Quantifying water stress effect on daily light use efficiency in Mediterranean ecosystems using satellite data

The capacity of six water stress factors(ε′(i))to track daily light use efficiency(ε)of water-limited ecosystems was evaluated.These factors are computed with remote sensing operational products and a limited amount of ground data:ε′1 uses ground precipitation and air temperature,and satellite incoming global solar radiation;ε′(2) uses ground air temperature,and satellite actual evapotranspiration and incoming global solar radiation;ε′_(3) uses satellite actual and potential evapotranspiration;ε′_(4) uses satellite soil moisture;ε′_(5) uses satellite-derived photochemical reflectance index;and ε′_(6) uses ground vapor pressure deficit.These factors were implemented in a production efficiency model based on Monteith’s approach in order to assess their performance for modeling gross primary production(GPP).Estimated GPP was compared to reference GPP from eddy covariance(EC)measurements(GPP EC)in three sites placed in the Iberian Peninsula(two open shrublands and one savanna).ε′_(i) were correlated to ε,which was calculated by dividing GPP EC by ground measured photosynthetically active radiation(PAR)and satellite-derived fraction of absorbed PAR.Best results were achieved by ε′(1),ε′(2),ε′(3) and ε′(4) explaining around 40% and 50% of ε variance in open shurblands and savanna,respectively.In terms of GPP,R^(2)≈0.70 were obtained in these cases.

Assessing vulnerability of a forest ecosystem to climate change and variability in the western Mediterranean sub-region of Turkey

Climate change is a real, pressing and significant global problem. The concept of ‘climate change vulnerability’ helps us to better comprehend the cause/effect relationships behind climate change and its impact on human societies, socioeconomic sectors, and physiographical and ecological systems. In this study, multifactorial spatial modelling evaluated the vulnerability of a Mediterranean forest ecosystem to climate change and variability with regard to land degradation. This produced data and developed tools to support better decision-making and management. As a result, the geographical distribution of Environmental Vulnerability Areas(EVAs) of the forest ecosystem is the estimated Environmental Vulnerability Index(EVI) values. These revealed that, at current levels of environmental degradation, physical, geographical, policy enforcement, and socioeconomic conditions, the area with a ‘‘very low’’ degree of vulnerability covered mainly the town, its surrounding settlements and agricultural lands found principally over the low, flat travertine plateau and the plains to the east and southeast of the district. The spatial magnitude of the EVAs of the forest ecosystem under current environmental degradation was also determined. This revealed that the EVAs classed as ‘‘very low’’accounted for 21% of the area of the forest ecosystem,those classed as ‘‘low’’ for 36%, those classed as ‘‘medium’’ for 20%, and those classed as ‘‘high’’ for 24%.

Spatial analysis of plant detritus processing in a Mediterranean River type: the case of the River Tirso Basin, Sardinia, Italy

The river continuum concept represents the most general framework addressing the spatial variation of both structure and function in river ecosystems. In the Mediterranean ecoregion, summer drought events and dams constitute the main sources of local disturbance to the structure and functioning of river ecosystems occurring in the river basin. In this study, we analysed patterns of spatial variation of detritus processing in a 7th order river of the Mediterranean ecoregion(River Tirso, Sardinia-Italy) and in three 4th order sub-basins which were exposed to different summer drought pressures. The study was carried out on Phragmites australis and Alnus glutinosa leaf detritus at 31 field sites in seasonal field experiment Detritus processing rates were higher for Alnus glutinosa than for Phragmites australis plant detritus. Processing rates of Alnus glutinosa leaves varied among seasons and study sites from 0.006 d -1 to 0.189 d -1 and those of Phragmites australis leaves ranged from 0.0008 d -1 to 0.102 d -1, with the lowest values occurring at sites exposed to summer drought. Seasons and sites accounted for a significant proportion of such variability. Alder detritus decay rates generally decreased with increasing stream order, while reed detritus decay rates generally increased on the same spatial gradient. Summer drought events affected these spatial patterns of variation by influencing significantly the decay rates of both plant detritus. The comparisons among and within sub-basins showed strong negative influence of summer drought on detritus processing rates. Similarly, in the entire River Tirso basin decay rates were always lower at disturbed than at undisturbed sites for each stream order; decay rates of reed detritus remained lower at those sites even after the end of the disturbance events, while alder decay rates recovered rapidly from the summer drought perturbations. The different recovery of the processing rates of the two leaves could also explain the different patterns of spatial variation observed between the two leaves.

Changes in foliar carbon isotope composition and seasonal stomatal conductance reveal adaptive traits in Mediterranean coppices affected by drought

We estimated water-use efficiency and potential photosyn- thetic assimilation of Holm oak （Quercus ilex L.） on slopes of NW and SW aspects in a replicated field test examining the effects of intensifying drought in two Mediterranean coppice forests. We used standard tech- niques for quantifying gas exchange and carbon isotopes in leaves and analyzed total chlorophyll, carotenoids and nitrogen in leaves collected from Mediterranean forests managed under the coppice system. We pos- tulated that responses to drought of coppiced trees would lead to differ- ential responses in physiological traits and that these traits could be used by foresters to adapt to predicted warming and drying in the Mediterra- nean area. We observed physiological responses of the eoppiced trees that suggested acclimation in photosynthetic potential and water-use effi- ciency： （1） a significant reduction in stomatal conductance （p〈0.01） wasrecorded as the drought increased at the SW site; （2） foliar 813C increased as drought increased at the SW site （p〈0.01）; （3） variations in levels of carotenoids and foliar nitrogen, and differences in foliar morphology were recorded, and were tentatively attributed to variation in photosyn- thetic assimilation between sites. These findings increase knowledge of the capacity for acclimation of managed forests in the Mediterranean region of Europe.

Forest structure of a maple old-growth stand: a case study on the Apennines mountains(Southern Italy)

In Europe, very small forest areas can be considered to be old-growth, and they are mainly located in Eastern Europe. The typical structures of old growth forests infrequently occur in Mediterranean mountainous environments, since they have been affected by human activities for centuries. This study focused on a remote and almost pure Italian maple stand located in southern Italy, which has not been managed for long time due to its inaccessibility. The effects of natural evolution on the forest stand were evaluated through the analysis of the spatial and chronological structure and the regeneration patterns, then estimating the amounts and quality of deadwood occurrence. Across the whole stand, all the trees with DBH （diameter at breast height） larger than 50 cm （LLT, large living trees） were measured （DBH and height） and age was also determined through a dendrochronological approach. The diameters observed ranged between 50 and 145 cm with ages of 12o to ~5o years. The Latham index calculated for trees within the sample plot highlighted a multilayered canopy with a dominant layer of largeliving trees （age 〉 120 years）. The size-class distribution of stems had a reverse-J shape, and basal area was 52 m2 ha-1. Deadwood was exclusively constituted by standing dead trees and CWD and its volume was on average 31 m3 ha-1. Pure Italian maple forests are generally rare in Europe, and it was unexpected to find a forest stand characterized by a so complex structure with old growth attributes. The study of complex forest stand, even if small, could give precious information on the forest evolution, clarifying also diverse auto-ecological traits of tree species that usually are not common in our forests.

Spatial pattern of landscape changes and consequence changes in species diversity between 1956-1999 of Pinus halepensis Miller plantations in Montes de Malaga State Park (Andalusia, Spain)

Changes in forest diversity and the transforma- tion of coniferous plantations into more natural woodlands are of special interest in the Medi- terranean. The aim of this study was to investi- gate changes in land use patterns and vegeta- tion cover from 1956 to 1999 in Pinus halepensis Miller plantations in Montes de Málaga State Park in southern Spain. At the landscape level, a FRAGSTAT analysis was performed using aerial photographs. At the community level, a total of 47 sample plots were analyzed. Field measure- ments indicated the presence of a total of 70 species in the different vegetation types sam- pled. Shannon-Wiener (H), and Simpson’s (D) diversity indices showed the greatest species richness in Aleppo pine plantations (H = 1.54 ± 0.2;D = 3.88 ± 0.6), while Holm oak stands in the forested areas (H = 1.37 ± 0.1;D = 3.35 ± 0.6) and agricultural land (H = 1.33 ± 0.01;D = 2.80 ± 0.03) had lower values. FRAGSTATS analyses at land- scape and community levels indicated increases in patch richness, patch number, and percent of landscape mainly for pine plantations, Holm oak forests and shrub habitats. Replacement of agri- culture by conifer plantations led to the homo- genization of landscape structure. This change has modified the landscape by facilitating the recovery of indigenous tree species including Holm oak, which will likely lead to the future establishment of native forests in this area. Our findings suggest that pine plantations could fa- vour woody species diversity by increasing abundance and species richness in contrast to the situation in non-forested agricultural land.

Smoke interacts with fire history to stimulate soil seed bank germination in Mediterranean woodlands

Aims Fire has important consequences on vegetation dynamics.In fire-prone areas,natural selection favors plant species,characterized by a large soil seed bank,and that their germination is stimu-lated by fire.Although seed germination stimulated by fire heat is common in the eastern Mediterranean Basin,only little is known about germination stimulation by smoke.We examined the inter-active effect of aerosol smoke and fire history on the germina-ble soil seed bank(GSSB)community in eastern Mediterranean woodlands.Methods We collected soil samples from sites that have been subjected to different fire frequencies during the last four decades and exposed them to aerosol smoke,with or without watering.By document-ing the seed germination patterns characterizing these samples,we could test for changes in the abundance and richness of the germi-nable seeds in the soil.Important Findings Total GSSB density was higher in sites that were burned more fre-quently during the last four decades.Exposure to aerosol smoke increased the GSSB density,and this pattern was more pronounced in samples originating from sites burned more frequently,as well as among annual species.Notably,exposing wet samples to aerosol smoke caused a significant reduction in GSSB density and richness.These results highlight the importance of exploring germination responses using intact soil samples,rather than synthetic seed com-munities.Moreover,our findings emphasize the important role smoke plays in shaping post-fire succession processes in the Mediterranean Basin,mainly by stimulating the germination of annual species.

Habitat selection of woodchat shrikes Lanius senator during spring stopover is related to foraging strategy

Every spring a huge number of passerines cross the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea on their way to their breeding grounds. Stopover sites after such extended barriers where birds can rest, refuel, and find shelter from adverse weather, are of crucial importance for the outcome of their migration. Stopover habitat selection used by migrating birds depends on landscape context, habitat patch characteristics, as well as on the particular energetic conditions and needs of individ- ual birds, but it is still poorly investigated. We focused on a long-distance migrating passerine, the woodchat shrike, in order to investigate for the first time the species＇ habitat selection at a spring stopover site （island of Antikythira, Greece） after the crossing of the Sahara Desert and Mediterranean Sea. We implemented radio-tracking, color-ringing, and visual behavioral observa- tions to collect data on microhabitat use. Generalized Linear Mixed Models were developed to identify the species＇ most preferred microhabitat during its stopover on this low human disturbed island. We found that high maquis vegetation surrounded by low vegetation was chosen as perches for hunting. Moreover, high maquis vegetation appeared to facilitate hunting attempts toward the ground, the most frequently observed foraging strategy. Finally, we discuss our find- ings in the context of conservation practices for the woodchat shrike and their stopover sites on Mediterranean islands.