Ecogeomorphological consequences of land abandonment in semiarid Mediterranean areas: Integrated assessment of physical evolution and biodiversity

Robledano-Aymerich, Francisco; Díaz, Arturo; Serrato, Francisco Belmonte; Zapata-Pérez, Víctor Manuel; Hernández, Carlos Martínez; Martínez-López, Vicente

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2014.08.006

Cited by 66 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 98 publications

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“…() in a previous study (Robledano‐Aymerich et al. ), makes easier to display differences between study units. However, we have improved it by including additional features shaping the dispersal potential of species (e.g., body mass; details about the index parameters in Appendix : Table S1).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Data are then transformed in an unbounded comparative seed dispersal index used as a proxy of the seed dispersal service provided by frugivores. The index, adapted from Pons et al (2003) in a previous study (Robledano-Aymerich et al 2014), makes easier to display differences between study units. However, we have improved it by including additional features shaping the dispersal potential of species (e.g., body mass; details about the index parameters in Appendix S2: Table S1).…”

Section: Methodological Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, Robledano‐Aymerich et al. ). Mediterranean semiarid environments (with a long drought period and extreme rainfall events) show slow natural recovery (Pugnaire et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Oldfields represent an opportunity for the recovery of natural vegetation (Schr€ oter et al 2005) and hence are considered target areas for restoration policies (Navarro and Pereira 2015). Oldfield secondary succession in Mediterranean areas has been widely studied under mesic conditions (see references in Pausas et al 2006), but much less under semiarid climates (but see Pausas et al 2006, Robledano-Aymerich et al 2014. Mediterranean semiarid environments (with a long drought period and extreme rainfall events) show slow natural recovery (Pugnaire et al 2006, Rey-Benayas et al 2015 which can entail severe soil erosion (Romero-D ıaz et al 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Uncovering mechanisms of bird seed dispersal in semiarid environments to help to restore them

et al. 2019

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Mediterranean semiarid areas are suffering a growing process of agricultural abandonment that represents a challenge for restoration. Limited seed arrival, drought, and scarce suitable microhabitats in oldfields make plant colonization difficult. Restoration through ecological succession can take advantage of increased seed dispersal through animal vectors, but precise knowledge of the factors involved (e.g., seed disperser behavior, rate of effective recruitment of dispersed seeds, and effectiveness of the applied restoration structures) is critical. Otherwise, efforts to foster the processes of interest may be misdirected. We propose and test a methodological approach based on the combination of ecological (bird censuses and camera trapping) and genetic tools (DNA barcoding), to assess seed dispersal of fleshy‐fruited shrub species by birds toward oldfields in one of the driest areas of southeastern Spain. We assisted natural restoration with artificial bird attractors (perches and water troughs) in two abandoned areas with different ages. Furthermore, we provided microenvironments (rocks) and prevented herbivory (by fencing) to enhance plant recruitment. Results revealed strong differences among assessment techniques in the characterization of dispersal interactions. While bird censuses only informed about frugivores occurrence, camera trapping and barcoding enabled the quantification of species responses. Attractors proved to be effective in triggering a quantifiable seed arrival, but no subsequent plant establishment occurred. We highlight the importance of implementing different techniques to characterize and assess avian seed disperser performance. Water provision increased seed arrival, but our design failed to enhance plant recruitment. The next logical step in the restoration of Mediterranean oldfields is the optimization of conditions for seed germination and successful plant establishment.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodological Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, Robledano‐Aymerich et al. ). Mediterranean semiarid environments (with a long drought period and extreme rainfall events) show slow natural recovery (Pugnaire et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Uncovering mechanisms of bird seed dispersal in semiarid environments to help to restore them

et al. 2019

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“…It has brought about many positive effects, such as forest re-growth [3], recovery of ecosystem services [4], and enhancement of carbon sink capacity and biodiversity [3,[5][6][7]. However, many negative effects have also been found, including the disappearance of traditional farming practices; loss of habitats with high ecological, cultural, and aesthetic value; increased risk of wildfires; and species invasion [8][9][10][11][12][13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Factors Driving Seasonal Farmland Abandonment: A Case Study at the Regional Level in Hunan Province, Central China

Liu

Zhang

et al. 2017

Sustainability

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Farmland abandonment, including perennial and seasonal abandonment, is an important process of land use change that matters most to food security. Although there is a great deal of studies on farmland abandonment, seasonal abandonment, which is as serious as perennial abandonment, has attracted little academic attention. This paper takes Hunan Province in central China as its study area and uses a spatial regression model to examine the driving factors of seasonal farmland abandonment at the county level. Our results show that farmland abandonment has striking spatial relativity, and there are two clustering zones with a high index of farmland abandonment (IFA) in the Dongting plain and the basin in south-central Hunan, while a clustering zone of low IFA can be found in the mountains of southwest Hunan. Farmland abandonment at the regional level is negatively affected by the land productive potentialities, proportion of mechanized planting, ratio of effective irrigation, and distance to provincial capital, while it is positively associated with the variables mountainous terrain, per capita farmland area, and labor shortage. Additionally, farmland abandonment is also affected by adjacent areas through its spatial dependence. In short, seasonal farmland abandonment is also driven integratedly by the socioeconomic and environmental dimensions and spatial interaction of farm abandonment.

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Impact of lithology and soil properties on abandoned dryland terraces during the early stages of soil erosion by water in south-east Spain

Hernández

Rodrigo‐Comino

Díaz

2017

Hydrological Processes

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Soil erosion by water in abandoned dry terraces is one of the most important environmental problems in semiarid areas, enhancing biological degradation and reducing possible resources that can be obtained. However, little is known about the effects of the types of lithology and soil properties on the early stages of soil erosion. Therefore, the main aim of this research was to assess the effect of different lithologies (marls, limestones, and metamorphic-phyllites, schists, and greywackes-materials) and soil properties on the early stages of soil erosion by water in abandoned dry terraces, compared with similar terraces still in agricultural use. Soil analyses (texture, aggregate stability, and bulk density) and 22 rainfall simulations were carried out under dry conditions. During the experiments, local inclination, vegetation and stone cover, total organic matter, and antecedent soil moisture were also quantified. The results showed that the highest soil loss (41.41 g/m 2 in cultivated plots and 17.05 g/m 2 in the abandoned plots) and runoff (3.79 L/m 2 in the abandoned plot) occurred on marl substrata. Marls also showed the shallowest infiltration front (9 cm) and lowest infiltration rate (4.3 cm/min). Limestones and, especially, metamorphic areas, showed a lower degree of soil erosion, higher infiltration rates, and deeper infiltration fronts.

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Ecogeomorphological consequences of land abandonment in semiarid Mediterranean areas: Integrated assessment of physical evolution and biodiversity

Cited by 66 publications

References 98 publications

Uncovering mechanisms of bird seed dispersal in semiarid environments to help to restore them

Uncovering mechanisms of bird seed dispersal in semiarid environments to help to restore them

Exploring the Factors Driving Seasonal Farmland Abandonment: A Case Study at the Regional Level in Hunan Province, Central China

Impact of lithology and soil properties on abandoned dryland terraces during the early stages of soil erosion by water in south-east Spain

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