Suitable methods for landscape evaluation and valorization: the third dimension in landscape metrics

Landscape metrics have been widely developed over the last two decades. One of the major recent developments in landscape metrics analysis was the integration of the third dimension. Topography has an extremely important role in ecosystems function and structure, even though the common analysis in landscape ecology only considers a planimetric surface, which leads to some erroneous results particularly in mountain areas. In this study we tested landscape metrics behaviour in 13 sample areas of 10,000 m2 each in several topographical conditions of Central Alentejo, Portugal. The significance analysis of the results achieved in planimetric and three-dimensional environments is presented

The Algarve climatophilous vegetation series – Portugal: a base document to the planning, management and nature conservation Les séries de végètation climatophiles de l’Algarve - Portugal: un document de base pour la planification, gestion et conservation de la nature

This work was developed as part of PhD research devoted to the flora and vegetation of the Caldeirão and Monchique mountains that aims to identify the vegetation climatophilous series and use them as an environmental diagnosis of Algarve administrative province phyto-ecological subregions. Biogeographic and bioclimatic considerations are presented, as well as the study area pedological and lithological characterization. For each of the seven climatophilous series the dynamic and catenal behaviours, as well as the main characteristic plants that constitute the successional stages, are given. The corresponding patrimonial value is studied

Taxonomic peculiarities of marcescent oaks (Quercus, Fagaceae) in southern Portugal

geobotanical studies on marcescent groves in southern Portugal have led to a clarification and updating of the taxonomical status of some Quercus species, after ambiguous and specific collections recorded through extensive fieldwork. We highlight the situation of Q. canariensis Willd. in Portugal, mainly referring to the hybrid-species Q. x marianica C. Vicioso, whose new status is proposed here. We also confirm and discuss the occurrence of two dubious taxa (Q. alpestris Boiss. and Q. estremadurensis O. schwarz) for Portuguese flora that are not listed or recognized in the main works, and we note some nomenclatural issues for the first (Q. alpestris). likewise, reference is made to another two nothospecies resulting from hybridization that have recently been recognized in this context, in addition to another four hybrids that are already known but still unfamiliar to the scientific community due to the controversial issue of hybridization within this genus. This study reveals the importance of taxonomical surveys for community ecology

Vegetação do Sudoeste Português

O território formado pelo Alentejo Litoral e pelo Algarve Ocidental apresenta uma franca originalidade do ponto de vista da sua flora e vegetação. Nele se localiza a área em estudo no presente capítulo, cujo limite leste corre pelo sopé da falda leste das serras sublitorais da Brejeira, São Luís, Cercal e Grândola, incluindo o limite norte da bacia do rio Mira com as areias da bacia sedimentar do rio Sado. Dos lados ocidental e meridional o seu limite corresponde à linha de costa. Este capítulo tem por objeto a paisagem vegetal dos territórios montanhosos e costeiros do Sudoeste português, que se incluem no Subsetor Costeiro Monchiquense, correspondendo ao extremo sudoeste da Província costeira Lusitano-Andaluza Ocidental em Portugal (Rivas-Martínez et al., 2017; Vila-Viçosa et al., 2017). Abarca a parte ocidental da região administrativa do Algarve, nomeadamente o cabo de Sagres, mas também as serras siliciosas e areias litorais do Baixo Alentejo Litoral e um conjunto de áreas de origem eruptiva, de substratos predominantemente ácidos (o complexo vulcano-silicioso do Cercal e maciço eruptivo de Monchique) (Oliveira, 1984).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

ORIGINALIDADES DO COBERTO VEGETAL DO ALTO TEJO

Após uma breve introdução, onde se enquadra o território em análise, tecem-se algumas considerações sobre a originalidade geobotânica destas superfícies, indicando ainda as principais metodologias seguidas ao nível da geografia, geologia, geomorfologia, pedologia, biogeografia e bioclimatologia. Posteriormente apresentam-se os principais resultados, onde merecem especial destaque alguns elementos florísticos, com estatuto de raridade e endemicidade, o coberto vegetal existente e os principais habitats presentes que integram o Anexo I da Directiva 92/43/EEC de 21 de Maio de 1992, nomeadamente os prioritários, assim como os mais representativos destas áreas. Por último, esboça-se, na conclusão, algumas considerações sobre os traços fisionómicos da paisagem vegetal destes territórios

Anotaciones a la diversidad del género Quercus L. (Fagaceae) en la Estremadura Portuguesa

La diversidad de robles con la que cuenta el territorio portugués se ha puesto de manifiesto en numerosas aportaciones de los autores lusitanos. Tal vez la obra de referencia para Portugal sea la revisión de Coutinho, A.X.P. 1888. Os Quercus de Portugal. Coimbra, 76 pp, en la que se da a conocer numerosos taxones infraespecíficos del género Quercus L., presentes en Portugal de los que se desconocía su presencia. Más tarde autores peninsulares como: Vicioso, C. 1950. Boletin Instituto Forestal Investig. Exper. 51: 1-194; Vasconcellos, J.C. & Amaral Franco, J. 1954. Anais Instituto Superior Agronomía, 21: 1- 135, o Amaral Franco, J. 1990, in Castroviejo, S. Flora Iberica 2: 15-36, ordenaron la nomenclatura y sistemática del género, poniendo de manifiesto a nivel específico, infraespecífico y de nothotaxones, la diversidad del genero Quercus en la Península Ibérica

Current state of the Prunetalia spinosae communities in the centre and south of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain, Portugal)

This paper re-examines the Rhamno-Prunetea class in the centre and south of the Iberian Peninsula, especially in Andalusia. The paper also deals with the alliances Pruno-Rubion ulmifolii Lonicero-Berberidion hispanicae in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, and Berberidion vulgaris (Berberidenion seroi) in the area of Cuenca. Our analysis of 225 relevés arranged in 22 phytosociological tables helped us to re-organize the available information and subsequently propose three associations and two subassociations: Clematido vitalbae-Rosetum micranthae nova; Berberido hispanicae- Buxetum sempervirentis nova; Roso siculae-Berberidetum hispanicae Mota nova subas. prunetosum ramburii Mota nova; Lonicero arboreae-Rhamnetum cathartici Martínez-Parras and Molero 1983 subas. prunetosum ranburii nova. As a result of the study, a total of 18 syntaxa with the rank of association and four with the rank of subassociation are proposed for the south of the Iberian Peninsula

A new Erica lusitanica Rudolphi heathland association to the Iberian south-west

As result of several field trips following doctoral research in Marianic-Monchiquensean Sector, we describe a new heathland named Lavandulo viridis-Ericetum lusitanici ass nova hoc loco (Genistion micrantho-anglicae, Rivas- Martínez 1979) as a thermomediterranean to lower mesomediterranean, upper dry to humid, schistose association. The analysis of 11 relevés, following Braun-Blanquet methodology shows the floristic identity of this new association as well as the chorological segregation of its area of occurrence. Finally, despite these communities already being relatively well known and although they are poor in species number, such heathlands show floristic singularity and own sinecology, with a large and distinct geographical area of distribution, so we emphasized its integration within Atlantic wet heaths priority habitat (⁄4020 – Annex B-I from Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992)

Analysis of the Cytisetea scopario-striati scrubs in the south-west-centre of the Iberian Peninsula

The statistical and phytosociological study of 255 relevés taken in the south-west of the Iberian Peninsula and made up of our own samples and previous publications reveals how close these relevés, previously ascribed to different syntaxa, really are. Our re-arrangement of the data leads us to propose for the territory the 15 associations already published and three new ones, namely: Genisto floridae-Adenocarpetum argyrophylli ass. nova hoc loco, Cytisetum bourgaei- eriocarpi nova, Lavandulo viridis-Cytisetum striati ass. nova hoc. loco. We also suggest a name correction, Adenocarpo anisochili-Cytisetum scoparii J.C. Costa et al. 2000 corr., and a status change, namely, Ulici latebracteati- Cytisetum striati (Costa et al. 2000) status novo

Best management practices to face degradated territories occupied by Cistus ladanifer shrublands – Portugal case study

Land degradation in Mediterranean Basin is clearly connected to the resilience of perturbed ecosystems, contributing to land abandonment, recurrent fires and biodiversity loss, with the prevalence of secondary shrublands that tend to occupy large areas. This is the case of Cistus ladanifer .shrublands, one of the most widespread shrub communities in Iberian Peninsula and a poor, uniform and resilient system. Here we analyze the impact of several management practices in the recovery of territories largely occupied by this shrublands. We tested “nonintervention”, “cut”, “fire”, “mechanical mobilization” and “pasture” in 100 m2 plots of Cistus ladaniferus L., in Central Portugal, being followed since 1993. Flora was analyzed using Braun–Blanquet’s methodology and the plots compared with hierarchical cluster analysis and PCA. An ANOVA analysis was also performed to investigate differences in management practices, between plots and between two periods of time. The results show that extensive grazing or continuous cut have a high impact on plant diversity and community structure, been extensive grazing, the best way to improve plant diversity in a short period of time, using less resource