In semiarid ecosystems, the self-organized spatial patterns of plants associated with catastrophic shifts can emerge from a variety of processes. In this study, on moderate slopes where Stipa tenacissima cover was high, the selforganization of some of the typical species of semiarid Mediterranean matorral ( Phlomis purpurea , Sideritis oxteosylla, Helianthemum almeriense , and Brachypodium retusum ) was negatively correlated with Stipa cover. The extent of Stipa cover did not affect desert pioneer species, such as Artemisia herba-alba , Fagonia cretica , and Launaea lanifera . On pronounced slopes, the self-organizing structure of brushwood vegetation did not vary predictably with the amount of Stipa cover. We examined the competition/facilitation processes associated with self-organizing patterns in the dwarf shrub ( Phl. purpurea ) and the half shrub ( H. almeriense ). The developmental stability of H. almeriense was positively correlated with Stipa cover, which was expected because they are associated species in this seral thyme brushwood community. Indeed, facilitation processes were manifested by the developmental stability increases under the Stipa canopy, particularly on high slope areas, where Stipa is less competitive. In Phl. purpurea , negative feedback processes from competition with Stipa were manifested where Stipa cover was high and on low slopes (developmental instability increased). In general, competition with Stipa on low slopes tended to decrease plant self-organization.

Se ha realizado un estudio de la flora y vegetación del Parque Natural de la Sierra de las Nieves (Málaga, España). Como resultado se han catalogado 1400 táxones, de los que en este trabajo destacamos 36, por ser especies protegidas, primeras citas y endémicas de la zona. Se propone una nueva combinación: Ulex baeticus subsp. bourgaeanus. Se han inventariado un total de 78 asociaciones y comunidades. Se describen como nuevos sintáxones una alianza (Pino pinastri-Juniperion phoeniceae), 12 asociaciones, 9 subasociaciones y 1 combinación nueva. Se reconocen 6 series climatófilas de las que dos son de alcornocales (Quercus suber), una de encinares (Quercus rotundifolia), una de robledales (Quercus pyrenaica), una de quejigales (Quema alpestris) y una de sabinares-enebrales (Juniperus sabina). Otras 5 series son edafoxerófilas de las que dos corresponden a pinsapares (Abies pinsapo), dos a sabinares (Juniperus phoenicea) y una a pinares (Pious pinaster). Además reconocemos 5 series edafohigrófilas: 1 de fresnedas (Fraxinus angustifolia), dos de saucedas (Salix pedicellata) y 2 de adelfares (Nerium oleander). Se presenta como resultado final el esquema sintaxonómico completo del Parque.

Spatial heterogeneity, like species diversity, is an important ecosystem property. We examine the effects of land use on the diversity and spatial distribution of plants in five semi-arid communities of eastern Spain using non-linear methods to assess the spatial-temporal dynamics of plant populations. Specifically, we are interested in detecting long-term structural changes or drift in an ecosystem before it is too late to prevent irreversible degradation. Fractal analysis is used to characterize the complexity of plant spatial patterns and Information Theory indices are used to measure change in information flow with land use changes and soil substrate. We found that grazing favored diversity and heterogeneity of species distribution on the impoverished gypsum and saline substrate community, as opposed to the detrimental effect of grazing in the Alpha steppe community. Indeed, old-field succession after 30 years of abandonment showed a recovery of species diversity but not the spatial structure of the vegetation. Further, Information Fractal Dimension, representing the unpredictability of plant spatial patterns in the landscape, increased as we moved from a highly diverse to a less diverse community, revealing the change to a more scattered and homogeneous spatial plant distribution. The Information Fractal Dimension is a good estimator of ecosystem disturbance, independent of scale, and thus can be used to monitor ecosystem dynamics.

BackgroundPersons with schizophrenia and related disorders may be particularly sensitive to a number of determinants of service use, including those related with illness, socio-demographic characteristics and organizational factors. The objective of this study is to identify factors associated with outpatient contacts at community mental health services of patients with schizophrenia or related disorders.MethodsThis cross-sectional study analyzed 1097 patients. The main outcome measure was the total number of outpatient consultations during one year. Independent variables were related to socio-demographic, clinical and use of service factors. Data were collected from clinical records.ResultsThe multilevel linear regression model explained 46.35% of the variance. Patients with significantly more contacts with ambulatory services were not working and were receiving welfare benefits (p = 0.02), had no formal education (p = 0.02), had a global level of severity of two or three (four being the most severe) (p < 0.001), with one or more inpatient admissions (p < 0.001), and in contact with both types of professional (nurses and psychiatrists) (p < 0.001). The patients with the fewest ambulatory contacts were those with diagnoses of persistent delusional disorders (p = 0.04) and those who were attended by four of the 13 psychiatrists (p < 0.001).ConclusionsAs expected, the variables that explained the use of community service could be viewed as proxies for severity of illness. The most surprising finding, however, was that a group of four psychiatrists was also independently associated with use of ambulatory services by patients with schizophrenia or related disorders. More research is needed to carefully examine how professional support networks interact to affect use of mental health.

CABEZUDORESUMEN. Datos sobre la flora y vegetación del Parque Natural de Los Alcornocales (Cádiz-Málaga, España). Se ha realizado un estudio de la flora, vegetación y paisaje vegetal del Parque Natural de Los Alcornocales, situado en las provincias de Cádiz y Málaga (SW de la Península Ibérica, Andalucía). La altitud máxima en el Parque es de 1091 in.; la litología dominante es a base de areniscas silíceas y arcillas salvo en el NW donde predominan las calizas. Las precipitaciones son muy abundantes (entre 800 y 1400 mm.) así como el régimen de nieblas causado por la cercanía al Estrecho de Gibraltar; se reconocen dos pisos bioclimáticos, termo y mesomediterráneo con oceanidad acusada. Como resultado se han catalogado unos 1300 taxones de plantas vasculares, destacandose en este trabajo las especies protegidas, endemismos o primeras citas para Andalucía Occidental, de entre ellas 9 son pteridófitos relícticos de gran valor fitogeográfico. Se han inventariado un total de 89 asociaciones y comunidades. Se realizan comentarios sobre sintaxones de rango superior a asociación. Se lectotipifica una subasociación y se neotipifica una asociación. Se describen como nuevos sintáxones un orden (Rhododendro pontici-Prunetalia lusitanicae), dos alianzas (Rhododendro pontici-Prunion lusitanicae y Salicion pedicellatae), 6 asociaciones, 4 subasociaciones y 6 combinaciones. Se reconocen 6 series climatófilas de las cuales es nueva una de quejigares sobre calizas (Oleo sylvestris-Querceto broteroi S), otras dos son de alcornocales sobre areniscas (Quereos suber), una de quejigares morunos en zonas más húmedas (Quereos canariensis), una de robledales en las cumbres (Quereos pyrenaica) y una de encinares sobre calizas en zonas basales (Quercus rotundifolia). Como serie mixta ligada a las condiciones de los vertisoles se desarrolla una serie de acebuchales (Oleo sylvestris). Como vegetación permanente sobre calizas aparecen algarrobales (Ceratonia siliqua), sobre areniscas aparecen enebrales (Juniperus oxycedrus), en cumbres azotadas por el viento reconocemos una comunidad con quejigueta (Quereos lusitanica) y una variante relictual edafoxerófila sobre areniscas con pino negral (Pinos pinaster). Como serie mixta ligada a las condiciones de humedad tanto ambiental como edáfica se desarrollan ojaranzales (Rhododendron ponticum) similares a las formaciones de laurisilva macaronesica. Las series edafohigrófilas del Parque son: las alisedas (Alnus glutinosa), las saucedas (Salix pedicellata), las choperas (Populus alba), las fresnedas (Fraxinus angusttfolia),los adelfares (Nerium oleander), los tarajales (Tamarix africana) y los brezales edafohidrófilos (Erica ciliaris). Existen así mismo mosaicos de comunidades ligadas a Corredores ecológicos, entornos humanos, rupícolas, epífitas, aerohalófilas, de medios acuáticos y salinos. Finalmente se presentan el esquema sintaxonómico comentado, las tablas fitosociológicas correspondientes a las novedades y un mapa de las series de vegetación del Parque.