Plant-soil interactions in Mediterranean forest and shrublands: impacts of climatic change

Sardans, Jordi; Peñuelas, Josep

doi:10.1007/s11104-013-1591-6

Cited by 236 publications

(189 citation statements)

References 406 publications

(604 reference statements)

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“…P and exchangeable Mg also showed similar range than CEC, pH, clay, and sand content. This confirms that P availability in soils depends not only on the balance between mineralization and uptake but also on the interaction with soil minerals, and probably on the distribution and density of roots and mycorrhizas (Gallardo 2003;Sardans and Peñuelas 2013). The likely effect of tree patches on soil P distribution might be hampered by the irregular distribution of shrubs in the plot and its effect on creating microenvironments (Rolo et al 2012) and/or by the higher resorption efficiency of cork oak trees that leads to low P concentration in leaf fall (Andivia et al 2010;Caritat et al 1996;Robert et al 1996).…”

Section: Effect Of Litter Nutrient Content On Soil Propertiessupporting

confidence: 59%

“…The spatial heterogeneity of soil resources has an impact not only on plant individual functioning (Quilchano et al 2008) but also on the structure and functioning of plant communities and ecosystems (Ettema and Wardle 2002;Sardans and Peñuelas 2013). Oak savannas have been established through the thinning of the natural oak forest, and they are characterized by a sparse tree cover and a diversity of understory vegetation that ranges from shrubs to grasses (Olea and San Miguel-Ayanz 2006).…”

Section: Handling Editor: Andreas Boltementioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a consequence of reducing nutrient losses through litterfall, litter is more recalcitrant, and C/nutrient ratios are higher leading to lower decomposition rates (Incerti et al 2011;Sardans and Peñuelas 2013). This strategy enhances the control of nutrient stocks and the capacity of the tree-soil system to retain nutrients in the upper part of the forest floor that may become readily available to the trees under favorable soil temperature and moisture (Oliveira et al 1996;Sardans and Peñuelas 2013).…”

Section: Nutrient Variability In Leaf Fallmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This strategy enhances the control of nutrient stocks and the capacity of the tree-soil system to retain nutrients in the upper part of the forest floor that may become readily available to the trees under favorable soil temperature and moisture (Oliveira et al 1996;Sardans and Peñuelas 2013). Nonetheless, the highest nitrification rates in soils of dehesas match the highest litterfall inputs (spring-summer), indicating its dependence on C availability (Gallardo et al 2000) and therefore on the spatial and temporal distribution of SOM.…”

Section: Nutrient Variability In Leaf Fallmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nonetheless, the highest nitrification rates in soils of dehesas match the highest litterfall inputs (spring-summer), indicating its dependence on C availability (Gallardo et al 2000) and therefore on the spatial and temporal distribution of SOM. In addition, seasonal changes on soil moisture have been identified as the main factor in controlling soil chemistry and activity in Mediterranean ecosystems (Sardans and Peñuelas 2013). Hence, cork oak nutrient uptake, nutrition, and ultimately, nutrient return to the soil through litterfall are strongly influenced by seasonality, and that temporal variation might represent a more determinant factor than its spatial variability (Orgeas et al 2002).…”

Section: Nutrient Variability In Leaf Fallmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tree patch distribution drives spatial heterogeneity of soil traits in cork oak woodlands

Andivia

Fernández

Alejano

et al. 2015

Annals of Forest Science

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International audienceKey messageSpatial heterogeneity of soil resources is linked to tree patch distribution in Mediterranean cork oak woodlands. Tree patch distribution modifies soil traits by varying litterfall inputs due to different tree covers.ContextThe spatial heterogeneity of soil resources affects the structure and functioning of the different plant communities on ecosystems. In Mediterranean oak woodlands, the scattered trees play a key role in this spatial heterogeneity and might strongly influence ecosystem functioning and its productivity.AimsTo assess the influence of the spatial pattern of trees and litter nutrient content on the spatial heterogeneity of soil properties.MethodsWe used a combination of geostatistical techniques and a linear mixed model to evaluate the spatial heterogeneity of soil and the seasonal and spatial variability of litter nutrient content, respectively.ResultsSoil parameters showed a high spatial heterogeneity. Tree cover was positively related with soil pH, and the organic matter, N, K, and Ca soil content. The return of nutrients to the soil via leaf fall had a marked seasonality and a high spatial variability, but this spatial variability had no effect on the spatial pattern of soil resources.ConclusionThe spatial heterogeneity of soil in cork oak woodlands is mainly driven by tree patches distribution. The importance of the spatial heterogeneity of soil resources and the spatial pattern of trees on the functioning of the dehesa ecosystem makes it necessary to include them in plant nutrition studies and modeling approaches in these ecosystems

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Section: Effect Of Litter Nutrient Content On Soil Propertiessupporting

confidence: 59%

Section: Handling Editor: Andreas Boltementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Nutrient Variability In Leaf Fallmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Nutrient Variability In Leaf Fallmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Nutrient Variability In Leaf Fallmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tree patch distribution drives spatial heterogeneity of soil traits in cork oak woodlands

Andivia

Fernández

Alejano

et al. 2015

Annals of Forest Science

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Photosynthesis and growth reduction with warming are driven by nonstomatal limitations in a Mediterranean semi‐arid shrub

León‐Sánchez

Nicolás

Tortosa

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

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Whereas warming enhances plant nutrient status and photosynthesis in most terrestrial ecosystems, dryland vegetation is vulnerable to the likely increases in evapotranspiration and reductions in soil moisture caused by elevated temperatures. Any warming‐induced declines in plant primary production and cover in drylands would increase erosion, land degradation, and desertification. We conducted a four‐year manipulative experiment in a semi‐arid Mediterranean ecosystem to evaluate the impacts of a ~2°C warming on the photosynthesis, transpiration, leaf nutrient status, chlorophyll content, isotopic composition, biomass growth, and postsummer survival of the native shrub Helianthemum squamatum. We predicted that warmed plants would show reduced photosynthetic activity and growth, primarily due to the greater stomatal limitation imposed by faster and more severe soil drying under warming. On average, warming reduced net photosynthetic rates by 36% across the study period. Despite this strong response, warming did not affect stomatal conductance and transpiration. The reduction of peak photosynthetic rates with warming was more pronounced in a drought year than in years with near‐average rainfall (75% and 25–40% reductions relative to controls, respectively), with no indications of photosynthetic acclimation to warming through time. Warmed plants had lower leaf N and P contents, δ 13C, and sparser and smaller leaves than control plants. Warming reduced shoot dry mass production by 31%. However, warmed plants were able to cope with large reductions in net photosynthesis, leaf area, and shoot biomass production without changes in postsummer survival rates. Our findings highlight the key role of nonstomatal factors (biochemical and/or nutritional) in reducing net carbon assimilation rates and growth under warming, which has important implications for projections of plant carbon balance under the warmer and drier climatic scenario predicted for drylands worldwide. Projected climate warming over the coming decades could reduce net primary production by about one‐third in semi‐arid gypsum shrublands dominated by H. squamatum.

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Effects of stand composition and soil properties on water repellency and hydraulic conductivity in Mediterranean forests

et al. 2021

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This study evaluates soil hydraulic conductivity (SHC) and water repellency (SWR) in three mixed forest stands in relation to site plant and soil characteristics. The studied forest stands were (i) Pinus nigra Arn. ssp salzmannii and Quercus ilex; (ii) P. nigra Arn. ssp salzmannii and Juniperus Thurifera; (iii) P. nigra Arn. ssp salzmannii, Q. ilex and Juniperus Thurifera. A 100‐ to 120‐year‐old unmanaged P. nigra Arn. ssp salzmannii stand was also chosen as control. The hydrological variables, physico‐chemical properties and surface characteristics of soils were surveyed. Soil water infiltration was higher in Pinus + Juniper mixed forest and Pinus + Quercus + Juniper mixed forests compared to unmanaged Pinus stands. None of the studied forest stands shows a high level of repellency. Only a slight repellency (in unmanaged stands dominated by pines) or moderate repellency (in soils with Pinus and Juniper) were evident, while soils with Pinus and Quercus were not repellent. Differences in SHC among the forest species were driven primarily by the soil texture and associated structure and secondarily by soil organic matter and associated SWR. The latter was mainly due to organic matter content of the soils, but others of the soil physico‐chemical properties and covers analysed were found as influencing parameters to discriminate SWR among mono‐specific and mixed forest stands. While SHC at the studied forest stands could be predicted using organic matter as well as sand and clay contents of the soil, SWR is the result of several hydrological and physico‐chemical parameters.

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Plant-soil interactions in Mediterranean forest and shrublands: impacts of climatic change

Cited by 236 publications

References 406 publications

Tree patch distribution drives spatial heterogeneity of soil traits in cork oak woodlands

Tree patch distribution drives spatial heterogeneity of soil traits in cork oak woodlands

Photosynthesis and growth reduction with warming are driven by nonstomatal limitations in a Mediterranean semi‐arid shrub

Effects of stand composition and soil properties on water repellency and hydraulic conductivity in Mediterranean forests

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