Deciphering the role of reproductive investment, pollination success and predispersal seed predation on reproductive output in Juniperus thurifera

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Plant Ecology and Diversity on 2018/12/10 available online: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17550874.2018.1549119 DOI:10.1080/17550874.2018.1549119Background: Plant reproductive output is determined by a complex set of factors including resource availability, pollination success and pre-dispersal predation. Disentangling the relative contribution of each factor is critical to underpin the factors determining plant fitness. Aims: To unravel the relative contributions of initial reproductive effort, pollination success and pre-dispersal seed predation to plant reproductive success in the fleshy-fruited, wind-pollinated Juniperus thurifera. Methods: We conducted an experiment including pollen addition and pesticide application on 40 female juniper trees for 20 months. Flower production was used as a proxy for resource levels. Results: Main fruit loss occurs in early stages of fruit development. Initial flower number affected fruit and seed set by (a) increasing the rate of fruit formation and the number of viable seeds within fruits and (b) modifying the incidence of low-mobile predators through a satiation effect. Pollination did not limit fruit set, although hand pollinated fruits had more viable seeds. Pre-dispersal seed predation by different arthropods was critical in defining final fruit set. Conclusions: Fruit set in J. thurifera was determined by the interaction of initial reproductive effort and pre-dispersal seed predation. Pollination was not a limiting factor in this relatively dense juniper forests during a year of high flower productionThis work was supported by the Universidad de Valladolid [FPI-UVa]; We thank David Brown for English edition. Erik Rodríguez-García was funded by an Universidad de Valladolid predoctoral contract. The associate editor and two anonymous reviewers improved a previous version of this manuscript. This manuscript was developed within Ecometas excellence network (CGL2016-81706-REDT/AEI

Study of the vegetation series of Cuenca de Pamplona-Valdizarbe (Navarre-NE Spain): interest of their mapping and application

Se estudian las series y subseries de vegetación de 77.817 ha del centro de Navarra, para su cartografía a escala 1:25.000. Las series y subseries son indicadoras de las características ecológicas del territorio y complementan la información climática disponible. Se han descrito ocho series de vegetación, dos geoseries y dos complejos de vegetación. Las series climatófilas comprenden 28 faciaciones, reconocidas mediante las comunidades vegetales que las integran. La distinción de las faciaciones no sólo está asociada a factores climáticos, sino también a factores geomorfológicos, litológicos, edáficos e históricos. Estos últimos factores permiten reconocer patrones complejos a escalas de detalle, superpuestos a los que reflejan los factores climáticos, evidentes a escalas más reducidas. El estudio se enmarca en un proyecto que pretende definir la potencialidad del territorio para diferentes usos y elaborar modelos de evaluación de tierras en Navarra utilizando las unidades cartográficas reconocidas.The vegetation series and subseries of 77,817 ha of Central Navarre are studied to be used as mapping units of a vegetation series map at scale 1:25,000. The series and subseries are indicators of the land environmental features and may be useful to complete the available climatic data. Eight vegetation series, two geoseries and two vegetation complexes have been described. Climatophilous series include 28 subseries defined by the different plant communities that form each one. While vegetation series show clearly climatic patterns when studied at small scales, at detailed scales the vegetation patterns show also the effects of landforms, lithology, soils and history. This study is part of a project that is intended to assess land suitability for different uses and to work out land evaluation models in Navarre based upon the recognized mapping units

Detecting Nothofagus pumilio Growth Reductions Induced by Past Spring Frosts at the Northern Patagonian Andes

Extreme climatic events, such as late frosts in spring during leaf flush, have considerable impacts on the radial growth of temperate broadleaf trees. Albeit, all broadleaved species are potentially vulnerable, damage depends on the particularities of the local climate, the species, and its phenology. The impact of late spring frosts has been widely investigated in the Northern Hemisphere, but the potential incidence in Southern Hemisphere tree species is still poorly known. Here, we reconstruct spring frost occurrence at 30 stands of the deciduous tree Nothofagus pumilio in its northern range of distribution in the Patagonian Andes. We identified tree ring-width reductions at stand level not associated with regional or local drought events, matching unusual minimum spring temperatures during leaf unfolding. Several spring frosts were identified along the northern distribution of N. pumilio, being more frequent in the more continental Argentinean forests. Spring frost in 1980 had the largest spatial extent. The spring frosts in 1980 and 1992 also induced damages in regional orchards. Spring frost damage was associated with (i) a period of unusually warm temperatures at the beginning of leaf unfolding, followed by (ii) freezing temperatures. This study helps expand our understanding of the climatic constraints that could determine the future growth and dynamics of Andean deciduous forests and the potential use of tree-rings as archives of extreme events of spring frosts in northern Patagonia.Fil: Sangüesa Barreda, Gabriel. Universidad de Valladolid; EspañaFil: Villalba, Ricardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Rozas, Vicente. Universidad de Valladolid; España. Universidad Austral de Chile; ChileFil: Christie, Duncan A.. Centro de Investigaciones sobre Clima y Resiliencia; Chile. Universidad Austral de Chile; ChileFil: Olano, José Miguel. Universidad de Valladolid; Españ

Why and where do adult trees die in a young secondary temperate forest? The role of neighbourhood

The density and identity of tree neighbourhood is a key factor to explain tree mortality in forests, especially during the stem exclusion phase. To understand this process, we built a logistic model for mortality in a spatially explicit context,including tree and neighbourhood predictors. Additionally, we used this model to build mortality risk frequency distributions. Finally, we tested this model against a random mortality model to predict the spatial pattern of the forest. Annual mortality rate was high for pedunculate oak (Quercus robur, 6.99%), moderate for birch (Betula celtiberica, 2.19%) and Pyrenean oak (Q. pyrenaica, 1.58%) and low for beech (Fagus sylvatica, 0.26%). Mortality risk models for pedunculate oak and birch included stem diameter, tree height, canopy position and neighbourhood. Mortality was affected by the specific nature of the neighbourhood showing a clear competitive hierarchy: beech > pedunculate oak > birch. Models based on random mortality and logistic regression model were able to predict the spatial pattern of survivors although logistic regression predictions were more accurate. Our study highlights how simple models such as the random mortality one may obscure much more complex spatial interactions

ρ-MtreeRing: A graphical user interface for X-ray microdensity analysis

Producción CientíficaWood microdensitometry provides an integrated measurement of inter and intra-annual changes in wood anatomy and lignification. Although it can be acquired through a wide array of techniques, X-ray-based techniques are still the standard. Conversion of a grayscale X-ray image to density and annual ring boundaries delimitation is performed through image analysis software. Proprietary software has dominated these applications, albeit Free Open Source Software (FOSS) has been developed recently. We present ρ-MtreeRing, a user-friendly FOSS that streamlines the entire microdensitometry analysis process through a graphical user interface based on Shiny R Software without any programming knowledge. We compared the results of this program with the most widely used commercial software (WinDendro), showing the validity of the results. ρ-MtreeRing can be personalized and developed by the microdensitometry research community.Junta de Castilla y León (VA171P20)Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación y Ministerio de Universidades grant number CGL2017-87309-P (MGH PRE2018-084106) and project PROWARM (PID2020-118444GA-I00)Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (through Project RP200060107)Centro de Recursos Hídricos para la Agricultura y la Minería (ANID/FONDAP/15130015

Variation in the Climate Sensitivity Dependent on Neighbourhood Composition in a Secondary Mixed Forest

Understanding the vulnerability of individual trees to climate requires moving from population to individual level. This study evaluates individual tree response in a mixed forest by assessing how size and neighbourhood density modulated growth responses to climate among coexisting tree species. To understand the complete variation in growth responses to climate, it is necessary to consider intrapopulation variability. Trees respond as individual entities, and their response is modulated by their characteristics and neighbourhood context. To assess the individual climate sensitivity, all living Iberian birches, European beeches, and pedunculate oaks trees located in a temperate mixed forest were cored in four 40 m × 40 m plots. Standard ring-width chronologies were built at tree and species level for the 1977–2007 period. Chronologies were related to climatic variables (monthly precipitation, hailstorm and mean temperature, and summer (June–August) precipitation). Growth response to climate varied among species and individual trees. Differences in climate–growth relationship among species could be partially attributed to the different xylem anatomy, since secondary growth of ring-porous pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) was mainly dependent on the previous-winter climatic conditions (January temperature), while for the diffuse-porous Iberian birch (Betula celtiberica Rothm. and Vasc.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), spring temperature and summer precipitation were the major constraining factors of growth. Tree features and identity of neighbourhood modulated climatic response, especially for Iberian birch and pedunculate oak. Dominant trees in less crowded neighbourhoods responded more intensely to climate factors. Understanding the individual variability of growth responses to climate will provide more realistic predictions of forests response to climate change.Special thanks to Silvia Martinez de Olcoz for assistance with the fieldwork and the measurements of the tree-rings. Urkiola Natural Park provided the facilities for field work. Urkiola Natural Park provided the facilities for field work and financial support. Additional financial support was provided by a Basque Government (Grupo de Investigacion Consolidado: Grupo Estudio en Flora, Vegetacion y Ecosistemas Terrestres). Furthermore, this work has been supported by the projects CGL2012-34209 and CGL2015-69186-C2-1-R (Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivity) and by the Excellence Network "Ecometas" (CGL2014-53840-REDT)

Vertical cliffs harbor millennia‐old junipers in the Canary Islands

Producción CientíficaThe ability of trees to endure for millennia, surpassing human lifetimes, and survive the most destructive human and natural hazards is astonishing. But what is the ecological role of tree longevity? Are old trees more than impressive nature wonders? Can ancient trees become effective genetic reservoirs able to recover bygone ecosystems? Oceanic islands are ideal ecosystems to address these questions, as they have experienced recent and intense human-induced environmental changes. In the Canary Islands in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, human colonization since the fifth century BCE (Rodríguez-Varela et al., 2017) added logging, fire, and grazing pressure to a territory already experiencing regular volcanic activity. Tenerife Island is the most populated island of the Canary Islands archipelago and harbors the largest subalpine ecosystems in the entire Macaronesian Biogeographic Region. Woodlands in the Tenerife subalpine environment were once formed by the Canary Island juniper (Juniperus cedrus Webb. & Berthel.; hereafter juniper; Machado & Galván, 2012, García-Cervigón et al., 2019), but historical human pressure restricted its distribution to inaccessible spots, away from human activity, such as cliffs. [parte del texto]Comunidad de Madrid, Grant/Award Number: REMEDINAL TE-CM (S2018/EMT-4338)Junta de Castilla y León-Consejería de Educación, Grant/Award Numbers: (VA113G19), (VA171P20) y (IR2020-1-UVA08)Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Grant/Award Numbers: LAUREL (PID2019-109906RA-I00), (PRE2018-084106) and PROWARM (PID2020-118444GA-100)Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad. Grant/Award Number: (IJC2019-040571-I)Secretaría de Estado de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación, Grant/Award Number: spRING (CGL2017-87309-P

Systemic Corticosteroids in Patients with Bronchial Asthma: A Real-Life Study

25 p.Objectives: The objective of the present study was to determine the use of systemic corti-costeroids (SCs) in patients with bronchial asthma using big data analysis. Methods: We performed an observational, retrospective, noninterventional study based on secondary data captured from free text in the electronic health records. This study was per-formed based on data from the regional health service of Castille-La Mancha (SESCAM), Spain. We performed the analysis using big data and artificial intelligence via Savana® Manager version 3.0. Results: During the study period, 103 667 patients were diagnosed with and treated for asthma at different care levels. The search was restricted to patients aged 10 to 90 years (mean age, 43.5 [95%CI, 43.4-43.7] years). Of these, 59.8% were women. SCs were taken for treatment of asthma by 58 745 patients at some point during the study period. These patients were older, with a higher prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, ob-esity, depression, and hiatus hernia. SCs are used frequently in the general population with asthma (31.4% in 2015 and 39.6% in 2019). SCs were prescribed mainly in primary care (59%), allergy (13%) and pulmonology (20%). The frequency of prescription of SCs had a direct impact on the main associated adverse effects. Conclusion: In clinical practice, SCs are frequently prescribed to patients with asthma, especially in primary care. Use of SCs is associated with a greater number of adverse events. It is necessary to implement measures to reduce prescription of SCs to patients with asthma, especially in primary care

250-Year reconstruction of pollarding events reveals sharp management changes in Iberian ash woodlands

Producción CientíficaTree pollarding was a dominant management strategy of European forests for centuries creating open agroforestry landscapes with important cultural and environmental values. This traditional practice has been widely abandoned in last decades with a subsequent impact in terms of biodiversity and cultural loss. Central Spain hosts the largest and best-preserved area of pollarded narrow-leaved ash (Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl.) woodlands in Europe. The main aim of this research is to obtain rigorous historical records of pollarding frequency to get adequate information for traditional ash management. We used dendrochronological techniques to evaluate temporal changes of pollarding frequency and rotation length. We analysed the stand level synchrony and the effect of land property on pollarding activity from 322 trees growing in eight pollard stands in Central Spain. Pollarding events were unequivocally identified at tree level by a characteristic change in growth pattern. We identified 2426 tree-level pruning events with the first event dated in 1777. Historical pruning recurrence ranged between 5 and 10 years with higher pollarding frequency on private lands. Pruning events within each site were synchronous, suggesting the existence of a rotational schema within each stand. Pruning frequency decreased drastically in the 1970s matching with the depopulation of rural areas and the general abandonment of traditional practices. Pollarding practices have recovered in recent decades although with lower intensity and lacking the synchronic historical patterns. Providing technical and economic support to make this traditional activity profitably would have strong environmental revenue due the multiple ecosystem services provided by pollarded ashes.iuFOR Institute Unit of Excellence" of the University of Valladolid, funded by the Junta de Castilla y León and co-financed by the European Union (ERDF "Europe drives our growth") project (CLU-2019-01)Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación y Agencia Estatal de Investigación - MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 project PROWARM (PID2020-118444GA-100),(IJC2019-040571-I),(grant PRE2018-084106)Junta de Castilla y León, projects, (VA171P20) and (IR2020-1-UVA08)Publicación en abierto financiada por el Consorcio de Bibliotecas Universitarias de Castilla y León (BUCLE), con cargo al Programa Operativo 2014ES16RFOP009 FEDER 2014-2020 DE CASTILLA Y LEÓN, Actuación:20007-CL - Apoyo Consorcio BUCL

How to build and install your own CaptuRING

Producción CientíficaCaptuRING is a reliable and affordable tool to transform tree-ring samples into digital images combining open source software and do-it-yourself philosophies. A Raspberry Pi runs the system through an Arduino board that controls the wood sample movement across a linear screw at the time that a digital camera takes sequential high resolution (>4500 dpi) images from a wood sample. Here, we present three video tutorials, with English and Spanish subtitles, to construct and install CaptuRING (github.com/CambiumRG/CaptuRING) from scratch. First video tutorial explains the necessary components and how to assemble them to construct the CaptuRING platform, second tutorial covers Arduino board and Raspberry Pi connections, and the third tutorial is devoted to hardware configuration, software installation and CaptuRING use.Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades - Agencia Estatal de Investigación (grants PRE2018-084106 and IJC2019-040571-I ; project PID2020-118444GA-100)Junta de Castilla y Leon (projects IR2020-1-UVA08 and VA171P20)EU LIFE Soria Forest Adapt (project LIFE19 CCA/ES/001181)Caja Rural de Soria - FUNGE-UVa (project 26/04/2022 TCUE 2021-2023