clade, but replaced by a novel type of light-dependent monoterpene emissions that uses the same metabolic pathways and substrates as isoprene emissions. This novel type of monoterpene emissions has appeared at least twice independently within Quercus, and has been lost from 9% of the individuals within a single population of Quercus suber. Gain and loss of gene function for isoprene synthase is possible through relatively few mutations. Thus, this trait appears frequently in lineages; but, once it appears, the time available for evolutionary radiation into environments that select for the trait is short relative to the time required for mutations capable of producing a non-functional isoprene synthase gene. The high frequency of gains and losses of the trait and its heterogeneous taxonomic distribution in plants may be explained by the relatively few mutations necessary to produce or lose the isoprene synthase gene combined with the assumption that isoprene emission is advantageous in a narrow range of environments and phenotypes.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: accession-num: 22998549
Keywords: Drought; ferns; phloem; phylogeny; substrate; Temperature; thermotolerance; ﬁtness

Wood provisioning in Mediterranean forests: A bottom-up spatial valuation approach - Ojea, Elena; Ruíz-Benito, PALOMA; Markandya, Anil; Zavala, MIGUEL a (Forest Policy and Economics, 2012)
The science of ecosystem services has evolved signiﬁcantly in the last decade following an increase in interest in the understanding and valuation of these services. Forests provide important ecosystem services that supply societal needs, such as timber, but this provision is not free of conﬂicts derived from the intensive management of forests. A GIS based approach using data from national forest inventories allows us to identify the provision of timber services and to conduct its valuation. The analysis includes a sample of 37,761 plots for 38 commercial tree species in the Spanish Mediterranean region, where we identify sustainable and nonsustainable forests in terms of harvesting intensities and value both the ﬂow of beneﬁts and their net present value. From the analysis we conclude that non-sustainable forests are providing higher economic returns than sustainable forests for most abundant tree species. However, when analysing long term trends, results show that sustainable forests yield higher economic beneﬁts. This latter perspective is preferred when looking at the value of timber as a provisioning service of forests. According to our results, if we wish to encourage sustainability we need to (a) get lower discount rates adopted for the private sector and (b) ensure longer time horizons.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: Economic valuation; GIS; mediterranean forest; Non-sustainable harvest; Sustainable harvest; Timber provisioning

Acorn production is linked to secondary growth but not to declining carbohydrate concentrations in current-year shoots of two oak species - Alla, Arben Q.; Camarero, J. Julio; Maestro-Martínez, Melchor; Montserrat-Martí, Gabriel (Trees, 2011)
In trees, reproduction constitutes an important resource investment which may compete with growth for resources. However, detailed analyses on how growth and fruit production interact at the shoot level are scarce. Primary canopy growth depends on the development of current-year shoots and their secondary growth might also inﬂuence the number and size of fruits supported by them. We hypothesise that an enhanced thickening of currentyear shoots is linked positively to acorn production in oaks. We analysed the effect of acorn production on shoot growth of two co-occurring Mediterranean oak species with contrasting leaf habit (Quercus ilex, Quercus faginea). Length and cross-sectional area of current-year shoots, apical bud mass, number of leaves and acorns, xylem and conductive area, number of vessels of acorn-bearing and non-bearing shoots were measured in summer and autumn. Nitrogen and carbohydrates analyses were also performed in stems and leaves of both shoot types. Stem cross-sectional area increased in acorn-bearing shoots when compared with non-bearing shoots for both species and such surplus secondary growth was observed since summer. In bearing shoots, the total transversal area occupied by vessels decreased signiﬁcantly from basal to apical positions along the stem as did the xylem area and the number of vessels. Leaves of bearing shoots showed lower nitrogen concentration than those of non-bearing shoots. Carbohydrate concentrations did not differ in stems and leaves as a function of the presence of acorns. Such results suggest that carbohydrates may preferentially be allocated towards reproductive shoots, possibly through enhanced secondary growth, satisfying all their carbon demands for growth and reproduction. Our ﬁndings indicate that acorn production in the two studied oaks depends on shoot secondary growth.
Keywords: acorns; Mediterranean climate; nitrogen; non-structural carbohydrates; Quercus faginea; quercus ilex subsp. ballota; Stem diameter; Xylem

Acorns (Quercus rotundifolia Lam.) and grass as natural sources of antioxidants and fatty acids in the “montanera” feeding of Iberian pig: Intra- and inter-annual variations - Tejerina, D.; García-Torres, S.; Cabeza de Vaca, M.; Vázquez, F. M.; Cava, R. (Food Chemistry, 2011)
In two consecutive years (2006/2007 and 2007/2008), fortnightly samples were taken to characterise the antioxidant composition and fatty acid proﬁle of acorns and grass on which Iberian pigs feed during the period of ‘‘montanera” (free-range rearing system of the south-western of Iberian Peninsula). The antioxidant parameters analysed were: a- and c-tocopherol, total phenolics compounds (TPC), lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidant activities (LAA, HAA) (acorn and grass) and condensed and hydrolysable tannins (CT, HT) and protein precipitating capacity (PP) (acorns). To characterise the fatty acid proﬁles, the thirteen major fatty acids were assayed. For the acorns, it was found that there was intra-annual variability in all the antioxidants studied except a-tocopherol, and inter-annual variability in all except the protein precipitating capacity. The fatty acid proﬁle also varied depending on the sampling date and the study year, especially in the saturated fatty acids (SFA) and C18:1 n-9 content. For the grass, there was intraand inter-annual variability in all the antioxidant parameters studied, and in the proportions of the fatty acids C18:0, and C18:1. It could explain variations in the antioxidant and fatty acids composition of Iberian pig tissues from animals raised in different ‘‘montanera” seasons and even in the same ‘‘montanera” season.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Keywords: acorn; antioxidant; fatty acid; Grass; iberian pig; ‘‘Montanera”

Analysis of phenolic compounds in cork from Quercus suber L. by HPLC–DAD/ESI–MS - Fernandes, Ana; Sousa, André; Mateus, Nuno; Cabral, Miguel; de Freitas, Victor (Food Chemistry, 2011)
The aim of the present work was to identify the extractable phenolic compounds present in cork from Quercus suber L. The structures of thirty three compounds were tentatively identiﬁed by liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (HPLC–DAD/ESI–MS). The majority of those compounds were gallic acid derivatives, in the form of either galloyl esters of glucose (gallotannins), combinations of galloyl and hexahydroxydiphenoyl esters of glucose (ellagitannins), dehydrated tergallic-C-glucosides or ellagic acid derivatives. Others were found to correspond to low molecular weight phenolic compounds, like acids and aldehydes. Mongolicain, a ﬂavanoellagitannin in which hydrolysable tannin and ﬂavan-3-ol moieties are connected through a carbon–carbon linkage, was also detected in cork from Q. suber L. The results illustrate the rich array of phenolic compounds present in cork.
Keywords: Cork; ellagitannins; Flavanoellagitannins; LC-DAD/ESI-MS; phenolic compounds; Quercus suber L.

Aperçu biologique du Platypus cylindrus (Fabricius, 1792) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae : Platypodinae) dans les galeries du bois de chêne-liège (Quercus suber L.) - Belhoucine, Latifa; Bouhraoua, Rachid Tarik; Dahane, Belkheir; PUJADE-VILLAR, JULI; Tarik Bouhraoua, Rachid (Orsis: organismes i sistemes, 2011)
The study of the biology of the insect Platypus cylindrus (Fabricius, 1792) in the galleries of the wood of cork oak was studied on the level of the national forest of M’Sila, littoral Oranian with semi arid climate. For that, 3 trees strongly infested by the pest were cut down between December 2007 and July 2008. The dissection of the 14 wood discs having a volume of 53 dm3 , enabled us to count 2920 individuals with an average density of 55 individuals/dm3 . At any time of the year, at least two stages of each population coexist together with fluctuating rates. The adult insects as well as the larvae are present throughout the period of experimentation. These last constitute the majority of the taken population (78%). The eggs and the nymphs, almost absent for wintry time appear in spring. Some morphological characteristics of larvae and eggs are set.
Keywords: Algeria.; biology; Cork oak; forest of M’Sila; Platypus cylindrus

Artificial regeneration with Quercus ilex L. and Quercus suber L. by direct seeding and planting in southern Spain - González-Rodríguez, Victoria; Navarro-Cerrillo, Rafael M.; Villar, Rafael (Annals of Forest Science, 2011)
& Introduction The limited ability of Quercus species to regenerate naturally in Mediterranean forests has led to the development of various artificial regeneration methods; however, there is no general consensus as to what specific method is the best one for this purpose. & Material and methods In this work, we assessed morphology, growth and survival of two Quercus species (Quercus ilex ssp. ballota and Quercus suber) using two different methods of artificial regeneration (viz. direct seeding and planting) and two seedling ages (1-year-old seedlings and 3-year-old seedlings) in southern Spain. & Results and discussion The 1-year-old seedlings of both species were found to exhibit the highest survival percentages and direct-seeded plants intermediate survival values. For direct-seeded plants, seed mass was found to have a significantly positive effect on the establishment success in both species. No clear-cut trend in survival was detected in the 3- year-old seedlings. The survival of the 3-year-old Q. suber seedlings and the direct-seeded plants was similar, but not in Q. ilex, where the survival of the 3-year-old seedlings was the lowest. The latter result may have been a consequence of cultivation in smaller containers leading to root deformation and limiting plant access to water. Differences in survival could not be ascribed to morphological and growth variables or stomatal conductance. & Conclusion Based on the results, all three artificial regeneration methods can be similarly effective provided appropriate nursery cultivation conditions are used and seeds are protected against predators, the best choice in each case being dictated by the particular restoration goals.
Keywords: artificial regeneration; Nursery; oak; Seedling; sowing

Assessing the impact of understory vegetation cut on soil epigeic macrofauna from a cork-oak Montado in South Portugal - Mendes, Sara Margarida; Santos, Joaquim; Freitas, Helena; Sousa, José Paulo (Agroforestry Systems, 2011)
Cork oak ‘‘Montados’’ are a particular Mediterranean ecosystem, which can be found in Southern Portugal. Portuguese ‘‘Montados’’ are manmade ecosystems, mainly used for cork production and cattle farming, that support a high biological diversity. Current sustainable management techniques imply a shrub clearing with heavy machinery, which can be highly disruptive for soil biota. In order to evaluate the effects of understory vegetation management on soil epigeic macrofauna, ﬁve zones were deﬁned along a chronosequence of shrub clearing: a non-disturbed zone (zone 5) and zones where understory vegetation was cut at 4–5 years (zone 4), at 3–4 years (zone 3), at 2 years (zone 2) and at 1 year (zone 1). A sixth zone (zone 6) was selected in a pasture, where cattle are occasionally present. Soil fauna was sampled using ‘‘pitfall’’ traps and sampling took place in autumn 2003. A total of 2,677 individuals, separated into 152 species and morphospecies, were caught in the traps. With the exception of zone 6, that presented a lower number of species, all the other zones from the chronosequence presented, in most cases, a similar number of taxa, species diversity (Shannon) and species richness (Margalef). Multivariate analysis separated recently disturbed zones (plus zone 6) from those intervened at longer time; groups like Formicidae, Scydmaenidae, most families from Araneae and insect larvae appeared closely associated to zones 3–5 (with a higher shrub cover and thick litter layers), whereas, other Hymenoptera, Gastropda and most Coleoptera families, appeared associated to recently disturbed zones (zones 1 and 2) and to zone 6, characterized by a lower shrub cover and a lower accumulation of litter. This separation indicates that effects of the intervention can endure for 2 or 3 years. After that time, the normal natural regeneration of the understory vegetation seems to support the restoration of the macrofauna community, thus indicating that the sustainable management strategy adopted, i.e., making a shrub cut every 5–6 years, seems not induce a signiﬁcant effect on local species richness of soil epigeic macrofauna.
Keywords: Biodiversity; cork-oak forests; soil macrofauna; sustainable management; understory management

Autotrophic and heterotrophic contributions to short-term soil CO 2 efflux following simulated summer precipitation pulses in a Mediterranean dehesa - Casals, Pere; Lopez-Sangil, Luis; Carrara, Arnaud; Gimeno, Cristina; Nogués, Salvador (Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 2011)
Autotrophic and heterotrophic components of soil CO2 efflux may have differential responses to environmental factors, so estimating the relative contribution of each component during summer precipitation pulses is essential to predict C balance in soils experiencing regular drought conditions. As even small summer rains induced high instantaneous soil respiration rates in Mediterranean wooded grasslands, we hypothesized that standing dead mass, surface litter, and topsoil layer could play a dominant role in the initial flush of CO2 produced immediately after soil rewetting; in contrast, soil CO2 effluxes during drought periods should be mostly derived from tree root activity. In a grazed dehesa, we simulated four summer rain events and measured soil CO2 efflux discontinuously, estimating its d 13 C through a Keeling plot nonsteady state static chamber approach. In addition, we estimated litter contribution to soil CO2 efflux and extracted soil available C fractions (K2SO4‐extracted C and chloroform‐fumigated extracted C). The d 13 C‐CO2 from in‐tube incubated excised tree roots and rewetted root‐free soil was −25.0‰ (±0.2) and −28.4‰ (±0.2), respectively. Assuming those values as end‐members’ sources, the autotrophic component of soil CO2 efflux was dominant during the severe drought, whereas the heterotrophic contribution dominated from the very beginning of precipitation pulses. As standing dead mass and fresh litter contribution was low (<25%) in the first day and negligible after, we concluded that CO2 efflux after rewetting was mostly derived from microbial mineralization of available soil organic C fractions.
Keywords: d13C; Drought; precipitation manipulation (voyant); Soil CO2 efflux

Autumn fertilization of Quercus ilex ssp. ballota (Desf.) Samp. nursery seedlings: effects on morpho-physiology and field performance - Andivia, Enrique; FERNÁNDEZ, MANUEL; VÁZQUEZ-PIQUÉ, JAVIER (Annals of Forest Science, 2011)
& Background The Holm oak (Quercus ilex ssp. ballota [Desf.] Samp.) is an evergreen tree widely distributed in the western Mediterranean Basin. Forest restoration programs using this species have enjoyed only limited success, and knowledge concerning the effect of fertilization on plant quality and post-transplantation response is sparse. & Methods We assessed the effect of autumn fertilization using different doses of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (70.0 mg N, 30.5 mg P and 58.1 mg K during the growing phase for all plants; and 30.0 vs 1.5 mg N, 13.1 vs 0.3 mg P and 24.9 vs 0.5 mg K during the hardening phase, depending on the fertilization treatment) on the seedling characteristics and field performance of Holm oak. & Results and Conclusions Autumn fertilization, especially with N, did not decrease plant quality but improved overall growth, root growth capacity, cold hardiness, and the nutritional content of nursery-grown seedlings. However, autumn fertilization had only a small effect on field performance, which was affected only by K fertilization, probably because of the adequate N and P nutrient status of all the plants and the mild weather conditions of the field plot. In our site, which had a mild winter climate, late autumn out-planting was more successful than was midwinter out-planting.
Keywords: Cold hardiness; Field performance; Holm oak; Nursery fertilization; Nutritional status

Autumn fertilization with nitrogen improves nutritional status, cold hardiness and the oxidative stress response of Holm oak (Quercus ilex ssp. ballota [Desf.] Samp) nursery seedlings - Andivia, Enrique; Márquez-García, Belén; VÁZQUEZ-PIQUÉ, JAVIER; Córdoba, Francisco; FERNÁNDEZ, MANUEL (Trees, 2011)
Holm oak (Quercus ilex ssp. ballota [Desf.] Samp) is one of the most important species in forest communities of the western Mediterranean Basin, but is very vulnerable to environmental stress during the ﬁrst years of its life. In particular, summer drought and winter frosts limit the distribution, survival, and growth of Holm oak. These two stress factors can lead to plasmolysis and/or oxidative stress. We hypothesized that autumn fertilization with nitrogen (N) can improve plant tolerance to these abiotic stress factors and improve plant quality and therefore reforestation success. A 12-week autumn application of 30 or 60 mg N (plus 70 mg N applied to both treatments during the previous 28 weeks in the nursery, i.e. 100 and 130 mg N in total, respectively) improved overall growth, root growth capacity, frost tolerance, and nutritional status of plants relative to plants given 0.0 and 1.5 mg autumnal N, and had no negative effect on seedling response to water stress. A very small increment in N doses during the autumn (1.5 vs. 0.0 mg N) improved some morphological parameters, such as stem diameter (D) and shoot dry weight, and physiological parameters, such as total antioxidant activity. The highest autumnal N dose (60 mg) increased leaf nutrient content without decreasing the concentration, but had a tendency to reduce frost tolerance relative to seedlings given a lower autumnal N dose (30 mg).
Keywords: Frost tolerance; Holm oak; Mineral nutrients; Oxidative stress; water stress

Average daily weight gain of Iberian fattening pigs when grazing natural resources - Rodríguez-Estévez, Vicente; Sánchez-Rodríguez, Manuel; García, Antón R.; Gómez-Castro, a Gustavo (Livestock Science, 2011)
In spite of the growing interest in organic farming and sustainable production, there is a lack of information about the performance of pigs when they feed only on natural resources. This research studied the fattening pattern during the montanera (free-range grazing on acorns and grass during autumn and winter, without any supplementary feed or mineral complement) of the Iberian pig in the dehesa (Quercus ilex open woodlands) in order to know the average daily gain (ADG) and to analyze the inﬂuence of three factors: year of montanera, age and sex of pigs. The fattening data were obtained from two ﬂocks of castrated pigs during the ﬁrst two months (from November the ﬁrst) of two consecutive montaneras (2003 and 2004) on the same farm. Pigs (from 111.8± 0.9 kg BW at introduction) were individually weighed every 15 days in the early morning, with no food intake since the previous evening. The ADG for all pigs was 0.76± 0.01 kg/day; however, some variations were observed according to the year (0.74±0.02 kg/day in 2003 vs. 0.78±0.02 kg/day in 2004; pb0.05), the sex (0.78±0.02 kg/day for males vs. 0.72± 0.02 kg/day for females; pb0.01) and the age (0.71±0.02 kg/day for pigs younger than a year vs. 0.83±0.02 kg/day for pigs older than a year; pb0.001); however a factorial 3-way ANOVA does not show signiﬁcant interaction between factors. Comparing the fortnights periods, the lowest ADG was measured in the ﬁrst 15 days of montanera (0.60±0.02 kg/day), and the highest ADG occurred in the second one (0.85±0.02 kg/day). Later on, the datasets were adjusted with the GLM procedure for the fixed effects of the year of the montanera, the age and the sex. With the adjusted datasets, different regression models for the fattening in montanera were established; the best adjusted of those was the potential model (Y= 0.32*X 1.22 ; X= days of montanera; and Y= kg life weight gained during the montanera). According with this model pigs would need an average of 58 d to fatten 46 kg, as the Iberian Breed Quality Standards demand. Finally, the results show that the age and sex, as factors that inﬂuence the ADG, should be taken into close account to choose pigs and that it is possible to reach a high ADG grazing only with natural resources, following appropriate management strategies such as rationing in order to obtain the beneﬁts of compensatory growth.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: acorn; Compensatory growth; Extensive farming; Free ranging; Grass; Organic farming; Sustainable production

Azimuthal variations in xylem structure and water relations in cork oak (Quercus suber) - Čermák, Jan; Barij, Nadia; Stokes, Alexia (IAWA Journal, 2011)
Keywords: hydraulic conductivity; sap; vessel lumina; wood anatomy

Biodiversity of wood-decay fungi in Italy - Saitta, A.; Bernicchia, A.; Gorjón, S. P.; Altobelli, E.; Granito, V. M.; Losi, C.; Lunghini, D.; Maggi, O.; Medardi, G.; Padovan, F.; Pecoraro, L.; Vizzini, A.; et al. (Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology, 2011)
Abstract Current knowledge about Italian wood-decay fungi (Basidiomycota and Ascomycota) is surveyed: 1582 taxa belonging to Ascomycota (341) and Basidiomycota (1241) have been reported, including 23 species new to science of Basidiomycota described from Italy within the last five years. Evaluating diversity of wood-decay fungi can provide a more accurate estimation of species richness for fungi which are an important functional component of ecosystems. Aphyllophoroid and Ascomycota species play an important role in habitat conservation and management. Sardinia, Sicily, the Alps and the Apennines are ?hot spots? for wood-decay Basidiomycota in Italy.
doi: 10.1080/11263504.2011.633114doi: 10.1080/11263504.2011.633114The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Taylor & Francis
Keywords: Ascomycota; Basidiomycota; Biodiversity; Italy; wood-decay fungi

Biological and physico-chemical processes influence cutin and suberin biomarker distribution in two Mediterranean forest soil profiles - Andreetta, Anna; Dignac, Marie-France; Carnicelli, Stefano (Biogeochemistry, 2011)
Recent investigations have shown macromolecules, such as cutins, and suberins as effective markers for above and belowground plant tissues. These biopolyesters contain structural units speciﬁc for different litter components and for root biomass. The aim of this work was to understand the fate of plant organic matter (OM) in Mediterranean forest soils by evaluating the incorporation of cutin and suberin by measuring speciﬁc biomarkers. Soil and plant tissue (leaves, woods and roots) samples were collected in two mixed Mediterranean forests of Quercus ilex (holm oak) in costal stands in Tuscany (central Italy), which have different ecological and edaphic features. Ester-bound lipids of mineral and organic horizons and the overlying vegetation were analysed using the saponiﬁcation method in order to depolymerise cutins and suberins and release their speciﬁc structural units. Cutin and suberin speciﬁc aliphatic monomers were identiﬁed and quantiﬁed by gas chromatographic techniques. The distribution of cutin and suberin speciﬁc monomers in plant tissue suggested that mid-chain hydroxy acids can be used as leaf-speciﬁc markers and a,x-alkanedioic acids and xC18:1 as root-speciﬁc markers. Differences in the distributions of biomarkers speciﬁc for above and belowground plant-derived OM was observed in the two types of soils, suggesting contrasted degradation, stabilisation and transport mechanisms that may be related to soil physico-chemical properties. The acidic and dry soil appeared to inhibit microbial activity, favouring stabilization of leaf-derived compounds, while, in the more fertile soil, protection within aggregates appeared to better preserve root-derived compounds.
Keywords: Cutins; Forest soils; Mediterranean; Soil organic matter; Suberins

Biomonitoring of PAHs by using Quercus ilex leaves: Source diagnostic and toxicity assessment - De Nicola, Flavia; Claudia, Lancellotti; MariaVittoria, Prati; Giulia, Maisto; Anna, Alfani (Atmospheric Environment, 2011)
Quercus ilex L. leaves were sampled at nineteen urban sites and two remote sites in order to evaluate PAH contamination degree. One-, two- and three-year-old leaves were collected and leaf lipid content was measured to investigate the inﬂuence of leaf age and lipids in PAH accumulation. Some PAH diagnostic ratios, such as Ant/Ant þ Phen, Flt/Flt þ Pyr, B[a]A/B[a]A þ Crys and IP/IP þ B[g,h,i]P, were calculated. The results suggest that Q. ilex leaves are effective biomonitors of PAH air contamination: in fact, a great PAH accumulation in leaves from the urban areas, until 30-time higher compared to those from the remote sites, has been observed. At each site, the similar total PAH concentrations in leaves of different age, probably due to a canopy effect, indicate an ability of all leaf age classes to monitor local PAH concentrations in air, remarking practical implications for air biomonitoring. The ﬁndings suggest that PAH adsorption in Q. ilex leaves does not result limited by leaf lipid content. Moreover, this study demonstrates the source-diagnostic potential of Q. ilex leaves, because, in particular, the Flt/Flt þ Pyr and IP/ IP þ B[g,h,i]P ratios indicate vehicular trafﬁc as the main source of PAHs in the urban areas and wood combustion in the remote areas. Moreover, to distinguish biomass combustion source, a promising tracer PAH as DB[a,h]A could be used. The high contribution of DB[a,h]A to total PAH concentrations at the remote sites determines a high carcinogenic potential in this area, similar to that calculated for the urban area where the carcinogenic PAH concentrations in absolute values are often higher.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Keywords: Carcinogenic PAH; leaf age; Leaf dry weight; Leaf lipid; PAH diagnostic ratio; Toxic equivalent factor

Calcium fertilizers induce soil suppressiveness to Phytophthora cinnamomi root rot of Quercus ilex - Serrano, María Socorro; Vita, Paolo; Fernández-Rebollo, Pilar; Sánchez Hernández, María Esperanza (European Journal of Plant Pathology, 2011)
t Based on the observation that the root disease caused by P. cinnamomi on Q. ilex has a low incidence and severity in soils with medium-high Ca 2+ content, we studied the ability of Ca 2+ fertilizers to induce soil suppressiveness to the pathogen. Studies on cultures of P. cinnamomi exposed to different Ca 2+ fertilizers in vitro showed significant inhibition of sporangial, chlamydospore and zoospore production at millimolar concentrations while mycelial growth was mainly unaffected. Experiments performed with artificially infested soil showed that some Ca 2+ fertilizers induce a significant decrease on chlamydospore viability. Additionally, greenhouse experiments using artificially infested soils showed a significant reduction of foliar and root symptom severities in Holm oak seedlings growing in soils amended with Ca 2+ fertilizers. We suggest that limestone amendments in oak rangelands could enhance the suppressiveness of soils to P. cinnamomi, and it is likely that the inhibition of sporangial production was the main mechanism involved.
Keywords: fertilization; limestone; Oak decline; Rangelands

Can net photosynthesis and water relations provide a clue on the forest decline of Quercus suber in North Tunisia? - Lee, S. H.; Woo, S. Y.; Nasr, Z. (African Journal of f Biotechnology, 2011)
Net photosynthesis, sap flow density (SFD) and water use efficiency (WUE) were measured in a Quercus suber forest in north Tunisia in an attempt to explain the forest decline. In general, sap flow was positively related to light intensity and water loss, indicating that high light intensities can increase the SFD up to the saturation point in the cork oak. CO2 assimilation of cork oak in this region was light intensity-dependent. Cork oak showed a general increase in photosynthetic rates with increasing light intensity up to the light saturation point. Increased radiation probably increased the photosynthesis and growth above ground in this area, whereas the below-ground soil had insufficient moisture for uptake through the roots because the high light intensity and temperature induced high evapotranspiration.
Keywords: decline; evaportranspiration; light intensity; Quercus suber; sap flow density; water use efficiency

Canopy cover influence on macrofungal richness and sporocarp production in montado ecosystems - Santos-Silva, C.; Gonçalves, A.; Louro, R. (Agroforestry Systems, 2011)
In this study we aimed to ﬁnd out how macrofungi richness and sporocarp production varies in relation to both canopy cover and proximity of crown projection area, in order to discuss strategies and point out management actions that ensure macrofungal communities sustainability in montado ecosystems. The sporocarp survey was conducted once every two weeks, from October to February, between 2007 and 2009 in two representative sites of the most common (cork and holm oak) open montado ecosystems in southern Portugal. Results showed that canopy cover strongly shaped macrofungal communities composition and yield. Denser canopy cover enhanced mycorrhizal richness and reduced saprotrophic yield. Furthermore, mycorrhizal richness and yield increased with tree proximity. Finally some forest management strategies are suggested in order to enhance macrofungal richness and productivity, in montado ecosystems.
Keywords: Cork oak; crown influence; Holm oak; macrofungal communities; Mediterranean ecosystem; montado; Portugal

Is cellular automata algorithm able to predict the future dynamical shifts of tree species in Italy under climate change scenarios? A methodological approach - Di Traglia, Mario; Attorre, Fabio; Francesconi, Fabio; Valenti, Roberto; Vitale, Marcello (Ecological Modelling, 2011)
In this paper is presented a methodological approach which integrates statistic modelling and 2-D cellular automata (CA) in order to describe tree species shifts responding to the climate changes foreseen for Italy in the 21st century. Five Italian tree species populations of Abies alba, Pinus sylvestris, Fagus sylvatica, Acer campestris and Quercus suber and their actual potential distributions (PDs) – represented by Importance Value (IV), have been considered. Environmental and climatic relationships have been modelled through application of a new statistical methodology called extreme discretization, where the PD of a species was considered as a random ﬁeld. The IV-based PD has been spatialized through a probability function (A,S), which represented the spatio-temporal relationships between IV values and climatic (A) and geomorphological (S) variables. For each tree species = (A,S) has been estimated and inserted as rule in the 2-D cellular automata. The latter, acting by a Moore neighbouring, took in consideration also the suitability map for tree species, which has been obtained by land cover map. Two time frames (2050 and 2080) and two climatic scenarios (A2 and B1) have been considered. Results described a general reduction of the IV values and their distribution for A. alba, P. sylvestris and F. sylvatica, in both climatic scenarios, whereas an increase of IVs and distribution for Q. suber and only a slight increment of distribution for A. campestris was mainly observed under the B1 scenario, but not for the more limiting A2 scenario. Convergent results have been obtained with respect to other simulation systems concerning the shift of tree species responding to different climatic change scenarios but lacking of the description of dynamical paths. Our approach seems natural and practical to describe such phenomena. The transition rules for the CA and the parameters taken into account for the construction of the probabilistic models can be surely improved to obtain a more realistic pattern of tree species shifts. Future efforts should be made to take in account the inter-speciﬁc relationships inside the Italian forest ecosystems, in order to also consider the competiveness for resources that exert some effects on the plant distribution both in time and space.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: 2-d cellular automata; climate change; Importance Value; Logistic analysis; Mediterranean basin; Potential tree species shift

Change and dynamics in Mediterranean evergreen oak woodlands landscapes of Southwestern Iberian Peninsula - Costa, Augusta; Madeira, Manuel; Lima Santos, José; Oliveira, Ângelo (Landscape and Urban Planning, 2011)
Landscapes with open evergreen oak woodlands in Southwestern Iberian Peninsula have been subjected to a consistent oak forest loss. In these landscapes, the abandonment of traditional land management activities have been associated with major land use transformations, such as the replacement of agricultural land uses and native oakwoodlands by both shrublands and fast-growing Eucalyptus and pine (Pinus pinea L.) plantations. In this study a spatially explicit approach, combining aerial photographs, geographical information systems and land covermetrics, was used to assess long-termlandscape dynamics over a 50-year period. The aim was to provide interpreted quantitative information on the landscape dynamics and to determine the key roles of open farmland, shrubland and new forest plantations on the ongoing loss and fragmentation of oak woodlands. Different trends of land abandonment and intensiﬁcation of land uses were found across the study areas mainly related to combination of particular socioeconomic and biophysical conditions, resulting in different types of evergreen oak forest conservation and restoration issues. A comprehensive assessment ofthese (biophysical and socioeconomic) change driving forces is, therefore, presented and discussed, as a baseline for future planning by setting of appropriate management, restoration and conservation strategies for oak woodlands in the studied landscapes. Although this study focused on a speciﬁc system of Southwestern Mediterranean, the methodology applied herein can be extrapolated to other comparable human-driven scattered tree systems, within cultural landscapes.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: land use; Mediterranean evergreen oak woodlands; Quercus ilex; Quercus suber; Socioeconomic driving forces; Vegetation cover metrics

Chlorophyll fluorescence responses to temperature and water availability in two co-dominant Mediterranean shrub and tree species in a long-term field experiment simulating climate change - Ogaya, Romà; Penuelas, Josep; Asensio, Dolores; Llusia, Joan (Environmental and Experimental Botany, 2011)
A rain exclusion experiment simulating drought conditions expected in Mediterranean areas for the following decades (15% decrease in soil moisture) is being conducted since 1999 in a Mediterranean holm oak forest to study its response to the forecasted climatic changes for the coming decades. The maximum PSII quantum yield of primary photochemistry (Fv/Fm) was measured in Quercus ilex, and Phillyrea latifolia, the co-dominant species of the studied forest, from 1999 to 2009 in four plots: two of them were control plots and the other two plots received the rain exclusion treatment. In both species, the Fv/Fm values were highly dependent on air temperatures, and in a second term, in water availability. P. latifolia was the species with the larger decrease in Fv/Fm values induced by low air temperatures, while in hot seasons, the Fv/Fm values in P. latifolia were even higher than in Q. ilex. Rainfall exclusion decrease Fv/Fm values signiﬁcantly only in few monitoring dates. The most drought resistant species P. latifolia was more affected by the experimental rainfall exclusion than Q. ilex that instead lost number of leaves per tree. There was a synergic effect of drought stress and winter cold in P. latifolia not observed in Q. ilex, but a more conservative strategy in P. latifolia maintaining leaves with a down-regulation of the linear photosynthetic electron transport. These results indicate that, although other physiological and reproductive strategies at whole plant level must be also taken into account, the warmer and drier environment expected for the following decades could favour the species more sensitive to cold and more resistant to drought, the shrub P. latifolia, in detriment of the tree Q. ilex as already observed in the ﬁeld after severe heat-drought episodes.
Keywords: Chlorophyll ﬂuorescence; climate change; Cold; Drought; evergreen leaves; Fv/Fm; Heat; mediterranean forest; phillyrea latifolia; Quercus ilex

Combined use of LC–ESI-MS and antifungal tests for rapid identification of bioactive lipopeptides produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CCMI 1051 - Caldeira, Ana Teresa; Santos Arteiro, J. M. M. M.; Coelho, Ana V.; Roseiro, J. Carlos (Process Biochemistry, 2011)
The strain Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CCMI 1051 used in this study has been isolated in our laboratory from healthy Quercus suber in the south of Portugal and shows high levels of antagonistic properties against filamentous fungi that attack forest products industry due to the production of bioactive peptides. A combined use of LC–ESI-MS and antifungal tests allowed a rapid identification of lipopeptides as active compounds produced. Applying autobiographic methods it was possible to obtain active compounds. LC–ESI-MS, a powerful tool for rapid identification, indicates the presence of lipopeptides and MS2 electrospray ionization showed the partial sequence Tyr–Asn–Pro–Glu in the peptidic portion of some compounds produced. The association of mass spectrometry and chromatography, used in parallel with antifungal tests proved to be an efficient approach for the characterization of active lipopeptides without the need of previous total isolation. This methodology can be employed for screening and optimization the production of antifungal iturinic lipopeptides, showing a great potential for future application.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Keywords: antimicrobial activity; bacillus amyloliquefaciens; Biosurfactants; Cyclic lipopeptides; Iturin

Comparing annual vertebrate road kills over two time periods, 9 years apart: a case study in Mediterranean farmland - Carvalho, Filipe; Mira, António (European Journal of Wildlife Research, 2011)
We surveyed road kills occurring along a 26-km stretch of a major national road (Portugal) in two different years: 1996 and 2005. For analysis purposes, we divided the data into seven vertebrate groups: amphibians, reptiles, carnivores, prey mammals (shrews, moles, rodents, rabbits and hares), hedgehogs, owls and passerines. Main factors influencing vertebrate road casualties were evaluated using redundancy analysis and variance partitioning techniques, focusing on three sets of variables: land cover, landscape metrics and spatial location. We also took into account meteorological conditions and changes in traffic intensity specific to each of the surveyed years. The percentage of variance explained by the explanatory variables was greater in 1996 (67.5%) than in 2005 (48.1%). Many variables influencing road kill incidence were common to both years. The most significantly associated factor was the distance to the Natural Park of Serra de São Mamede (NPSSM): road kills decreased steadily as our survey moved south, away from the NPSSM border. Moreover, an increased incidence of road losses occurred in forested areas, such as montado and traditional olive groves. As 2005 was a climatically drier year, additional variance factors became prominent, including the distance to water reservoirs, suggesting a greater influence of water availability. Traffic flow increased by almost 150% from 1996 to 2005, which may explain the overall increase in road kills, with the notable exception of the amphibian group, whose road fatalities incidences decreased approximately sixfold. We expect that our survey will provide a comprehensive understanding of the most critical factors currently influencing vertebrate road fatalities and aid in improving the effectiveness of mitigation measures to reduce them.
Keywords: mediterranean farmland; redundancy analysis; variance partitioning; Vertebrates

Complex selection on life-history traits and the maintenance of variation in exaggerated rostrum length in acorn weevils. - Bonal, Raul; Espelta, Josep Maria; Vogler, Alfried P. (Oecologia, 2011)
Trophic interactions can trigger the development of exaggerated specialized characters and promote morphological diversification. For example, acorn weevils (genus Curculio) present strikingly long rostrums, which are used by females to perforate oviposition holes through the seed coat. Species exhibiting longer rostrums are known to exploit larger acorns, and therefore rostrum length is thought to be subject to selection to match the preferred acorn type. However, rostrum length is strongly correlated with body size, and morphological divergence could result from either selection on rostrum length for optimal food exploitation or from other pressures acting on body size. We collected infested acorns at oak forests where the large Curculio elephas and the small-bodied Curculio glandium co-occur. There were no interspecific differences in adult female body size to rostrum length allometric relationships, and rostrum length is equally correlated with body size in either species. MtDNA-based species identification showed that C. glandium larvae were present within acorns of all sizes, whereas C. elephas larvae were restricted to acorns above a minimum size, irrespective of oak species. Hence, exploitation of large acorns can hardly have triggered rostrum enlargement, as the small sized C. glandium adults (with short rostrums) could perforate and oviposit in both small and large acorns. Rather, increased rostrum length is probably a by-product of the larger body sizes of individuals emerging from bigger acorns, which allow increased larval size and enhance larval survival likelihood. Summarizing, when exaggerated feeding traits co-vary with other body features, interspecific morphological variability may result from contrasting selective pressures acting on these correlated characters.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: accession-num: 21674207
Keywords: Body size; Curculio; Ecomorphological diversification; Quercus; Seed size; Trophic segregation

Composition and structure of natural mixed-oak stands in northern and central Portugal - Carvalho, João P. F. (Forest Ecology and Management, 2011)
Stand composition and structure of natural mixed-oak stands of common-oak (Quercus robur L.) and pyrenean-oak (Quercus pyrenaica Willd.) were studied. Diverse compositional and structural elements in early and late successional stand stages were analysed. The study was conducted in north and central Portugal where different naturalmixed oak forests types are located. The followingmixed-oak forest types involving common-oak and pyrenean-oak were studied: common-oak & other hardwoods; commonoak & cork-oak (Quercus suber L.); ash (Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl) & pyrenean-oak; and pyrenean-oak & madrone (Arbutus unedo L.). Measurements were made in early and late successional stand stages on the different mixed oak forest types. Different stand characteristics and indices were used to describe and compare stand structure and composition. The study showed changes in species diversity and stand structure. Most tree species in mature stands are present in early stages but with higher abundance. Shannon diversity index may change between 0.798 and 1.915. Signiﬁcant differences on species diversity and abundance were found depending on the forest type and successional stage. Mature mixed-oak forests have high species diversity with an abundance of small to medium tree size species. Species distribution and diameter differentiation indices range from 0.30 to 0.70 and 0.52 to 0.82, respectively, revealing signiﬁcant structural complexity. The average number of standing and downed dead trees was 265 and 83 trees ha−1 for early and late stage, respectively, with 6.9 and 65.4 m3 ha−1 . Higher values of stand diversity index were 41 and 53 in more complex and developed forests. Later stand stages have complex structure, with a wider range of tree diameter distribution and higher degree of irregularity.
Keywords: Quercus pyrenaica Willd.; Quercus robur L.; Stand composition; Stand Structure

Conservation of Mediterranean oak woodlands: understorey dynamics under different shrub management - Canteiro, Cátia; Pinto-Cruz, Carla; Simões, M. Paula; Gazarini, Luíz (Agroforestry Systems, 2011)
The effect of experimental disturbances on the dynamics of a shrub community was studied on a ‘Montado’ ecosystem, in southern Portugal. The evolution of the community physiognomy, composition and diversity were monitored after shrub clearing followed by biomass removal, deposition on soil surface and incorporation with the soil, over a 9-year period. Maximum shrub density was recorded in the ﬁrst year after the disturbances, excepting in mulched plots which showed the greatest number of individuals 1 year later. The increment of shrub leaf biomass was very fast in the ﬁrst 3 years, whereas wood production was slower but occurred along the whole study period. At the end of the study, leaf and wood biomass was still signiﬁcantly lower than in the predisturbance situation. The variation pattern of leaf area index was similar to that of leaf biomass. The evolution of total plant cover and diversity was similar across treatments. The highest species richness and diversity were recorded 2 years after cutting, decreasing afterwards with the increasing dominance of shrubs. Thus it seems likely that, although a 9 year period is too short for these communities to reach steady equilibrium, they are very resistant and resilient to disturbances, as regeneration was fast and vegetation dynamics was not inﬂuenced by differences among treatments. We can conclude that shrub clearing promotes biodiversity and the time of permanence of shrub patches depends on the particular goal we want to achieve.
Keywords: agroecosystems; Biodiversity; cistus salviifolius; Regeneration; shrub clearing

Conservation planning of vertebrate diversity in a Mediterranean agricultural-dominant landscape - de la Montaña, Enrique; Rey Benayas, José M.; Vasques, Ana; Razola, Irene; Cayuela, Luis (Biological Conservation, 2011)
To improve effectiveness of protected areas, selection of priority areas should include consideration of three main components, namely special conservation elements, focal species and representation. We present a three-track approach related to these components for vertebrate conservation planning in Castilla-La Mancha, central Spain. As special conservation elements, we identiﬁed Priority Areas for Conservation of species using ﬁve criteria: species richness, geographic rarity, species vulnerability, a Combined Index of these three criteria, and a Standardised Biodiversity Index (SBI) that integrate the three criteria and four studied taxa. The Natura 2000 Network was used to include conservation areas for focal species. We evaluated the representation of every landscape type in the existing conservation areas. To delineate the spatial conﬁguration for vertebrate conservation, we combined the identiﬁed Priority Areas for Conservation, existing conservation areas and connectivity areas by cost–distance analysis. The Combined Index was the most efﬁcient criterion analyzed to identify Priority Areas for Conservation. The Natura 2000 Network showed a high percentage of coincidence with identiﬁed Priority Areas for Conservation, whereas the natural protected areas network had a low percentage of coincidence. Six agricultural landscapes were inadequately represented in the current conservation network. According to our multitrack approach, 29% of study area was required to capture 100% of vertebrate species and all landscape types. Our results show that the existing conservation areas are insufﬁcient to guarantee the conservation of biodiversity in the study region. Additional areas with outstanding features of diversity, connectivity areas, and establishment of targets for off-reserve conservation are of fundamental importance for strengthening biodiversity conservation.
Keywords: Agroecosystem; Combined Index of biodiversity; Gap analysis; Landscape representation; Least-cost path analysis; Natura 2000 Network

A Contribution to the Knowledge of Composition and Classification of Holm Oak Forests in Istria - Baricevic, D.; Šapic, I. (Croatian Journal of Forest Engineering, 2011)
{{The forest vegetation of Istria is considered one of the most interesting vegetation types in the Republic of Croatia. This is confirmed by the presence of a large number of highly diverse forest communities occurring on the border between two completely different plant-geographical regions: theMediterranean region and the Euro-Sibe- rian – North American region. As climazonal vegetation, forests of holm oak in the Eu-Mediterranean represent special value and a particular asset. Owing to systematic research during the past fifty or more years, the general distribution of holm oak in Istria is well known; however, data on forest communities of holm oak and their phytocoenologcal characteristics are much less known. This means that until the present research, only about forty phytocoenological relevés of the forest stands of holm oak in Istria had been released, which clearly demonstrates that these stands have been insufficiently studied and that further detailed research is required. Synecological-veg- etation research was undertaken in 12 localities in the coastal part of Istria, startingwith the surroundings of Pore~ in the north-west, across the western and southern parts, to the surroundings of Pula (Fig. 1). Phytocoenological research of forest vegetationwas based on the principles of the Zurich-Montpellier School (Braun-Blanquet 1964). Our own phytocoenological relevés were entered into the Turboveg database (Hennekens and Schaminee 2001), to- gether with 30 published phytocoenological relevés of forests of holm oak and manna ash, taken in a broader re- search area and described as the subassociations typicum and cotinetosum. Atotal of 42 phytocoenological relevés were statistically processed. In addition to classical analysis, numerical analysis by means of SYN-TAX 2000 (Podani 2001) software was also conducted. Eco-indicator values according to Pignatti (2005) were applied to de- scribe the ecological conditions using the floral composition, while themean values for particular relevés and forest communities were calculated by means of the JUICE 6.3 programme (Tischy 2002). The applied cluster methods showed very similar results and the same general patterns. Accordingly, the ma- jority of the relevés are clearly divided into three groups, while only three relevés make up a separate group (Fig. 2). Further detailed analysis of the floral composition showed that the studied forest stands of holm oak belong to the first group of relevés, typical stands of holm oak andmanna ash to the second group, while stands of holm oak and manna ash with smoke tree (Table 1) belong to the third group, and so do the three separate relevés. The analysis also showed that all the analyzed phytocoenological relevés belong to the same association Fraxino orni-Quercetumilicis (Horvati} (1956) 1958, with all the floristic and ecological differences that indicate the affiliation to the three subassociations. Thus, the first group of relevés is represented by stands of holm oak andmanna ash with a signifi- cant amount of deciduous elements, the second group is represented by typical stands of holm oak andmanna ash, and the third includes stands in the form of maquis and less well developed forests, containing, apart from the spe- cies Cotinus coggygria, species of more open sites. This is presented in more detail in Table 1. Based on the comparisons of the floral composition in our own relevés with the stands of holm oak and manna ash in the Republic of Croatia described earlier, it can be concluded that our stands, in addition to the characteristic and differentiating species of the association Fraxino orni-Quercetum ilicis and the appertaining alliance, order and class, are strongly characterized by the elements from the neighbouring forests of pubescent oak with oriental horn- beam (Querco-Carpinetum orientalis Horvati} 1939). In the tree and shrub layers, these include the deciduous Quercus pubescens, Carpinus orientalis, Quercus cerris, Acer monspessulanum, Coronilla emerus ssp. emeroides, Ligustrum vulgare, Cornus mas, Ulmus minor, Sorbus domestica, Euonymus europaea and others, and in the ground layer the grasses Sesleria autumnalis, Carex halleriana, Brachypodium sylvaticum and Carex flacca. Such a large participation of these species, as well as the affiliation of our relevés to the association Fraxino orni-Quercetum ilicis, indicate the different nature and specific features that place it into a separate subassociation. Differences in the floral composition in relation to the subassociations typicum and cotinetosum can primarily be attributed to different synecological growth conditions, as seen from the analysis of ecoindicator values according to Pignatti (2005) (Table 2). The studied holm oak forests are characterized by the best synecological conditions and by species that indicatemore sciophylic, colder,more continental, more humid and richer sites than those of typical holm oak forests. It should be pointed out that, in relation to the previously described subassociation typicum, our phytocoenological relevés differ statistically in all ecological indicators, whereas in relation to the relevés of the subassociation cotinetosum, they differ inmost of the ecological indicators. These results confirm the earlier under- standing on the need to form a special, new subassociation within the forest of holm oak with manna ash. In order to make the final decision on the accurate nomination and systematic affiliation of the analyzed stands of holm oak, in addition to the conducted analyses, we should also take into account past descriptions of holm oak forests both from the area of Istria and from the entire distribution range of this species. As evident from all these works, only the subassociations typicum and cotinetosum are accompanied by phytocoenological relevés, whereas the others are only furnished with textual descriptions without any concrete phytocoenological relevés or a list of differentiating species. This prevented us from making a more accurate and better comparison and clear determination. However, taking into consideration the floral composition, the synecological conditions of its occurrence and past descriptions of the subassociations, variants and facies of the association Fraxino orni-Quercetum ilicis, it may be claimed that the studied stands belong to the subassociation carpinetosum orientalis subass. nova hoc loco. This is in accordance with the valid Code of Phytocoenological Nomenclature (see article 7). Hence, relevé 4 in Table 1 is taken as the nomenclatural type. Species Carpinus orientalis, Quercus pubescens, Acer monspessulanum, Ligustrumvulgare, Cornus mas, Celtis australis, Carex flacca i Carex halleriana have been determined as dif- ferentiating species. In order to reach the final solution to the problem of forests of holm oak with manna ash, both in Istria and in the overall distribution range of this community, we should conduct our own research over a broader area. By doing so we would obtain more comparable data and more specific conclusions on the systematic classifica- tion of this association into lower systematic units. Moreover, the newly studied sites provide an excellent basis for further monitoring of syndynamic processes in holm oak forests in Istria.
Keywords: carpinetosum orientalis; Classification; ecoindicator values; floral composition; Forests of holm oak; Fraxino orni-Quercetum ilicis; Istria

Cork composites and their role in sustainable development - Soares, B.; Reis, L.; Sousa, L. (Procedia Engineering, 2011)
With the current challenges that the industrial world faces regarding the unavoidable environmental impact of manufacturing goods, companies have been turning to sustainable design in order to reduce this impact and to minimize the damage to the environment while at the same time reaping the marketing bonus that is the claim of a greener product. This reduction of environmental impact is being done at multiple levels and especially at the design stage and one of the ways taken by companies to reduce this impact is to replace fuel-based materials such as polymers with natural materials. But in order for this replacement to take place, engineers and designers need to know the behavior of these materials. With that idea a set of mechanical tests and studies, namely bending and compression tests, have been performed on cork composites. Those composites were chosen for its importance to the Portuguese economy and its peculiar growth cycle and harvesting techniques, in order to ascertain the mechanical properties of cork composites and how it stands against polymers.
Keywords: cork composites; Environmental impact; experimental tests; sustainability design

Cryphonectria naterciae: a new species in the Cryphonectria-Endothia complex and diagnostic molecular markers based on microsatellite-primed PCR. - Bragança, Helena; Rigling, Daniel; Diogo, Eugénio; Capelo, Jorge; Phillips, Alan; Tenreiro, Rogério (Fungal biology, 2011)
In a recent study intended to assess the distribution of Cryphonectria parasitica in Portugal, 22 morphologically atypical orange isolates were collected in the Midwestern regions. Eleven isolates were recovered from Castanea sativa, in areas severely affected by chestnut blight and eleven isolates from Quercus suber in areas with cork oak decline. These isolates were compared with known C. parasitica and Cryphonectria radicalis isolates using an integrated approach comprising morphological and molecular methods. Morphologically the atypical isolates were more similar to C. radicalis than to C. parasitica. Phylogenetic analyses based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and β-tubulin sequence data grouped the isolates in a well-supported clade separate from C. radicalis. Combining morphological, cultural, and molecular data Cryphonectria naterciae is newly described in the Cryphonectria-Endothia complex. Microsatellite-primed PCR fingerprinting with (GACA)(4) primer discriminated between C. naterciae, C. radicalis, and C. parasitica.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: accession-num: 21872182
Keywords: Ascomycota; Ascomycota: classification; Ascomycota: genetics; Ascomycota: isolation & purification; Chestnut tree; Cork oak tree; Cryphonectria parasitica; Cryphonectria radicalis (GACA)4; DNA; DNA Primers; DNA Primers: genetics; Endothiella gyrosa; Fagaceae; Fagaceae: microbiology; Fungal; Fungal Proteins; Fungal Proteins: genetics; Fungal: genetics; Microsatellite Repeats; Molecular Sequence Data; MSP-PCR; Mycological Typing Techniques; Mycological Typing Techniques: methods; phylogeny; Plant Diseases; Plant Diseases: microbiology; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polymerase Chain Reaction: methods; Quercus; Quercus: microbiology; RFLP-PCR; Tubulin; Tubulin: genetics

Dealing with vagueness in complex forest landscapes: A soft classification approach through a niche-based distribution model - Amici, Valerio (Ecological Informatics, 2011)
The increasing interest in biodiversity conservation has led to the development of new approaches to facilitate ecologically based conservation policies and management plans. In this context, the development of effective methods for the classiﬁcation of forest types constitutes a crucial issue as forests represent the most widespread vegetation structure and play a key role in ecosystem functioning. In this study a maximum entropy approach (Maxent) to forest type classiﬁcation in a complex Mediterranean area, has been investigated. Maxent, a niche-based model of species/habitat distribution, allowed researchers to estimate the potential distribution of four forest types: Holm oak, Mixed oak, Mixed broadleaved and Riparian forests. The Maxent model's internal tests have proved a powerful tool for estimating the model's accuracy and analyzing the effects of the most important variables in the produced models. Moreover the comparison with a spectral response-based fuzzy classiﬁcation, showed a higher accuracy in the Maxent outputs, demonstrating how the use of environmental variables, combined with spectral information in the classiﬁcation of natural or seminatural land cover classes, improves map accuracies. The modeling approach followed by this study, taking into account the uncertainty proper of the natural ecosystems and the use of environmental variables in land cover classiﬁcation, can represent a useful approach to making more efﬁcient and effective ﬁeld inventories and to developing effective conservation policies.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: classification uncertainty; Forecasting forests; Forest cover map; Fuzzy set; Maxent; Remote sensing

The decreased competition in expanding versus mature juniper woodlands is counteracted by adverse climatic effects on growth - Gimeno, Teresa E.; Pías, Beatriz; Martínez-Fernández, Jesús; Quiroga, David L.; Escudero, Adrián; Valladares, Fernando (European Journal of Forest Research, 2011)
World-wide deforestation is being reversed in Mediterranean continental areas, where abandonment of traditional practises favours the expansion of valuable habitats, like Juniperus thurifera woodlands. We hypothesised that pre-existing trees facilitate establishment in expanding woodlands, whereas in mature woodlands, competition leads to patch disaggregation. We compared the imprint of these processes on growth, demographic and spatial structure of expanding and mature J. thurifera woodlands. We selected plots where we geopositioned, aged and quantiﬁed the morphological characteristics of all trees. In the mature woodland, trees arranged in clumps and randomly in the expanding woodland. Competition negatively affected growth, was greater in the mature woodland and led to disaggregation of juvenile clumps. Differences in growth between the mature and the expanding woodland disappeared in climatically unfavourable years, suggesting that adverse climate constrains growth more in expanding than in mature woodlands. We suggest that change in the dispersal agents and a decrease of facilitation underlay differences in spatial patters between the expanding and the mature woodland. Observed effective recruitment in less than 30 years into the expanding woodland evidenced that propagule arrival and sapling survival do not constrain woodland expansion. Furthermore, growth of juveniles established in these new areas is favoured by reduced intraspeciﬁc competition. However, we expect growth in expanding woodlands to be negatively impacted by climate change. We conclude that under current global change scenario, conservation of J. thurifera woodlands is favoured by changes in land use, but greater frequency and severity of drier than usual episodes could hamper natural reforestation.
Keywords: Juniperus thurifera; Plant–plant interactions; Radial growth; Spatial pattern; Woodland expansion; Woodlandisation

Depolymerization and mineralization rates at 12 Mediterranean sites with varying soil N availability. A test for the Schimel and Bennett model - Delgado-Baquerizo, Manuel; Gallardo, Antonio (Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 2011)
It has been suggested that the relative abundance of soil nitrogen forms should change along an N availability gradient. This model was originally described at a biome scale, and few studies have tested it at other scales. Moreover, none of them has examined whether changes in the relative rates of ammoniﬁcation, nitriﬁcation and depolymerization rates also occurs. Our goal was to test whether these N transformation rates change along an N availability gradient which is likely to exist between forest, shrubs and grasses. We used three N availability indexes (total K2SO4-extractable N, ion exchange membrane N and the sum of N mineralization and depolymerization rates). Depolymerization dominated over mineralization in the two poorest plant communities, while ammoniﬁcation and nitriﬁcation rates dominated in intermediate and nutrient rich plant communities respectively. These results conﬁrm that the Schimel and Bennett model can be applied at a regional scale, and that N availability may be modulating not only the dominant N form, but also the relative abundance of a particular N transformation rate.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Keywords: Ammoniﬁcation rate; Nitriﬁcation rate; nitrogen cycle; soil ammonium; Soil DON; Soil nitrate

Déprédation des glands de chêne liège par les insectes et possibilités de germination et de croissance des semis - BOUCHAOUR-DJABEUR, Sabéha; BENABDELI, Khéloufi; Bejamaa, Mohamed Lahbib; Stiti, Boutheina (Geo-Eco-Trop, 2011)
Depredation of the acorns cork oak by the insects and its impact on the potential of germination and seedling growth were studied in a mountain cork oak forest in northwestern Algerian. The rate of pre-germinated acorns on the ground is higher than for other acorns. The weight is the most distinctive variable for all the acorns; whatever their condition and provenance, it varies significantly from 0.76 to 6.76 g. Regarding the damage to acorns, statistical tests show no significant difference in the length and weight, it is not very significant for the width.The infestation of acorns is independent of their size. The acorns attacked by beetles are clearly dominant (72%) compared with those attacked by moths (28%). 20% severely damaged acorns germinate and produce viable seedlings. But the germination rate decreases with the increase of injuries. Growth is strongly affected by the rate of damage to acorns. One therefore concludes that a major attack in the cotyledons certainly does not act on germination, but can affect the strength of the resulting plant and its survival.
Keywords: aspects of the acorns; Growth; infest by the insects; period of harvest; Quercus suber L.; resistance

Disentangling the relative importance of climate, size and competition on tree growth in Iberian forests: implications for forest management under global change - Gómez-Aparicio, LORENA; GARCÍA-VALDÉS, Raúl; Ruíz-Benito, PALOMA; Zavala, MIGUEL a (Global Change Biology, 2011)
Most large-scale multispecies studies of tree growth have been conducted in tropical and cool temperate forests, whereas Mediterranean water-limited ecosystems have received much less attention. This limits our understanding of how growth of coexisting tree species varies along environmental gradients in these forests, and the implications for species interactions and community assembly under current and future climatic conditions. Here, we quantify the absolute effect and relative importance of climate, tree size and competition as determinants of tree growth patterns in Iberian forests, and explore interspecific differences in the two components of competitive ability (competitive response and effect) along climatic and size gradients. Spatially explicit neighborhood models were developed to predict tree growth for the 15 most abundant Iberian tree species using permanent-plot data from the Spanish Second and Third National Forest Inventory (IFN). Our neighborhood analyses showed a climatic and size effect on tree growth, but also revealed that competition from neighbors has a comparatively much larger impact on growth in Iberian forests. Moreover, the sensitivity to competition (i.e. competitive response) of target trees varied markedly along climatic gradients causing significant rank reversals in species performance, particularly under xeric conditions. We also found compelling evidence for strong species-specific competitive effects in these forests. Altogether, these results constitute critical new information which not only furthers our understanding of important theoretical questions about the assembly of Mediterranean forests, but will also be of help in developing new guidelines for adapting forests in this climatic boundary to global change. If we consider the climatic gradients of this study as a surrogate for future climatic conditions, then we should expect absolute growth rates to decrease and sensitivity to competition to increase in most forests of the Iberian Peninsula (in all but the northern Atlantic forests), making these management considerations even more important in the future.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Keywords: 2 march 2011; climate change; competitive effect; competitive response; Forests; iberian peninsula; march 2011 and accepted; maximum likelihood; Mediterranean; Mediterranean forests; neighhorbood models; received 21 october 2010; revised version received 1; species rank reversals; tree coexistence

Dissolved Organic Nitrogen in Mediterranean Ecosystems - Delgado-Baquerizo, M.; Covelo, F.; Gallardo, A. (Pedosphere, 2011)
Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in soils has recently gained increasing interest because it may be both a direct N source for plants and the dominant available N form in nutrient-poor soils, however, its prevalence in Mediterranean ecosystems remains unclear. The aims of this study were to i) estimate soil DON in a wide set of Mediterranean ecosystems and compare this levels with those for other ecosystems; ii) describe temporal changes in DON and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) forms (NH+ 4 and NO− 3 ), and characterize spatial heterogeneity within plant communities; and iii) study the relative proportion of soil DON and DIN forms as a test of Schimel and Bennett’s hypothesis that the prevalence of diﬀerent N forms follows a gradient of nutrient availability. The study was carried out in eleven plant communities chosen to represent a wide spectrum of Mediterranean vegetation types, ranging from early to late successional status. DON concentrations in the studied Mediterranean plant communities (0–18.2 mg N kg−1 ) were consistently lower than those found in the literature for other ecosystems. We found high temporal and spatial variability in soil DON for all plant communities. As predicted by the Schimel and Bennett model for nutrient-poor ecosystems, DON dominance over ammonium and nitrate was observed for most plant communities in winter and spring soil samples. However, mineral-N dominated over DON in summer and autumn. Thus, soil water content may have an important eﬀect on DON versus mineral N dominance in Mediterranean ecosystems.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Soil Science Society of China
Keywords: dissolved inorganic nitrogen; nitrogen cycle; soil ammonium; soil N availability; soil nitrat

Do ecological and silvicultural factors influence acorn mass in Holm Oak (southwestern Spain)? - Alejano, R.; Vázquez-Piqué, J.; Carevic, F.; Fernández, M. (Agroforestry Systems, 2011)
The effect of orientation, location, year, and pruning treatment on mean acorn mass in two open woodland experimental locations (Huelva, South-Western Spain) of Holm Oak (Quercus ilex L. subsp. ballota [Desf.] Samp.) was analyzed during 2001–2006. Data were analyzed by using a mixed linear model, where the covariates were tree size parameters (circumference at 80 cm height, crown size), topographic position (wet index and ﬂow length), intraspeciﬁc competition, total acorn crops per tree (weight and number), and climatic parameters. Average estimated acorn mass was 3.17 g acorn -1 in the Calan˜as location and 4.12 g acorn -1 in the San Bartolome´ location, with signiﬁcant differences between locations, among individual trees and across years. Acorns from the south sides of trees were signiﬁcantly heavier than those at other positions. The effect of pruning treatment and the interactions location 9 treatment and treatment 9 year were not signiﬁcant. Our study provides no evidence that pruning affects acorn mass. None of the analyzed covariates related to tree size, topographic position and intraspeciﬁc competition explained the difference among trees, suggesting that heritable factors play an important role. Speciﬁc climatic parameters during September, the most important month for acorn growth, may explain the effects of year and location 9 year on acorn mass. In addition, there appeared to be a ‘‘trade-off’’ between acorn mass and number of acorns.
Keywords: acorn production; Dehesa; Quercus ilex

Ectomycorrhizal communities in a Mediterranean forest ecosystem dominated by Quercus ilex: seasonal dynamics and response to drought in the surface organic horizon - Richard, Franck; Roy, Melanie; Shahin, Oula; Sthultz, Christopher; Duchemin, Myriam; Joffre, Richard; Selosse, Marc-André (Annals of Forest Science, 2011)
• Introduction Millions of hectares of Quercus ilex forests dominate disturbed landscapes in the western part of the Mediterranean basin. Although these forests are very widespread, little is known about the composition and structure of their associated ectomycorrhizal fungal communities. • Results and discussion We examined seasonal patterns in ectomycorrhizal communities and their response to increased drought using a rainfall exclusion experiment established in a Q. ilex coppice since 2003. Ectomycorrhizae were sampled four times in 2007–2009. By sequencing fungal ITS, we identified 129 species in 1,147 sequenced ectomycorrhizal root tips. The fungal community in the surface organic horizon was well described by the logseries theoretical model, with 47.9% of singleton species. The composition of the community was strongly dominated by Basidiomycetes, with three families (Thelephoraceae, Russulaceae and Cortinariaceae) accounting for 72.9% of the root tips. Relative abundance of Russulaceae and Thelephoraceae showed pronounced seasonal shifts. Experimental reduction of rainfall resulted in significant shifts in community composition and seasonal fluctuations but had no effect on global richness of the community. • Conclusions Together, these results suggest that the predicted rainfall reduction in this region due to climate change will lead to shifts
Keywords: Drought; ectomycorrhizal communities; Global change; Mediterranean forests

Effect of elevated CO2 on carbon partitioning in young Quercus ilex L. during resprouting - Aranjuelo, Iker; Pintó-Marijuan, Marta; Avice, Jean Christophe; Fleck, Isabel (Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 2011)
Stored carbon (C) represents a very important C pool with residence times of years to decades in tree organic matter. With the objective of understanding C assimilation, partitioning and remobilization in 2-year-old Quercus ilex L., those trees were exposed for 7 months to different [CO2] (elevated: 700 µmol mol−1; and ambient: 350 µmol mol−1 CO2). The 13C-isotopic composition of the ambient CO2 (ca. −12.8‰) was modified (to ca. −19.2‰) under the elevated CO2 conditions in order to analyze C allocation and partitioning before aerial biomass excision, and during the following regrowth (resprouting). Although after 7 months of growth under elevated [CO2], Q. ilex plants increased dry matter production, the absence of significant differences in photosynthetic activity suggests that such an increase was lower than expected. Nitrogen availability was not involved in photosynthetic acclimation. The removal of aboveground organs did not enable the balance between C availability and C requirements to be achieved. The isotopic characterization revealed that before the cutting, C partitioning to the stem (main C sink) prevented leaf C accumulation. During regrowth the roots were the organ with more of the labelled C. Furthermore, developing leaves had more C sink strength than shoots during this period. After the cutting, the amount of C delivered from the root to the development of aboveground organs exceeded the requirements of leaves, with the consequent carbohydrate accumulation. These findings demonstrate that, despite having a new C sink, the responsiveness of those resprouts under elevated [CO2] conditions will be strongly conditioned by the plant's capacity to use the extra C present in leaves through its allocation to other organs (roots) and processes (respiration). Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Keywords: carbon allocation; Cutting; Elevated CO2; leaves; Photosynthetic activity (voyant); Regrowth; roots

Effect of supplementation with barley and calcium hydroxide on intake of Mediterranean shrubs by goats - Rogosic, Jozo; Saric, Tomislav; Herceg, Nevenko; Zjalic, Slaven; Stanic, Svjetlana; Skobic, Dragan (ITALIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE, 2011)
Maquis plant communities are one of the most varied vegetation types in the Mediterranean region and an important habitat for wild and domestic herbivores. Although the majority of these shrubs are nutritious, the secondary compounds are the main impediments that reduce their forage value. In five experiments, we determined the effect of supplementing the diets of goats with calcium hydroxide plus barley and with barley alone on their intake of five dominant shrubs (Quercus ilex, Erica multiflora, Arbutus unedo, Viburnum tinus and Pistacia lentiscus) of the Mediterranean maquis community. The combination of calcium hydroxide plus barley and barley alone increased the utilisation of Q. ilex, E. multiflora and P. lentiscus, while the intake of A. unedo and V. tinus was not statistically significantly different. Calcium hydroxide and barley (energy) enhance the use of secondary compound-containing plants, which may increase the production of alternate forages and create a more diverse mix of plant species in the Mediterranean maquis plant community.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: pub-location: MEDITGROUP, VIA G BELLI, 4, PAVIA, 27100, ITALY publisher: PAGEPRESS PUBL
Keywords: barley; Calcium hydroxide; Food preference; Goat; Secondary compound

Effects of lossy compression on remote sensing image classification of forest areas - Zabala, a; Pons, X. (International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 2011)
Lossy compression is being increasingly used in remote sensing; however, its effects on classiﬁcation have scarcely been studied. This paper studies the implications of JPEG (JPG) and JPEG 2000 (J2K) lossy compression for image classiﬁcation of forests in Mediterranean areas. Results explore the impact of the compression on the images themselves as well as on the obtained classiﬁcation. The results indicate that classiﬁcations made with previously compressed radiometrically corrected images and topoclimatic variables are not negatively affected by compression, even at quite high compression ratios. Indeed, JPG compression can be applied to images at a compression ratio (CR, ratio between the size of the original ﬁle and the size of the compressed ﬁle) of 10:1 or even 20:1 (for both JPG and J2K). Nevertheless, the fragmentation of the study area must be taken into account: in less fragmented zones, high CR are possible for both JPG and J2K, but in fragmented zones, JPG is not advisable, and when J2K is used, only a medium CR is recommended (3.33:1 to 5:1). Taking into account that J2K produces fewer artefacts at higher CR, the study not only contributes with optimum CR recommendations, but also found that the J2K compression standard (ISO 15444-1) is better than the JPG (ISO 10918-1) when applied to image classiﬁcation. Although J2K is computationally more expensive, this is no longer a critical issue with current computer technology.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: Forestry management; Image classiﬁcation; Image compression; JPEG; JPEG 2000

Emission factors from residential combustion appliances burning Portuguese biomass fuels - Fernandes, A. P.; Alves, C. A.; Goncalves, C.; Tarelho, L.; Pio, C.; Schimdl, C.; Bauer, H. (Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 2011)
Smoke from residential wood burning has been identified as a major contributor to air pollution, motivating detailed emission measurements under controlled conditions. A series of experiments were performed to compare the emission levels from two types of wood-stoves to those of fireplaces. Eight types of biomass were burned in the laboratory: wood from seven species of trees grown in the Portuguese forest (Pinus pinaster, Eucalyptus globulus, Quercus suber, Acacia longifolia, Quercus faginea, Olea europaea and Quercus ilex rotundifolia) and briquettes produced from forest biomass waste. Average emission factors were in the ranges 27.5-99.2 g CO kg-1, 552-1660 g CO2 kg-1, 0.66-1.34 g NO kg-1, and 0.82-4.94 g hydrocarbons kg-1 of biomass burned (dry basis). Average particle emission factors varied between 1.12 and 20.06 g kg-1 biomass burned (dry basis), with higher burn rates producing significantly less particle mass per kg wood burned than the low burn rates. Particle mass emission factors from wood-stoves were lower than those from the fireplace. The average emission factors for organic and elemental carbon were in the intervals 0.24-10.1 and 0.18-0.68 g kg-1 biomass burned (dry basis), respectively. The elemental carbon content of particles emitted from the energy-efficient "chimney type" logwood stove was substantially higher than in the conventional cast iron stove and fireplace, whereas the opposite was observed for the organic carbon fraction. Pinus pinaster, the only softwood species among all, was the biofuel with the lowest emissions of particles, CO, NO and hydrocarbons.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: The Royal Society of Chemistry
Keywords: Biomass combustion; Emission factors; Wood stove (voyant)

Erinea formation on Quercus ilex leaves: anatomical, physiological and chemical responses of leaf trichomes against mite attack. - Karioti, Anastasia; Tooulakou, Georgia; Bilia, Anna Rita; Psaras, George K.; Karabourniotis, George; Skaltsa, Helen (Phytochemistry, 2011)
Structures on the surfaces of leaves, such as dense layers of non-glandular trichomes, strongly affect phylloplane mite activities. On the other hand the feeding of eriophyoid mites on leaf surfaces can cause hyperplasia of leaf trichomes (erinea formation). In many cases the hyperplasia is accompanied by the accumulation of pigments within trichome cells, causing an impressive red-brown colouration of the erineum. There is no information, however, on the structure of these pigments as well as on the chemical alterations in the phenolic content of plant trichomes in response to mite attack. Erinea formation on the abaxial surface of Quercus ilex leaves upon Aceria ilicis (Acari: Eriophyoidea) attack provides an excellent model on this topic. Differences in the structure and chemical composition of isolated trichomes derived either from healthy (normal trichomes) or mite attacked (hypertrophic trichomes) leaves were examined. Carbon investment was comparable between the two different trichome types, but the cell walls of the hypertrophic trichomes appeared thinner and did not contain microcrystalline cellulose. Observations under the fluorescence microscope showed that the emitted fluorescence was different between the two trichome types, indicating a different composition in fluorescencing phenolic compounds. The chemical analyses confirmed that hypertrophic trichomes contained higher concentrations of the feeding deterrents proanthocyanidin B3 and catechin, as well as of quercetin-3-O-glucoside, but lower concentrations of acylated flavonoid glycosides, than the normal ones. The results showed that the structural and functional changes in leaf trichomes upon mite attack may be an effort of the leaf to compensate the damage caused by the pest.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier Ltd accession-num: 21131012
Keywords: Fagaceae; Leaf trichomes; Mites; phenolics; Quercus ilex

European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) engineering effects promote plant heterogeneity in Mediterranean dehesa pastures - Gálvez-Bravo, L.; López-Pintor, A.; Rebollo, S.; Gómez-Sal, A. (Journal of Arid Environments, 2011)
Mammalian herbivores can have dramatic effects on the vegetation through different mechanisms, and may therefore modify resource distribution or create habitat for other species. Organisms that cause such changes are classiﬁed as ecosystem engineers. The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a semifossorial mammal native to the Iberian Peninsula and a keystone species in Mediterranean foodwebs. Rabbits are central-place foragers, but few studies have analysed their ecosystem engineering effects in the vicinity of warrens. Here, we explored the role of rabbits as ecosystem engineers in Mediterranean pastures in central Spain. We studied the spatial patterns and internal heterogeneity in the vegetation community of different spatial subunits created by rabbits (warrens, the warren inﬂuence area, and latrines). Within the different subunits, rabbit activities gave rise to patches and gradients with different plant species richness, diversity and height, and a high internal heterogeneity (dissimilarity) in ﬂoristic composition. Through different mechanisms, they have a signiﬁcant effect on species coexistence and competitive interactions, and increase the number of available niches for plants which otherwise would not be able to establish. In conclusion, rabbits can act as allogenic ecosystem engineers in Mediterranean pastures, increasing heterogeneity and contributing to the high biodiversity of Mediterranean annual pastures.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Keywords: Beta diversity; Biodiversity; Burrowing mammals; Floristic composition; latrines; Warrens

Evaluating the effects of climate change on tree species abundance and distribution in the Italian peninsula - Attorre, Fabio; Alfò, Marco; De Sanctis, Michele; Francesconi, Fabio; Valenti, Roberto; Vitale, Marcello; Bruno, Franco (Applied Vegetation Science, 2011)
Question: What is the effect of climate change on tree species abundance and distribution in the Italian peninsula? Location: Italian peninsula. Methods: Regression tree analysis, Random Forest, generalized additive model and geostatistical methods were compared to identify the best model for quantifying the effect of climate change on tree species distribution and abundance. Future potential species distribution, richness, local colonization, local extinction and species turnover were modelled according to two scenarios (A2 and B1) for 2050 and 2080. Results: Robust Random Forest proved to be the best statistical model to predict the potential distribution of tree species abundance. Climate change could lead to a shift in tree species distribution towards higher altitudes and a reduction of forest cover. Pinus sylvestris and Tilia cordata may be considered at risk of local extinction, while the other species could ﬁnd potential suitable areas at the cost of a rearrangement of forest community composition and increasing competition. Conclusions: Geographical and topographical regional characteristics can have a noticeable inﬂuence on the impact of predicted climate change on forest ecosystems within the Mediterranean basin. It would be highly beneﬁcial to create a standardized and harmonized European forest inventory in order to evaluate, at high resolution, the effect of climate change on forest ecosystems, identify regional differences and develop speciﬁc adaptive management strategies and plans.
Keywords: generalized additive model; geostatistical; geostatistical methods; italian peninsula; methods; random forest; regression tree analysis

Factors affecting nutrient concentration and stoichiometry of forest trees in Catalonia (NE Spain) - Sardans, J.; Rivas-Ubach, A.; Penuelas, J. (Forest Ecology and Management, 2011)
Although some studies have observed signiﬁcant correlations between latitude and climate gradients and tree leaf nutrient concentration and stoichiometry, others have not. This study examined the nutrient concentrations of tree leaves in 3530 plots of the Catalonian Forest Inventory. Catalonia is a Mediterranean region located in NE Iberian Peninsula. It has a long land-use history and includes the large industrial-urban area of Barcelona but still contains a large forest area (42%). In the forests of Catalonia, leaf nutrient concentration increased and leaf C:nutrient ratios decreased from south to north, which paralleled the increase in MAP (mean annual precipitation) and the decrease in MAT (mean annual temperature), which was expected in a Mediterranean climate where the availability of water is the most limiting factor for plant nutrient uptake. In addition, the availability of water, which inﬂuences productivity, was associated with low leaf N:P content ratios, which is consistent with the Growth Rate Hypothesis. At a regional scale, the results support the Soil-Age Hypothesis because the youngest soils in the Pyrenees had the lowest leaf N:P ratios. Furthermore, the type of forest (evergreen, deciduous, or coniferous) explained some of the variation in leaf nutrient concentrations and stoichiometry. Nutrient concentrations were highest in deciduous trees and lowest in coniferous trees. Leaf nutrient concentrations and stoichiometry were mainly correlated with climate, but other factors such as the chemical properties of soil and rock, phylogenetics, and different ecological histories and anthropogenic factors such as pollution, had an effect.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: ecological stoichiometry; forest climate influence; mediterranean forest; Tree nutrient relationships

Fall fertilization of Holm oak affects N and P dynamics, root growth potential, and post-planting phenology and growth - Oliet, Juan a; Salazar, José M.; Villar, Rafael; Robredo, Eduardo; Valladares, Fernando (Annals of Forest Science, 2011)
& Introduction For Holm oak (Quercus ilex L.), a flush growing species, nutrient loading during the growing season is difficult and can lead to a low nutrient status of the seedlings. To provide insights about Holm oak nutrient dynamics during fall in the nursery and subsequent planting performance, a factorial nursery experiment was conducted in a mild fall–winter area testing the effects of timing of fertilization (early and late fall) and rate (two doses of a NPK fertilizer that applied 28 and 56 mg N per seedling), followed by an experimental plantation. & Results Biomass, allocation pattern, shoot N and K, and root K were unaffected by both rate and timing of fall fertilization. However, shoot P concentration of fall fertilized plants was significantly increased, and root P concentration was enhanced by applying fertilizer at either the highest rate or during early fall. This revealed a different nutrient dynamics during fall that was dependent on the specific nutrient and plant component. & Discussion Root growth potential was positively correlated to nursery root P concentration. Six months after planting, fall fertilized plants showed higher shoot biomass, higher proportion of new leaves, and faster development, producing leaves earlier compared with unfertilized plants. & Conclusion It is concluded that early fall fertilization promotes nutrient loading of P in Holm oak, with significant effects on root growth potential and field growth by means of a phenologically earlier development and a higher aboveground biomass
Keywords: late season fertilization; Nutrient loading; phosphorus; Quercus ilex; root growth potential

Fireplace and woodstove fine particle emissions from combustion of western Mediterranean wood types - Alves, Célia; Gonçalves, Cátia; Fernandes, Ana Patrícia; Tarelho, Luís; Pio, Casimiro (Atmospheric Research, 2011)
Wood from seven species of trees grown in the Portuguese forest (Pinus pinaster, Eucalyptus globulus, Quercus suber, Acacia longifolia, Quercus faginea, Olea europea and Quercus ilex rotundifolia), and briquettes produced from forest biomass waste were burned in a ﬁreplace and in a woodstove to determine the chemical composition of ﬁne particle (PM2.5) emissions. Samples were analysed for organic and elemental carbon (OC/EC), water soluble ions (Na+ , NH4 + , K+ , Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Cl− , NO3 − and SO4 2− ) and 67 elements. The PM2.5 emission factors (g kg−1 fuel burned, dry basis) were in the ranges 9.9–20.2 and 4.2–16.3, respectively, for the ﬁreplace and the woodstove. Organic carbon contributed to about 50% of the ﬁne particle mass in the emissions from every wood species studied in both burning appliances. The carbonaceous component of PM2.5 was dominated by organic carbon, accounting for more than 85% of the total carbon (TC): OC/TC ranged from 0.85 to 0.96 (avg. 0.92) for the ﬁreplace and from 0.86 to 0.97 (avg. 0.93) for the woodstove. The water-soluble ions accounted for 0.64 to 11.3% of the PM2.5 mass emitted from the ﬁreplace, whereas mass fractions between 0.53 and 13.6% were obtained for the woodstove. The golden wattle wood smoke showed a much higher ionic content than the emissions from the other wood types. Trace elements represented 0.4 to 2.5% and 0.2 to 2.2% of the PM2.5 mass emitted, respectively, from the ﬁreplace and the woodstove, which corresponded to average total emissions of 132± 77.3 mg kg−1 and 93.4± 60.8 mg kg−1 of wood burned. Among these, K, Pb, Al, Mn and Sr were present in all samples. From the emission proﬁles of the individual experiments, composite wood combustion proﬁles are suggested with the aid of a cluster analysis.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: Biomass burning; Fireplace; metals; OC/EC; PM2.5; Water-soluble ions; Woodstove

Forest vegetation on sacred sites of the Tangier Peninsula (NW Morocco) - discussed in a SW-Mediterranean context - Frosch, Birgit; Deil, Ulrich; Freiburg (Phytocoenologia, 2011)
Forest stands on sacred sites can document climax or preclimax vegetation. However, little is known about the potential climax character of sacred sites in Morocco. We studied the vegetation of Muslim sacred sites and graveyards in rural regions of the Tangier Peninsula in Northwest Morocco. Sacred sites were chosen according to a pre-stratified random sampling method, taking climatic and edaphic patterns into account. In tree stands of 68 sacred sites 140 phytosociological relevés were sampled and classified. In an attempt to evaluate their degree of preservation, the best preserved holy forests were compared with reference data of similar forest communities, recorded mainly on non-sacred sites in southern Spain and Portugal, and northern Morocco and Algeria. The forested vegetation of sacred sites shows a great variety. Abiotic factors, such as substrate and bioclimate, and human interventions (grazing, fire, a.o.) were found to be important differentiating factors. Besides well-conserved forests, a broad spectrum of degradation stages was documented. Most stands still shelter the original tree species combination, but vertical structure and floristic composition of the herb layer are strongly modified. Processes related to anthropo-zoogenic pressure, like therophytization, ruderalisation and overaging of the tree layer occur despite religious taboos. Near-natural holy forests belong to various subtypes of the Teucrio baetici-Quercetum suberis and the Rusco hypophylli-Quercetum cocciferae. In comparison to forests on non-sacred sites, these holy forests are very well preserved, as is indicated by the presence of strict forest species of the Quercetalia ilicis and the Querco-Oleion sylvestris, by transgressives of the Quercetalia pubescentis, and by a high constancy and abundance of ombro- and mesophilous taxa. Moreover, the comparison of phytosociological data from Morocco and Spain indicated an Ibero-Mauretanian distribution of several Quercus suber communities. In conclusion, sacred groves often seem to represent the potential natural vegetation. Exceptions are sacred groves with Wild Olive, which occur in an ecoregion where a thermomediterranean Quercus suber forest is considered to be the climax.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: pub-location: Stuttgart publisher: Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung
Keywords: climax; degradation; Evergreen mediterranean forest; holy forest; maghreb; marabout; quercetea ilicis; sacred grove

Forty-four years of land use changes in a Sardinian cork oak agro-silvopastoral system: a qualitative analysis - Sedda, Luigi; Delogu, Giuseppe; Dettori, Sandro (The Open Forest Science Journal, 2011)
The island of Sardinia is the biggest producer of natural cork in Italy. In this study, cork oak cover change is investigated in a typical agro-silvopastoral system where the main activities are cereal fodder and wheat cultivation, sheep rearing and cork exploitation. The research method is based on the comparison of two land use maps produced by photo-interpretation of digitised aerial photographs taken in 1954 and 1998, combined with interviews with local farmers, field surveys, and data collected from literature, administrative documentation and decadal censuses (at council level). The results show that the cork oak woodland surface decreased (-29%). It was substituted by other forest, ploughed land, and mixed grassland and shrubland. Apart from the transformation of the cork oak woodland to other forest, other changes have happened probably because of an increase in agricultural and pastoral activities as described by the documental material available for the same area
Keywords: aerial photography classification; agro-forestry; Cork oak; forest cover; land use; multi-temporal analysis; Sardinia

Fungal fruitbodies and soil macrofauna as indicators of land use practices on soil biodiversity in Montado - Azul, Anabela Marisa; Mendes, Sara Margarida; Sousa, José Paulo; Freitas, Helena (Agroforestry Systems, 2011)
The impacts of land use on soil biodiversity are still poorly understood, although soil fungi and macrofauna are recognized to provide beneÞts to ecosystems. Here, we tested whether land use practices used to control shrub density inßuences the fruiting macromycetes (ectomycorrhizal-forming fungiÑ ECMFÑand saprobes) and soil macrofauna diversity and abundance in Montado ecosystems. To address this inßuence, we conducted a 2-yearsÕ period monitoring of fungi fruitbodies and macrofauna in sixteen experimental plots in Montado landscape in southern Portugal. A total of 4,881 frutibodies (57 taxa of ECMF and 64 taxa of saprobic fungi) and 3,667 soil invertebrates (73 species and morphospecies) were monitored in the experimental plots. There was greater losses in sporocarps production and taxa composition, particularly the ECMF, in plots where shrub density was controlled by permanent grazing (Ca) or involving cutting practices followed by soil tillage (M), in comparison with cutting practices with no soil tillage (Cu) and the control (C). The ECMFLaccaria laccata and Xerocomus subtomentosus exhibited a close relation with C and Cu plots while the saprobes, e.g., Entoloma conferendum, were associated to Ca and M plots. Most species associated to Cu plots were present in C plots during the 2 years, but not in Cu after the cutting practices (in the second year of sampling). Regarding soil macrofauna, higher values of taxa and species richness were observed in C and Cu plots in the Þrst year of sampling. The ant species Aphaenogaster senilis and several Staphylinid morphospecies exhibited a close relation with M plots, whilst most spider families were directly associated to C and Cu plots. After the shrub cutting practices, higher values of taxa and species richness of soil macrofauna were observed in M and Ca plots; the presence of species with a high competitive ability to colonize disturbed areas faster might explain the results. Contrary to the frutibodies production and diversity, species richness and abundance within soil macrofauna were identical between Cu and C in 2004. Thus, fruiting macromycetes and soil macrofauna diversity and abundance in MontadoÕs, appear highly sensitive to land use and somewhat reßected a trend of severity to the current shrub management practices.
Keywords: Ecosystems monitoring; Fungal fruit-body; fungal fruit-body á soil; land use; macrofauna á; montado; Quercus suber L.; soil macrofauna

Genetic divergence in Cork Oak based on cpDNA sequence data - Costa, Joana; Miguel, Célia; Almeida, Helena; Oliveira, Margarida M.; Matos, José a; Simões, Fernanda; Veloso, Manuela; Ricardo, Pinto C.; Paulo, Octávio S.; Batista, Dora (BMC Proceedings, 2011)
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: periodical: BMC Proceedings issue: Suppl 7
Keywords: Cork oak; cpDNA (voyant); genetic diversity; Populations

GENETIC STABILITY EVALUATION OF QUERCUS SUBER L . SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS BY RAPD ANALYSIS - Fernandes, Pedro; Costa, Armando; Rocha, Cristina; Santos, Conceição; Al, E. T. (Pakistan Journal of Botany, 2011)
A reliable protocol for adult Quercus suber L. somatic embryogenesis (SE) was developed recently. To evaluate the potential use of this protocol in cork oak forest breeding programs, it is essential to guarantee somatic embryos/emblings genetic stability. Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) is currently used to assess somaclonal variation providing information on genetic variability of the micropropagation process. In this work, SE was induced from adult trees by growing leaf explants on MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D and zeatin. Embling conversion took place on MS medium without growth regulators. DNA from donor tree, somatic embryos and emblings was used to assess genetic variability by RAPD fingerprinting. Fourteen primers produced 165 genetic loci with high quality and reproducibility. Despite somatic embryos originated some poor quality PCR-profiles, replicable and excellent fingerprints were obtained for both donor plant and embling. Results presented no differences among regenerated emblings and donor plant. Hence, the SE protocol used did not induce, up to moment, any genetic variability, confirming data previously obtained with other molecular/genetic techniques, supporting that this protocol may be used to provide true-to-type plants from important forestry species.
Keywords: genetic stability; Quercus suber (voyant); RAPD; Somatic embryogenesis

Geoffroy's bat, Myotis emarginatus, preys preferentially on spiders in multistratified dense habitats: a study of foraging bats in the Mediterranean - GOITI, U.; AIHARTZA, J.; GUIU, M. (Folia Zoologica, 2011)
In a Geoffroy’s bat Myotis emarginatus colony in central Iberia, we investigated the foraging behaviour of six lactating females by means of radio-tracking and the diet of 23 individuals by faecal analysis. The bats preferred to forage mainly in pine plantations, riparian woodland, and scrubland, whereas native dehesa (a loose semi-natural oak Quercus rotundifolia and Q. suber woodland) was not exploited as expected. By far the most important prey type for this bat in the Mediterranean were spiders. We conclude that Geoffroy’s bat prefers to forage in multistratified dense habitats, even if these include nonnative plantations. The vertical structuring and especially high cover, along with the combination of both parameters are important for this highly manoeuvrable, clutter-tolerant bat. This is valid even when the vertical component is much reduced as occurs in scrubland, in the first succession steps to woodland creation, and in degraded conditions. Under such circumstances, aerial weaving spiders might be detected and captured when lying in their webs. It is likely that dehesa is too loosely wooded to offer suitable characteristics for orb-weaving aerial spiders to build webs, and thus it may not be as attractive for M. emarginatus as more dense habitats.
Keywords: araneae; chiroptera; Dehesa; foraging; iberia

Geographical cluster and performance: The case of Iberian ham - Diez-Vial, Isabel (Food Policy, 2011)
This research examined whether ﬁrms that concentrate geographically perform better or worse than their more dispersed counterparts. While belonging to a cluster may have positive externalities for proximate ﬁrms, there can also be congestion economies that counterbalance these advantages. Having identiﬁed existing ham-producing establishments in the Iberian ham cluster, a sample of 265 ﬁrms was selected and it was conﬁrmed that as the number of neighbouring ﬁrms increases performance increases. Also, the proximity to larger ﬁrms in the same province beneﬁt smaller ﬁrms. This positive effect that geographical concentration has on performance is explained by access to valuable natural resources, workers, higher demand, knowledge spillovers, and lower transaction costs, which may help managers and policy-makers in their investment decisions, as well as contributing to the dearth of existing research and its contradictory nature.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Keywords: Congestion costs; geographical concentration; Ham producers; Local externalities

Goat systems of Villuercas-Ibores area in SW Spain: Problems and perspectives of traditional farming systems - Gaspar, P.; Escribano, A. J.; Mesías, F. J.; Escribano, M.; Pulido, A. F. (Small Ruminant Research, 2011)
A study of dairy goat systems was carried out in the “Villuercas-Ibores” region, a mountainous area located in the south-west of the Iberian Peninsula (Cáceres, Spain). This territory is characterized by difﬁcult orography and a fairly harsh climate, and has low indices of income and population density. Goat production in the area has contributed notably to its economic and social development historically, but there has been a marked recession in goat-based activities in recent decades, leading to changes in the type and intensity of land use. The purpose of the study is to analyze the main characteristics of the current goat farming systems in a zone in which goat milk production is possible under a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) brand “Ibores Cheese”, and to establish a farm classiﬁcation that will allow groups of holdings with common characteristics to be identiﬁed, so that they can be compared and their performance evaluated. The data were obtained through direct interviews to goat farmers (n = 61) within the geographical area of the PDO “Ibores Cheese”. Speciﬁc information on management was collected, together with data on family characteristics, labour, livestock numbers, land use, installations, continuity, recent changes in farming, and the farmer’s opinions. A principal component analysis (PCA) was used to examine the relationships among the quantitative variables, then a two-step cluster analysis was applied using the factors obtained in the PCA and categorical variables. This resulted in a farm typology of three groups distinguished by their land use, goat breed, and PDO membership. The best management practices and productivity results were obtained by the farms furthest removed from the traditional systems. The ﬁrst group of farms is characterized by small size ﬂocks. Many of these farms do not belong to the PDO and therefore they have chosen breeds that are not allowed by the PDO regulations. Most of them are semi-intensive or intensive farms. The second group consist of extensive farms with large size ﬂocks of goats complemented with sheep farming and, occasionally, with beef cattle or Iberian pig. They have got technically suitable milking rooms, although the availability of other infrastructure is poor. Finally, the third group identiﬁed includes extensive farms whose goat ﬂock size is very similar to that of group 1, but in 70% of the cases they are mixed farms, mainly combining goat with sheep ﬂocks. Most of them are producing milk that is sold to ﬁrms producing PDO cheese. It is the group closest to the traditional farming system and the farms have small ﬂocks of low productivity per goat, raising autochthonous breeds and their crossbreeds.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: Farm typology; goat systems; Management practices; multivariate analysis; PDO “Ibores Cheese”

The herb layer restoration potential of the soil seed bank in an overgrazed oak forest - Chaideftou, Evgenia; Thanos, Costas A.; Bergmeier, Erwin; Kallimanis, Athanasios S.; Dimopoulos, Panayotis (JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH-THESSALONIKI, 2011)
We investigated the potential contribution of the persistent soil seed bank in post-disturbance restoration of the herb layer in a long-term overgrazed, mixed oak forest (NW Greece). We examined the impacts of grazing on plant richness and density in the soil seed bank in regard to the different dispersal and life strategy types of the herb layer taxa. Soil seed bank was qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed and contrasting plant guilds were defined according to life strategy type and dispersal mode. Soil seed bank differences between a) the upper and lower soil layers and b) plant functional guild pairs (ruderals vs. non ruderals, including typical forest taxa, and physically-vs. animal-dispersed plants) were statistically tested in overgrazed and sporadically grazed plots. Moreover, correlations in soil seed bank species dominance between overgrazed and sporadically grazed plots were examined by Spearman's Rank correlation. The majority of seeds were found in the upper (0-5 cm) soil layer. Seed density in the deeper (5-10 cm) soil layer was rather poor and did not differ significantly between overgrazed and sporadically grazed plots. In the upper soil layer, both seed density and plant species richness were significantly lower in the overgrazed plots. Overgrazing reduced both species richness and seed density of non-ruderal species in general and typical forest herbs in particular, while it did not affect ruderal species richness and density. Plant species richness and seed density of animal-dispersed taxa were reduced by overgrazing while physically-dispersed species were not affected; it is therefore concluded that large herds of grazers fenced in relatively small areas cannot act as efficient dispersal vectors of the former species. Our findings suggest that, upon cessation of grazing, the soil seed bank is rather inadequate to restore the herb layer of overgrazed forest sites.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: pub-location: ADMIN BLDG, 6TH FLOOR, THESSALONIKI, GR-540 06, GREECE publisher: ARISTOTLE UNIV THESSALONIKI
Keywords: dispersal mode; Grazing; herb layer restoration; life strategy type; sub Mediterranean forest; Wood pasture

Herbaceous layer development during spring does not deplete soil nitrogen in the Portuguese montado - Otieno, D. O.; Mirzaei, H.; Hussain, M. Z.; Li, Y. L.; Schmidt, M. W. T.; Wartinger, M.; Jung, E.; Ribeiro, N.; Pereira, J. S.; Tenhunen, J. (Journal of Arid Environments, 2011)
Nitrogen (N) content in the soil and in the herbaceous biomass were monitored during spring of 2004e2006 to determine how the herbaceous layer development inﬂuences soil N availability in the montado ecosystem of southern Portugal. Highest (246.6 52.7 g m2 ) and lowest (123.2 89.5 g m2 ) peak biomass occurred in 2006 and 2005 respectively. Total soil N within the top 20 cm soil proﬁle ranged between 0.2 0.1% in February and 0.41 0.2% in May, while available soil N was lowest (5 2 mg g 1 soil) in February but increased three-to-ﬁve fold in March and was >17.5 mg g 1 soil at senescence in May. Signiﬁcant (p < 0.001) increase in total N in the aboveground pool occurred between February and May. There was however, no decay in soil N content. Instead, the herbaceous vegetation enhanced soil N input and N retention in the ecosystem. Most of the herbaceous plants were annuals with large reserves of organic N at senescence, which returned to the soil as detritus. The herbaceous vegetation is a critical component of the montado that contributes to N recharge and cycling within the ecosystem
Keywords: Biomass development of the herbaceous vegetation; Mediterranean ecosystems; pasture; Plant and soil nitrogen pools; Portuguese montado; Root distribution and nutrient uptake; Soil moisture

Historical review of land use changes in Portugal (before and after EU integration in 1986) and their implications for land degradation and conservation, with a focus on Centro and Alentejo regions - Jones, Nádia; de Graaff, Jan; Rodrigo, Isabel; Duarte, Filomena (Applied Geography, 2011)
Changes in land use and production systems are to a large extent responsible for land degradation. In Portugal this process has been triggered mainly by socioeconomic drivers, such as agricultural technology, demography and policy changes. In this article land use changes in Portugal are discussed in terms of their main drivers and impacts, focussing on land degradation and conservation. The discussion includes a brief outline of historical land use changes in Portugal and a more detailed account of the changes in the period after 1986, when Portugal joined the European Union. An assessment of recent (1986e2006) land use changes and their impact was conducted for two selected research areas in the Centro and Alentejo regions. This assessment was based on information from the CORINE Land Cover programme (1985 and 2006) and the National Agricultural Census (1989 and 1999). In the Centro research area the land under forest declined from 52% to only 22% of the area, mainly as a result of forest ﬁres. In the Alentejo research area the major change was the decline of miscellaneous shrub, declining from 23% to 11%, to open forest land, increasing as a result of afforestation measures from 1% to 22%. These land use changes resulted in a signiﬁcant increase of soil loss estimates through RUSLE. In the Centro research area soil losses greater than 10 t ha 1 yr 1 were estimated to occur in 57% of the area in 1990, increasing as a result of land use change to 64% in 2006. In the Alentejo research area this change was from 65% in 1990 to 72% in 2006. The research raises questions regarding land use management, in relation to the Common Agriculture Policy support during the 1986e2006 period. Despite the increase in forest and permanent grassland areas, soil loss rates remain very high in the two research areas.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Keywords: Afforestation; Agri-environmental policy; History; Land degradation; Land-use changes; Portugal

Hydrological and erosive consequences of farmland abandonment in Europe, with special reference to the Mediterranean region – A review - García-Ruiz, José M.; Lana-Renault, Noemí (Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 2011)
Farmland abandonment is a major problem in parts of Europe, particularly in mountain areas and semiarid environments. In such places, farmland abandonment represents a signiﬁcant land use change from cropping to a complex of plant successions. The present study assesses the hydromorphological effects of land abandonment in Europe, and the consequences thereof with respect to water resource availability and soil erosion. The evolution of abandoned ﬁelds depends on (i) the time of abandonment; (ii) climatic conditions in the abandoned area; (iii) particular characteristics of the ﬁelds; (iv) the land management regimen following abandonment; and, (v) the role played by government policy. Throughout most of Europe, vegetation on abandoned farmland has evolved into dense forest or shrub. The expansion of vegetation explains, in part, the perceived decline in water resources, reductions in soil loss and sediment delivery, and the progressive improvement of soil characteristics. Such evolution has resulted in changing stream morphology, featuring narrowing and incision, and a decline in sedimentation level in Mediterranean reservoirs. The abandonment of bench terrace ﬁelds coincided with an increase in the occurrence of small landslides in the steps between terraces, as well as changes in the spatial organization of saturated areas. Plant colonization is slower in semiarid areas, increasing the development of soil crusts that reduce inﬁltration and increase overland ﬂow. Land policies with detailed capability are necessary to remediate the consequences of farmland abandonment in various European environments.
Keywords: Bench terrace ﬁelds; EUROPE; farmland abandonment; Runoff generation; Semiarid areas; soil erosion

Impact of the Mediterranean Urban Environment on Photosynthetic Efficiency of Quercus ilex Leaves - De Nicola, Flavia; Alfani, Anna; D’Ambrosio, Nicola (Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 2011)
Environmental constrains and anthropogenic changes can contribute simultaneously to the limitation of plant performance in Mediterranean urban areas. Photosynthetic efficiency of Quercus ilex L. leaves from the urban area of Naples was evaluated by comparison with leaves from remote site (Vesuvius National Park). The photosynthetic performance of leaves with different age (current year [CY], 1- [1Y] and 2-year old [2Y]) was assessed by measurements of gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and pigment contents. The photosynthetic activity at the urban site was higher than that at the remote site for the CY leaves, while the opposite was observed for the 1Y and 2Y leaves. The growth of Q. ilex trees was mainly sustained by the CY leaves at the urban site, whereas at the remote site the photosynthetic activity was not affected by leaf ageing. In the urban environment, Q. ilex leaves strongly decreased the photosynthetic performance with leaf ageing as highlighted by leaf gas exchanges, although the photochemistry did not show any significant change. The mature leaves of urban site drove the reductive power deriving from the photochemistry more in nonassimilative processes rather than in carbon assimilative ones, avoiding a strong decrease of PSII photochemical efficiency
Keywords: chlorophyll fluorescence; environmental stress; leaf ageing; leaf gas exchange; photosynthetic pigments; urban; urban environmental stress

Impacts of drought at different time scales on forest growth across a wide climatic gradient in north-eastern Spain - Pasho, Edmond; Camarero, J. Julio; de Luis, Martín; Vicente-Serrano, Sergio M. (Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 2011)
We analyzed the impact of drought measured on different time-scales on radial growth of eight tree species during the period 1950–2005 growing across a wide climatic gradient encompassing semiarid Mediterranean woodlands and wet mountain forests in north-eastern Spain. A drought index (standardized precipitation index, SPI) at different time scales (1–48 months) was correlated with chronologies of ring width to determine the signiﬁcant time scale at which drought affected most tree growth. The ﬁndings indicated that the impact of drought on growth varied noticeably among species and sites. Two distinct patterns were clearly observed considering spatial and temporal differences in the response of species to drought. Species growing in xeric sites (Pinus and Quercus species and Juniperus thurifera) showed the highest responses to SPI time-scales of 9–11 months while those located in mesic sites (Abies alba, Pinus sylvestris) did respond more to SPI time scales shorter than 5 months. The SPI-growth correlations were signiﬁcant, although weak, up to 30 months in xeric sites while no consistent association was observed at higher time scales. Important seasonal differences were noticed in the SPI-growth associations. Species growing in xeric areas responded to spring-summer SPI while those distributed in mesic sites responded more to summer SPI. Our ﬁndings should be useful to understand forest responses to climate change, including an increasing frequency of severe droughts, and to adapt appropriate management strategies to mitigate the impact of drought on tree growth.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: Dendrochronology; Drought; Forest growth; Impacts; NE Spain; Standardized precipitation index (SPI)

Increased drought reduces acorn production in Quercus ilex coppices: thinning mitigates this effect but only in the short term - Sánchez-Humanes, Belén; Espelta, Josep Maria (Forestry, 2011)
In order to explore the effects of climate change on Mediterranean regenerating forests, we experimentally assessed the effects of increased drought on the reproductive attributes of Quercus ilex over a 4-year period (2005–2008). We also investigated whether traditional thinning (selection of one to a few stems per stump) could mitigate the consequences of increased drought in oak coppices. Increased drought reduced the number of reproductive trees, mean number of female flowers produced and acorn crop size, although most of these effects appeared only in the last 2 years of the experiment. In a different way, thinning enhanced all reproductive attributes, but its main effects were transient and covered only 1 or 2 years after the application of the treatments. Our results indicate that a moderate reduction in rainfall (15 per cent) reduces the reproductive ability of Q. ilex. This may have long-term negative consequences for recruitment as well as for the fauna feeding on acorns. Although traditional thinning may mitigate the consequences of increased drought, it has a remarkably short-term effect. This highlights the need to re-examine traditional forestry practices as potential adaptive strategies for coping with climate change in Mediterranean regenerating forests.
10.1093/forestry/cpq04510.1093/forestry/cpq045
Keywords: acorn production; Drought; Mediterranean forest (voyant); Quercus ilex; thinning

Influence of habitat fragments on bird assemblages in Cork Oak woodlands - Leal, Ana I.; Martins, Ricardo C.; Palmeirim, Jorge M.; Granadeiro, José P. (Bird Study, 2011)
Capsule Fragments of olive groves and riparian galleries have a positive influence on bird assemblages in Cork Oak woodlands. Aims Assess the impact of fragments of olive groves and riparian vegetation on the birds of the matrix of Cork Oak woodland. Methods Bird point counts at increasing distances (0, 50, 150, 250 and 350 m) from 15 olive groves and 13 sectors of riparian vegetation embedded in a matrix of Cork Oak woodland to determine species assemblages and species abundance. Results A total of 72 bird species were recorded during the spring, and 61 in winter. The diversity of the bird assemblages of the Cork Oak matrix was somewhat greater near fragments. The density of six out of the 17 most abundant bird species varied due to the presence of olive groves or riparian vegetation. Of those, five were more abundant near the fragments and only one was less abundant. These effects could be mostly predicted from the species' density in the fragments of olive groves and riparian vegetation and depended on the season. Conclusions In Mediterranean landscapes dominated by Cork Oak woodlands, the maintenance of the existing networks of olive grove fragments and riparian galleries has a positive effect on the bird assemblages of the woodland matrix. The increase in abundance of birds near olive groves and riparian galleries is probably due to the additional fruit resources provided by the fragments, especially in winter. We conclude that active maintenance of the existing fragments should be included in the management of this valuable agricultural?silvicultural?pastoral system.
doi: 10.1080/00063657.2011.576235doi: 10.1080/00063657.2011.576235The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Taylor & Francis
Keywords: cork oak woodlands; fragments; matrix (voyant); riparian galleries; Species composition

Instantaneous and historical temperature effects on α -pinene emissions in Pinus halepensis and Quercus ilex - Blanch, Josep-salvador; Llusia, Joan; Niinemets, Ülo; Noe, Steffen M.; Penuelas, Josep (Journal of Environmental Biology, 2011)
We compared the role of instantaneous temperature and temperature history in the determination of α-pinene emissions in Mediterranean conifer Pinus halepensis that stores monoterpenes in resin ducts, and in Mediterranean broad-leaved evergreen Quercus ilex that lacks such specialized storage structures. In both species, α-pinene emission rates (E) exhibited a significant exponential correlation with leaf temperature and the rates of photosynthetic electron transport (JCO 2 +O 2 ) started to decrease after an optimum at approximately 35 o C. However, there was a higher dependence of E on mean temperature of previous days than on mean temperature of current day for P. halepensis but not for Q. ilex. JCO 2 +O 2 showed a maximum relationship to mean temperature of previous 3 and 5 days for P. halepensis and Q. ilex respectively. We conclude that although the best correlation of emission rates were found for instantaneous foliar temperatures, the effect of accumulated previous temperature conditions should also be considered in models of monoterpene emission, especially for terpene storing species.
Keywords: acclimation; emission model; Pinus halepensis; previous climate effects; Quercus ilex

Integration of ground and satellite data to model Mediterranean forest processes - Chiesi, M.; Fibbi, L.; Genesio, L.; Gioli, B.; Magno, R.; Maselli, F.; Moriondo, M.; Vaccari, F. P. (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED EARTH OBSERVATION AND GEOINFORMATION, 2011)
The current work presents the testing of a modeling strategy that has been recently developed to simulate the gross and net carbon fluxes of Mediterranean forest ecosystems. The strategy is based on the use of a NDVI-driven parametric model, C-Fix, and of a biogeochemical model, BIOME-BGC, whose outputs are combined to simulate the behavior of forest ecosystems at different development stages. The performances of the modeling strategy are evaluated in three Italian study sites (San Rossore, Lecceto and Pianosa), where carbon fluxes are being measured through the eddy correlation technique. These sites are characterized by variable Mediterranean climates and are covered by different types of forest vegetation (pine wood, Holm oak forest and Macchia, respectively). The results of the tests indicate that the modeling strategy is generally capable of reproducing monthly GPP and NEE patterns in all three study sites. The highest accuracy is obtained in the most mature, homogenous pine wood of San Rossore, while the worst results are found in the Lecceto forest, where there are the most heterogeneous terrain, soil and vegetation conditions. The main error sources are identified in the inaccurate definition of the model inputs, particularly those regulating the site water budgets, which exert a strong control on forest productivity during the Mediterranean summer dry season. In general, the incorporation of NDVI-derived fAPAR estimates corrects for most of these errors and renders the forest flux simulations more stable and accurate. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: pub-location: PO BOX 211, 1000 AE AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
Keywords: BIOME-BGC; C-Fix; ET; GPP; mediterranean forest; NEE

International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation Integration of ground and satellite data to model Mediterranean forest processes - Chiesi, M.; Fibbi, L.; Genesio, L.; Gioli, B.; Magno, R.; Maselli, F.; Moriondo, M.; Vaccari, F. P. (International Journal of Applied Earth Observations and Geoinformation, 2011)
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: mediterranean forest

Intraspecific variability of Pisolithus spp. as a response to changes in soil characteristics in a Moroccan cork oak plantation - Bakkali Yakhlef, Salah Eddine; Abourouh, Mohamed; Ducousso, Marc; Duponnois, Robin; Delaruelle, Christine; Mousain, Daniel (Mycology, 2011)
Soil characteristics may be an important factor in structuring fungal communities. We relate the above- and below-ground distribution of the ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) Pisolithus spp. to changes in soil chemistry in a Quercus suber plantation located in the Maâmora forest (Morocco). Intrageneric variability of 115 fruit bodies was studied, using morphological characterization, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing. Two Pisolithus spp. genotypes were identified: 97% of the fruit bodies represent Pisolithus arhizus; the remaining 3% correspond to Pisolithus species 4, as previously described by Martin et al. [New Phytologist 153 (2002) 345-357]. Multivariate analysis (PCA) showed that species structure was strongly correlated with soil characteristics. P. arhizus fruit bodies were frequently found in the Eastern part of the plot at low molasic clay, N and P contents, while Pisolithus species 4 were collected only in the Western part at the high molasic clay, N and P contents. To determine whether this change in fruit body structure was expressed at the belowground level, we used morphological and molecular techniques to characterize the Pisolithus ectomycorrhizas. Only ectomycorrhizas of P. arhizus were identified at the low P?N?molasic clay site and disappeared completely at the high P?N?red clay site, where no Pisolithus species 4 mycorrhizas were found. However, autocorrelation among soil parameters makes it difficult to isolate the effects of individual parameters. These results show the local-scale impact of natural spatial heterogeneity on an ectomycorrhizal fungal genus.
doi: 10.1080/21501203.2011.592155doi: 10.1080/21501203.2011.592155The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Taylor & Francis
Keywords: Cork oak; ITS sequencing; Morocco; Pisolithus; soil parameters

Laboratory characterization of firebrands involved in spot fires - Ganteaume, Anne; Guijarro, Mercedes; Jappiot, Marielle; Hernando, Carmen; Lampin-Maillet, Corinne; Pérez-Gorostiaga, Pedro; Vega, José a (Annals of Forest Science, 2011)
& Introduction Wildfires are considered the most important disturbance in the Mediterranean Basin, and some are propagated over long distances due to lift-off and ignition of firebrands. & Objectives To improve our knowledge of firebrands involved in spotting fires, flammability characteristics of eight types of firebrands commonly generated by wildfires in Southern Europe were determined under laboratory conditions. & Results All the firebrands tested showed 100% ignition frequency but with a wide range of time to ignition and flaming duration. Weight loss during combustion was exponentially related to time, and there was a decrease in the ratio of the weight at temperature T to the initial weight with increasing temperatures. In our experimental conditions, there was a significant effect of fuel moisture content on time to ignition, flaming duration, combustion and thermal decomposition. On the basis of the characteristics analysed, three firebrand groups have been identified in relation to spotting: heavy firebrands with ability to sustain flames, efficient for long-distance spotting (pine cones); light firebrands with high surface-to-volume ratio, efficient for short-distance spotting (leaves and thin barks); and light firebrands with low surface-to-volume ratio, efficient for short and, occasionally, long-distance spotting (all the other types of firebands).
Keywords: ember; Fire behaviour; firebrand; flammability parameters; Wildfire

Land use and topography influences on wildfire occurrence in northern Portugal - Carmo, Miguel; Moreira, Francisco; Casimiro, Pedro; Vaz, Pedro (Landscape and Urban Planning, 2011)
Understanding the spatial patterns of wildﬁre ignition and spread has important implications for landscape planning for reducing ﬁre hazard. In this paper we characterise the patterns of wildﬁre occurrence in 3 regions of northern Portugal, using selection ratio functions to evaluate the ﬁre proneness of different land cover and topographic categories. For attaining this objective we characterised 1382 wildﬁres larger than 5 ha, which occurred in the years 1990–1991, according to land cover (10 categories), slope (5 categories) and aspect (5 categories) within which they occurred. For each ﬁre, the use of the different land cover and topographic categories was compared with availability in a surrounding buffer. For land cover, ﬁre proneness was much higher in shrublands, whereas agricultural areas and agro-forestry systems where less likely to burn. In terms of slope, steep slopes were more prone to ﬁre. Differences in land cover in the different slope categories contributed to this result, although there was an overall slope effect on the ﬁre proneness of all land cover types. In terms of aspect, only ﬂat areas were less ﬁre prone. Finally, there were regional variations in land cover susceptibility to ﬁre, but these did not occur for slope or aspect. In terms of landscape planning these results suggest that the more effective fuel breaks should be implemented in areas with agricultural crops in ﬂat slopes
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: Fire risk; Landscape management; Mediterranean; Selection patterns

A landscape analysis of land cover change in the Municipality of Rome (Italy): Spatio-temporal characteristics and ecological implications of land cover transitions from 1954 to 2001 - Frondoni, Raffaella; Mollo, Barbara; Capotorti, Giulia (Landscape and Urban Planning, 2011)
This paper presents a landscape analysis of land cover change in the Municipality of Rome from 1954 to 2001. The overall objective of the analysis is to characterise the temporal and spatial pattern of change and to explore its potential ecological impact. We used three original land cover layers and a set of landscape metrics to describe variations in composition and pattern of land cover types. We then built change trajectories for patches derived from the spatial intersection of land cover data. These trajectories were ecologically assessed using expert judgement and indicators of naturalness such as deviation from potential natural vegetation. The results revealed that approximately 62% of the study area maintained the same land cover type from 1954 to 2001 as a result of composition continuity at the patch level. Urbanisation was by far the most important change process and the main cause of fragmentation of agricultural land and loss of coastal habitats, which imply possible negative effects for biodiversity and ecological processes. However, the star-shaped pattern of urbanisation favoured natural vegetation dynamics, marked persistence of woodlands, and signiﬁcant stability of agricultural land in peripheral areas, with positive effects in terms of ecological connectivity and vegetation recovery potential. Despite the general nature of land cover data, the spatially explicit ecological assessment of transitions provides a reference layer that can effectively address territorial policies towards urban sustainability and that helps stratiﬁcation for areas requiring direct investigation of impacts
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: change trajectory analysis; Spatial pattern; Urbanisation

Landscape vulnerability to wildfires at the forest-agriculture interface: half-century patterns in Spain assessed through the SISPARES monitoring framework - Ortega, M.; Saura, S.; González-Avila, S.; Gómez-Sanz, V.; Elena-Rosselló, R. (Agroforestry Systems, 2011)
Large-scale socioeconomic changes in recent decades have driven shifts in the structure of Spanish rural landscapes, particularly in those located at the forest-agriculture interface (FAI), as well as in their wildﬁre regime. Using data from more than 200 16 km 2 landscape plots in Spain surveyed between 1956 and 2008 through the SISPARES monitoring framework, we assessed the FAI vulnerability to wildﬁres and identiﬁed the main landscape structural factors related to an increased number of wildﬁre events. We found that the most vulnerable landscapes were those with high road density, high diversity of land uses and, most importantly, with ﬁne-grained forest-agriculture mixtures. Ignition frequency was lower in those landscapes where crops and woodlands coexisted but distributed in large and well-separated patches, and much lower where both land uses were combined within an integrated production and management system (‘‘dehesas’’). We discuss the geographical distribution patterns and temporal trends of the different FAI types during recent decades. We conclude that such approach is useful to forecast the mutual interactions between land use pattern changes and wildﬁre regime in the Mediterranean agroforestry mosaics. This would also provide an ecological base for developing a complementary, cost-effective and durable passive strategy of wildﬁre management targeted to modify the inherent FAI susceptibility to ignition events.
Keywords: agroforestry mosaics; landscape dynamics; spatial pattern vulnerability; structural fire risk; wildfire occurrence

Linking seed dispersal to cache protection strategies. - Muñoz, Alberto; Bonal, Raul (Journal of Ecology, 2011)
The spatial distribution of dispersed seeds results from the combined action of the caching strategies followed by different granivores. Hence, it is essential to study the factors that influence seed predation and caching decisions to achieve a better understanding of the dispersal process. In this study, we document how seed dispersal and the spatial patterns of natural recruitment are linked to the strategies used by granivores to protect their cached seeds from pilferage. We present a theoretical model showing that those strategies may convey benefits for both seed cachers and plants. We studied the relationships among seed production, seed predation/caching, cache pilferage and plant recruitment in a savanna-like landscape of oaks dispersed by scatter-hoarding rodents. Our results show that acorn-dispersing rodents were concentrated under the canopies of scattered oaks, where the theft of cached acorns increased by 77% as compared to that of the surrounding open landscape. Acorns were thus cached selectively in the open areas to reduce pilferage; in fact, none of the few seeds cached beneath tree canopies survived predation by granivores (pilferage + recovery). Meanwhile, some acorns cached in the surrounding open areas were neither pilfered nor recovered and then recruited successfully. Accordingly, natural recruitment of newly emerged seedlings was higher outside than under canopies, suggesting that rodent caching strategies have direct implications for the directed dispersal of oaks. Synthesis. The spatial patterns of seed dispersal shape the fitness of both the plant because they influence dispersal and recruitment efficiency, and the granivores that cache and predate its seeds because they influence their foraging efficiency. Cache protection strategies reduce pilferage significantly and enhance seed recovery rates by the cache owner. At the same time, more seeds remain dispersed and unrecovered. Thus, cache protection strategies can provide net benefits to the plant in terms of effective directed dispersal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Keywords: directed dispersal; granivores; plant recruitment; Quercus ilex; savanna-like landscapes; seed caching; seed predation; seedling emergence; small rodents

Litter diversity, fungal decomposers and litter decomposition under simulated stream intermittency - Bruder, Andreas; Chauvet, Eric; Gessner, Mark O. (Functional Ecology, 2011)
1. The drying of stream channels resulting from flow interruption is expected to increase as a consequence of climate change. Implications for aquatic organisms and processes are profound. We assessed whether riparian diversity can partially buffer against consequences of drying on fungal decomposers and leaf litter decomposition, an important ecosystem process. 2. Our central hypothesis was that during dry periods recalcitrant leaf litter with high water-holding capacity would extend the window of opportunity for microbial activity in less recalcitrant litter when both litter types are mixed, and that this would lead to a positive litter diversity effect on decomposition. To test for such interactive effects, we conducted a diversity experiment in a Mediterranean stream, in which alder and oak litter, and a mixture of both, was subjected to various drying regimes differing in intensity and timing. 3. Drying regime affected both fungal decomposers and the decomposition rate of alder litter. Effects were observed both immediately and 3 weeks after stream flow resumed. Small differences in the timing of the dry period influenced both decomposition rate and measures of fungal performance (i.e. biomass and sporulation activity). Litter mixing, in contrast, had no effect on either decomposition or fungal decomposers, although mixing increased moisture retention in alder litter as required for the mechanism hypothesized to lead to a diversity effect. 4. Given the contrasting traits of the litter types used in the experiment, our results imply that riparian tree diversity is unlikely to buffer against increased frequencies of stream flow disruption expected in the face of climate change. It appears, however, that the precise timing of dry periods and high-flow events will strongly influence the extent to which stream food webs can exploit the resources supplied by riparian vegetation in the form of leaf litter.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Keywords: aquatic hyphomycetes; biodiversity and ecosystem functioning; decomposition; Drought; litter diversity; litter traits; stream intermittency

Litter flammability in oak woodlands and shrublands of southeastern France - Curt, Thomas; Schaffhauser, Alice; Borgniet, Laurent; Dumas, Claire; Estève, Roland; Ganteaume, Anne; Jappiot, Marielle; Martin, Willy; N’Diaye, Aminata; Poilvet, Benjamin (Forest Ecology and Management, 2011)
Characterizing the ﬂammability of litter fuels is of major importance for assessing wildland ﬁre ignition hazard. Here we compared the ﬂammability of litter within a mosaic of Quercus suber (cork oak) woodlands and shrublands in a Mediterranean ﬁre-prone area (Maures massif, southeastern France) to test whether the characteristics and the ﬂammability of litter vary with the vegetation types. We tested experimentally the ignitability, the sustainability, the combustibility and the consumability of undisturbed (=non-reconstructed) litter samples with a point-source mode of ignition. Although the frequency of ignition was similar between all the vegetation types, we distinguished four groups having litter of speciﬁc composition and ﬂammability: low and sparse shrublands dominated by Cistus species, medium shrublands with cork oak, high Erica shrublands with sparse cork oak woodlands, and mixed mature oak woodlands with Q. suber, Q. ilex and Q. pubescens. As these vegetation types corresponded to a speciﬁc range of past ﬁre recurrence, we also tested the effect of the number of ﬁres and the time since the last ﬁre on litter ﬂammability. Litters of plots recurrently burned had low ability to propagate ﬂames and low ﬂame sustainability. We discuss how the recent ﬁre history can modify vegetation and litter ﬂammability, and thus the ﬁre ignition hazard.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: Fire ignition hazard; flammability; litter; Point-source ignition; Quercus suber; Shrubland

Main landscape metrics affecting abundance and diversity of game species in a semi-arid agroecosystem in the Mediterranean region - Belda, A.; Martinez-Perez, J. E.; Peiro, V.; Seva, E.; Argues, J. (SPANISH JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, 2011)
Hunting bags provide important information for conservation measures and wildlife management. This study is to assess relationships between landscape structure and game species. The community parameters (abundance, richness and diversity) and landscape/land use indices have been related, using GIS and statistical analysis, in the South-East of Spain (Marina Baja, Alicante). Game species richness (S) is determined by the presence of fruit groves (p = 0.001, R = 0.714) and landscape shape. The total density of species (TD) is influenced positively by fruit groves (p = 0.001, R = 0.783) and wooded shrublands (p = 0.002, R = 0.911), but is influenced negatively by urban areas (p < 0.001, R = 0.844). Small game communities correlate to irrigated fruit (p = 0.002, R = 0.754) and dry vineyard (p = 0.021, R = 0.839) and also with the diversity landscape index (p = 0.029, R = 0.708). Big game density is positively related to holm oak (p = 0.018, R = 0.812) and dense pine forests (p = 0.001, R = 0.849) and also with the total area landscape index (p = 0.011, R = 0.921). Population control species prefer irrigated fruit (p < 0.001, R = 0.775), fruit groves (p < 0.001, R = 0.857) and irrigated vineyard (p = 0.017, R = 0.833) land uses. Our conclusion is that most game species presents a positive relation with landscape structure, such as fractal dimension and shape index, and traditional agriculture based on irrigated and dry fruit crops.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: pub-location: AUTOPISTA A-6, KM 7 5, MADRID, 28040, SPAIN publisher: SPANISH NATL INST AGRICULTURAL & FOOD RESEARCH & TECHNOLO
Keywords: game community; GIS; hunting bags; Mediterranean agrosystem; semi-arid climate

Mediterranean cork oak savannas require human use to sustain biodiversity and ecosystem services - Bugalho, Miguel N.; Caldeira, Maria C.; Pereira, João S.; Aronson, James; Pausas, Juli G. (Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 2011)
Mediterranean cork oak savannas, which are found only in southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa, are ecosystems of high socioeconomic and conservation value. Characterized by sparse tree cover and a diversity of understory vegetation – ranging from shrub formations to grasslands – that support high levels of biodiversity, these ecosystems require active management and use by humans to ensure their continued existence. The most important product of these savannas is cork, a non-timber forest product that is periodically harvested without requiring tree felling. Market devaluation of, and lower demand for, cork are causing a decline in management, or even abandonment, of southwestern Europe’s cork oak savannas. Subsequent shrub encroachment into the savanna’s grassland components reduces biodiversity and degrades the services provided by these ecosystems. In contrast, poverty-driven overuse is degrading cork oak savannas in northwestern Africa. “Payment for ecosystem services” schemes, such as Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification or Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation and enhancement of carbon stocks (REDD+) programs, could produce novel economic incentives to promote sustainable use and conservation of Mediterranean cork oak savanna ecosystems in both Europe and Africa.
Keywords: Biodiversity conservation; Carbon storage; Cork oak savannas; ecosystem services; Management practices; Quercus suber; Shrub encroachment (voyant)

The Mediterranean evergreen Quercus ilex and the semi-deciduous Cistus albidus differ in their leaf gas exchange regulation and acclimation to repeated drought and re-watering cycles - Galle, Alexander; Florez-Sarasa, Igor; Aououad, Hanan El; Flexas, Jaume (Journal of Experimental Botany, 2011)
Plants may exhibit some degree of acclimation after experiencing drought, but physiological adjustments to consecutive cycles of drought and re-watering (recovery) have scarcely been studied. The Mediterranean evergreen holm oak (Q. ilex) and the semi-deciduous rockrose (C. albidus) showed some degree of acclimation after the first of three drought cycles (S1, S2, and S3). For instance, during S2 and S3 both species retained higher relative leaf water contents than during S1, despite reaching similar leaf water potentials. However, both species showed remarkable differences in their photosynthetic acclimation to repeated drought cycles. Both species decreased photosynthesis to a similar extent during the three cycles (20–40% of control values). However, after S1 and S2, photosynthesis recovered only to 80% of control values in holm oak, due to persistently low stomatal (gs) and mesophyll (gm) conductances to CO2. Moreover, leaf intrinsic water use efficiency (WUE) was kept almost constant in this species during the entire experiment. By contrast, photosynthesis of rockrose recovered almost completely after each drought cycle (90–100% of control values), while the WUE was largely and permanently increased (by 50–150%, depending on the day) after S1. This was due to a regulation which consisted in keeping gs low (recovering to 50–60% of control values after re-watering) while maintaining a high gm (even exceeding control values during re-watering). While the mechanisms to achieve such particular regulation of water and CO2 diffusion in leaves are unknown, it clearly represents a unique acclimation feature of this species after a drought cycle, which allows it a much better performance during successive drought events. Thus, differences in the photosynthetic acclimation to repeated drought cycles can have important consequences on the relative fitness of different Mediterranean species or growth forms within the frame of climate change scenarios.
10.1093/jxb/err23310.1093/jxb/err233
Keywords: acclimation; drought–recovery cycles; mesophyll and stomatal conductance; osmotic adjustment; photosynthetic limitation analysis; water use efﬁciency

Microbial dynamics in Mediterranean Moder humus - Andreetta, Anna; Macci, Cristina; Ceccherini, Maria Teresa; Cecchini, Guia; Masciandaro, Graziana; Pietramellara, Giacomo; Carnicelli, Stefano (Biology and Fertility of Soils, 2011)
There is a growing interest in the links between humus forms and soil biota, and little is known about these links in Mediterranean ecosystems. Culture-independent techniques, such as DNA extraction followed by DGGE and enzyme activities, allowed us to compare microbial communities in two horizons of a forest soil in different seasonal conditions. Direct in situ lysis was applied for extraction of DNA from soil; intracellular DNAwas separated from extracellular and used to represent the composition of microflora. The aims were to describe how biochemical and microbiological parameters correlate with topsoil properties in typical Mediterranean Moder humus. Changes in bacterial and fungal community composition were evident from DGGE profiles. Degrees of similarity and clustering correlation coefficients showed that the seasonal conditions may affect the composition and activity of bacterial and fungal communities in the OH horizon, while in the E horizon the two communities were hardly modified. In the same season, OH and E horizons showed a different composition of bacterial and fungal communities and different enzyme activities, suggesting similar behaviour of eubacteria and fungi relatively to all the variables analysed. Evidently, different organic carbon content in soil horizons influenced microflora composition and microbial activities involved in the P and N cycles.
Keywords: activities; dgge; enzyme; humus; mediterranean forest soils; soil microbial communities

Modelling phytoclimatic versatility as a large scale indicator of adaptive capacity to climate change in forest ecosystems - García-López, Javier M.; Allué, Carmen (Ecological Modelling, 2011)
CLIMPAIR is a new phytoclimatic model, correlative and niche-based, which simultaneously assesses non-linear, non-statistical and dual measurements of proximity/potentiality of a site with respect to a number of climatic ranges of species, deﬁned by convex hulls, within a suitability space. This set of phytoclimatic distances makes it possible to evaluate the degree to which each species is suitable for that site. Considering not only the number of species compatible (expected species richness), but also all those compatible covers presenting a high level of suitability evenness and ﬁnally applying an indicator derived from Shannon’s classic entropy index to the set of standardized phytoclimatic coordinates in the suitability hyperspace, we can evaluate the phytoclimatic entropy which may be considered as a means of estimating the phytoclimatic versatility of the site. A site with high phytoclimatic entropy would promise versatile future behaviour, characterized by a wide range of possibilities of adaptation to climate change, and hence versatility can be used as an index of resilience and ability of a forest ecosystem to adapt to climate change. The model has been applied to peninsular Spain for 18 forest tree species and 12 climatic variables between the current mean climate (period 1951–1999) and a future climatic scenario (period 2040–2069). The results generally point to a signiﬁcant decrease in the versatility of forest tree formations in the area studied, which is not homogeneous owing to a dual altitudinal/latitudinal decoupling. The decrease in versatility is greater in Mediterranean biogeographical areas than in Euro-Siberian ones, where in some cases it actually increases. In altitudinal terms, areas at elevations of less than 1500 m tend to become less versatile than areas situated at higher elevations, where versatility increases partly as a result of enrichment of alpine conifer forests with broadleaf species.
Keywords: Adaptive capacity; climate change; resilience; suitability; Tree species diversity; Versatility; vulnerability

Morphological and chemical leaf composition of Mediterranean evergreen tree species according to leaf age - Mediavilla, Sonia; Escudero, Alfonso; González-Zurdo, Patricia; García-Ciudad, Antonia (Trees, 2011)
Changes in morphology [leaf dry mass per unit area (LMA), thickness and density] and chemical composition (macronutrients and ﬁbres content) in different age leaves of eight evergreen Mediterranean woody species were investigated. LMA and leaf thickness increased with leaf age increasing. Young tissues possessed higher concentrations of N, P, K, and Mg and lower Ca concentrations on a dry mass basis. However, mineral content was independent of age on leaf area basis (except for Ca content) suggesting that the changes in mineral concentration with leaf ageing are due to dilution in the larger dry mass accumulated in the oldest leaves. Leaf tissue density (LTD) increased during the ﬁrst year of the leaf life. Lignin and hemicellulose concentrations did not vary along leaf life and the cellulose concentration increased with leaf age in most species between the current-year and the one-year old leaves. Our results suggested that physical leaf reinforcement with a higher cellulose concentration and density might be a leaf response to the unfavourable climatic conditions during the ﬁrst winter.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Springer-Verlag
Keywords: Fibre concentration; Leaf age class; Leaf mass per area; leaf thickness; Leaf tissue density; Mineral content

The mountain woodlands of western Crete - plant communities, forest goods, grazing impact and conservation - Bauer, Eva-Maria; Bergmeier, Erwin (Phytocoenologia, 2011)
The aim of this study is to classify and describe plant communities of mountain woodlands in the western half of Crete and to relate their species composition to environmental factors with particular reference to grazing. From a total of 232 original phytosociological relevés we classifi ed eight plant communities (plus several subunits). The plant communities were assigned to associations of the class Quercetea ilicis, herein specifi cally to the alliances Erico-Quercion ilicis, Quercion calliprini and Aceri-Cupression sempervirentis. Correspondence analysis revealed a separation of the chiefl y calcifuge Quercus ilex and Q. pubescens associations with more favourable water supply from the woodlands dominated by Q. coccifera, Acer sempervirens, Cupressus sempervirens and Pinus brutia, growing on hard limestone under drier conditions. Species composition in the latter group of woodlands follows an altitudinal gradient, expressing favourable moisture and, on Plattenkalk, nutrient supply at higher elevations. An ecogram was drawn displaying the relative ecological range of each community along moisture and temperature gradients. Silvopastoral impact was different at species response level, and 'tolerators', 'indicators', and 'avoiders' of grazing may be distinguished. Floristic differentiation related to wood-pasture within given associations was not found, indicating high grazing pressure throughout the stands. In most wood-pastures, especially broadleaved (semi-)evergreen, stands are structurally unbalanced, lack tree rejuvenation and require periods of regeneration from browsing. To allow regeneration and monitoring, we advocate sets of sizable exclosures in different areas and elevations, representing all relevant associations.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: pub-location: Stuttgart publisher: Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung
Keywords: greece; mediterranean forest; quercetea ilicis; Silvopastoralism; sustainable development; wood-pasture

A multi-scale and multi-disciplinary approach to monitor landscape dynamics: a case study in the Catalan pre-Pyrenees (Spain) - Cohen, M.; Varga, D.; Vila, J.; Barrassaud, E. (The Geographical Journal, 2011)
A multi-scale and multi-disciplinary method was tested in the Catalan pre-Pyrenees in order to understand the relationship between landscape change, landscape processes, and ecological and social characteristics of landscapes. The three scales, and their corresponding methods, help us understand the processes of landscape change: on a general scale, a standardisation due to forest spread; on a detailed scale, a fragmentation of non-forest habitats; and on a local scale, the regeneration and scattering of woody species. Major landscape alterations have been observed through remotely sensed data. Closed forest area grew 140% at the expense of non-forest habitats such as pastures (–75%) and cultivated lands (–95%) during the past 50 years. Ecological metrics show a landscape standardisation (SHDI divided by 3) and a fragmentation of farmed landscapes. These changes, following a spatial pattern based on topography, explain the dynamic of the woody species in residual pastures, despite the persistence of cattle grazing as observed during ﬁeld surveys. Yet, the forest, which constitutes the matrix of landscape, is not stable because of competition between species. The landscape change is related to the decline of the population (divided by 4.5 during the past 50 years) and the agricultural activities (number of farms divided by 2 or 3 during the past 20 years), and the favourable mild climate. The sustainable development of this territory should make the objectives of conservation, biodiversity and landscape protection and the preservation of their Mediterranean features compatible, and support agricultural activities that will contribute to this biological diversity and cultural identity
Keywords: integrated methodology; Land abandonment; landscape change; mediterranean mountain landscapes; sustainable development

Multispectral and LiDAR data fusion for fuel type mapping using Support Vector Machine and decision rules - García, Mariano; Riaño, David; Chuvieco, Emilio; Salas, Javier; Danson, F. Mark; García, Mariano; Riaño, David; Chuvieco, Emilio; Salas, Javier; Danson, F. Mark (REMOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT, 2011)
This paper presents a method for mapping fuel types using LiDAR and multispectral data. A two-phase classification method is proposed to discriminate the fuel classes of the Prometheus classification system, which is adapted to the ecological characteristics of the European Mediterranean basin. The first step mapped the main fuel groups, namely grass, shrub and tree, as well as non-fuel classes. This phase was carried out using a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classification combining LiDAR and multispectral data. The overall accuracy of this classification was 92.8% with a kappa coefficient of 0.9. The second phase of the proposed method focused on discriminating additional fuel categories based on vertical information provided by the LiDAR measurements. Decision rules were applied to the output of the SVM classification based on the mean height of LiDAR returns and the vertical distribution of fuels, described by the relative LiDAR point density in different height intervals. The final fuel type classification yielded an overall accuracy of 88.24% with a kappa coefficient of 0.86. Some confusion was observed between fuel types 7 (dense tree cover presenting vertical continuity with understory vegetation) and 5 (trees with less than 30% of shrub cover) in some areas covered by Holm oak, which showed low LiDAR pulses penetration so that the understory vegetation was not correctly sampled. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: pub-location: 360 PARK AVE SOUTH, NEW YORK, NY 10010-1710 USA publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
Keywords: Data fusion; Decision rules; Fuel types; LiDAR; Prometheus Classification System; Support Vector Machine

New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science - Coelho, Ana Cristina; Ebadzad, Ghazal; Cravador, Alfredo (Fifth Meeting of the IUFRO Working Party S07-02-09, Phytophthora Diseases in Forests and Natural Ecosystems, 2011)
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: periodical: Fifth Meeting of the IUFRO Working Party S07-02-09, Phytophthora Diseases in Forests and Natural Ecosystems pub-location: Auckland and Rotorua, New Zealand
Keywords: cdna-aflp; defense-response pathways; oak/oomycete interaction; pathogenesis related proteins; phytophthora cinnamomi; Quercus suber

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) uptake by vegetation controlled by atmospheric concentrations and plant stomatal aperture - Chaparro-Suarez, I. G.; Meixner, F. X.; Kesselmeier, J. (Atmospheric Environment, 2011)
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exchange between the atmosphere and ﬁve European tree species was investigated in the laboratory using a dynamic branch enclosure system (consisting of two cuvettes) and a highly speciﬁc NO2 analyzer. NO2 measurements were performed with a sensitive gas phase chemiluminescence NO detector combined with a NO2 speciﬁc (photolytic) converter, both from Eco-Physics (Switzerland). This highly speciﬁc detection system excluded bias from other nitrogen compounds. Investigations were performed at two light intensities (Photosynthetic Active Radiation, PAR, 450 and 900 mmol m2 s 1 ) and NO2 concentrations between 0 and 5 ppb. Ambient parameters (air temperature and relative humidity) were held constant. The data showed dominant NO2 uptake by the respective tree species under all conditions. The results did not conﬁrm the existence of a compensation point within a 95% conﬁdence level, though we cannot completely exclude emission of NO2 under very low atmospheric concentrations. Induced stomatal stricture, or total closure, by changing light conditions, as well as by application of the plant hormone ABA (Abscisic Acid) caused a corresponding decrease of NO2 uptake. No loss of NO2 to plant surfaces was observed under stomatal closure and species dependent differences in uptake rates could be clearly related to stomatal behavior
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Keywords: Deposition; Gas exchange; Nitrogen dioxide; Stomatal uptake; Vegetation

Nutrient dynamics in litter mixtures of four Mediterranean maquis species decomposing in situ - Maisto, Giulia; De Marco, Anna; Meola, Angela; Sessa, Ludovica; Virzo De Santo, Amalia (Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 2011)
In natural conditions, litters shed from different species become mixed with each other, and decompose together. Most studies deal with decomposition of individual species; few studies investigate the inﬂuence of litter mixing on decomposition and nutrient dynamics; the results are contradictory as positive, negative, or no effect, of litter mixing have been observed. In this study we test the hypothesis: i) that litter mixing in the Mediterranean maquis, a nutrient poor, high diversity ecosystem, produces non-additive effects on nutrient dynamics; ii) that the effects vary with the composition in species of the mixture and with the relative amount of the species component the mixture. Two types of 3-species mixtures were set up; one contained three sclerophylls, Phillyrea angustifolia, Pistacia lentiscus and Quercus ilex; the other contained the ﬁrst two species with the mesophyll Cistus. Litterbags, containing monospeciﬁc litters and even and uneven mixtures, were incubated under natural condition in situ; even mixtures had the 3 species in equal proportion, whereas uneven mixtures had one of the species as dominant (50%) and the other two species in equal proportion (25%:25%). Litterbags were retrieved after 92, 188 and 403 days; litters from the mixtures were separately analyzed for mass loss and content of nitrogen (N), potassium (K), sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn). Results indicate that mixing inﬂuences the dynamics of N, Mn, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu and Zn, but scarcely affects the dynamics of K and Na. The comparison of observed to expected values for changes of nutrients in litterbags indicates the occurrence of non-additive effects of litter mixing on movements of N, Fe, Cu, and Zn to or from the litterbags containing the mixtures. The effects depend on the composition in species of the mixture, whereas the relative amount of the species component the mixture is not relevant.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Keywords: Interactions among litters; Lignin; litter decomposition; Manganese; Non-additive effects of litter mixing

Nutrients and trace elements content of wood decay fungi isolated from oak (Quercus ilex). - Campos, Juan a (Biological trace element research, 2011)
The presence of chemical elements and the differences in their concentration in the fruiting bodies of wood decay fungi may reflect their activity either as saprobes or parasites and the intimate physiological relation with the substrate from which they extract their nutrients. In order to test this hypothesis, we carried out a systematic sampling of eight species of wood decay fungi on oak (Quercus ilex). The data show that the concentration of some elements exhibits a very wide range of values for the species tested, which could mean that the relative content of some elements may provide clues about the nature of the substrate and, moreover, about the nutritional physiology. The comparison between the foliar analysis (FA) and the elemental content of fungi may shed light on the specific physiological behaviour of the species. Potassium is an element accumulated in fungal biomass in higher quantities than in the FA. By contrast, calcium appears in foliar analysis in much higher quantities than in fungal fruiting bodies' biomass. Concerning this element, we have also found profound differences between the two species phylogenetic groups and lifestyle. Of all elements measured, we believe that the relative accumulation of K and Ca may be related to the close connection between fungi and the substrate on which they live and may also explain their physiological role as saprobes or parasites. When the lifestyle and the systematic position of the different species sampled were compared, differences also emerged in the content of Na and Ca.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: accession-num: 21748305
Keywords: Epiphytic fungi; Heavy metals; Nutrients; Nutrition physiology; Saprobe fungi; Trace Elements

O factor de coberto vegetal, para árvores e Arbustos, em modelos de erosão hídrica - Antunes, Carla Rolo; Coutinho, Miguel Azevedo (Revista de Ciências Agrárias, 2011)
The main objective of this work consists on the analyzes of tree and bush canopies behavior, in terms of the rainfall interception process, namely, leave retention, and dripping, and the establishment of a erosion model component to include in to quantify the cover factor (C) of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) for mixed land covered systems with arable crops, in association with trees and bushes. In the experimental work a rainfall simulator was used and the characteristic values for the diameter of the dripping drops and retention of the leaves from characteristic species of the more common mixed land-use systems in Southern of Portugal, particularly with Cork oak (Quercus suber L.), Holm or evergreen oak (Quercus ilex L. ssp. rotundifolia Lam) and Kermes or wild oak (Quercus coccifera L.), were obtained. From the obtained results the kinetic energy for different drop heights was estimated and, consequently, correction factors were calculated to be applied to the factor C.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: scielopt
Keywords: Dripping; erosion models; interception; soil conservation; vegetation cover

Oak trees and soil interactions in Mediterranean forests: a positive feedback model - Aponte, Cristina; García, Luis V.; Pérez-Ramos, Ignacio M.; Gutiérrez, Eduardo; Marañón, Teodoro (Journal of Vegetation Science, 2011)
Questions: What is the spectrum of variability of chemical elements in a Mediterranean forest ecosystem across the different compartments? Do coexisting tree species with different leaf chemical composition and nutrient cycling distinctly modify soil conditions? Could these species-speciﬁc, treegenerated soil changes create a potential positive feedback by affecting longterm species distribution? Location: Mixed oak forests of southern Spain, Los Alcornocales Natural Park. Methods: We sampled and chemically analysed ﬁve different ecosystem components: leaves, leaf fall, litter and superﬁcial (0–25 cm) and sub-superﬁcial (25–50 cm) soil beneath the canopies of evergreen Quercus suber and deciduous Q. canariensis trees. We used multiple co-inertia analysis (MCoA) to conjointly analyse the patterns of variability and covariation of eight macro- and micronutrients determined in each of the sampled ecological materials. We implemented a path analysis to investigate alternative causal models of relationships among the chemical properties of the different ecosystem components. Results: Variability in the concentration of chemical elements was related to the nature of their biogeochemical cycles. However, the rank of element concentration was consistent across ecosystem components. Analysis of coinertia (MCoA) revealed that there was a common underlying multivariate pattern of nutrient enrichment in the ecosystem, which supported the hypothesis of a separation in biogeochemical niches between the two co-existing oak species, with Q. canariensis having richer plant tissues and more fertile soil directly under each tree than Q. suber. The feasibility of a potential tree–soil positive feedback model was the only statistically validated among several alternative (non-feedback) models tested. Conclusions: In the studied Mediterranean forests, oak species distinctly modify soil fertility conditions through different nutrient return pathways. Further investigation is needed to address whether these tree-generated soil changes could affect seedling establishment and ultimately inﬂuence species distribution.
Keywords: Biogeochemical niche; ecological stoichiometry; ecosystem functioning; Foliar analysis; nutrient cycling; Quercus canariensis; Quercus suber; Soil fertility

Observations on natural regeneration in grazed Holm oak stands in the Ogliastra province (Sardinia, Italy) - Bianchi, L.; Calamini, G.; Sioni, S. (Forest@ - Rivista di Selvicoltura ed Ecologia Forestale, 2011)
: Observations on natural regeneration in grazed Holm oak stands in the Ogliastra province (Sardinia, Italy). This paper deals with the effects of grazing pressure in two Holm oak (Quercus ilex) stands in Ogliastra (cen tral-eastern Sardinia, Italy), with particular reference to the interactions with the natural regeneration proces ses. There is a positive interaction (facilitation) between shrubs and seedlings of tree species, as observed in other similar studies carried out by the same authors in other areas of Sardinia. Rubus ulmifolius proved to be the most efficient shrub for the protection and growth of saplings; the other shrub species play a less marked facilitating role. Although the density of shrubs hosting Holm oak seedlings is fairly high, their age and small size confirm that the current grazing pressure is incompatible with any chance of growth of the sa plings and success of the natural regeneration. The conservation of these stands must therefore rely on the rationalisation of human activities through the exploitation of a whole range of resources.
Keywords: 103-112; 2011; 665; 8; accepted; bianchi l; calamini g; citation; dell; Facilitation process; FOREST; Grazing in Forest; Holm oaks stands; http; id; in boschi di leccio; it; jan 13; jul 19; may 26; natural regeneration; ogliastra; online 2011-07-19; osservazioni sulla rinnovazione naturale; php; published online; received; sardegna; show; sioni s; sisef; soggetti a pascolo; url; www

Orchard and riparian habitats enhance ground dwelling beetle diversity in Mediterranean agro-forestry systems - da Silva, Pedro Martins; Aguiar, Carlos a S.; de Faria e Silva, Israel; Serrano, Artur R. M.; Faria e Silva, Israel; Serrano, Artur R. M. (Biodiversity and Conservation, 2011)
The relative contribution of mixed orchard and riparian vegetation patches to local and regional diversity of Mediterranean landscapes dominated by cork-oak woodlands was tested in 2006–2007 using ground, rove and darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Staphylinidae, Tenebrionidae). Mixed orchard and riparian gallery habitats recorded higher values of abundance and species richness for overall beetle species, although most darkling beetle species were associated with the sclerophyllous cork-oak woodlands. Ground and rove beetle community structure changed from the orchard and riparian habitats to samples placed 100 m away into the surrounding cork-oak woodland, i.e., non-cork-oak patches enhanced beta diversity within the landscape mosaic. Analysis of ground beetle traits concerning moisture preferences revealed a higher proportion of hygrophilous species in mixed orchard and riparian gallery habitats while xerophilous species were dominant within the cork-oak woodlands. The results of this study suggested that land-use management promoting the maintenance of habitat heterogeneity enhances biodiversity conservation of important hygrophilous and xerophilous species, and subsequently the sustainable use of Mediterranean agro-forest mosaics.
Keywords: 10; 1007; á land-use intensification á; á moisture traits; article; authorized users; Beta diversity; Coleoptera; coleoptera á beta diversity; contains supplementary material; doi; electronic supplementary material the; Land-use intensiﬁcation; Moisture traits; montado; mosaic á sclerophyllous woodland; online version of this; s10531-010-9987-6; Sclerophyllous woodland; which is available to; ‘‘Montado’’ mosaic

Organic C distribution and N mineralization in soil of oak woodlands with improved pastures - Gómez-Rey, Maria Xesús; Garcês, Ana; Madeira, Manuel (Revista de Ciências Agrárias, 2011)
Cork oak woodlands in Portugal are a multipurpose agroforestry system occurring in areas mostly degraded by former cereal crops and overgrazing. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of scattered cork oak trees (Quercus suber L.) on soil quality, considering two land use systems: unmanaged pastures and improved pastures. Soil samples were collected in a square grid around scattered cork oak trees to evaluate the spatial variability of soil bulk density and chemical properties. In soil samples taken beneath tree canopy and in the open, net N mineralization was evaluated by aerobic incubations. Also, laboratory incubations were carried out to evaluate the effect of roots (tree or/and herbaceous) and water solutions (bulk precipitation, throughfall or stemflow) on net N mineralization.Contents of organic C, total N and extractable P were increased beneath the tree canopy, and gradually decreased with the increase of distance to the tree trunk. Improved pastures established 26 years ago increased organic C (0.76 kg m-2), total N (0.06 kg m-2) and extractable P (2.70 g m-2) amounts in the 0-10 cm soil layer beneath the tree canopy relatively to those of unmanaged pastures. Net N mineralization was significantly greater (about 2 times) in soils beneath the tree canopy than in those of open areas. N mineralization was unaffected by addition of throughfall or stemflow, while a significant reduction resulted from tree roots addition, this effect being stronger for herbaceous plant roots than for tree roots. Maintenance of tree cover combined with permanent improved pastures should be considered to improve soil quality in oak woodlands of Southern Portugal.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: scielopt
Keywords: agroforestry systems; legumes; Mediterranean climate; soil quality.

Ozone stress in woody plants assessed with chlorophyll a fluorescence. A critical reassessment of existing data - Bussotti, Filippo; Desotgiu, Rosanna; Cascio, Chiara; Pollastrini, Martina; Gravano, Elisabetta; Gerosa, Giacomo; Marzuoli, Riccardo; Nali, Cristina; Lorenzini, Giacomo; Salvatori, Elisabetta; Manes, Fausto; Schaub, Marcus; et al. (Environmental and Experimental Botany, 2011)
This paper proposes an overall reassessment of results from ﬂuorescence transient (FT) and modulated ﬂuorescence (MF) analysis on tree species subjected to treatment with ozone. Findings from literature and open-top chamber experiments were used in this review, in order to identify damage mechanisms and repair/avoidance strategies. Main results are summarised below. (i) The most widely used parameter to assess the response to ozone treatment was the quantum yield of primary photochemistry in the dark-adapted state (ϕPo, or FV/FM). This parameter proved to be very stable in stress and control conditions. Ozone-induced stress – and the related loss of photosynthetic efﬁciency and performance – was characterized by the change occurring in all parameters connected with the controlled dissipation: reduction of FM, FV/FM, RC/CS0 (in the ﬂuorescence transient analysis) and NPQ (in theMF analysis). This can be considered as a down-regulationmechanism aimed at lowering the electron supply as a consequence of a reduced demand from the Calvin cycle. (ii) The FT analysis revealed a change in the I–P region shape, indicating that events beyond PSI are affected. These events include a lesser density of PSI itself and the compromised ability of the end acceptors of electrons (ferredoxine, NADP + ) and RuBP to manage effectively the ﬂux of electrons. This behaviour may create an imbalance between electrons sent by the electron transport chain and those reaching the acceptors beyond PSI. Free electrons (those coming from PSI, but that do not reach the end acceptors) can activate the oxygen from fundamental to excited status, with production of ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species), thus inducing photo-oxidation processes of the cellular content. (iii) In many cases a temporarily enhanced efﬁciency of electron trapping and transport (expressed by the parameters FV/FM, ET/TR, PIABS, pQ) in PSII system has been observed. That efﬁciency has been connected to the triggering of repair processes, but when it is connected to a reduced end acceptor capacity in combination with reduced Calvin cycle energy demand lead to over-excitation of the photosynthetic apparatus and initiates response towards visible foliar injury. (iv) The behaviour of F0 can help us distinguish between different response strategies. The increase of F0 observed in some ozone-treated plant species is considered an expression of irreversible damage in PSII, whereas lowered values of this parameter may indicate the activation of PSII in the cells surrounding the damaged one, as part of a compensative process. Future directions for the research in this ﬁeld concern: (i) the possibility to combine ﬂuorescence parameters with carbon assimilation and growth to support the study on critical levels and (ii) the analysis of the events concerning the activity of PSI and the events leading to the ﬁxation of CO2, by using innovative technologies
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: Chlorophyll a fluorescence; OKJIP transient; Open top chambers; Ozone stress; Performance index; Quantum yield efficiency; Reaction centres; Visible foliar symptoms

Phenological responses to extreme droughts in a Mediterranean forest - Misson, Laurent; DEGUELDRE, DAVID; COLLIN, CHRISTIAN; RODRIGUEZ, RAQUEL; ROCHETEAU, ALAIN; OURCIVAL, JEAN-MARC; Rambal, Serge (Global Change Biology, 2011)
Mediterranean regions are projected to experience more frequent, prolonged and severe drought as a consequence of climate change. We used a retractable rainfall shelter, to investigate the impact of extreme droughts on the development of Quercus ilex leaves, flowers and fruit. In 2008, 97% of rainfall was excluded from a forest plot during the autumn, representing 50% of the 1127 mm of rain that fell during the year. In 2009, 87% of rainfall was excluded during the spring, representing 58% of the 749 mm that fell during the year. The rainfall shelter did not impact neither incident radiation nor air temperature. Autumn rainfall exclusion did not significantly affect leaf, flowers or fruit development. Spring rainfall exclusion resulted in larger and more sustained depression of leaf water potential during the key phases of foliar and floral development. Consequently, only half of the sampled trees (6) reached the shoot lengthening stage which leads to functionally mature leaves (phenophase 4), with one abandoning leaf development at budburst (phenophase 3) and the other two at the bud swelling stage (phenophase 2). All trees of the control plot passed phenophase 4, with most reaching complete leaf development. The impact of extreme droughts on flower development differed between the sexes. The spring exclusion had no effect on male flower, but only one of six trees completed female fruit maturation, compared with four in the control plot. The difference between the male and female drought impacts is likely attributable to the occurrence of male floral development before the period of lowest leaf water potential, and to the lower resource allocation requirements of male flowers. The information provided by our experimental approach may constitute a crucial step to evaluate the impact of increasing drought due to climate change on the most dominant Mediterranean tree species and to help drawing a full picture of the ecological consequences of the decline in water resource on forest dynamics under changing conditions.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Keywords: climate changes; Extreme events; flowering; fruiting; leaf-unfolding; rainfall changes

The photochemical reflectance index (PRI) and the remote sensing of leaf, canopy and ecosystem radiation use efficienciesA review and meta-analysis - Garbulsky, Martín F.; Penuelas, Josep; Gamon, John; Inoue, Yoshio; Filella, Iolanda (Remote Sensing of Environment, 2011)
Traditional remote sensing techniques allow the assessment of green plant biomass, and therefore plant photosynthetic capacity. However, detecting how much of this capacity is actually realized is a more challenging goal. Is it possible to remotely assess actual carbon ﬂuxes? Can this be done at leaf, canopy and ecosystem scales and at different temporal scales? Different approaches can be used to answer these questions. Among them, the Photochemical Reﬂectance Index (PRI) derived from narrow-band spectroradiometers is a spectral index increasingly being used as an indicator of photosynthetic efﬁciency. We examined and synthesized the scientiﬁc literature on the relationships between PRI and several ecophysiological variables across a range of plant functional types and ecosystems at the leaf, canopy and ecosystem levels and at the daily and seasonal time scales. Our analysis shows that although the strength of these relationships varied across vegetation types, levels of organization and temporal scales, in most reviewed articles PRI was a good predictor of photosynthetic efﬁciency or related variables with performances at least as good as the widely used NDVI as indicator of green biomass. There are possible confounding factors related to the intensity of the physiological processes linked to the PRI signals, to the structure of the canopies and to the illumination and viewing angles that warrant further studies, and it is expected that the utility of PRI will vary with the ecosystem in question due to contrasting environmental constraints, evolutionary strategies, and radiation use efﬁciency (RUE; the ratio between carbon uptake and light absorbed by vegetation) variability. Clearly, more research comparing ecosystem responses is warranted. Additionally, like any 2-band index that is affected by multiple factors, the interpretation of PRI can be readily confounded by multiple environmental variables, and further work is needed to understand and constrain these effects. Despite these limitations, this review shows an emerging consistency of the RUE–PRI relationship that suggests a surprising degree of functional convergence of biochemical, physiological and structural components affecting leaf, canopy and ecosystem carbon uptake efﬁciencies. PRI accounted for 42%, 59% and 62% of the variability of RUE at the leaf, canopy and ecosystem respective levels in unique exponential relationships for all the vegetation types studied. It seems thus that by complementing the estimations of the fraction of photosynthetically active radiation intercepted by the vegetation (FPAR), estimated with NDVI-like indices, PRI enables improved assessment of carbon ﬂuxes in leaves, canopies and many of the ecosystems of the world from ground, airborne and satellite sensors.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier Inc.
Keywords: ciency; gross primary productivity; index; MODIS; photochemical re fl ectance; photochemical reflectance index; radiation use ef fi; radiation use efficiency

Phytotoxins produced by the oak pathogen Discula quercina - Maddau, L.; Perrone, C.; Andolfi, A.; Spanu, E.; Linaldeddu, B. T.; Evidente, A. (Forest Pathology, 2011)
Two phytotoxic metabolites, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde and indol-3-aldehyde, were isolated and identified by spectroscopic methods from solid cultures of Discula quercina, an endophytic fungal pathogen frequently associated with oak decline in Italy. In addition, the fungus produced an unusual acyclic keto acid as a major metabolite, which was identified by spectroscopic and chemical methods as 5-oxo-6E,8E-octadecadienoic acid. In leaf puncture assays on Quercus suber and Q. ilex leaves, indol-3-aldehyde proved to be more toxic than p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, while 5-oxo-6E,8E-octadecadienoic acid was inactive even at the highest concentration used (1 mg ml−1). Although indol-3-aldehyde is a known microbial metabolite, its phytotoxic activity has hitherto not been reported. This report is the first to describe the production of phytotoxic compounds by D. quercina.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Keywords: Discula quercina (voyant); Oak decline; phytotoxic metabolites

Plant neighbour identity matters to belowground interactions under controlled conditions. - Armas, Cristina; Pugnaire, Francisco Ignacio (PloS one, 2011)
Root competition is an almost ubiquitous feature of plant communities with profound effects on their structure and composition. Far beyond the traditional view that plants interact mainly through resource depletion (exploitation competition), roots are known to be able to interact with their environment using a large variety of mechanisms that may inhibit or enhance access of other roots to the resource or affect plant growth (contest interactions). However, an extensive analysis on how these contest root interactions may affect species interaction abilities is almost lacking.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: accession-num: 22114696
Keywords: biomass; citation; Ecosystem; Environment; Plant Development; Plant Roots; Plant Roots: growth & development; Species Specificity

Predicting the future of forests in the Mediterranean under climate change, with niche- and process-based models: CO2 matters! - KEENAN, Trevor; Maria Serra, JOSEP; Lloret, Francisco; Ninyerola, Miquel; SABATE, Santiago (Global Change Biology, 2011)
Assessing the potential future of current forest stands is a key to design conservation strategies and understanding potential future impacts to ecosystem service supplies. This is particularly true in the Mediterranean basin, where important future climatic changes are expected. Here, we assess and compare two commonly used modeling approaches (niche- and process-based models) to project the future of current stands of three forest species with contrasting distributions, using regionalized climate for continental Spain. Results highlight variability in model ability to estimate current distributions, and the inherent large uncertainty involved in making projections into the future. CO2 fertilization through projected increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations is shown to increase forest productivity in the mechanistic process-based model (despite increased drought stress) by up to three times that of the non-CO2 fertilization scenario by the period 2050–2080, which is in stark contrast to projections of reduced habitat suitability from the niche-based models by the same period. This highlights the importance of introducing aspects of plant biogeochemistry into current niche-based models for a realistic projection of future species distributions. We conclude that the future of current Mediterranean forest stands is highly uncertain and suggest that a new synergy between niche- and process-based models is urgently needed in order to improve our predictive ability.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Keywords: 6 may 2010; april 2010 and accepted; BIOMOD; co 2 fertilization; CO2 fertilization; Drought; gotilwa 1; GOTILWA+; niche-based models; Pinus halepensis; Pinus sylvestris; Quercus ilex; received 19 january 2010; revised version received 27; Species distribution

Protected wading bird species threaten relict centenarian cork oaks in a Mediterranean Biosphere Reserve: A conservation management conflict - García, Luis V.; Ramo, Cristina; Aponte, Cristina; Moreno, Adela; Domínguez, María T.; Gómez-Aparicio, LORENA; Redondo, Ramón; Marañón, Teodoro (Biological Conservation, 2011)
Conservation management conﬂicts frequently arise when an overpopulation of a protected organism has negative effects on other valuable elements in the same ecosystem. We studied the interactions between a colony of protected tree-nesting wading birds and a remnant population of centenarian cork oaks that was part of the formerly dominant forests in the Doñana Biological Reserve (SW Spain). A signiﬁcant increase in the tree mortality rates has been recorded in areas that are yearly inﬂuenced by the bird colony. We analysed a cohort of surviving trees using a gradient of nesting bird inﬂuence. Tree-nesting history, bird isotopic signature (d 15 N), tree health-related parameters (defoliation, d 13 C and leaf surface coverage by faeces) and several soil variables were evaluated. Bird inﬂuence was related to increased soil salinity. This increase correlated to increased water-use efﬁciency for the leaves and to crown defoliation, suggesting that the heavily occupied trees are under higher stress and in poorer health condition than the unoccupied ones. We tested structural equations models (SEM) that were based on hypothesised bird effects on the health of the trees. Soil-mediated effects of the nesting birds best explained the symptoms of the declining health of the trees, whereas the percent of leaves’ surface that was covered by faeces did not improve the ﬁtted SEM model. For the reserve’s managers, a challenging trade-off exists between preserving the relict trees, which have a high genetic diversity and a key ecological role in these savannah-like ecosystems, and maintaining the current nesting area for these protected, but expanding, wading birds.
Keywords: Colonial waterbirds; d13C; d15N; Doñana; Heronry; Indirect effects; Quercus suber; Stable isotopes

Proteomics research on forest trees, the most recalcitrant and orphan plant species. - Abril, Nieves; Gion, Jean-Marc; Kerner, René; Müller-Starck, Gerhard; Cerrillo, Rafael M. Navarro; Plomion, Christophe; Renaut, Jenny; Valledor, Luis; Jorrin-Novo, Jesús V. (Phytochemistry, 2011)
The contribution of proteomics to the knowledge of forest tree (the most recalcitrant and almost forgotten plant species) biology is being reviewed and discussed, based on the author's own research work and papers published up to November 2010. This review is organized in four introductory sections starting with the definition of forest trees (1), the description of the environmental and economic importance (2) and its derived current priorities and research lines for breeding and conservation (3) including forest tree genomics (4). These precede the main body of this review: a general overview to proteomics (5) for introducing the forest tree proteomics section (6). Proteomics, defined as scientific discipline or experimental approach, it will be discussed both from a conceptual and methodological point of view, commenting on realities, challenges and limitations. Proteomics research in woody plants is limited to a reduced number of genera, including Pinus, Picea, Populus, Eucalyptus, and Fagus, mainly using first-generation approaches, e.g., those based on two-dimensional electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry. This area joins the own limitations of the technique and the difficulty and recalcitrance of the plant species as an experimental system. Furthermore, it contributes to a deeper knowledge of some biological processes, namely growth, development, organogenesis, and responses to stresses, as it is also used in the characterization and cataloguing of natural populations and biodiversity (proteotyping) and in assisting breeding programmes.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier Ltd accession-num: 21353265
Keywords: Forest tree proteomics; forest trees; Plant proteomics; Woody plants

Purification and Characterization of a Magnesium Ion Requiring N-Acetyl-D-glucosamine Specific Lectin from Seeds of Quercus ilex L. - Devi, Sanjenbam Kunjeshwori; Singh, Senjam Sunil; Singh, Sorokhaibam Jibankumar; Rully, Huidrom; Singh, Laishram Rupachandra (BIOSCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY, 2011)
A new magnesium ion requiring N-acetyl-D-glucosamine specific lectin QIL was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from seeds of Quercus ilex L. through successive steps of (i) lectin extraction, (ii) ammonium sulphate (30-50%) fractionation, (iii) diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-cellulose chromatography, (iv) carboxymethyl (CM)-cellulose chromatography, and (v) Sephadex G-75 chromatography. The lectin, having specific activity of 25,600 hemagglutination units (HAU)/mg of protein, was found to be a monomeric protein with a native molecular weight of 13.2 kDa. N-Acetyl-D-glucosamine was found to exhibit most potent inhibitory action on the lectin activity among all the sugars tested. The lectin was also found to exhibit specificity for human blood groups A, B, and AB. It was converted to the corresponding apo-lectin by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) treatment followed by buffer dialysis. The apo-lectin exhibited a specific and characteristic requirement for magnesium ions for the expression of its activity.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: pub-location: JAPAN ACAD SOC CTR BLDG, 2-4-6 YAYOI BUNKYO-KU, TOKYO, 113-0032, JAPAN publisher: JAPAN SOC BIOSCI BIOTECHN AGROCHEM
Keywords: lectin; magnesium ion requiring lectin; N-acetyl-D-glucosamine specific lectin; Quercus ilex L.

Quercus calliprinos regrowth advantage under grazing in Mediterranean maquis and its management implications - Agra, Har’el; Ne’eman, Gidi (Forest Ecology and Management, 2011)
The post disturbance natural succession of the Mediterranean maquis, which turns open and species-rich landscapes into dense, closed stands of sclerophyllous woody vegetation is a principal threat to plant and animal diversity. Therefore, in the absence of traditional agricultural disturbance, active management regimes that include cutting and grazing are proposed to preserve biodiversity. The Mediterranean woody vegetation in Israel is strongly dominated by one species – the evergreen sclerophyllous Quercus calliprinos (Kermes oak). We hypothesized that under cutting and grazing, the evergreen Q. calliprinos has a relative regrowth advantage over other competing tree species. Here we examined the effect of grazing and the effect of tree structural traits on the regrowth after clear cutting of all trees in our study plots at Mt. Meron LTER site, Israel. All trees were removed from ﬁve blocks of 2000 m2 and each block was divided into two plots, ﬁve of which were exposed to grazing livestock while ﬁve were wire-fenced and ungrazed. The regrowth rate of Q. calliprinos under grazing was higher than that of all other tree species suggesting that in the long-term, under such a conservation management regime, the dominance of the evergreen sclerophyllous Q. calliprinos over the deciduous tree species will increase and consequently will decrease plant and animal diversity. Therefore, we conclude that to protect landscape and species diversity in Mediterranean ecosystems dominated by evergreen oaks, when cutting and grazing are applied, special care must be paid to trees that are more negatively affected by such treatment.
Keywords: Deciduous trees; diversity; Evergreen trees; Grazing; Regrowth; Sclerophyllous vegetation

Rapid characterization of dry cured ham produced following different PDOs by proton transfer reaction time of flight mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS). - Del Pulgar, José Sánchez; Soukoulis, Christos; Biasioli, Franco; Cappellin, Luca; García, Carmen; Gasperi, Flavia; Granitto, Pablo; Märk, Tilmann D.; Piasentier, Edi; Schuhfried, Erna (Talanta, 2011)
In the present study, the recently developed proton transfer reaction time of flight mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS) technique was used for the rapid characterization of dry cured hams produced according to 4 of the most important Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs): an Iberian one (Dehesa de Extremadura) and three Italian ones (Prosciutto di San Daniele, Prosciutto di Parma and Prosciutto Toscano). In total, the headspace composition and respective concentration for nine Spanish and 37 Italian dry cured ham samples were analyzed by direct injection without any pre-treatment or pre-concentration. Firstly, we show that the rapid PTR-ToF-MS fingerprinting in conjunction with chemometrics (Principal Components Analysis) indicates a good separation of the dry cured ham samples according to their production process and that it is possible to set up, using data mining methods, classification models with a high success rate in cross validation. Secondly, we exploited the higher mass resolution of the new PTR-ToF-MS, as compared with standard quadrupole based versions, for the identification of the exact sum formula of the mass spectrometric peaks providing analytical information on the observed differences. The work indicates that PTR-ToF-MS can be used as a rapid method for the identification of differences among dry cured hams produced following the indications of different PDOs and that it provides information on some of the major volatile compounds and their link with the implemented manufacturing practices such as rearing system, salting and curing process, manufacturing practices that seem to strongly affect the final volatile organic profile and thus the perceived quality of dry cured ham.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: accession-num: 21645714
Keywords: Animals; Data Mining; Dry cured ham; Flavour compounds; Food Handling; Food Handling: methods; Italy; Mass spectrometry; Mass Spectrometry: methods; Meat Products; Meat Products: analysis; PDO; PTR-MS; PTR-ToF-MS; Spain; Swine; volatile compounds; Volatile Organic Compounds

Relationships between the stereochemistry and biological activity of fungal phytotoxins - Evidente, Antonio; Andolfi, Anna; Cimmino, Alessio (Chirality, 2011)
Toxins produced by phytopathogenic fungi assume great importance because of their involvement in several plant diseases. Although such pathogens are known to have seriously damaged crops, forest, and environmental resources, they represent a very important tool to develop new environmentally friendly herbicides and fungicides. This review deals with the relationships between the biological activity of some phytotoxins produced by pathogenic fungi for major forest plants and for damaging weeds and their stereochemistry. In particular, the methods used to determine their relative and/or absolute configuration will be illustrated. These include the application of Mosher's and Murata's methods, X-ray diffractometric analysis, circular dichroism, and the use of computational methods to determine the theoretical optical rotatory power as well as the CD spectrum. The importance of determining the absolute configuration to achieve the total synthesis of some phytotoxins, interesting for their potential practical application, is also discussed. Chirality, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company
Keywords: Phytopathogenic fungi; Phytotoxins; relative and/or absolute configuration; structure–activity relationships

Response of Holm oak (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota) and mastic shrub (Pistacia lentiscus L.) seedlings to high concentrations of Cd and Tl in the rhizosphere. - Domínguez, María T.; Marañón, Teodoro; Murillo, José Manuel; Redondo-Gómez, Susana (Chemosphere, 2011)
The impairment of root growth and photosynthetical functioning are the main impacts of trace elements on woody plant seedlings. In this work, we assessed the response of Holm oak (Quercusilex subsp. ballota) and mastic shrub (Pistacia lentiscus) seedlings to high concentrations of Cd and Tl in the rhizosphere. These are non-essential trace elements, with a potential high mobility in the soil-plant system. Seedlings of these species are frequently used in the afforestation of degraded soils in mining areas. Plants were exposed to different levels of Cd (20, 80 and 200 mg L(-1)) and Tl (2, 10 and 20 mg L(-1)) in a sand culture. Biomass allocation, growth rates, chlorophyll fluorescence and gas exchange were studied. Both metals affected root biomass. Cadmium produced an increase in the root mass ratio and a decrease in the specific leaf area of the plants in oak seedlings, while Tl did not provoke such response. Mastic plants were more sensitive to Tl and Cd than oak plants. Between elements, Tl provoked more severe toxic effects in the plants, affecting the antennae complexes and reaction centers of the photosystem II. Both elements decreased net assimilation rates (down to a 20% of the control plants) and stomatal conductance (5-10% of the values for the control plants). Cadmium was highly retained in the roots of both species, while Tl was highly translocated into the leaves. In general, Holm oak showed a higher tolerance for Cd than for Tl, and a higher resistance to both metals than mastic shrub, due to a high capacity for Cd retention at the root level. However, such accumulation in roots may induce water stress in the seedling exposed to Cd.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: accession-num: 21281955
Keywords: Cadmium Thallium Woody plants Phytostabilization C

Responses of evergreen and deciduous Quercus species to enhanced ozone levels. - Calatayud, Vicent; Cerveró, Júlia; Calvo, Esperanza; García-Breijo, Francisco-José; Reig-Armiñana, José; Sanz, María José (Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987), 2011)
Plants of one evergreen oak (Quercus ilex) and three deciduous oaks (Q. faginea, with small leaves; Q. pyrenaica and Q. robur, with large leaves) were exposed both to filtered air and to enhanced ozone levels in Open-Top Chambers. Q. faginea and Q. pyrenaica were studied for the first time. Based on visible injury, gas exchange, chlorophyll content and biomass responses, Q. pyrenaica was the most sensitive species, and Q. ilex was the most tolerant, followed by Q. faginea. Functional leaf traits of the species were related to differences in sensitivity, while accumulated ozone flux via stomata (POD1.6) partly contributed to the observed differences. For risk assessment of Mediterranean vegetation, the diversity of responses detected in this study should be taken into account, applying appropriate critical levels.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier Ltd accession-num: 20974507
Keywords: Anatomy; Critical levels; Functional leaf traits; Ozone; photosynthesis; Stomatal conductance

Scaling-up leaf monoterpene emissions from a water limited Quercus ilex woodland - a. V. Lavoir; Duffet, C.; Mouillot, F.; Rambal, S.; Ratte, J. P.; Schnitzler, J. P.; Staudt, M. (Atmospheric Environment, 2011)
Mediterranean ecosystems are large emitters of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC), and recent studies illustrate how water stress can decrease these emissions even during hot summer. We present here a spatially explicit modelling experiment of BVOC emissions in a water-limited Mediterranean Region in Southern France dominated by Quercus ilex forests. Emission rates were estimated daily using a leaf-level emission model with appropriate up-scaling procedures. The model was based on Guenther’s empirical equations, where we inserted effects for water limitation and seasonality observed from ﬁeld measurements. Up-scaling from leaves to canopy was performed using Sellers’ theory. For each grid cell, climate variables were interpolated daily from meteorological stations. Incoming solar radiation was measured at one site and extrapolated for the all region based on slope and aspect. Soil properties were derived from pedological maps as well as a digital elevation model, while soil water content was evaluated daily using a bucket-type model. We estimated monoterpene emissions from Q. ilex woodlands to be 16 kt yr 1 (on average), with most emissions occurring in the summer. When including the water-limitation module, yearly emissions were 50% of the initial estimates, with a signiﬁcant decrease in the number of days with BVOC high emission peaks. This result highlights the importance of water control on determining air pollution peaks in Mediterranean areas and the need for scaling procedure in this area with its large range of strong emitter species.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Keywords: Biogenic emissions; Drought; Mediterranean ecosystems; Monoterpene; Volatile organic compounds (BVOC); Water limitation

Scavenging in Mediterranean ecosystems: effect of the invasive Argentine ant - Angulo, Elena; Caut, Stéphane; Cerdá, Xim (Biological Invasions, 2011)
Above-ground invertebrates may represent a high proportion of animal biomass, but few data are available on their fate after death. In Mediterranean ant communities, they are frequently scavenged by ants. Here, we assessed the consequences of Argentine ant invasion on the removal of arthropod corpses in Don˜ana National Park (SW Spain). In three natural habitats that differed in their degree of vegetation cover (i.e. protection for ants against high temperatures), we experimentally provided dead Drosophila, and observed their disappearance over a 60-min period at different times of day and year. The habitats used were isolated cork oak trees, pine tree forest and dry scrubland; we compared invaded with uninvaded plots in each. Oak trees were the most invaded habitat, while scrubland was the least and the only one where the Argentine ant coexisted with native ant species. In accordance with this degree of invasion, the Argentine ant removed the highest percentage of dead ﬂies in oak trees and the lowest in scrubland. Its performance as scavenger was higher than uninvaded ant communities, but it was reduced at high temperatures, when native species were highly efﬁcient. The saturated distribution of the Argentine ant colony seems to be the key to its efﬁciency. We discuss how the occurrence and scavenger efﬁciency of the Argentine ant could affect the nutrient cycling and the progression of its invasion.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Springer Netherlands
Keywords: á; Ant communities; Arthropod corpses; Doñana; Linepithema humile; linepithema humile á don; Temperature; temperature á ant communities

Is selective thinning an adequate practice for adapting Quercus ilex coppices to climate change? - Rodriguez-Calcerrada, Jesus; Pérez-Ramos, Ignacio M.; OURCIVAL, JEAN-MARC; Limousin, Jean-Marc; Joffre, Richard; Rambal, Serge (Annals of Forest Science, 2011)
& Introduction Future climatic scenarios demand an increasing involvement of management for forest preservation, but little is known on how forestry practices will benefit stands in facing variation of climatic components. & Objectives We investigated how selective thinning affected the response of an old Quercus ilex coppice to 6 years of throughfall reduction. Plots thinned from below (≈30% basal area removal) and unthinned plots were subject to either throughfall exclusion (TE; ≈33% throughfall reduction) or normal rainfall. Stem diameter growth, stem survival, and seed and sprout production were measured. & Results TE did not have a significant effect on stem growth but it reduced the production of viable acorns. Also, in the absence of thinning, TE accelerated the mortality of small stems and stimulated the emergence of new sprouts. Thinning reduced stem mortality, enhanced growth of residual stems, and caused a profuse emission of resprouts. Thinning also increased total seed production, but the crop had a large proportion of aborted seeds, especially in those areas subject to TE. & Conclusion The mere elimination of suppressed and diseased stems in abandoned Q. ilex coppice stands helps remaining trees to cope with current and future (probably longer and more intense) droughts. Potentially drier conditions might attenuate the success of thinning in producing a viable seed crop.
Keywords: Drought; forest adaptation strategy; seed production; sprouting; stem growth

A Simple Technique to Estimate the Flammability Index of Moroccan Forest Fuels - Hachmi, M'Hamed; Sesbou, Abdessadek; Benjelloun, Hassan; El Handouz, Nesrine; Bouanane, Fadoua (Journal of Combustion, 2011)
A formula to estimate forest fuel flammability index (FI) is proposed, integrating three species flammability parameters: time to ignition, time of combustion, and flame height. Thirty-one (31)Moroccan tree and shrub species were tested within a wide range of fuel moisture contents. Six species flammability classes were identified. An ANOVA of the FI-values was performed and analyzed using four different sample sizes of 12, 24, 36, and 50 flammability tests. Fuel humidity content is inversely correlated to the FI-value, and the linear model appears to be the most adequate equation that may predict the hypothetical threshold-point of humidity of extinction. Most of the Moroccan forest fuels studied are classified as moderately flammable to flammable species based on their average humidity content, calculated for the summer period from July to September.
Keywords: flammability; forest species; Moisture content; Morocco (voyant)

Spatial distribution of Cydia fagiglandana (Zeller) in an exploited holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) forest. - Jimenez-Pino, A. (Spanish Journal of …, 2011)
Cydia fagiglandana (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is a carpophagous insect which affects the quality and viability of the fruits of beech, oak and chestnut trees. The majority of the works on this species in holm oak woods dealt with assessing its damages. No investigations have yet been performed on the spatial distribution of this pest, although this element is one of the key features to take in account in order to develop proper integrated management programs. The present study, performed during a four years period in an exploited holm oak forest area in Southern Spain, investigated the spatial distribution of C. fagiglandana integrating classic methods based on dispersion rates and distribution fitting together with the elaboration of population density maps based on GIS. Our results showed that the infestation rate progressively decreased from 0.339 in 2001 to 0.102 in 2004. Density maps for C. fagiglandana also show an heterogeneous and aggregated distribution of this insect and a spatio-temporal stability in this area. It is concluded that during the four years of the study inter-specific competition with the weevil Curculio elephas was the factor that most affected the spatial distribution of C. fagiglandana in the experimental plot.
Keywords: carpophagous pests; dispersion rates; population density maps; Tortricidae

Sphaeropsidones, Phytotoxic Dimedone Methyl Ethers Produced by Diplodia cupressi: A Structure−Activity Relationship Study - Evidente, Antonio; Maddau, Lucia; Scanu, Bruno; Andolfi, Anna; Masi, Marco; Motta, Andrea; Tuzi, Angela (Journal of Natural Products, 2011)
Sphaeropsidone and episphaeropsidone are two phytotoxic dimedone methyl ethers produced by Diplodia cupressi, the causal agent of a canker disease of cypress in the Mediterranean area. In this study, eight derivatives obtained by chemical modifications and two natural analogues were assayed for phytotoxic and antifungal activities, and a structure?activity relationship was examined. Each compound was tested on nonhost plants and on five fungal pathogenic species belonging to the genus Phytophthora. The results provide insights into structure?activity relationships within these compounds. It was found that the hydroxy group at C-5, the absolute C-5 configuration, the epoxy group, and the C-2 carbonyl group appear to be structural features important in conferring biological activity. The conversion of sphaeropsidone into the corresponding 1,4-dione derivative led to a compound showing greater antifungal activity than its precursor. This finding could be useful in devising new natural fungicides for practical application in agriculture.
doi: 10.1021/np100837rdoi: 10.1021/np100837rThe following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: American Chemical Society
Keywords: antifungal activity (voyant); Diplodia cupressi; Phytotoxicity; Sphaeropsidones

Successional trends in standing dead biomass in Mediterranean basin species - Baeza, M. J.; Santana, V. M.; Pausas, J. G.; Vallejo, V. R. (Journal of Vegetation Science, 2011)
Question: Landscape models of fire occurrence in ecosystems assume that the time since the last fire determines vegetation flammability by enabling the accumulation of dead biomass. In this study we ask if Mediterranean basin shrublands respond to these models or, on the contrary, if initial successional stages in these ecosystems could be more flammable than later stages. Location: Mediterranean shrubland in the Valencia region, eastern Spain. Methods: Using different stages of vegetation development (5, 9, 14 and 26 years since the last fire), we first study the structural comiosition of the above-ground biomass in 375 individuals of nine woody species. Then, we measure how the standing dead biomass varies during succession, taking into account the surface cover of each species and the quantity of total dead biomass accumulated in different successional stages (3, 9, 14 and 26 years since the last fire). Results: The largest amount of standing dead biomass at the plant community level is observed in the middle stages of the succession. Early successional species, such as Cistus spp., Ulex parviflorus and Pinus halepensis, have a higher percentage of standing dead biomass at earlier stages in the succession than species typical of later successional stages, e.g. Juniperus oxycedrus, Quercus coccifera and Quercus ilex. Conclusions: The results suggest that monotonic increase in fire hazard with increasing stand age is not necessarily the rule in Mediterranean basin shrublands, since early successional species may accumulate large amounts of standing dead biomass and thus promote fire at early successional stages.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Keywords: Early and late species; flammability; Retaining dead fuel; Species replacement; Successional stages; woody species

Tree-rings reflect the impact of climate change on Quercus ilex L. along a temperature gradient in Spain over the last 100years - Gea-Izquierdo, G.; Cherubini, P.; Cañellas, I. (Forest Ecology and Management, 2011)
We analyzed tree rings over the past 100 years to understand the response of Quercus ilex L. to climate change at four different sites along a temperature gradient in a highly anthropogenically transformed ecosystem. To test the hypothesis of a climate change related decrease in productivity at warmer sites, we discuss the effect of historical management on the growth of forest stands and the spatio-temporal variability of growth in response to climate, analyzing departures from linearity in that relationship. We reconstructed stand history and investigated past growth trends using tree-rings. Then we used a dendroecological approach to study the regional, local and age-dependent response to climate, analyzing the relationship between precipitation and tree growth using non-linear mixed models. Tree rings reﬂected the origin of the studied landscape, mainly a simpliﬁcation of an original closed forest and progressive canopy opening for agrosilvopastoral purposes after the mid 1800s. As expected, trees were principally responding to water availability, and regional growth (as expressed by the ﬁrst principal component from the matrix of chronologies) was highly responsive to hydrological year precipitation (r = 0.7). In this water limited ecosystem, the response of growth to precipitation was asymptotic and independent of age, but variable in time. Maximum growth was variable at the different sites and the non-linear function of growth saturated (i.e. reached an asymptote) at temperature dependent site speciﬁc precipitation levels within the range considered in the region to lead a shift towards deciduous species dominated woodlands (around 600 mm, variable with mean temperature). Only trees at warmer sites showed symptoms of growth decline, most likely explained by water stress increase in the last decades affecting the highly transformed open (i.e. low competition) tree structure. Stands at colder locations did not show any negative growth trend and may beneﬁt from the current increase in winter temperatures. Coinciding with the decrease in productivity, trees at warmer sites responded more to moisture availability, exhibited a slower response to precipitation and reached maximum growth at higher precipitation levels than trees at colder sites. This suggests that warmer stands are threatened by climate change. The non-linear response of growth to precipitation described is meaningful for different ecological applications and provides new insights in the way trees respond to climate.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: competition; Dendroecology; Drought; Non-linear response; water stress

Two provenances of Quercus ilex ssp. ballota (Desf) Samp. nursery seedlings have different response to frost tolerance and autumn fertilization - Andivia, Enrique; FERNÁNDEZ, MANUEL; VÁZQUEZ-PIQUÉ, JAVIER; Alejano, Reyes (European Journal of Forest Research, 2011)
Despite evidences that Holm oak has a high plasticity and great adaptability, there is limited or contradictory knowledge of the morphological and physiological variability of this species. Holm oak has been widely used for reforestation projects in Mediterranean areas, but has frequently shown poor ﬁeld performance. We hypothesized that Holm oak has inter-population differences in physiological responses to abiotic stressors that could affect reforestation success. The inﬂuence of nursery culture on the characteristics of Holm oaks from different provenances has not been explored in depth. Thus, we studied the effect of nursery autumn fertilization on morphological traits, frost tolerance, root growth potential, and nutritional status of two Spanish provenances of Holm oak, La Alcarria (a region with inland Mediterranean climate) and Sierra Morena Occidental (a region with a warm coastal Mediterranean climate). There were signiﬁcant differences between the provenances in frost tolerance, biomass allocation, and leaf nutrient content, suggesting a role of genetic factors. The leaves of seedlings from La Alcarria had less visual damage at -12C than seedlings from the warmer provenance (45% vs. 92%). Seedlings from La Alcarria, compared to those from Sierra Morena, had higher leaf P concentration (0.17% vs. 0.15%), greater stem diameter (3.1 mm vs. 2.7 mm), lower shoot-to-root dry mass ratio (0.46 vs. 0.53), and lower slenderness (4.03 vs. 5.31). For both provenances, N autumn fertilization improved growth, root growth potential, cold hardiness, and nutritional status of seedlings. We suggest that forest reforestation programs should consider to a greater extent Holm oak provenances and their tolerances to different abiotic stressors.
Keywords: á autumn fertilization; á reforestation á; Adaptation; adaptation á cold hardiness; Autumn fertilization; Cold hardiness; Holm oak; holm oak á provenance; provenance; Reforestation

The use of cork waste as a biosorbent for persistent organic pollutants–Study of adsorption/desorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - Olivella, Maria À; Jové, Patrícia; Oliveras, Anna (Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A, 2011)
The aim of this study is to determine the sorption-desorption behavior of a mixture of thirteen aqueous PAHs on cork waste at a particle of size 0.25?0.42 mm obtained from the remains of cork strips. The final purpose is to use this natural adsorbent as an alternative to activated carbon in an innovative approach for the removal of this class of toxic compounds, and significantly reduce the regeneration costs of the process. The chemical composition of the selected cork revealed that suberin (38.5 %) and lignin (31.6 %) were the main structural components of the cell wall. The high efficiency of cork as a biosorbent of PAHs is shown by the fact that just over 80 % of adsorption occurred during the first two minutes of contact time. Both Freundlich's and Langmuir's isotherms gave good fits to the sorption process. The highest adsorption affinities were exhibited for pyrene, anthracene, and phenanthrene. Desorption studies indicate a high degree of irreversibility for all PAHs, and especially so in the case of high molecular PAHs. The correlation with KF and low molecular weight PAHs was the most significant. The quantity of cork required to reduce water pollution was estimated to be between 3 and 15 times less than the quantities required in the case of other materials (i.e. aspen wood and leonardite). This study demonstrates for the first time that cork is a potential biosorbent for PAHs and may have relevance in the future treatment of PAH-contaminated waters.
From Duplicate 1 (The use of cork waste as a biosorbent for persistent organic pollutants–Study of adsorption/desorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - Olivella, Maria À; Jové, Patrícia; Oliveras, Anna)From Duplicate 1 (The use of cork waste as a biosorbent for persistent organic pollutants–Study of adsorption/desorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - Olivella, Maria À; Jové, Patrícia; Oliveras, Anna)The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Taylor & Francis accession-num: 21644164
Keywords: Adsorption; Aromatic; Aromatic: chemistry; biosorbent; Chemical; Chemical: chemistry; Cork waste; Environmental Remediation; Environmental Remediation: methods; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Lignin; Lignin: chemistry; Lipids; Lipids: chemistry; organic pollutants; PAHs; Polycyclic Hydrocarbons; Quercus; Quercus: chemistry; Solid Phase Microextraction; sorption-desorption; Time Factors; Water Pollutants; water treatment

Using a fire propagation model to assess the efficiency of prescribed burning in reducing the fire hazard - Cassagne, Nathalie; Pimont, Francois; Dupuy, Jean-Luc; Linn, Rodman R.; Mårell, Anders; Oliveri, Chloé; Rigolot, Eric (Ecological Modelling, 2011)
We examined how ﬁre hazard was affected by prescribed burning and fuel recovery over the ﬁrst six years following treatment. Eight common Mediterranean fuel complexes managed by means of prescribed burning in limestone Provence (South-Eastern France) were studied, illustrating forest and woodland, garrigue and grassland situations. The coupled atmosphere-wildﬁre behaviour model FIRETEC was used to simulate ﬁre behaviour (ROS, intensity) in these complex vegetations. The temporal threshold related to the effectiveness of prescribed burning in reducing the ﬁre hazard was assessed from derivated fuel dynamics after treatment. The study showed that prescribed burning treatment was effective for the ﬁrst two years in most of the Mediterranean plant communities analysed. Thereafter, all forests and shrublands were highly combustible with a ﬁre line intensity of more than 5000 kW/m except for pine stands with or without oak (medium intensity of 2000 kW m−1 3 years after treatment). Low ﬁre line intensity (900 kW m−1 ) was obtained for grassland which was entirely treatment-independent since the resprouter hemicryptophyte, Brachypodium retusum, is highly resilient to ﬁre. Fire behaviour was greatly affected by fuel load accumulation of Quercus ilex in woodland, and by standing necromass of Rosmarinus ofﬁcinalis in treated garrigue. Pure pine stands with shrub strata similar to garrigue showed a lower ﬁre intensity due to wind speed decrease at ground level under tree canopy, underlining the advantage of maintaining a proportion of canopy cover in strategic fuel-break zones
Keywords: Fire behaviour; FIRETEC; Fuel dynamics; Mediterranean fuel complexes; Prescribed burning

Using hydrogel and clay to improve the water status of seedlings for dryland restoration - Chirino, Esteban; Vilagrosa, Alberto; Vallejo, V. Ramón (Plant and Soil, 2011)
In dryland ecosystems, post-transplant water stress produces high seedling mortality after the first summer following outplanting. Our aim was to assess the effects of clay and hydrogel, both on the water holding capacity of the growing media and on various morphological and physiological characteristics of Quercus suber seedlings in the nursery and, subsequently, during the first 2 years in the field. Quercus suber L. seedlings were grown in four types of growing media: CS (Control growing media, standard mixture of limed peat and coconut peat, 1:1 v/v ratio), SC-10 (CS mixed with sepiolite clay at 10% v/v) and HS (CS mixed with hydrogel Stockosorb® K-400 at two doses, 0.7 and 1.5% w/w). HS-1.5 showed the best results, increasing the water holding capacity of the root plug, improving seedling water status and increasing seedling survival in the field. SC-10 showed an intermediate effect on seedling response in the field. Mixing hydrogel with a peatbased growing medium to form root plugs is a suitable technique for cultivating species to be planted in areas with a strong water deficit. This technique reduces posttransplant water stress in seedlings during their first months in the field and contributes to improve forestrestoration methods in dryland ecosystems.
Keywords: carbon isotope composition; plant stock quality; Quercus suber; substrate; Water availability

Viscoelastic impact characterisation of solid sports balls used in the Irish sport of Hurling - Collins, Fiachra; Brabazon, Dermot; Moran, Kieran (Sports Engineering, 2011)
In recent years, variability in behaviour of the sliotar, a small leather-bound ball used in the Irish sport of hurling, has become evident in championship matches. The inconsistency in performance was attributed to the range of constructions and material compositions of currently approved ball types. With a view to adopting a standard core, a new methodology has been commissioned to assess the dynamic impact behaviour of approved sliotar cores. In this paper, the relationship between the dynamic stiffness and the coefﬁcient of restitution is presented with regard to material properties, ball construction and viscoelastic strain and strain-rate dependencies. The modern polymer ball types were shown to exhibit strain-rate sensitivity, while the performance of the traditional multi-compositional ball types exhibited lesser strain-rate dependence. The traditional balls types were shown to be up to 2.5 times stiffer than the modern ball types, with this ﬁnding having implications for ball energy dissipation.
Keywords: Ball types; compression (voyant); deformation; impact; stifness

Volatile Compounds in Samples of Cork and also Produced by Selected Fungi - Barreto, M. C.; Boas, L. Vilas; Carneiro, L. C.; Rom, M. V. San; Vilas Boas, L.; San Romão, M. V. (Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2011)
The production of volatile compounds by microbial communities of cork samples taken during the cork manufacturing process was investigated. The majority of volatiles were found in samples collected at two stages: resting after the ﬁrst boiling and nontreated cork disks. Volatile proﬁles produced by microbiota in both stages are similar. The releasable volatile compounds and 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA) produced in cork-based culture medium by ﬁve isolated fungal species in pure and mixed cultures were also analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS).The results showed that 1-octen-3-ol and esters of fatty acids (medium chain length C8C20) were the main volatile compounds produced by either pure fungal species or their mixture. Apparently,Penicillium glabrum is the main contributor to the overall volatile composition observed in the mixed culture. The production of releasable TCA on cork cannot be attributed to any of the assayed fungal isolates.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: American Chemical Society
Keywords: 2; 2.4.6-trichloroanisole; 4; 6-trichloroanisole; Cork; fungi; volatile compounds

Weed management and irrigation are key treatments in emerging black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) cultivation - Olivera, a; Fischer, C. R.; Bonet, J. a; Martínez de Aragón, J.; Oliach, D.; Colinas, C. (New Forests, 2011)
Interest in conversion of marginal agricultural lands to small oak woodlands for the production of black trufﬂes (Tuber melanosporum Vittad.) is increasing in the native black trufﬂe areas of France, Spain and Italy as well as suitable or amended sites throughout the world due to high economic returns for gastronomically valuable trufﬂes. Successful long-term management of a perennial plantation replacing an annual crop requires understanding the system in all phases of the life cycle, and in the case of trufﬂes this involves understanding the interactive growth of the aboveground host and the belowground symbiotic ectomycorrhizal fungus whose fruitbody is the desired trufﬂe. Here we focus on the pre-production phase, 4 years after establishing the trufﬂe-oak plantation and prior to trufﬂe production. We tested the inﬂuence of weed control, irrigation and fertilizer, each at 3 levels, on plant growth and ectomycorrhizal proliferation in three trufﬂe-oaks plantations in northeast Spain. Results show that adequate weed control improves root and shoot dry weight while fertilizer and irrigation treatments did not inﬂuence plant growth. The low dose of irrigation (50% of the estimated water deﬁcit for the site) and glyphosate weed control both increased total root tips/plant and T. melanosporum colonized tips (ectomycorrhizae) by approximately two-fold, compared to control treatments. Distribution of the ectomycorrhizae within the soil proﬁle was signiﬁcantly inﬂuenced by the low dose irrigation treatment, with increases observed in the 10–20 cm and the 20–30 cm deep layers compared to the control and high irrigation treatments. Four years after planting, T. melanosporum remained the dominant fungal symbiont, despite the presence of 14 other ectomycorrhizal morphotypes from these sites.
Keywords: Ectomycorrhizae; Holm oak management; Quercus ilex; Root tips; Trufﬂe-oaks

Which habitats of European importance depend on agricultural practices? - Halada, Lubos; Evans, Doug; Romão, Carlos; Petersen, Jan-Erik (Biodiversity and Conservation, 2011)
The aim of this paper is to identify the habitat types listed in the Habitats Directive Annex I that require low-intensity agricultural management for their existence. We assessed the link between the Annex I habitat types and agricultural practices in order to identify habitat types that depend on the continuation of agricultural practices or whose existence is prolonged or spatially enlarged via blocking or reducing the secondary succession by agricultural activities. 63 habitat types that depend on or which can proﬁt from agricultural activities—mainly grazing and mowing—were identiﬁed. They are classiﬁed into 2 groups: (1) habitats fully dependent on the continuation of agricultural management; (2) habitats partly dependent on the continuation of agricultural management. This paper also brieﬂy discusses habitat types for which either doubts remain on their dependence on agricultural management, or the relation to extensive farming practices exists only in part of their area of distribution in Europe or under certain site conditions, respectively. Assessments of the conservation status of habitats of European Importance by 25 EU Member States in 2007 showed that habitats identiﬁed by us as depending on agricultural practices had a worse status than non-agricultural habitats.
Keywords: Agricultural management; Favourable conservation status; Grazing; Habitats directive; High Nature Value Farmland; Mowing; Natura 2000; Ostermann list