331 research outputs found
Warm and fertile sub-humid conditions enhance litterfall to sustain high soil respiration fluxes in a mediterranean cork oak forest
Soil respiration is a major component of the global carbon budget and Mediterranean ecosystems have usually been studied in locations with shallow soils, mild temperatures, and a prolonged dry season. This study investigates seasonal soil respiration rates and underlying mechanisms under wetter, warmer, and more fertile conditions in a Mediterranean cork oak forest of Northern Tunisia (Africa), acknowledged as one of the most productive forests in the Mediterranean basin. We applied a soil respiration model based on soil temperature and relative water content and investigated how ecosystem functioning under these favorable conditions affected soil carbon storage through carbon inputs to the soil litter. Annual soil respiration rates varied between 1774 gC m(-2) year(-1) and 2227 gC m(-2) year(-1), which is on the highest range of observations under Mediterranean climate conditions. We attributed this high soil carbon flux as a response to favorable temperatures and soil water content, but this could be sustained only by a small carbon allocation to roots (root/shoot ratio = 0.31-0.41) leading to a large allocation to leaves with a multiannual leaf production, enhanced annual twig elongation (11.5-28.5 cm) with a reduced leaf life span (<1 year) maintaining a low LAI (1.68-1.88) and generating a high litterfall (386-636 gC m(-2) year(-1)). Thus, the favorable climatic and edaphic conditions experienced by these Mediterranean cork oak forests drove high soil respiration fluxes which balanced the high carbon assimilation leading to a relatively small overall contribution (10.96-14.79 kgC m(-2)) to soil carbon storage
Effects of cotyledon extirpation and seedling age on the survival and performance of oak seedlings: application to restoration practices
En los ecosistemas mediterráneos dominados por Quercus spp., la sequía y las poblaciones de
ungulados pueden considerarse los principales estreses abióticos y bióticos que amenazan la
regeneración natural. Además, muchas restauraciones fracasan debido a los retos que supone
superar ambos estreses. De hecho, todavía se desconoce en gran medida cómo actúan las
diferentes fuentes de estrés y cómo varían a lo largo del tiempo en las plantaciones de Quercus.
Así, en los Parques Nacionales de Cabañeros y Doñana, con altas densidades de ungulados
silvestres, plantamos diferentes especies de Quercus (200 plántulas de Quercus ilex y 100 de Q.
suber, respectivamente). Examinamos cómo la variación temporal de los agentes de estrés
abiótico y biótico afectaba a la supervivencia de las plántulas en dos edades diferentes (1 savia
vs 2 savias) y entre plántulas con la bellota adherida o sin ella (eliminación de cotiledones). Todas
las plántulas de Quercus (100%) sufrieron algún tipo de estrés. La sequía fue la principal causa
de mortalidad, seguida del jabalí. Los daños causados por el ciervo, los insectos y los hongos no
fueron lo suficientemente fuertes como para causar la muerte de ninguna plántula. Se reveló
una fuerte variación temporal en la ocurrencia de los estreses, ya que el riesgo de daño por jabalí
fue mayor entre febrero y abril, y por sequía, tras el inicio de la estación seca. En Cabañeros no
se encontraron diferencias para todas las combinaciones de edad de la planta y tratamiento de
la bellota. Sin embargo, en Doñana observamos que los jabalíes arrancaron plántulas de 1 año
con una frecuencia significativamente mayor que las de 2 años, y dentro del mismo grupo de
edad, pudimos percibir una preferencia débil pero consistente hacia las que tenían la bellota
aún adherida. Además, descubrimos que retirar los cotiledones de la plántula no afecta a su
crecimiento ni a su fisiología. Por lo tanto, en zonas con altas densidades de jabalíes, eliminar
los cotiledones de las plántulas de 1 año y, al menos en suelos arenosos, plantar plántulas de 2
años en lugar de las de 1 año, podría ser una buena estrategia para evitar o reducir los daños
por jabalí.In Mediterranean oak ecosystems, drought and ungulate populations can be considered one of
the main abiotic and biotic stresses threatening natural regeneration. Furthermore, many
restorations fail due to the challenges of overcoming these pressures. In fact, how different
sources of stress act and vary across time in oak seedlings plantations remains still largely
unknown. Thus, in Cabañeros and Doñana National Parks, with high wild ungulate densities, we
planted different oak seedling species (200 Quercus ilex seedlings and 100 Q. suber,
respectively). We examined how temporal variation of abiotic and biotic stress agents affected
seedling survival across two different seedling ages (1 vs 2-year-old) and between seedlings with
the acorn attached or not (cotyledon removal). All oak seedlings (100%) suffered some type of
stress. Drought was the main cause of mortality followed by wild boar. Deer, insect and fungi
damage was not strong enough to cause the death of any seedling. We revealed a strong
temporal variation in the occurrence of stressors as the risk of being damage by wild boar was
highest between February and April, and by drought, after the onset of the dry season. In
Cabañeros no differences were found for all combinations of plant age and acorn treatment.
However, in Doñana we observed that wild boar uprooted 1-year-old seedlings significantly
more often than 2-years-old, and within the same age group, we could perceive a weak but
consistent preference towards those with the acorn still attached. In addition, we found that
cotyledon removal from the seedling does not affect their growth or physiology. Thus, in areas
with high densities of wild boar, removing the cotyledon reserves from 1-year-old seedlings,
and, at least on sandy soils, planting 2-year-old seedlings instead of 1-year-old seedlings could
be a good strategy to avoid or reduce wild boar damage.Máster Universitario en Restauración de Ecosistemas (M194
Spatial pattern of biotic and abiotic variables involved in root rot mortality in Quercus ilex L. subsp. ballota (Desf.) Samp. in south-western Iberian Peninsula
Desde la última mitad del siglo XX, los bosques de Quercus y dehesas del sur de la Península Ibérica vienen experimentando un progresivo deterioro forestal de sus masas arbóreas, denominado, de forma genérica, como decaimiento o seca de los Quercus. Este declive está motivado por multitud de factores bióticos y abióticos que actúan de forma independiente o como combinación de ellos, y entre los que destacan las perturbaciones motivadas por el cambio climático global, la falta de regeneración natural de los bosques, la escasez de silvicultura y de gestión agroganadera, así como la intensificación, cada vez mayor, del tránsito de material vegetal a nivel mundial, sin el suficiente control fitosanitario en los viveros que impida la invasión y la dispersión de plagas y enfermedades forestales. En este síndrome complejo, se ha identificado la acción primaria del oomiceto patógeno invasor no nativo de podredumbre radical, Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands., el cual provoca la muerte de raíces finas, generando síntomas de estrés hídrico que se presentan en forma de puntisecado regresivo de ramas y defoliación de la copa del árbol y, en ocasiones, la muerte del individuo. Con esta Tesis Doctoral se pretende aumentar el conocimiento sobre la relación entre las características estructurales del arbolado y los factores abióticos (estructura física y química del suelo, topografía del paisaje y climatología) con la distribución espaciotemporal de oomicetos patógenos de podredumbre radical (Phytophthora spp. y Pythium spp.) en especies del género Quercus spp. A partir de estas relaciones, se ha estudiado cómo influyen sobre el estado de salud del arbolado (defoliación de las copas y mortalidad) la triple interacción patógeno-huésped-ambiente a diferentes escalas territoriales (árbol, rodal y región), y en diferentes tipos de formaciones vegetales, como son las repoblaciones forestales sobre tierras agrarias y las dehesas de Quercus, en Andalucía. Para llevar a cabo esta investigación, el trabajo se estructuró en 7 capítulos que se describen a continuación. El Capítulo 1, enmarca los antecedentes teóricos que sustentan la justificación de esta Tesis Doctoral y plantea los objetivos generales y específicos de la misma. El Capítulo 2, aborda la importancia que tiene, en un momento puntual, la heterogeneidad de las propiedades fisicoquímicas del suelo, la humedad del suelo y la influencia de la cobertura del dosel de una repoblación forestal de Quercus ilex, a nivel de árbol individual, sobre la distribución espacial en suelo, a pequeña escala, de las unidades formadoras de colonias (ufc) de Phytophthora cinnamomi. Para ello se utilizaron Modelos Lineales Mixtos Generalizados e índices de agregación y agrupación de variables mediante la herramienta SADIE. Los resultados indicaron que las variables limo, materia orgánica, P, K y humedad del suelo, principalmente, influyeron sobre la distribución de ufc. La variabilidad de las condiciones de los micrositios, pueden predecir qué áreas alrededor de los árboles influyen en la mayor o menor disponibilidad de estos oomicetos en el suelo. El Capítulo 3, muestra los patrones de distribución espacial, a escala de parcela, de las ufc del oomiceto Phytophthora cinnamomi en la rizosfera de plantaciones de Q. ilex y Q. suber, influenciados por la disposición de las propiedades fisicoquímicas, la humedad del suelo y las propiedades topográficas de la repoblación. Las implicaciones derivadas de las interacciones entre dichos factores bióticos y abióticos se observaron a través de los parámetros de defoliación y mortalidad del arbolado tras un periodo de 8 años, usando modelos de ecuaciones estructurales e índices de agregación y agrupación de variables mediante la herramienta SADIE. Los resultados muestran la mayor susceptibilidad de la encina frente al alcornoque en presencia del patógeno, con porcentajes de defoliación y mortalidad más elevados para la primera especie. A su vez los daños se correlacionaron con la textura y los nutrientes del suelo. En la defoliación de Q. ilex, influyó principalmente las propiedades químicas del suelo, mientras que para Q. suber, también influyó la topografía y la humedad del suelo. La mayor presencia de oomicetos se localizó en zonas de mayor humedad edáfica, menores pendientes, orientación norte y baja radiación solar. El Capítulo 4, analiza el efecto de los factores bióticos, abióticos (edáficos, topográficos y ambientales) sobre el decaimiento forestal de los Quercus y sobre la propagación de oomicetos patógenos invasores no nativos de podredumbre radical (género Phytophthora spp.) a escala regional de Andalucía. Se estudia la dinámica espaciotemporal de la defoliación y la mortalidad del arbolado registrada en la Red Regional de parcelas de Seguimiento de Daños de Andalucía (Red SEDA, ICP Nivel I, 2000-2016) en relación con la presencia de oomicetos y los valores medios y anuales ambientales. Se usaron varios enfoques estadísticos (curvas de supervivencia de Kaplan-Meier, gráficos de estimación de densidad Kernel y Modelos Lineales Mixtos Generalizados) para analizar 3635 árboles (152 parcelas). La defoliación y la mortalidad anuales se correlacionaron con la temperatura media anual, el Índice de Precipitación Evapotranspiración Estandarizada (SPEI18verano y SPEI1primavera), el contenido de materia orgánica del suelo y la precipitación anual, adquiriendo mayor relevancia la acción del patógeno en estas condiciones ambientales. Las redes regionales de sanidad forestal se muestran como herramienta crucial en las estrategias de gestión forestal adaptativa frente al cambio climático. El Capítulo 5, evalúa y cartografía sobre una forestación de Q. ilex y Q. suber, los daños asociados al efecto de patógenos no nativos de podredumbre radical (Phytophthora spp.), a escala de árbol individual, utilizando técnicas LiDAR de alta densidad e imágenes multiespectrales de alta resolución. Para ello se utilizó el nivel de defoliación de 429 árboles que, mediante procesado de segmentación de copas, permitió obtener las métricas LiDAR e índices de vegetación basados en sus bandas espectrales. Ello dio lugar a la estimación de la defoliación mediante un modelo no paramétrico que permitió generar el mapa de daños de la plantación. El Capítulo 6, aúna los conocimientos y resultados obtenidos en esta Tesis en forma de discusión general, aportando un enfoque global de los hitos más relevantes alcanzados a lo largo del estudio. Asimismo, se incluyen las limitaciones presentadas durante los trabajos y se expone el enfoque de las nuevas líneas de investigación que se derivan de esta Tesis. El Capítulo 7, presenta las conclusiones generales de la Tesis, sintetizadas a continuación. Los patrones de distribución espacial de las ufc del patógeno de podredumbre radical, P. cinnamomi, en dehesas de Quercus y repoblaciones de Q. ilex y Q. suber, implicados en la dinámica temporal de los procesos de defoliación y de mortalidad de estas especies arbóreas, están influenciados por la variabilidad de factores bióticos y abióticos del medio, como son las propiedades fisicoquímicas del suelo, la cobertura del dosel arbóreo, la presencia y estado fitosanitario de los huéspedes y su sistema radical, los cambios climatológicos, así como la heterogeneidad topográfica del paisaje. El análisis espacial a diferentes escalas de árbol, rodal y región puede servir como herramienta de predicción de áreas más susceptibles de albergar a estos oomicetos y, por tanto, como medio para aplicar estrategias de gestión forestal adaptativa frente al decaimiento de estos ecosistemas.Since the last half of the 20th century, Quercus forests and dehesas in the south of the Iberian Peninsula have been experiencing a progressive forest deterioration of their tree stands, generically known as Quercus decline or seca Quercus. This decline is caused by a multitude of biotic and abiotic factors acting independently or in combination, including disturbances caused by global climate change, the lack of natural regeneration of forests, the scarcity of forestry and agro-livestock management, as well as the increasing intensification of the transit of plant material worldwide, without sufficient phytosanitary control in nurseries to prevent the invasion and spread of forest pests and diseases. In this complex syndrome, the primary action of the nonnative invasive root rot pathogenic oomycete, Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands., has been identified, which causes the death of fine roots, generating symptoms of water stress in the form of regressive top-drying of branches and defoliation of the tree crown and, sometimes, death of the tree. This PhD thesis aims to increase knowledge of the relationship between the structural characteristics of trees and abiotic factors (physical and chemical soil structure, landscape topography and climatology) with the spatiotemporal distribution of pathogenic root rot oomycetes (Phytophthora spp. and Pythium spp.) in species of the genus Quercus spp. Based on these relationships, we studied the influence of the triple interaction pathogen-host-environment on tree health (crown defoliation and mortality) at different territorial scales (tree, stand and region), and in different types of plant formations afforestation on agricultural land and Quercus dehesas in Andalusia. To carry out this research, the work was structured in 7 chapters which are described below. Chapter 1, frames the theoretical background that supports this doctoral Thesis’s justification and sets out its general and specific objectives. Chapter 2, addresses the importance of the heterogeneity of soil physicochemical properties, soil moisture and the influence of the canopy cover of a Quercus ilex afforestation, at individual tree level, on the small-scale spatial distribution of colony forming units (cfu) of Phytophthora cinnamomi in the soil. Generalised Linear Mixed Models and variable aggregation and clustering indices were used using the SADIE tool. The results indicated that silt, organic matter, P, K and soil moisture variables mainly influenced the distribution of cfu. The variability of microsite conditions can predict which areas around the trees influence the greater or lesser availability of these oomycetes in the soil. Chapter 3, shows the spatial distribution patterns, at plot scale, of cfu of the oomycete Phytophthora cinnamomi in the rhizosphere of Q. ilex and Q. suber plantations, influenced by the arrangement of physico-chemical properties, soil moisture and topographical properties of the stand. The implications derived from the interactions between these biotic and abiotic factors were observed through defoliation and tree mortality parameters after eight years, using structural equation models and aggregation and grouping indices of variables using the SADIE tool. The results show the greater susceptibility of holm oak versus cork oak in the presence of the pathogen, with higher percentages of defoliation and mortality for the former species. Damage was correlated with soil texture and nutrients. Defoliation of Q. ilex was mainly influenced by soil chemical properties, while for Q. suber, topography and soil moisture were also influential. The highest presence of oomycetes was located in areas with higher soil moisture, lower slopes, northern orientation and low solar radiation. Chapter 4, analyses the effect of biotic, abiotic (edaphic, topographic and environmental) factors on Quercus forest decline and the spread of nonnative invasive pathogenic root rot oomycetes (genus Phytophthora spp.) at a regional scale in Andalusia. The spatiotemporal dynamics of tree defoliation and mortality recorded in the Regional Network of Damage Monitoring Plots of Andalusia (SEDA Network, ICP Level I, 2000-2016) are studied in relation to the presence of oomycetes and mean and annual environmental values. Several statistical approaches (Kaplan-Meier survival curves, Kernel density estimation plots and Generalised Linear Mixed Models) were used to analyse 3635 trees (152 plots). Annual defoliation and mortality were correlated with mean annual temperature, Standardised Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI18summer and SPEI1spring), soil organic matter content and annual precipitation, with pathogen action becoming more relevant under these environmental conditions. Regional forest health networks are shown to be a crucial tool in adaptive forest management strategies in the face of climate change. Chapter 5, assesses and maps damage associated with the effect of nonnative root rot pathogens (Phytophthora spp.) on a Q. ilex and Q. suber afforestation at the individual tree scale, using high-density LiDAR techniques and high-resolution multispectral imagery. The defoliation level of 429 trees was used to obtain LiDAR metrics and vegetation indices based on their spectral bands by means of crown segmentation processing. This resulted in the estimation of defoliation using a non-parametric model that allowed the generation of the damage map of the plantation. Chapter 6, brings together the knowledge and results obtained in this Thesis in a general discussion, providing a global approach to the most relevant milestones reached throughout the study. It also includes the limitations presented during the work and sets out the focus of the new lines of research arising from this Thesis. Chapter 7, presents the general conclusions of the Thesis, which are synthesised below. The spatial distribution patterns of the cfu of the root rot pathogen, P. cinnamomi, in Quercus dehesas and afforestations of Q. ilex and Q. suber, involved in the temporal dynamics of defoliation and mortality processes of these tree species, are influenced by the variability of biotic and abiotic environmental factors, such as soil physicochemical properties, tree canopy cover, the presence and phytosanitary status of the hosts and their root system, climatological changes, as well as the topographic heterogeneity of the landscape. Spatial analysis at different tree, stand and regional scales can serve as tool for predicting areas more susceptible to host these oomycetes and, therefore, to apply adaptive forest management strategies against the decline of these ecosystems
Addressing biodiversity in plantation forests management in northwestern Portugal
Doutoramento em Engenharia Florestal e dos Recursos Naturais / Instituto Superior de Agronomia. Universidade de LisboaBiodiversity is important for forest ecosystem health maintenance and sustainable functioning
and therefore its conservation is significant in all types of forests, including plantations. The
Mediterranean region is known as a biodiversity ‘hotspot’, but also as an area with recently
established forest plantations, that are criticized for the low level of biological diversity and
frequent forest fires. Therefore, including biodiversity assessment in forest plantations
management planning might benefit forest conservation, fire prevention and land some novel
ecosystem services.
Here we attempted to investigate: (1) which biodiversity indicators could be considered in
forest management planning, (2) how to assess and what is the state of biodiversity at a stand
level in plantation forests of northwestern Portugal, (3) how to use stand-level indicators to
assess landscape biodiversity aspects in plantation forests in northwestern Portugal?
Results demonstrated that: (1) the most convenient for forest managers with various
backgrounds is to consider structural indicators in integrating biodiversity in forest
management planning; (2) structural indicators such as tree species indicator, mean diameter
(cm) and shrub biomass (Mg ha-1) are suitable for stand level biodiversity assessment. Pure blue
gum stands on low-quality sites with shrub regenerating by seed had the lowest mean
biodiversity, while mixed stands with a dominance of pine, on best-quality sites with shrub
regeneration by resprouting had the highest mean biodiversity; (3) using umbrella species
concept is suitable for the landscape level biodiversity assessments, and thus, here is estimated
the red kite (Milvus milvus) nesting habitat suitability; the results suggested that the least
favourable habitat would be in pure blue gum plantations, while mature cork oak forest would
serve as the most appropriate long-term habitat.N/
Shifting demographic conflicts across recruitment cohorts in a dynamic post-disturbance landscape
Seed dispersal effectiveness, which measures the number of adult plant individuals
produced by seed dispersal, is the product of the number of seeds dispersed and the probability
a seed produces an adult. Directed dispersal to certain habitat types may enhance some stages
of recruitment but disfavor others, generating demographic conflicts in plant ontogeny. We
asked whether temporal changes in habitat features may affect the distribution of seedlings
recruited from dispersed acorns, and whether this could induce shifts in the life-stage
conflicts
experienced by successive cohorts of naturally recruited plants. As early successional habitats
are characterized by rapid change, we used a burnt pine stand in southern Spain to monitor the
recruitment and performance of a major tree species (Quercus ilex) across 7 yr in four types of
post-fire
habitats. These differed in structure and included patches of unburnt forest and three
management alternatives of burnt trees: logging, partial cutting, and nonintervention. Young
oaks that resprouted after the fire were mainly located near acorn sources, while new seedlings
initially emerged mostly in habitats with standing snags due to habitat selection by European
jays, Garrulus glandarius, for dispersal. The dead pines gradually collapsed and attracted less
dispersal, so subsequent seedling cohorts mainly recruited within patches of unburnt pines.
These live pines enhanced the survival of the oaks located beneath their canopy but greatly
reduced their growth as compared to the other post-fire
habitats, thus representing a
demographic conflict that was absent elsewhere. As a consequence of the directional shift in the
habitat where seedlings recruited, successive seedling cohorts experienced a gradual
improvement in their likelihood of survival but a reduction in growth. The progressive
intensification of this life-stage
conflict hinged on the reduction of vertical structures in the
habitat with standing burnt pines. Recruitment success thus involved temporal variation in the
habitat where recruitment occurred, likely resulting from changes in the direction of seed
dispersal, and spatial variation in habitat suitability for seedling establishment and growth.
Temporal changes in habitat structure can indirectly change the environment in which
recruitment occurs, and consequently seed dispersal effectiveness, by shifting the direction of
seed dispersal.Ministerio de Ciencia e InnovaciónComunidad de MadridMinisterio de Ciencia y Educació
Spatial Heterogeneity of Climate Change Effects on Dominant Height of Larch Plantations in Northern and Northeastern China
Determining the response of dominant height growth to climate change is important for understanding adaption strategies. Based on 550 permanent plots from a national forest inventory and climate data across seven provinces and three climate zones, we developed a climate-sensitive dominant height growth model under a mixed-effects model framework. The mean temperature of the wettest quarter and precipitation of the wettest month were found to be statistically significant explanatory variables that markedly improved model performance. Generally, future climate change had a positive effect on stand dominant height in northern and northeastern China, but the effect showed high spatial variability linked to local climatic conditions. The range in dominant height difference between the current climate and three future BC-RCP scenarios would change from ´0.61 m to 1.75 m (´6.9% to 13.5%) during the period 2041–2060 and from ´1.17 m to 3.28 m (´9.1% to 41.0%) during the period 2061–2080 across provinces. The impacts of climate change on stand dominant height decreased as stand age increased. Forests in cold and warm temperate zones had a smaller decrease in dominant height, owing to climate change, compared with those in the mid temperate zone. Overall, future climate change could impact dominant height growth in northern and northeastern China. As spatial heterogeneity of climate change affects dominant height growth, locally specific mitigation measures should be considered in forest management
Assessing the impacts of intensive forest practices on biodiversity in fragmented landscapes in Portugal
The Mediterranean basin is a biodiversity hotspot which is being threatened by land abandonment and afforestation, most notably with eucalypt plantations, but little research has been done to assess their impact. This study evaluated the impact of eucalypt plantations on biodiversity in the Mediterranean area, taking Portugal as a case study and amphibians, bats and carnivores as the target groups.
The impact of eucalypt cover and other landscape, stand and local variables was evaluated in relation to: species richness and species occurrence for amphibians, namely if amphibian species occurrence is influenced by local characteristics (micro-scale), land-use cover (migration and dispersion-scale) or a mix of both and whether the effects differ if the main cover is eucalypt plantations or montado; species richness, bat activity, Kuhl’s bat Pipistrellus kuhlii (the most abundant bat species in the area) activity, for bats; and species occupancy and detection and spatial and temporal co-occurrence patterns for carnivores.
Amphibian species occurrence was, generally, not influenced by eucalypt cover, with the exception of the newt Lissotriton boscai, which was negatively affected, and Salamandra salamandra, which was positively affected. Overall, eucalypt plantations had a negative impact on bat activity, species richness and Pipistrellus kuhlii activity and negatively influenced carnivore detection probability across all species in both single and co-occurrence models. Eucalypt plantations had a negative effect on red fox (Vulpes vulpes) occupancy, whilst stone marten (Martes foina) and badger (Meles meles) preferred native land covers. However, eucalypt plantations had no effect on the interactions within this carnivore community.
This study confirms the negative impact of eucalypt plantations on bats and carnivores and suggests forest management guidelines to improve biodiversity at the stand and landscape scale. Namely, at a local scale, the implementation of a pond network of different hydroperiods and the exclusion/removal of exotic fish and promotion of understorey vegetation on eucalypt stands; at a landscape scale, it is suggested a multi-functional landscape, promoting eucalypt plantations with diverse age stands and the maintenance/promotion of native and patchy habitats
Forest landscapes and global change. New frontiers in management, conservation and restoration. Proceedings of the IUFRO Landscape Ecology Working Group International Conference
This volume contains the contributions of numerous participants at the IUFRO Landscape Ecology Working
Group International Conference, which took place in Bragança, Portugal, from 21 to 24 of September 2010. The
conference was dedicated to the theme Forest Landscapes and Global Change - New Frontiers in Management,
Conservation and Restoration. The 128 papers included in this book follow the structure and topics of the
conference. Sections 1 to 8 include papers relative to presentations in 18 thematic oral and two poster sessions.
Section 9 is devoted to a wide-range of landscape ecology fields covered in the 12 symposia of the conference.
The Proceedings of the IUFRO Landscape Ecology Working Group International Conference register the growth
of scientific interest in forest landscape patterns and processes, and the recognition of the role of landscape
ecology in the advancement of science and management, particularly within the context of emerging physical,
social and political drivers of change, which influence forest systems and the services they provide. We believe
that these papers, together with the presentations and debate which took place during the IUFRO Landscape
Ecology Working Group International Conference – Bragança 2010, will definitively contribute to the
advancement of landscape ecology and science in general.
For their additional effort and commitment, we thank all the participants in the conference for leaving this record
of their work, thoughts and science
- …