Lengthening single-stem rotation improves biomass yield and water use efficiency in black poplar genotype multi-stem rotation coppice plantations

Poplar short rotation coppice (SRC) plantations have great potential for supplying environmentally friendly bio-based industries. However, little research has focussed on the linkages between SRC management regimes and the consumption of water for biomass production in the Mediterranean environment. Therefore, we compared six hybrid clones and four native black poplar genotypes with an aim to examine how two different lengthening periods (3 vs. 5 years) of single-stem rotation affected growth performance in the following three years of multi-stem rotation coppice. To achieve this goal, we assessed the aboveground dry biomass production and variation in water use efficiency (WUE) of the genotypes annually. A longer single-stem rotation increased biomass productivity and WUE in the multi-stem rotation of the native black poplar, rather than that of the hybrid genotypes. In contrast, biomass and WUE performances did not diverge between the native and hybrid genotypes under the shorter single-stem phase. These findings underline the importance of lengthening the rotation of single-stem SRC plantations in hot and dry Mediterranean climates. Native black poplar genotypes managed in SRC should be strongly considered as environmentally compatible genetic resources both in protected areas and in areas where water supply constrains biomass production

Wood exploitation and food supply at the border of the Roman Empire: the case of the vicus of Thamusida - Sidi Ali ben Ahmed (Morocco)

This paper presents the results of inter-disciplinary work drawing on archaeobotanical and archaeometric studies to trace the agroforestry landscape and the supply economy at the vicus of Thamusida in north-west Morocco at the border of the Roman Empire. The available data indicate the self-sufficiency of the settlement in both forestry and agricultural products throughout the period investigated from the end of the 1st century BC to the beginning of the 4th century AD. Charcoal data testify to the presence of a Quercus suber forest in the close surroundings of the site and its exploitation for a variety of forestry products such as timber, fuelwood, cork, and probably also leaves and acorns to feed livestock. The overwhelming presence of Q. suber in the archaeological layer investigated clearly indicates that this forest was under human influence prior to Roman occupation and was already partially degraded. Charred seed and fruit remains suggest that the diet of both troops and civilians was mainly based on locally grown products and that all the inhabitants of the site had access to good cereals such as barley, naked wheats and pulses with large seeds such as horse bean and pea; quality fruits, such as olive and grape, were also produced locally for fresh consumption. Organic residue analyses of the contents of ceramic vessels and plastered vats allowed archaeobotanical data to be complemented, thereby shedding light on some of the imports at Thamusida. Despite the remote location of this settlement, imported goods such as oil and wine were transported here in amphorae from different parts of the Empire

Climatic and anthropogenic factors explain the variability of Fagus sylvatica treeline elevation in fifteen mountain groups across the Apennines

Abstract Background Fagus sylvatica forms the treeline across the Apennines mountain range, with an average elevation of 1589 m a.s.l. Previous studies evidenced that the current position of the treeline in the Apennines is heavily depressed as a result of a complex interaction between climatic factors and the past human pressure. In this study we correlated treeline elevation in the fifteen major mountain groups in the Apennines with selected climatic, geomorphological, and human disturbance variables in order to investigate in detail the site-specific features affecting the current treeline distribution. Results Treeline elevation was lowest in the North Italy (Apuan Alps), while the highest treeline was found in Central Italy (Simbruini). An absolute maximum treeline elevation of F. sylvatica exceeding 2000 m a.s.l. was found on 13 mountain peaks in Central and Southern Italy. Noteworthy, treeline elevation was largely lower on warmer south-facing slopes compared to northern slopes, with values several hundred meters lower in the Gran Sasso and Velino-Sirente. Although the causes of this pattern are still unknown, we argue that treeline elevation on south-facing slopes may be limited by the combination of climatic constraints (i.e. summer drought) and human disturbance. Evidence of a pervasive anthropogenic effect depressing treeline elevation was found in the North (Apuan Alps) Central (Gran Sasso, Velino-Sirente, Sibillini) and Southern part of Apennines (Pollino). By contrast, treeline elevation of the Laga, Simbruini, and Orsomarso mountain groups appears less affected by past anthropogenic disturbance. Finally, we recorded in the several mountain groups (i.e. Majella, Marsicani and Pollino) the coexistence of very depressed treelines just a few kilometers away from much higher treelines, among the highest ever recorded for F. sylvatica. Conclusions Finally, we argue that F. sylvatica treeline across the Apennines is locally shaped both by the interaction of low temperatures experienced by the species in its earliest life stages in snow-free open spaces with summer soil water depletion and human disturbance

The Botanical Record of Archaeobotany Italian Network - BRAIN: a cooperative network, database and website

Con autorización de la revista para autores CSIC[EN] The BRAIN (Botanical Records of Archaeobotany Italian Network) database and network was developed by the cooperation of archaeobotanists working on Italian archaeological sites. Examples of recent research including pollen or other plant remains in analytical and synthetic papers are reported as an exemplar reference list. This paper retraces the main steps of the creation of BRAIN, from the scientific need for the first research cooperation to the website which has a free online access since 2015.Peer reviewe

Woodland exploitation and Roman shipbuilding

Several ancient wooden shipwrecks, harbours and submerged sites have frequently been found in the Mediterranean Sea, especially in France and, subordinately, in Italy. These discoveries are important in ancient maritime, economic and naval history studies as well as in vegetation history and biogeography. This work presents the results obtained from wood analysis of a ship for harbour service found in the sediments of the Neapolis harbour (southern Italy) dated to the boundary between the i and ii centuries AD. A multiproxy approach enabled correlation between timber taxa and pollen data, obtained from the coeval sedimentary layers, in order to constrain the ship provenance and the timber exploitation areas. Timber/pollen comparison suggests that, most probably, the timber used for ship building was of local origin. Moreover, even if a more accurate selection and a preference for softwood were adopted for planking elements, a good relationship was observed between technological properties and functional role of the wooden elements. Woodland exploitation seems to have been rationally carried out, with a good compromise between the quality of the ship, wood availability and the ease of supply. The supplying takes place not far from the shipyard, from tree growing as well as from wild forests. It is noteworthy to underline the hypothesis of Cupressus sempervirens and may be of Juglans regia tree plantation for timber production, the wider diffusion of Abies alba in the surroundings of Neapolis, with respect to the present, and a major diffusion of the Pinus nigra group in Campania.Numerosi relitti, porti e siti sommersi sono stati rinvenuti nel bacino del Mediterraneo, soprattutto in Francia e in Italia. Queste scoperte rappresentano un importante contributo non solo alla comprensione della storia della costruzione navale ma anche alla storia della vegetazione ed alla biogeografia. Il presente lavoro riguarda lo studio del legno di un relitto (denominato NapoliC) rinvenuto nei sedimenti del porto di Neapolis. Questo relitto corrisponde ad un’imbarcazione di servitù portuale che fu abbandonata alla fine del i secolo d.C. L’approccio multidisciplinare ha permesso di correlare il legname utilizzato per la costruzione della barca con i dati pollinici ottenuti dall’analisi dei sedimenti. Tale correlazione ha consentito di ipotizzare il luogo di origine della nave e le aree di sfruttamento delle risorse forestali. Il confronto legname/polline suggerisce che il legno utilizzato per la costruzione della nave era probabilmente di origine locale. Per gli elementi del fasciame esterno si può notare un’accurata selezione ed una preferenza per legno di conifere. In linea generale, poi, è possibile ipotizzare una buona relazione fra qualità della barca, disponibilità del legno e facilità di approvvigionamento. Questo, doveva avvenire non lontano dal cantiere navale, sia da boschi naturali che da coltivazioni. É possibile ipotizzare che Cupressus sempervirens e probabilmente anche Juglans regia fossero coltivati per il legname. La diffusione di Abies alba e del gruppo Pinus nigra in Campania era sicuramente maggiore dell’attuale.De nombreuses épaves de navires antiques ont souvent été retrouvées en Méditerranée, particulièrement en France et en Italie. Ces découvertes sont importantes car elles permettent d’apporter des données nouvelles sur l’étude de l’histoire navale et maritime, de l’économie antique ainsi que sur les dynamiques des peuplements végétaux. Notre article présente les résultats obtenus de l’analyse des bois d’une épave (Napoli C) retrouvée dans les sédiments du port antique de Naples. Cette épave correspond à une embarcation de servitude portuaire qui fut abandonnée à la fin du Ier siècle de notre ère. Une étude des données xylologiques et palynologiques permet de préciser l’origine des bois utilisés. Nos résultats montrent que le bois du navire est d’origine locale provenant de plantations ou de forêts. Par exemple, nous avons émis l’hypothèse que le Cupressus sempervirens (cyprès) et, peut-être, Juglans regia (noyer) étaient cultivés dans l’Antiquité pour la production de bois pour la construction navale. Nous insistons sur une utilisation rationnelle dans la construction navale de bois aux qualités différentes et complémentaires. Par exemple, les résineux ont été principalement utilisés pour le bordé. La région napolitaine devait être alors caractérisée par une diffusion plus importante qu’à l’époque actuelle d’Abies alba (sapin) et des pins du groupe Pinus nigra (pins noirs)