Classification modeling based on surface porosity for the grading of natural cork stoppers for quality wines - Oliveira, Vanda; Knapic, Sofia; Pereira, Helena (Food and Bioproducts Processing)
Abstract The natural cork stoppers are commercially graded into quality classes according with the homogeneity of the external surface. The underlying criteria for this classification are subjective without quantified criteria and standards defined by cork industry or consumers. Image analysis was applied to premium, good and standard quality classes to characterize the surface of the cork stoppers and stepwise discriminant analysis (SDA) was used to build predictive classification models. The final goal is to analyze the contribution of each porosity feature and propose an algorithm for cork stoppers quality class classification. This study provides the knowledge based on a large sampling to an accurate grading of natural cork stoppers.
Keywords: Classification algorithm; Discriminant analysis; image analysis; natural cork stoppers; Porosity; quality classes

Climate and vegetation structure determine plant diversity in Quercus ilex woodlands along an aridity and human-use gradient in Northern Algeria - Ihaddaden, Akli; Velázquez, Eduardo; Rey-Benayas, José María; Kadi-Hanifi, Halima (Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants)
Abstract We studied the influence of environmental factors relating to climate, soil and vegetation cover on total species richness, species richness of different life-forms and species composition of plant communities occurring in Quercus ilex woodlands, across a 450-km long transect in Northern Algeria constituting a gradient of aridity and human use. We sampled vegetation and collected environmental data in 81 10 m × 10 m plots in five zones representing the largest Q. ilex woodlands throughout the study area, analysing them within an a priori hypothesis framework with the use of Path Analysis. Changes in plant diversity were mainly influenced by environmental factors related to precipitation and temperature regimes, as well as by total plant cover. In particular, changes in species composition were determined by factors associated with the temperature regime through their influence on both woody and annual herbaceous plant richness, and by factors related to the precipitation regime through their influence on perennial herbaceous plant richness, likely due to the differential tolerances of these functional groups to cold and water stress. Our results emphasize the importance of differences in environmental adaptability of the most important life-forms with regard to explaining compositional change (beta diversity) along aridity gradients, and the mediator role of total plant cover in relation to the effects of soil conditions on plant diversity.
Keywords: Path analysis; Plant life-forms; Precipitation regime; Species composition; Species richness; Temperature regime; Total plant cover

CLIMATE CHANGE , LAND DEGRADATION , AND DESERTIFICATION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN ENVIRONMENT - Wrachien, D De; Ragab, R (Desertification in the Mediterranean Region a Security Issue)
Until the early seventies land degradation and desertification were not considered a major issue in most Mediterranean regions. Traditional agricultural systems were believed to be able to keep those processes in check. Thus low priority was assigned to research programmes and projects on soil erosion and conservation, preference being given to the impact of farm machinery on soil structure and compaction along with the role of organic matter in the soil. In the eighties and early nineties the agricultural practices introduced in sloping land under cultivation in the Mediterranean in previous decades were identified as a major contributor to soil degradation. The unprecedented efforts to increase crop yields and maximize profit, made possible by the technological revolution in agriculture, had triggered in the agricultural ecosystem the onset of soil degradation due to hydrological phenomena that proved detrimental both to soil fertility and to the landscape causing devastating and permanent damage. In addition, it was recognized that research activities were too fragmentary to be able to cope with the demands of implementing sound soil conservation measures. The Mediterranean climate is characterised by hot dry summers and mild wet winters. The region frequently suffers from years of scant rainfall and many areas are afflicted by severe drought. The UK Hadley Centre's global climate model has been run on a monthly basis for the Mediterranean countries to predict the percent variation in rainfall and temperature with respect to mean monthly values. Scenarios developed using the model show that for the wet season (October-March), by the year 2050 rainfall could increase in central and eastern Spain, northern France, northern Italy and the Alps by up to 15%, against a decrease of about 10% to 15% in the southern Mediterranean. For the same period, the temperature in the northern Mediterranean is predicted to increase by 1.25° to 2.25°C, compared to an increase of between 1.5° and 2.5°C in the southern Mediterranean. The projections also show that for the dry season (April to September), by the year 2050 rainfall is likely to decrease over much of the Basin. Decreased precipitation is predicted to be accompanied by a rise in temperature of between 1.5 and 2.75°C in the northern regions and 1.75° and 3.0°C in the southern Mediterranean. Reduced precipitation during the summer has a major impact on irrigation and tourism, which both increase the pressure on water supplies during the dry period. To combat these problems, the European Community (EC), in collaboration with other international organizations, has funded various programmes and projects for mitigating drought and assessing and preventing land degradation and desertification. In this context, the paper describes the main features and characteristics of some of these programmes and projects and proposes new approaches to environmental policies, in order to: • • • • • assess, forecast and mitigate adverse impacts of drought; better understand soil erosion, land degradation and desertification processes; identify preventive, protective and remedial measures; address quantity and quality of natural resources in an integrated context; support innovation and participatory strategies. The importance and role of institutional strengthening, sound financial and managerial frameworks, availability of human resources involved, research thrust, technology transfer and networking improvement are also highlighted.
Keywords: climate change; EU programs; land degradation and desertification

DESERTIFICATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY . THE CASE OF CONFLICTS BETWEEN FARMERS AND HERDERS IN THE ARID ENVIRONMENTS OF THE SAHEL - Herrero, Sergio Tirado (Desertification in the Mediterranean Region a Security Issue)
Traditional production systems in the Sahel are based on the integration of activities sharing and competing for renewable resources (water and soil fertility) under threat of desertification. A framework of relationships ranking from conflict to collaboration between human groups devoted to agriculture and pastoralism has been developed throughout history and has proven to be successful in sustaining the livelihood of the region’s population. Changes in the economic, social and political structure of the Sahel related to the process of colonization and de-colonization substantially altered the way in which resource scarcity was dealt previously. In a context of widespread social tension and political instability, this is thought to have increased the likelihood of farmers-herders conflicts. In this paper, we explore the worsening security conditions of the rural Sahel in the light of the new environmental security theories, which help to widen the focus of conflict analysis bringing in social, political, economical and environmental issues that were formerly disregarded
Keywords: conflict and collaboration; desertification; environmental security; farmers and herders; sahel; scarcity

Economic analysis of cork oak woodland natural regeneration in the region of Ain Snoussi, Tunisia - Daly-Hassen, Hamed; Campos-palacín, Pablo; Ovando Pol, Paola (Cork Oak Woodlands and Cork Industry: Present, Past and Future.,)
Both the lack of natural regeneration and the depletion of cork oak trees have encouraged interest in cork oak conservation in Tunisia. The objective of this paper is to compare the economic results of sustainable natural regeneration and unsustainable management of the Ain Snoussi cork oak woodland. Two ma- nagement scenarios were simulated: under the first one, cork oaks naturally regenerate at infinite horizon whereas, in the second one, cork oak trees age until they eventually disappear and are replaced by scrubland. For this purpose, an economic analysis was conducted to indicate expenditures and revenues of the entire production cycle of cork oak forests under the two management sce- narios. The market results show that nowadays, compared to the unsustainable scenario, sustainable cork tree management has a higher total social income or discounted net value added (NVA) and a lower capital income (CIMP) at infinite horizon using a real social discount rate of 2%. The CIMP under sustainable management does remain high, however, at 8,449 Tunisian dinars (TND)/ha. In addition, the capital income distribution shows that sustainable management is more profitable for the government, with a gain of 981 TND/ha, and much less advantageous for families (a loss of 1,417 TND/ha). Therefore, a financial mecha- nism to compensate for income losses suffered by families under sustainable management is necessary.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: periodical: Cork Oak Woodlands and Cork Industry: Present, Past and Future.,
Keywords: Cork Oak Forest; cost-benefit analysis; forest income; income distribution; Tunisia

Exploitation of natural resources of the “dehesa” for meat production - Benito, J; Olea, L; Casco, J M G; Viguera, F J (ressources.ciheam.org)
“Exploitation des ressources naturelles de la “dehesa” pour la production de viande”. Dans les 20 dernières années, l'exploitation des ressources naturelles du “dehesa” (la région boisée de la Méditerranée) située au sud-ouest de la Péninsule Ibérique, a changé d'un système économique de subsistance (la production de bétail de famille, le bois de chauffage, le charbon de bois, la chasse, etc.) à un système intégré visant le bénéfice économique. La grande source de richesse du “dehesa” est basée la production annuelle généreuse de fruits (des glands de chêne) dans un écosystème caractérisé par un sol pauvre et une pluviométrie faible. En raison de la composition en lipides, avec d’hautes pourcentages d'acides gras mono-nonsaturés, les glands sont le régime d'alimentation parfait pour des animaux abattus aux hauts poids et orientés pour élaborer les produits de grande qualité. La large présence de forêt de Chêne au nord de l'Afrique, avec les mêmes caractéristiques que la forêt de “dehesa” ibérien, peut être une bonne raison pour mettre en oeuvre des programmes de collaboration entre des régions géographiques à potentiel comparable. Le but final de ces programmes doit être d améliorer le niveau de revenu de la population rurale et forestière.
Keywords: production de viande; Quercus; ressources naturelles; “dehesa”

HYDROLOGICAL APPROACH FOR ASSESSING DESERTIFICATION PROCESSES IN THE - Pla Sentís, Ildefonso (Desertification in the Mediterranean Region a Security Issue)
Land degradation, which affects the conservation of soil and water in adequate places, amounts and qualities, is the main direct cause of desertification. It is related to climate and soil characteristics, but mainly to deforestation and inappropriate use and management of natural resources including soil and water. The main effects are a decrease in water supply, a non sustainable agricultural and food production, and increased risks of catastrophic flooding, sedimentation, landslides, etc. In the medium or long term, the previewed global climatic changes may contribute to accelerate the processes of desertification in the Mediterranean Region, but in the short term, land use practices leading to soil degradation processes would increase the negative influence of those changes. The processes of soil and water degradation, leading to desertification, are strongly linked to unfavourable changes in the hydrological processes responsible for the soil water balance and for the soil moisture regime. These are affected by the climate conditions and variations, and by the changes in the use and management of soil and water resources. In the arid and semiarid Mediterranean climates, the rainfall is highly variable among years and during the year, and usually occurs in erratic storms of short duration and high intensities. This factor increases the risks of land degradation leading to desertification processes. In N Mediterranean countries, agricultural production patterns and practices have been drastically changed in the last decades, emphasizing labour- substituting technologies in some cases, with abandon of traditional soil and water conservation practices, and leading to the abandonment of agricultural lands in others. By contrast, in most of the S Mediterranean countries, population growth and lack of resources have obliged to intensify the use of marginal lands without appropriate conservation practices. Both situations frequently lead to accelerated land degradation and desertification processes, although in N Mediterranean countries, if resources are available, these processes and effects are usually masked by technological external inputs of energy, irrigation water, nutrients, and other control measures. Any break in these artificial measures, generally causes a complete loss of productivity and leads to accelerated desertification processes. Hydrological approaches would be essential to identify and assess the causes and processes of desertification. The evaluation of the hydrological processes, under different scenarios of changing climate, soil properties, and land use and management, with flexible simulation models based on those processes, may help to predict and to identify the biophysical causes of desertification at local, national and regional levels. This is a required previous step for a rational land use planning, and for the selection and development of short and long term strategies and technologies to reduce or to control land degradation processes leading to desertification, and to the related social economic and security problems. There is proposed an integrated framework for the development of this kind of approach, with potential application under Mediterranean conditions.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: periodical: Desertification in the Mediterranean Region a Security Issue
Keywords: climate changes; desertification; hydrological processes; Land degradation; management (voyant); soil resources; water resources

A IMPORTÂNCIA DO MONTADO PARA O DESENVOLVIMENTO RURAL. QUE FUTURO NO DISTRITO DE BEJA? - Matias, Magda (geogra.uah.es)
The montados are agro-forestry-pastoral systems which have developed an important role in the biodiversity preservation, revealing balanced and sustainable systems that flatter the natural resources conservation. 1If in one way they permit agricultural and grazing exploration, as well leisure activities (hunting and others), on the other hand, they allow the habitats conservation and threatened species, and the mitigation of the desertification processes, performing ecological, economical and scenic functions. Its decline is explained by the association of the presence of pathogenic Phytophthora Cinnamoni and the human activities pressure, a situation that is quite visible in the municipalities of Beja district, which justifies this area as the case-study. It is pretended not only to evaluate the degradation state of this system, but also, understand how its valorisation will lead to the rural development, in a region affected by the continuous population loss, caused by the lack of elements that can hold them
Keywords: Montado systems; Natural Resources Conservation; rural development

Integrated environmental analysis of the main cork products in southern Europe (Catalonia – Spain) - Rives, Jesús; Fernandez-Rodriguez, Ivan; Rieradevall, Joan; Gabarrell, Xavier (Journal of Cleaner Production)
This study presents an environmental analysis of the cork sector by integrating and evaluating the production of the products that are most commonly made of cork: natural cork stoppers, champagne cork stoppers, white cork granulate and black cork granulate, in order to propose environmental strategies that could contribute to minimising the potential impacts of the cork sector. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was the methodology used in order to assess the potential environmental impacts of the cork sector and its main products. Inventory was supported by 15 companies in Catalonia. Different environmental midpoint impact categories were reported and analysed according to CML 2001 method such as Abiotic Depletion (ADP), Acidification Potential (AP), Eutrophication Potential (EP), and many other. Also, the Global Warming Potential (GWP 100 years), was assessed, and it was found that the cork sector contributed to fixing carbon dioxide and consequently can help to mitigate climate change, besides generating cork products. Specifically, 3.4 tonnes of CO2 eq. were emitted to convert a tonne of raw cork from the forest into products, while 18 tonnes of CO2 are fixed per tonne as a result of the existence of cork oak forests; the resulting balance was that 14.6 tonnes of CO2 are fixed. A sensitivity analysis was carried out of the distribution of environmental impacts between products; it was observed that allocation rules were an important point of the assessment. The use of cork, a natural, renewable and local material, can help to reduce the environmental impact of products. The use of cork stoppers contributes to reducing the carbon footprint of beverages such as wines, champagnes, beers, ciders, brandies and many other beverages.
Keywords: agro-forestry system; Carbon dioxide; Champagne cork stopper; Cork sector; Environmental impact; Life cycle assessment (LCA); Mediterranean; natural cork stopper

Intensive measurements of gas, water, and energy exchange between vegetation and troposphere during the MONTES Campaign in a vegetation gradient from short semi-desertic shrublands to tall wet temperate forests in the NW Mediterranean basin - Penuelas, J; Guenther, A; Rapparini, F; Llusia, J; Filella, I; Seco, R; Estiarte, M; Mejia-Chang, M; Ogaya, R; Ibáñez, J; Sardans, J; Castaño, L M; et al. (Atmospheric Environment)
Abstract MONTES (“Woodlands”) was a multidisciplinary international field campaign aimed at measuring energy, water and especially gas exchange between vegetation and atmosphere in a gradient from short semi-desertic shrublands to tall wet temperate forests in NE Spain in the North Western Mediterranean Basin (WMB). The measurements were performed at a semidesertic area (Monegros), at a coastal Meditrerranean shrubland area (Garraf), at a typical Mediterranean holm oak forest area (Prades) and at a wet temperate beech forest (Montseny) during spring (April 2010) under optimal plant physiological conditions in driest-warmest sites and during summer (July 2010) with drought and heat stresses in the driest-warmest sites and optimal conditions in the wettest-coolest site. The objective of this campaign was to study the differences in gas, water and energy exchange occurring at different vegetation coverages and biomasses. Particular attention was devoted to quantitatively understand the exchange of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) because of their biological and environmental effects in the WMB. A wide range of instruments (GC-MS, PTR-MS, meteorological sensors, O3 monitors,…) and vertical platforms such as masts, tethered balloons and aircraft were used to characterize the gas, water and energy exchange at increasing footprint areas by measuring vertical profiles. In this paper we provide an overview of the MONTES campaign: the objectives, the characterization of the biomass and gas, water and energy exchange in the 4 sites-areas using satellite data, the estimation of isoprene and monoterpene emissions using MEGAN model, the measurements performed and the first results. The isoprene and monoterpene emission rates estimated with MEGAN and emission factors measured at the foliar level for the dominant species ranged from about 0 to 0.2 mg m-2 h-1 in April. The warmer temperature in July resulted in higher model estimates from about 0 to ca 1.6 mg m-2 h-1 for isoprene and ca. 4.5 mg m-2 h-1 for monoterpenes, depending on the site vegetation and footprint area considered. There were clear daily and seasonal patterns with higher emission rates and mixing ratios at midday and summer relative to early morning and early spring. There was a significant trend in CO2 fixation (from 1 to 10 mg C m-2 d-1), transpiration (from x 1 to 5 kg C m-2 d-1), and sensible and latent heat from the warmest-driest to the coolest-wettest site. The results showed the strong land-cover-specific influence on emissions of BVOCs, gas, energy and water exchange, and therefore demonstrate the potential for feed-back to atmospheric chemistry and climate.
Keywords: aircraft; Boundary Layer; CH4; CO2; Evapotranspiration; green biomass; isoprene; lai; Land Cover; latent heat; masts; MEGAN; Monoterpenes; N2O; NDVI; O3; sensible heat; tethered balloons; Vegetation; vertical profiles; VOCs

The Landscape as an Asset in Southern European Fragile Agricultural Systems: Contrasts and Contradictions in Land Managers Attitudes and Practices - Pinto-Correia, Teresa; Menezes, Helena; Barroso, Luis Filipe (Landscape Research)
Abstract Transition theories suggest that there is a spatial, temporal and structural co-existence of several processes of transition from productivism to post-productivism going on in rural areas in multiple combinations resulting in a more complex, contested, variable mix of production, consumption and protection goals. This is particularly true for South European landscapes dominated by extensive agro-silvo-pastoral systems. The fragile agricultural sector is in some cases just entering the productivist phase, let alone moving towards post-productivism both in terms of discourse and management practices. At the same time, these are landscapes increasingly valued by society, and this demand should encourage new strategies for farm survival and new ways of managing the land. But such new strategies require a paradigm shift, not only in policy goals and formulation, but also in farmers’ attitude towards their role and their management goals. In this paper, the question addressed is how the land managers within this system, facing multiple transition options, are choosing different management paradigms, in the complex range between productivism and post-productivism. Based on a farm survey in southern Portugal, a typology of land managers is produced, aiming to grasp the combination between their management practices in the farm and their expressed attitudes towards farm management and the role of their farm in the landscape. Results reveal some inconsistencies between land managers’ intentions and their landscape outcomes, in an opposite sense to what has been earlier identified in Northwestern Europe. Even if they manage a multifunctional system, their self-concept is dominantly productivist and not affected by the public expectations of multifunctionality. This tension may reflect contradictions in the policy framework and, at the same time, raises challenges which the existing policy mechanisms do not consider.
Keywords: land manager; management paradigms; montado landscape; productivism and post-productivism; typology

MANAGEMENT OF FOREST SOILS CONSIDERING WATER EROSION AS A CONTROL FACTOR - Coutinho, M A; Antunes, C R (Desertification in the Mediterranean Region a Security Issue)
In Mediterranean regions, water erosion is strongly linked to desertification and relates mainly to constraints of land use. Soil and water play very important roles as production factors in agriculture and forest crops, so they are of almost importance in the management of forest soils for sustainable productivity. The density of plants, the amount of water available and the soil properties are aspects to take in account in the management of forestlands. The lower stage canopies of bushes and herbs established in forest lands compete for water with the trees, but are important in the maintenance of ecosystems and absorbing the energy of rainfall and throughfall, thus reducing soil erosion. For the assessment of the available water and the rainfall erosion it is necessary to know the hydrologic behaviour of tree canopies and, mainly, the role of the leaves. The major aim of this study is to present and analyse the role of the leaves in what concerns canopy interception, retention and throughfall and to present values for the leaves' retention and throughfall erosivity, obtained experimentally. Typical conditions, in Southern Portugal, are presented for mixed stands of cork and evergreen oaks, with cereals or pasture covers, and for eucalyptus. Proper management attitudes are necessary to ensure productivity, environment stability (i.e. avoiding desertification) and, consequently, improve homeland and global security.
Keywords: erosion; forest management (voyant); rainfall interception; retention; throughfall; vegetation canopies; water

MONITORING TOOLS TO ASSESS VEGETATION SUCCESSIONAL REGRESSION AND PREDICT CATASTROPHIC SHIFTS AND DESERTIFICATION IN MEDITERRANEAN RANGELAND ECOSYSTEMS - ALADOS, C L; ELAICH, A; PAPANASTASIS, V P; OZBEK, H; Freitas, H (Desertification in the Mediterranean Region a Security Issue)
The relationship between grazing intensity and ecosystem performance is complex and can depend on the prevailing ecological conditions. Previous studies have revealed that, in traditional grazing ecosystems, grazing can reduce ecosystem diversity in poor soils, but increase diversity and productivity in rich ecosystems subject to moderate grazing pressure. We are interested in detecting long-term structural changes or drift in an ecosystem before it is too late to prevent irreversible degradation. We analyzed vegetation spatial patterns and complexities of four Mediterranean communities: Tihmadit Region (Middle Atlas, Morocco), Camiyayla (Namrum) Region (Taurus Mountain, Turkey), Sykia Region (south of the Sithonia Peninsula, Greece), and Cabo de Gata Nijar Natural Park, Spain. Grazing disturbance was most intense near shelter and water points, which lead to gradients in soil surface disruption, compaction, and changes in the composition and cover of perennial vegetation. Dense matorral was more resistant to species loss than were moderately dense and scattered matorral, and grassland. Information fractal dimension decreased as we moved from a dense matorral to a discontinuous matorral, and increased as we moved to a more scattered matorral and to a grassland, which resulted in two opposing processes (interaction declining with ecosystem development, and immigration increasing with degradation) in a common pattern, i.e., small patches homogeneously distributed in the landscape. Characteristic species of the natural vegetation declined in frequency and organization in response to higher grazing disturbance, while species of disturbed areas exhibited the opposite trend. Overall, the spatial organization of the characteristic plants of each community decreased with increasing vegetation degradation, with the intensity of the trend being related to the species’ sensitivity to grazing. Developmental instability analyses of key species were used to determine the sensitivity of dominant key species to grazing pressure. Palatable species, which are better adapted to being eaten, such as Periploca laevigata, Phillyrea latifolia and Genista pseudopilosa, were able to resist moderate grazing pressure, while species of disturbed, grazed sites did not change developmental instability in response to increasing grazing pressure, such as Thymus hyemalis, Teucrium lusitanicum and Cistus monspeliensis. The usefulness of these monitoring tools in preventing land degradation is discussed.
Keywords: disturbance; grassland; Grazing; matorral (voyant); Mediterranean ecosystems; Spatial pattern; Vegetation

Novel sustainable composites prepared from cork residues and biopolymers - Vilela, Carla; Sousa, Andreia F; Freire, Carmen S R; Silvestre, Armando J D; Pascoal Neto, Carlos (Biomass and Bioenergy)
Novel low-density biocomposites based on cork and two biodegradable matrices, poly(lactic acid) and poly(caprolactone), were prepared by simple melting-mixing. The surface acylation of cork was studied as a strategy to increase the compatibility with the matrices. The obtained composites were characterized in terms of thermal and mechanical properties, morphology, density and water absorption behavior. All composites showed a good dispersion of cork and a strong interfacial adhesion between the cork particles and the polymeric matrices as evidenced by SEM. The Young's modulus values of the composites were little affected for cork loads up to 10%; but for higher loadings, a considerable decrease on this parameter was observed resulting in more flexible materials. These sustainable cork based materials could find applications in several domains such as in flooring and structural applications, depending on the amount of cork and the polymeric matrix used.
Keywords: Cork biomass residues; Density; mechanical properties; Polymer-matrix composites; renewable resources; Sustainable composites

Phylogeographical Variation of Chloroplast DNA in Cork Oak (Quercus suber) - Lumaret, Roselyne; TRYPHON-DIONNET, MATHIEU; MICHAUD, HENRI; SANUY, AURÉLIE; IPOTESI, EMILIE; BORN, CÉLINE; Mir, Celine (Annals of Botany)
• Background and Aims In the last decades, the geographical location of the centre of origin of Quercus suber (cork oak), a strictly western Mediterranean oak species, has been the subject of controversy.• Methods RFLP variation over the whole chloroplast DNA molecule and PCR–RFLPs over seven specific cpDNA fragments were analysed phylogeographically to reconstruct the evolutionary history of cork oak.• Key Results Nine chlorotypes of the ‘suber’ cpDNA lineage were identified throughout the species range. Using closely related Mediterranean oak species as outgroup, the chlorotypes showed a clear phylogeographical pattern of three groups corresponding to potential glacial refuges in Italy, North Africa and Iberia. The most ancestral and recent groups were observed in populations located in the eastern and western parts of the species range, respectively. Several unrelated chlorotypes of the ‘ilex’ cpDNA lineage were also identified in specific western areas.• Conclusions The results support a Middle-Eastern or a central Mediterranean origin for cork oak with subsequent westward colonization during the Tertiary Period, and suggest that the ‘ilex’ chlorotype variation does not reflect entirely cytoplasmic introgression by Q. ilex but originated partly in Q. suber.
10.1093/aob/mci237
Keywords: cpDNA RFLP and PCR–RFLP variation; Evergreen Mediterranean oaks; phylogeography; Quercus ilex; Quercus suber

PODAS Y TRASMOCHOS EN LAS ORDENANZAS FORESTALES DEL SISTEMA CENTRAL ESPAÑOL Y SU IMPRONTA EN EL PAISAJE FORESTAL ACTUAL - Allende Álvarez, F; Gómez Mediavilla, G; López Estébanez, N; Sobrino García, J (Cuadernos de la Sociedad Española de Ciencias Forestales)
La silvocultura del trasmocho fue una práctica ampliamente extendida en el Sistema Central. En este trabajo se analizan las tipologías silvomorfológicas pasadas y presentes derivadas de este tipo de podas. En algunos sectores serranos del centro de la Península aún hoy son reconocibles las huellas derivadas de esta actividad y se pueden encontrar algunas de las formaciones forestales modeladas bajo este silvosistema, tanto funcionales como las que se difuminan en diversas etapas sucesionales. Se profundiza, analizando las ordenanzas tradicionales y los sistemas de explotación actuales, en cómo se construyen los paisajes del trasmocho. De manera genérica diferenciamos tres tipos de trasmocheo en función de la especie y del tipo de arbolado resultante: horca y pendón (Quercus, ssp.; Betula alba), a cabeza de gato (Fraxinus angustifolia, Salix ssp) y otros menores que simplemente se podan á mocho (Corylus avellana, Ilex aquifolium o Sorbus ssp).
Keywords: desmochado; Fraxinus angustifolia; gestión tradicional; Monte; Quercus pyrenaica

Remote sensing-based soil water balance to estimate mediterranean holm oak savanna (dehesa) evapotranspiration under water stress conditions - Campos, Isidro; Villodre, Julio; Carrara, Arnaud; Calera, Alfonso (Journal of Hydrology)
Abstract This paper aims to present the use of a remote sensing-based soil water balance to estimate holm oak woodland evapotranspiration (ET). The model is based on the assimilation of MODIS reflectance-based vegetation indices in the dual crop coefficient methodology. A daily water balance was performed on the root zone soil to estimate plant water stress. The methodology was evaluated with respect to the actual ET measured by eddy covariance in Mediterranean holm oak savanna (dehesa) for five consecutive years (2004 to 2008). The model adequately reproduced the absolute values and tendencies measured at daily and weekly periods. Root mean square error (RMSE) was 0.50 mm/day for daily values and 2.70 mm/week for weekly accumulated values. The analysis demonstrated the presence of a long period of water stress during the summer and at the beginning of fall. Measured ET dropped during these periods, and the model replicated this tendency accurately, reaching a stress coefficient value close to 0.2. To be operative, the proposed method required low ground data (reference evapotranspiration and precipitation) and the results indicated a simple, robust method that can be used to map ET and water stress in the dehesa ecosystem.
Keywords: Dehesa; Dual crop coefficient; Evapotranspiration; Mediterranean holm oak savanna; MODIS NDVI; water stress

Resilience of Sweet Chestnut and Truffle Holm-Oak Rural Forests in Languedoc-Roussillon, France: Roles of Social-Ecological Legacies, Domestication, and Innovations - Aumeeruddy-Thomas, Yildiz; Therville, Clara; Lemarchand, Cedric; Lauriac, Alban; Richard, Franck (Ecology and Society)
The Cvennes sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) forest-orchards and the holm-oak (Quercus ilex L.) black truffle (Tuber melanosporum Vittad.) associations of the garrigue in Languedoc-Roussillon have suffered a century of decline because of great reductions of rural populations and lack of understanding of the ecological and social dimensions of these rural forests by sectorial public agencies. Levels of tree and forest domestication alternated during historical periods in parallel with statuses of disorganization and reorganization of local social groups. Social-ecological legacies intrinsically linked to trees, forests, and landscape domestication, as well as knowledge, social, and technical practices have been mobilized and provided a basis for knowledge innovations, new domestications, uses, and new institutional networks related to changes in social set-ups. Collective actions emerging from local needs to revive territories in a modern context, cross-scale and reciprocal exchanges of rural and scientific knowledge, as well as institutional changes are interrelated variables that have enabled innovations and have increased resilience of these rural forests. This paper opens new avenues for future research on the interplay between the effects of social-ecological legacies and innovations on the resilience of social-ecological systems.
Keywords: Cévennes; chestnut; domestication; Garrigue; holm-oak black truffle association; innovations; resilience; rural forests; social-ecological legacies

Review of the Cenozoic Floras and Vegetation of Greece - Velitzelos, Dimitrios; Bouchal, Johannes M; Denk, Thomas (Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology)
Oligocene to Pleistocene floras of Greece are reviewed based on published and unpublished material. Oldest plant-bearing sediments of Rupelian-Chattian age are exposed in eastern Thrace (Evros) and were deposited after the closure of the Turgai Seaway. They contain a blend of (i) taxa that migrated to western Eurasia from the East (Alnus, Fagus), (ii) characteristic Oligocene taxa (Nyssa altenburgensis, Ampelopsis hibschii), and (iii) extinct (Eotrigonobalanus, Quasisequoia) and modern genera (Calocedrus, Quercus Group Lobatae) from older epochs. Coastal palm swamps and laurel forests of the hinterland indicate a subtropical, fully humid to winter-dry climate (Cfa, Cwa according to Köppen). The Aquitanian-Burdigalian plant assemblage of Lesbos is intermediary between Evros and the Burdigalian floras of Euboea sharing taxa with Evros (palms), and with Euboea and early Miocene floras of Anatolia (Güvem, Tilia). In the early Miocene (Burdigalian) floras of Euboea, species of Quercus Group Ilex (Q. drymeja, Q. mediterranea) characteristic of fully humid or winter-dry (monsoon) climates (Cf, Cw) became dominant elements in well-drained forests. Floristic links are with late Oligocene to middle Miocene floras of Central Asia (Tilia), Asia Minor (cycads, Quercus Group Ilex, Tilia), and South and Central Europe (cycads, Quercus Group Ilex, palms). Middle Miocene floras are restricted to the Aegean islands (Chios). Biogeographic links are with early to late Miocene floras of Central Europe (Parrotia, Podocarpium) and with middle Miocene floras of Anatolia (Parrotia). Upper Miocene plant-bearing sedimentary formations are most abundant in Greece and exposed on the Ionian Islands, Greece mainland to East Macedonia, Peloponnese, Aegean Islands, and Crete. Overall, the fossil plant assemblages from Greece mainland are indicative of fully humid conditions during this time (Cfa), with Fagus and oaks of Quercus Group Ilex being dominant elements. Seasonality may have been more pronounced on the Peloponnese and the Aegaean Islands and Crete, expressed by the rare occurrence of Fagus in the fossil records of these areas. The palaeobotanical records from Samos unambiguously point to the presence of forest vegetation during early Tortonian to Messinian (Cwa) when the famous vertebrate faunas of Samos were deposited. The Pliocene is characterized by the regional occurrence of modern types of deciduous oaks mainly of Quercus Group Cerris and Quercus subsect. Galliferae. East Asian links persist in Fagus, Quercus, and Cupressaceae, North American ones in Sabal; several other mesophytic taxa from previous periods are recorded as well. The modern sclerophyllous Mediterranean vegetation, thriving in a warm summer dry climate (Csa), cannot be traced prior to the Pleistocene based on the palaeobotanical record.
Keywords: Cenozoic; Eastern Mediterranean; greece; landscape evolution; Mediterranean climate; plant evolution

Shrub facilitation of Quercus ilex and Quercus pubescens regeneration in a wooded pasture in central Sardinia (Italy) - Alias, S; Bianchi, L; Calamini, G; Gregori, E; Sioni, S (iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry)
In the woodlands of Sardinia, as in many other areas of the Mediterranean region, grazing of domestic animals is still very common, though often in the absence of any sustainable management logic or technique. The present work analyzes the effects of excessive grazing pressure on a wooded pasture in the municipality of Orgosolo (Nuoro province), emphasizing the effects on the natural regeneration of the oak species (Quercus ilex and Quercus pubescens). This study has revealed the positive effects of the interaction between shrubs and seedlings of tree species. Crataegus monogyna proved to be the most efficient shrub species in favouring the establishment and growth of saplings; Rubus ulmifolius is efficient in the establishing phase but somewhat less so in the following stages. The other shrub species (Prunus spinosa, Genista pichi-sermolliana, Stachys glutinosa) play a lesser facilitating role. Despite the fact that seedlings are found in more than half (56%) of the shrub patches, the average age of the seedlings (140.6 yrs) and their small average size (height 241.4cm) lead to think that the present grazing pressure is incompatible with any concrete chance of success for their natural regeneration.
Keywords: Overgrazing; Quercus ilex; Quercus pubescens; Shrub facilitation; Tree regeneration; Wood pasture management

THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE FUTURES IN A STRATEGY TO ASSESS THE LIKELIHOOD OF LAND DEGRADATION LEADING TO INCREASED SUBSEQUENT POLITICAL INSTABILITY - Mouat, David A; Bassett, Scott; Lancaster, Judith (Desertification in the Mediterranean Region a Security Issue)
As stated by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), desertification or land degradation is at the root of political and socio-economic problems and poses a threat to the environmental equilibrium in affected regions. That desertification and political instability are interlinked should not be a surprise, the UN states that half of the 50 armed conflicts in 1994 had environmental causal factors characteristic of drylands (i.e., land degradation). One example cited states that the land’s loss of productivity exacerbates poverty in the drylands, forcing its farmers to seek a way of living in more fertile land or cities. In fact, over one billion people are affected as a direct consequence of desertification including 135 million people who are at risk of being displaced. The physical, biological and social causes of desertification that lead to grave human impacts are interlinked with significant feedback mechanisms. Soil salinization, for example, may result from unsuitable irrigation practices. Changes of vegetation from perennial grasses to shrubs and to annual grasses and forbs might result from overgrazing. Increases in poverty and human out-migration might result from declining agricultural productivity caused by salinization and overgrazing. Because poverty forces the people who depend on land for their livelihood to overexploit the land for food, energy, housing and source of income, desertification can be seen as both the cause and consequence of poverty. Any effective mitigation strategy must address poverty at its very center. It must take into account the social structures and land ownership as well as pay proper attention to education, training and communications in order to provide the fully integrated approach which alone can effectively combat desertification. Seeking solutions to such complex problems requires appropriate technologies and common sense. This paper suggests a technique, alternative futures analysis, to model the likelihood of future land uses in a given region undergoing desertification or at great risk to desertification and to develop an understanding of the risk to political instability coming from each of the alternatives. Furthermore, alternative futures analysis provides a technique (and communication strategy) for illustrating possible conflicts as well their causes and potential solutions. Such a strategy would help local, national and regional land managers, working with their constituent stakeholders to mitigate such effects. A framework for a pilot project employing this technique is presented.
Keywords: alternative futures analysis; desertification; Land degradation; land use; security risk (voyant); social stability

Can geocaching be an indicator of cultural ecosystem services? The case of the montado savannah-like landscape - do Rosario, Ines T.; Rebelo, Rui; Cardoso, Paulo; Segurado, Pedro; Mendes, Ricardo N.; Santos-Reis, Margarida (Ecological Indicators, 2019)
Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES) are difficult to assess and are seldom considered by land managers. Geocaching, an outdoor game that uses Global Positioning System (GPS) enabled devices to find hidden containers (geocaches) in certain locations, has been seldom used as a data source to assess CES. However, contrary to other crowdsourcing databases, geocaching allows to associate particular experiences to accurate locations. Furthermore, databases generated by geocachers provide an ideal case to compare revealed preferences (the frequency of visits to a specific geocache) with stated preferences (a posteriori evaluation of each location). We tested the relevance of geocaching databases as CES indicators using a dataset of 50 818 geocaches spread across continental Portugal, over eight land-use classes, with a focus on the montado (a high nature value farmland found in Southwestern Iberian Peninsula). We found that site visitation frequency was related with its availability, showing no revealed preference towards any land use. However, site evaluations by geocachers, measured either through the number of words describing the experience, the number of photos taken, or the number of votes for “favourite geocaches”, showed marked differences in their stated preferences, with higher appreciation for open land uses in general, and montado in particular, especially when compared to other forested landscapes. Our results may contribute to the design of regional development and land-use management policies of this threatened landscape, since they show the system’s strong potential as CES provider and, consequently, promoter of diversification of activities.
Keywords: Crowdsourcing databases; iberian peninsula; land use; spatial analysis; Stated and revealed preferences

The cork viewed from the inside - Lagorce-Tachon, Aurélie; Karbowiak, Thomas; Loupiac, Camille; Gaudry, Alexandre; Ott, Frédéric; Alba-Simionesco, Christiane; Gougeon, Régis D.; Alcantara, Valentin; Mannes, David; Kaestner, Anders; Lehmann, Eberhard; Bellat, Jean-Pierre (Journal of Food Engineering, 2015)
Cork is the natural material stripped from the outer bark of cork oak. It is still the most used stopper to seal wine bottles and to preserve wine during storage. Cork stoppers are sorted in different classes according to apparent defects, named lenticels, which can be related to the cork macroporosity. The more lenticels there are, the worst cork quality is. The present work aims at investigating defects analysis of cork stoppers from two classes by comparing digital photography and neutron imaging. Surface analysis of defects obtained from photography leads to more surface defects in class 4 (6.7%) than in class 0 (4.1%). Neutron radiography and tomography are powerful methods that really show the defects inside the material. From neutron radiography and tomography, class 0 contains 5.4% of volume defects and class 4 6.5%. Moreover, tomography also allows observing defects distribution along the whole stopper and possible interconnectivity.
Keywords: Cork; defect detection; image analysis; neutron imaging; Porosity; tomography

Influence of tree canopy on N2 fixation by pasture legumes and soil rhizobial abundance in Mediterranean oak woodlands. - Carranca, C.; Castro, I. V.; Figueiredo, N.; Redondo, R.; Rodrigues, a R. F.; Saraiva, I.; Maricato, R.; Madeira, M. a V. (The Science of the total environment, 2015)
Symbiotic N2 fixation is of primordial significance in sustainable agro-forestry management as it allows reducing the use of mineral N in the production of mixed stands and by protecting the soils from degradation. Thereby, on a 2-year basis, N2 fixation was evaluated in four oak woodlands under Mediterranean conditions using a split-plot design and three replicates. (15)N technique was used for determination of N2 fixation rate. Variations in environmental conditions (temperature, rainfall, radiation) by the cork tree canopy as well as the age of stands and pasture management can cause great differences in vegetation growth, legume N2 fixation, and soil rhizobial abundance. In the present study, non-legumes dominated the swards, in particular beneath the tree canopy, and legumes represented only 42% of total herbage. A 2-fold biomass reduction was observed in the oldest sown pasture in relation to the medium-age sward (6tDWha(-1)yr(-1)). Overall, competition of pasture growth for light was negligible, but soil rhizobial abundance and symbiotic N2 fixation capacity were highly favored by this environmental factor in the spring and outside the influence of tree canopy. Nitrogen derived from the atmosphere was moderate to high (54-72%) in unsown and sown swards. Inputs of fixed N2 increased from winter to spring due to more favorable climatic conditions (temperature and light intensity) for both rhizobia and vegetation growths. Assuming a constant fixation rate at each seasonal period, N2 fixation capacity increased from about 0.10kgNha(-1) per day in the autumn-winter period to 0.15kgNha(-1) per day in spring. Belowground plant material contributed to 11% of accumulated N in pasture legumes and was not affected by canopy. Size of soil fixing bacteria contributed little to explain pasture legumes N.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V. accession-num: 25460942
Keywords: Above and belowground organ; Agro forestry system; Cutting frequency; light; Quercus Suber L

Land surface temperature as potential indicator of burn severity in forest Mediterranean ecosystems - Quintano, C.; Fernández-Manso, A.; Calvo, L.; Marcos, E.; Valbuena, L. (International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 2015)
Forest fires are one of the most important causes of environmental alteration in Mediterranean countries. Discrimination of different degrees of burn severity is critical for improving management of fire-affected areas. This paper aims to evaluate the usefulness of land surface temperature (LST) as potential indicator of burn severity. We used a large convention-dominated wildfire, which occurred on 19–21 September, 2012 in Northwestern Spain. From this area, a 1-year series of six LST images were generated from Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) data using a single channel algorithm. Further, the Composite Burn Index (CBI) was measured in 111 field plots to identify the burn severity level (low, moderate, and high). Evaluation of the potential relationship between post-fire LST and ground measured CBI was performed by both correlation analysis and regression models. Correlation coefficients were higher in the immediate post-fire LST images, but decreased during the fall of 2012 and increased again with a second maximum value in summer, 2013. A linear regression model between post-fire LST and CBI allowed us to represent spatially predicted CBI (R-squaredadj > 85%). After performing an analysis of variance (ANOVA) between post-fire LST and CBI, a Fisher’s least significant difference test determined that two burn severity levels (low-moderate and high) could be statistically distinguished. The identification of such burn severity levels is sufficient and useful to forest managers. We conclude that summer post-fire LST from moderate resolution satellite data may be considered as a valuable indicator of burn severity for large fires in Mediterranean forest ecosytems.
Keywords: burn severity; Composite Burn Index (CBI); Land surface temperature (LST); Landsat

Mapping land cover in complex Mediterranean landscapes using Landsat: Improved classification accuracies from integrating multi-seasonal and synthetic imagery - Senf, Cornelius; Leitão, Pedro J.; Pflugmacher, Dirk; van der Linden, Sebastian; Hostert, Patrick (Remote Sensing of Environment, 2015)
Low-intensity farming systems are of great importance for biodiversity in Europe, but they are often affected by soil degradation or economic pressure, leading to either land abandonment or intensification of agriculture. These changes in land use influence local biodiversity patterns and require annual monitoring of land cover. To accuratelymap landcover in such spatio-temporal complex landscapes, it isimportant to capture their phenolog- ical dynamics andfine spatial heterogeneity.Multi-seasonal analyses using optical sensorswith amediumspatial resolution from10 to 60m(e.g. Landsat) have been used for this task, but data availability can be scarce due to cloud cover, sub-optimal acquisition schedules and data archive access restrictions. Combining coarse spatial res- olution data fromtheMODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer(MODIS) and Landsat provides opportu- nities to close these gaps by simulating Landsat-like images atMODIS temporal resolution. In this study,we test whether and by what degree land cover maps of complex Mediterranean landscapes improve by integrating multi-seasonal Landsat imagery, as well aswhether STARFM-simulated imagery can be usedwhenever original multi-seasonal Landsat observations are unavailable. Therefore, we develop different classification scenarios based on seasonally varying data availability and based on original and simulated Landsat data. Results show that multi-seasonal Landsat data from spring and early autumn are crucial for achieving satisfying mapping accuracies (overall accuracy 74.5%). Using synthetic Landsat imagery increases classification accuracy compared to using single-date Landsat data, but accuracieswere never as good as a classification based on original data.We conclude thatmulti-seasonal data is essential for mapping complex Mediterranean landscapes and that STARFM can be used to compensate for missing Landsat observations. However, if Landsat data availability is sufficient to cover all phenologically important dates, we suggest relying solely on Landsat.
Keywords: image classification; Landsat; Mediterranean; Phenology; Pseudo-steppe; STARFM

Mechanical behavior of multilayered sandwich panels of wood veneer and a core of cork agglomerates - Lakreb, Nadia; Bezzazi, Boudjema; Pereira, Helena (Materials & Design, 2015)
Sandwich panels were produced using wood veneer of Aleppo pine as face sheets and cork agglomerate as core, including multilayered designs, for use in construction. The mechanical behavior of the panels was tested for perpendicular compression and tensile, longitudinal compression, three and four point bending, and shear. The load–displacement curves, patterns and cracking fractures were analyzed. The cork agglomerate provided a high performance under perpendicular compression, while the wood layers protected the core material and increased mechanical strength under tensile loads. Failure occurred mostly by fracture between cork granules. Multilayered sandwich panels showed higher strength and an increased number of layers improved the mechanical performance of the composite structure. The results suggested that these sandwich panels may be used as construction materials for paneling or partition walls in interior applications with the advantage of environmental friendliness and cost effectiveness.
Keywords: Aleppo pine; Bending; Compression Tension; CORK AGGLOMERATES; sandwich multilayer panels

Phenolic composition, antioxidant potential and in vitro inhibitory activity of leaves and acorns of Quercus suber on key enzymes relevant for hyperglycemia and Alzheimer's disease - Custódio, Luísa; Patarra, João; Alberício, Fernando; Neng, Nuno Da Rosa; Nogueira, José Manuel Florêncio; Romano, Anabela (Industrial Crops and Products, 2015)
This work reports the in vitro antioxidant and inhibitory activities of hexane, methanol and water extracts of cork oak (Quercus suber) against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), a-amylase and a-glucosidase. The total content of phenolics (TPC), tannins (TTC) and flavonoids (TFC), and the HPLC profile of the main phenolic compounds present in the extracts, were also determined. In the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay the best results were obtained with the methanol and water extracts from both leaves and acorns (41–49%). In the 2,2 a-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) method the highest activity was observed with the methanol and leaf water extracts (63–71%). The most significant effects on cholinesterase activity were obtained with the methanol leaf extract at the concentration of 1 mg/mL, yielding inhibition values of 79 and 80% on AChE and BuChE, respectively. No relevant activity was detected against a-amylase, but samples significantly inhibited a-glucosidase from baker’s yeast, and the best results were obtained with the water and methanol leaf extracts with values of 97 and 89%, respectively, higher than the positive controls used (acarbose and glucobay). The methanol leaf extract had the highest TPC (211 mg GAE/g, DW) and TFC (8.2 mg RE/g, DW), whereas the water extracts had the highest tannin levels (87 CE/g, DW). The main compound in the methanol leaf extract was gentisic acid (24.3 mg/g, DW). Our results suggest that leaves and acorns from cork oak contain compounds useful for alleviating symptoms associated with Alzheimer disease and other neurodegenerative ailments as well as diabetes.
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Cholinesterase; Cork oak; Dementia; Diabetes; Neurological disorders

Acorn – weevil interactions in a mixed-oak forest: Outcomes for larval growth and plant recruitment - Muñoz, Alberto; Bonal, Raul; Espelta, Josep Maria (Forest Ecology and Management, 2014)
Weevils are the most important pre-dispersal acorn predators in the Mediterranean region, where oaks often form mixed forests and different weevil species can coexist. The performance of weevil larvae depends in great extent on their feeding activities inside the infested acorns that, in turn, are known to reduce the viability of acorns. In this paper, we have analysed the interactions among the weevil community and four oak species (Quercus pyrenaica, Quercus suber, Quercus faginea and Quercus ilex) coexisting in a Mediterranean mixed-oak forest. DNA sequencing of weevil larvae revealed four different weevil species (Curculio elephas, Curculio glandium, Curculio pellitus and Curculio venosus) infesting the acorns of the four oak species. Oak species differed in acorn size, and weevil species also differed in body size. Weevil species showed some degree of specificity among the four oak species, but specificity was not related to variations in acorn size. By contrast, larval development and seedling recruitment were mostly driven by inter-specific differences in larval and acorn size. Larger seeded species suffered less seed damages by weevils (i.e. embryo predation and cotyledon consumption), thus reducing the impacts of acorn infestation in seedling emergence and seedling size. Larval development for the largest weevil species C. elephas was constrained by cotyledon depletion in all acorn species. Yet, this pattern was not observed for other weevil species. Larval size of the same weevil species also varied among different oak species after controlling for the amount of cotyledon eaten by larvae, thus, variation of other acorn traits among acorn species (e.g. chemical composition) may also have consequences for the performance of weevil larvae. It is likely that other variables operating at population level, such as temporal and spatial changes in acorn production or phenological variations of weevils and oaks, are also implicated in the complex functioning of these outstanding mixed-oak forests where natural regeneration seems to be threatened.
Keywords: acorn; Host specificity; Larval development; Seedling recruitment; Weevil

Acta Oecologica In fl uence of tree cover on herbaceous layer development and carbon and water fl uxes in a Portuguese cork-oak woodland - Dubbert, Maren; Mosena, Alexander; Piayda, Arndt; Cuntz, Matthias; Cristina, Alexandra; Santos, Joao; Werner, Christiane (Acta Oecologica, 2014)

Activated carbons prepared from industrial pre-treated cork: Sustainable adsorbents for pharmaceutical compounds removal - Mestre, Ana S; Pires, Ricardo a.; Aroso, Ivo; Fernandes, Emanuel M; Pinto, Moisés L; Reis, Rui L; Andrade, Marta a.; Pires, João; Silva, Susana P; Carvalho, Ana P (Chemical Engineering Journal, 2014)
Industrial pre-treated cork – granules of expanded corkboard, prepared from renewable biomass – was used for the first time as precursor for the preparation of eco-friendly activated carbons by chemical (K2CO3 and KOH) and physical (steam) activation. Samples with different textural (microporosity/ micro + mesoporosity) and surface chemistry (acidic/basic) were obtained. In the best compromise between porosity development/preparation yield, apparent surface areas P900m2 g?1 were attained. Selected samples were assayed as adsorbents for the removal of pharmaceutical compounds (ibuprofen, paracetamol, acetylsalicylic acid, clofibric acid, caffeine and iopamidol). Kinetic results show that the steam activated carbon removes all the pharmaceutical compounds under study with removal efficien- cies between 40% and 90%. Ibuprofen equilibrium adsorption isotherms showed that sample chemically activated with KOH at 800 ?C presents higher adsorption capacity (174.4 mg g?1) and affinity for this target molecule than the steam activated and commercial samples. The overall results reveal that the lab-made carbons have adequate properties for pharmaceutical compounds removal, the results compar- ing favourably to those obtained with samples commercialized for water treatment purposes
Keywords: activated carbon; chemical and steam activation; industrial expanded corkboard; Kinetic and equilibrium adsorption studies; Pharmaceutical compounds removal

Air biomonitoring of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons near a cement plant - Baldantoni, Daniela; De Nicola, Flavia; Alfani, Anna (ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION RESEARCH, 2014)
Biomonitoring studies, based on pollutant accumulation analyses in tree leaves, allow evaluating the impact caused by air-dispersed pollutants on ecosystems, providing useful data, complementary to those obtained by instrumental monitoring. In particular, leaves of sclerophylls present morphological characteristics, such as the presence of hairs and of a tick cuticle, making them particularly useful in bioaccumulation studies. The first aim of this research was to compare heavy metal (HM) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) leaf accumulation capabilities of two Mediterranean tree species. The second aim was to evaluate the impact of a cement plant and/ or of other anthropogenic activities occurring in industrial and urban areas on HM and PAH depositions. For these purposes, holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) and olive (Olea europaea L.) leaves collected along a transect industrial-urban-remote sites in southern Italy were employed. A different accumulation degree was observed for the two species. For HMs, Q. ilex leaves had the highest concentrations. The results showed that the influence of the cement plant emissions on pollutant concentrations was substantial in the area closer to clinker production and storage with the highest Pb, Ni, V, Cr, Fe, indeno(1,2,3-c, d) pyrene, benzo(g, h, i) perylene and benzo(a) anthracene leaf concentrations. However, Q. ilex leaves showed high HM and PAH concentrations also in the urban site, in relation to vehicular traffic emissions and depositions. The comparison of the results of the present study with those from the literature indicates that the overall air quality of the studied sites is not particularly compromised, also in proximity of the cement production. The use of holm oak should be preferred in biomonitoring due to its wider distribution compared to O. europaea.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: pub-location: DOKUZ EYLUL UNIV, DEPT ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING, TINAZTEPE CAMPUS, BUCA, IZMIR 35160, TURKEY publisher: TURKISH NATL COMMITTEE AIR POLLUTION RES & CONTROL-TUNCAP
Keywords: industrial-urban-remote areas; leaf accumulation; Olea europaea L.; Quercus ilex L.

Aliphatic bio-oils from corks: A Py–GC/MS study - Marques, António Velez; Pereira, Helena (Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 2014)
Cork samples from Betula pendula, Quercus suber and Quercus cerris were submitted to Py–GC–MS/FID at temperatures between 550°C and 900°C and the pyrolysis-derived compounds (py-products) were identified and quantified. Corks were compared with wood samples. Py-products include suberin, lignin and carbohydrates derivatives. Suberin py-products are dominated by unsaturated aliphatics. Corks pyrolysis yield and composition were dramatically influenced by temperature in contrast to wood that showed stable results across temperatures. At 850–900°C the peaks area of cork pyrograms were approximately two times higher than at 550°C, for which yield was about half of the woods, and cork py-products were dominated by suberin-derived short chain aliphatics, namely 1-alkenes, while at 550°C composition was dominated by lignin derivatives. Lignin and carbohydrate derived products decreased dramatically over 750°C while the opposite was observed for unsaturated aliphatics. Cork materials show a high potential as feedstock for production of aliphatic-rich pyrolytic biofuels or as a source of olefins.
Keywords: Bark; Bio-oil; biomass; Cork; pyrolysis; suberin

Ambient levels and temporal trends of VOCs, including carbonyl compounds, and ozone at Cabañeros National Park border, Spain - Villanueva, Florentina; Tapia, Araceli; Notario, Alberto; Albaladejo, José; Martínez, Ernesto (Atmospheric Environment, 2014)
Concentration levels of 15 carbonyls, 17 VOCs and ozone were studied at Cabañeros National Park border, Spain, in an area mainly constituted by holm oaks (Quercus ilex) and cork oaks (Quercus suber), along with scrubland formations such as rock-rose and heather. The compounds were collected by means of diffusive samplers from August–November 2010 and February–August 2011. Carbonyl compounds, VOCs and O3 were analysed by HPLC with diode array UV–Vis detector, GC–FID and by UV–visible spectrophotometry, respectively. The most abundant carbonyls were hexanal, acetone–acrolein, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. Seasonal variation was apparent with maximum values observed in summer months. Total carbonyl concentrations ranged from 2.8 to 19.7 μg m−3. Most VOCs studied (using chemically desorbable cartridges) were either not detected or were below their detection limits, however, a parallel sampling using thermally desorbable cartridges, from May 22 to June 19, revealed the presence of much more VOCs, identified using GC–MS. O3 concentration ranged from 27.2 to 90.5 μg m−3, reaching the maximum monthly mean concentration in March (84.4 μg m−3). The analysis of back trajectories indicates the transport of polluted air masses from remote areas, mainly from the Mediterranean basin that should contribute to the high levels of ozone observed.
Keywords: air quality; aldehydes; Cabañeros National Park; Ozone; passive samplers; VOCs

Analysis of the expression of putative heat-stress related genes in relation to thermotolerance of cork oak - Correia, Barbara; Rodriguez, José Luis; Valledor, Luis; Almeida, Tânia; Santos, Conceição; Cañal, Maria Jesus; Pinto, Glória (Journal of Plant Physiology, 2014)
Cork oak (Quercus suber L.) is a research priority in the Mediterranean area and because of cork oaks’ dis- tribution these stands are experiencing daily stress. Based on projections of intensifying climate change and considering the key role of exploring the recovery abilities, cork oak seedlings were subjected to a cumulative temperature increase from 25◦C to 55◦C and subsequent recovery. CO2 assimilation rate, chlorophyll fluorescence, anthocyanins, proline and lipid peroxidation were used to evaluate plant per- formance, while the relative abundance of seven genes encoding for proteins of cork oak with a putative role in thermal/stress regulation (POX1, POX2, HSP10.4, HSP17a.22, CHS, MTL and RBC) was analyzed by qPCR (quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction). A temperature change to 35◦C showed abundance alterations in the tested genes; at 45◦C, the molecular changes were associated with an antioxidant response, possibly modulated by anthocyanins. At 55◦C, HSP17a.22, MTL and proline accumulation were evident. After recovery, physiological balance was restored, whereas POX1, HSP10.4 and MTL abundances were suggested to be involved in increased thermotolerance. The data presented here are expected to pinpoint some pathways changes occurring during such stress and further recovery in this particular Mediterranean species. ©
Keywords: high temperature; Plant performance; Quercus suber; Recovery

Anti-Phytophthora cinnamomi activity of Phlomis purpurea plant and root extracts - Neves, Dina; Caetano, Paula; Oliveira, Joana; Maia, Cristiana; Horta, Marília; Sousa, Nelson; Salgado, Marco; Dionisio, Lidia; Magan, Naresh; Cravador, Alfredo (EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PLANT PATHOLOGY, 2014)
Phlomis purpurea (Lamiaceae), found in Quercus suber and Quercus ilex ssp. rotundifolia forest habitats in southern Portugal, is a non-host for the oomycete Phytophthora cinnamomi, the main biotic factor involved in cork oak and holm oak decline in the Iberian Peninsula. The effect of P. purpurea crude ethanol root extract was evaluated in vitro on P. cinnamomi mycelial growth, sporangial production, zoospore release and germination as well as on chlamydospore production and viability. The protection of cork oak against infection by the pathogen was also evaluated in planta. At 10 mg ml(-1), in vitro inhibition of the pathogen structures was 85-100 %. In addition, P. purpurea plants were shown to protect Q. suber and Q. ilex from P. cinnamomi infection and to reduce the inoculum potential in glasshouse trials, indicating the ability to reduce root infection by the pathogen. The results suggest that P. purpurea has the potential to reduce disease spread and that their root extracts could provide candidate substances for control of the important pathogen, P. cinnamomi.
Keywords: Biocontrol; Disease reduction; Quercus ilex; Quercus suber; root rot; Zoospores

Application of a kiln drying technique to Quercus suber L. cork planks - Carpintero, E.; Jurado, M.; Prades, C. (Food and Bioproducts Processing, 2014)
At present, all of the cork used to manufacture natural stoppers is air dried for a minimum of 6 months. This study evaluates the feasibility of applying a kiln drying technique to cork planks. We used a sample of 65 planks, each of which was divided into two pieces. One sub-set of planks was air dried for 6 months following the traditional procedure, while the other was kiln dried for 14 days. The evolution of moisture content was controlled, and both methods were compared by means of a statistical analysis of the thickness, quality, porosity coefficient, color and compressive properties of the cork. The reduction in moisture content was similar for both traditional air drying and kiln drying. At the end of the drying, cork thickness increased with both methods, although a larger increase was observed for the kiln drying method. Statistically significant differences were not found for the mean porosity coefficient or quality. Although statistically significant differences in the color of the cork were detected, it would be necessary to verify if such differences are detectable by the human eye. No differences were found in the compressive properties of the cork for a significance level of less than 1%. This feasibility study concludes that kiln drying is a suitable technique as it significantly reduces the drying time and holding costs of the raw material. The application of this technique would constitute an innovation in the transformation process by controlling the climatic variables that affect the drying process.
Keywords: Compressive properties; Kiln drying; Moisture content; Quality; Thickness; Traditional air drying

Assessing the effect of late-season fertilization on Holm oak plant quality: insights from morpho–nutritional characterizations and water relations parameters - Andivia, Enrique; FERNÁNDEZ, MANUEL; VÁZQUEZ-PIQUÉ, JAVIER (New Forests, 2014)
Forest restoration projects with Holm oak (Quercus ilex) have had limited success, mostly due to water stress after planting and poor plant quality. Recent studies indicated that large and nutrient rich plants perform better in Mediterranean areas, sug- gesting that late-season fertilization may improve plant quality and field performance. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of late-season fertilization on the quality of Holm oak seedlings, as determined by morphological, nutritional, and water relations analyses. We grew Holm oak nursery seedlings under 5 different late-season fertilization regimes and then analyzed morphological characteristics, nutritional status, and water relations parameters of the fertilization groups at the end of the nursery period. We also analyzed the effect of fertilization on nutritional status by use of vector nomograms. Our results indicated that late-season NPK fertilization improved shoot and root growth, and the overall nutritional status of seedlings. The lack of late-season fertilization leads to nutrient deficiency in plants, whilst the application of imbalanced fertilization treatments may trigger nutrient luxury consumption and nutrient dilution, pointing out the importance of NPK proportions in the fertilizer. Moreover, late-season fertilization with nitrogen might improve the drought resistance of seedling by enhancing their osmotic adjustment.
Keywords: Autumn fertilization; Nursery culture; Nutrient loading; osmotic adjustment; Quercus ilex; Vector analysis

Assessment and Comparison of the Visual Survey Method for Estimating Acorn Production in Holm Oak (Quercus ilex ssp. ballota) Open Woodland of Southwestern Spain - Carevic, Felipe S.; Alejano, Reyes; FERNÁNDEZ, MANUEL; Martín, Daniel (Arid Land Research and Management, 2014)
We assessed the accuracy of a visual survey method for quantification of acorn production in Holm oak in two plots located in the Huelva province of southwestern Spain during three acorn dissemination periods from 2007 to 2010. At the end of September during each period, visual surveys were used to estimate acorn numbers. Four seed traps were placed beneath the crowns of the same trees at the north, south, east, and west positions to determine acorn weight and number on a fortnightly basis during the mast seeding period (October to January). The accuracy of the visual survey was assessed by linear regression and correlation analysis. The results indicated a significant positive correlation of the two methods during all the three time periods. The resulting regression equations allowed estimation of acorn production based on visual surveys. These results suggest that the visual survey method is a simple and precise method that can be used to predict acorn production in Holm oak landscapes.
Keywords: acorn production; mediterranean landscape; visual surveys

Assessment of Eco-Physiological Performance of Quercus ilex L. Leaves in Urban Area by an Integrated Approach - Arena, Carmen; De Maio, Anna; De Nicola, Flavia; Santorufo, Lucia; Vitale, Luca; Maisto, Giulia (WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION, 2014)
Plant physiological performance may be endangered in contaminated urban areas. Metal and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) content in Quercus ilex leaves mainly reflects air pollution, being for these pollutants traceable the translocation from soil. In this work, in a field study, the responses at structural and functional level of Q. ilex leaves to metal and PAH pollution were assessed by an integrated approach. At this purpose, morphological (functional traits), biochemical (pigment content, antioxidant capacity, and PARP activity), and physiological (partitioning of absorbed light in the photosynthetic process) analyses were performed in leaves collected at urban parks and roadsides. Compared to the leaves of the urban parks, those sampled at the roadsides showed higher metal and PAH accumulation. The most contaminated leaves showed smaller leaf sizes and lower relative water and pigment content, as well as a lower photochemistry. In this circumstance, the excess of absorbed light at PSII was mainly dissipated via non-regulated than heat processes. On the basis of the biochemical analyses, the occurrence of DNA damages in contaminated Q. ilex leaves may be hypothesized.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: pub-location: VAN GODEWIJCKSTRAAT 30, 3311 GZ DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS publisher: SPRINGER
Keywords: PAH and metal contamination; PARP activity; Photochemistry; Q. ilex

Assessment of Methods for Land Surface Temperature Retrieval from Landsat-5 TM Images Applicable to Multiscale Tree-Grass Ecosystem Modeling - Vlassova, Lidia; Perez-Cabello, Fernando; Nieto, Hector; Martín, Pilar; Riaño, David; de la Riva, Juan (Remote Sensing, 2014)
Land Surface Temperature (LST) is one of the key inputs for Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere transfer modeling in terrestrial ecosystems. In the frame of BIOSPEC (Linking spectral information at different spatial scales with biophysical parameters of Mediterranean vegetation in the context of global change) and FLUXPEC (Monitoring changes in water and carbon fluxes from remote and proximal sensing in Mediterranean ―dehesa‖ ecosystem) projects LST retrieved from Landsat data is required to integrate ground-based observations of energy, water, and carbon fluxes with multi-scale remotely-sensed data and assess water and carbon balance in ecologically fragile heterogeneous ecosystem of Mediterranean wooded grassland (dehesa). Thus, three methods based on the Radiative Transfer Equation were used to extract LST from a series of 2009–2011 Landsat-5 TM images to assess the applicability for temperature input generation to a Landsat-MODIS LST integration. When compared to surface temperatures simulated using MODerate resolution atmospheric TRANsmission 5 (MODTRAN 5) with atmospheric profiles inputs (LSTref), values from Single-Channel (SC) algorithm are the closest (root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) = 0.50 °C); procedure based on the online Radiative Transfer Equation Atmospheric Correction Parameters Calculator (RTE-ACPC) shows RMSD = 0.85 ° C; Mono-Window algorithm (MW) presents the highest RMSD (2.34 °C) with systematical LST underestimation (bias = 1.81 ° C). Differences between Landsat-retrieved LST and MODIS LST are in the range of 2 to 4 ° C and can be explained mainly by differences in observation geometry, emissivity, and time mismatch between Landsat and MODIS overpasses. There is a seasonal bias in Landsat-MODIS LST differences due to greater variations in surface emissivity and thermal contrasts between landcover components.
Keywords: land surface temperature; Landsat; multitemporal

Assessment of the Argentine ant invasion management by means of manual removal of winter nests in mixed cork oak and pine forests - Diaz, Mireia; Abril, Sílvia; Enriquez, Martha L; Gómez, Crisanto (BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS, 2014)
The dynamic in Argentine ant colonies varies seasonally, influenced by biotic and abiotic factors. In winter the spatial range of the colony is contracted in large formations (winter nests) containing a large number of queens and workers. Winter nests are the clue to the species' dispersion power and the invasion of new habitats. For this reason a yearly elimination of queens and workers in winter at the edge (front) of the invasion could be a useful tool for weakening the species' dispersion and therefore limiting its establishment in new areas. Here, we determined the spatial dynamics of the Argentine ant nests during 1 year, and we assessed the invasion management by means of manual removal of winter nests for two consecutive winters, determining its effects during the following 3 years. We mapped nests found in 18 plots divided into two groups: extirpated (with removal of nests) and non-extirpated (control), along the fronts of three locations. Seasonal variation in the abundance of nests and workers, together with the two-year extirpation effects were evaluated. We found that colonies tended to follow an annual cycle of contraction and dispersion, with a decrease in the number of nests as we approached the invasion front. The extirpation was effective only in the front area, where it promoted smaller, less lasting and aggregated nests, as well as a decrease in the abundance of queens and workers. Nests also experienced a decrease during the two first winters but a recovery in the third, when no extirpation was done. Thus, a yearly perturbation should be performed to keep the expansion of the Argentine ant at a low rate, and to limit its establishment in new areas.
Keywords: Argentine ant; extirpation effects; Invasion front; Longterm; Seasonal colony dynamics; Spatial nest distribution

An assessment of the influence of the urban environment on collembolan communities in soils using taxonomy- and trait-based approaches - Santorufo, Lucia; Cortet, Jérôme; Arena, Carmen; Goudon, Romain; Rakoto, Alain; Morel, Jean-Louis; Maisto, Giulia (Applied Soil Ecology, 2014)
In this study we investigated collembolan communities using both taxonomy- and trait-based approaches in order to determine: (1) which soil or leaf litter characteristics are the main agents of species distribution and functional trait distribution in collembolan communities, and (2) which functional traits are more prevalent in species tolerant to urban environments. To investigate this, soil and leaf litter were sampled in the urban area of Naples, Italy and the collembolan community was analyzed using taxonomic and functional approaches. The results indicated that collembolan density was negatively affected by site pollution, and that species richness, diversity and evenness were positively affected by the organic matter content of the soil. Folsomia lawrencei was the most abundant species in sites with high metal contamination and low soil organic matter content, whereas Mesaphorura sp. and Parisotoma notabilis were the most ubiquitous taxa overall. The main agents affecting the frequency of functional traits were metal contamination of soil and litter, soil organic matter content, leaf specific mass and thickness of the litter. The species most tolerant to urban environmental conditions were found to have small body size, jumping motion strategy, sexual reproduction and presence of pigmentation.
Keywords: Collembola; Metal contamination; Organism traits; Urbanization

Automatic and improved radiometric correction of Landsat imagery using reference values from MODIS surface reflectance images - Pons, X; Pesquer, L; Cristóbal, J; González-Guerrero, O (International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 2014)
Radiometric correction is a prerequisite for generating high-quality scientific data, making it possible to discriminate between product artefacts and real changes in Earth processes as well as accurately produce land cover maps and detect changes. This work contributes to the automatic generation of surface reflectance products for Landsat satellite series. Surface reflectances are generated by a new approach developed from a previous simplified radiometric (atmospheric+topographic) correction model. The proposed model keeps the core of the old model (incidence angles and cast-shadows through a digital elevation model [DEM], Earth–Sun distance, etc.) and adds new characteristics to enhance and automatize ground reflectance retrieval. The new model includes the following new features: (1) A fitting model based on reference values from pseudoinvariant areas that have been automatically extracted from existing reflectance products (Terra MODIS MOD09GA) that were selected also automatically by applying quality criteria that include a geostatistical pattern model. This guarantees the consistency of the internal and external series, making it unnecessary to provide extra atmospheric data for the acquisition date and time, dark objects or dense vegetation. (2) A spatial model for atmospheric optical depth that uses detailed DEM and MODTRAN simulations. (3) It is designed so that large time-series of images can be processed automatically to produce consistent Landsat surface reflectance time-series. (4) The approach can handle most images, acquired now or in the past, regardless of the processing system, with the exception of those with extremely high cloud coverage. The new methodology has been successfully applied to a series of near 300 images of the same area including MSS, TM and ETM+ imagery as well as to different formats and processing systems (LPGS and NLAPS from the USGS; CEOS from ESA) for different degrees of cloud coverage (up to 60%) and SLC-off. Reflectance products have been validated with some example applications: time series robustness (for a pixel in a pseudoinvariant area, deviations are only 1.04% on average along the series), spectral signatures generation (visually coherent with the MODIS ones, but more similar between dates), and classification (up to 4 percent points better than those obtained with the original manual method or the CDR products). In conclusion, this new approach, that could also be applied to other sensors with similar band configurations, offers a fully automatic and reasonably good procedure for the new era of long time-series of spatially detailed global remote sensing data.
Keywords: Landsat; MODIS; Pseudoinvariant area; Radiometric correction

Back to Osborne. Sequential Protein Extraction and LC-MS Analysis for the Characterization of the Holm Oak Seed Proteome - Romero-Rodríguez, M.Cristina; Maldonado-Alconada, AnaM.; Valledor, Luis; Jorrin-Novo, JesusV. (Plant Proteomics SE - 27, 2014)
It is impossible to capture in just one experiment all or most of the total set of protein species that constitute the cell’s proteome. Thus, according to our results, and even considering that they depend on the experimental system carried out (plant, yeast, fungi, or bacteria), the best protein extraction protocol yielded less than 20 % of the total amount of proteins, as determined by the Kjeldahl method. For this reason, protein cataloguing and the whole proteome characterization require the use of firstly, fractionation techniques at the cellular, subcellular, protein, or peptide level, and secondly, the use of complementary approaches. Within our current research on Holm oak (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota), we aim to characterize its seed proteome. For that we have optimized an experimental workflow in which the Osborne sequential protein extraction (Osborne, Science 28:417–427, 1908) is combined with downstream electrophoretic protein separation or shotgun MS analysis. In general, it can be used to study any plant seed, as well as to investigate on seed maturation and germination, genotype characterization, allergens identification, food traceability, and substantial equivalence, among others.
Keywords: Holm oak proteomics; Osborne; Seed proteomics

Bark and wood boring insects involved in oak declines in Europe: Current knowledge and future prospects in a context of climate change - Sallé, A; Nageleisen, L.-M.; Lieutier, F (Forest Ecology and Management, 2014)
Oak declines are multifactorial processes in which bark and wood boring (BWB) beetles can act as major inciting factors, killing the weakened trees. Nonetheless, the current knowledge on the biology, ecology of these species is scattered and no efficient management strategies are currently available. Based on the existing literature and field observations from the French forest health service, we firstly identified the prominent BWB species implicated in oak declines in Europe. Secondly we performed a state of the art on the biology and ecology of these species, with a particular reference to the interactions with their host trees. Finally considerations were made on how climate change could affect these interactions. Six species, namely Agrilus biguttatus, Coraebus florentinus, Coraebus undatus, Cerambyx cerdo, Platypus cylindrus and Scolytus intricatus are frequently implicated in oak declines in Europe. The interactions with their hosts regarding selection and resistance are generally poorly known. Likewise, these beetles are associated with a diverse microbial community, which composition and implication in the biology of insects and decline processes is unclear in most cases. Climate change will probably increase the frequency and distribution of oak declines in Europe. It will also likely modify the interactions between oaks and these beetles by promoting contributing factors of decline, modifying directly and indirectly host resistance, phenology and attractiveness, and beetles development, distribution and interaction with microorganisms. Evidences point out that the increase in temperature has already favored the distribution and development of C. florentinus and could enhance the development of other species. Potential research prospects are proposed, aiming at acquiring missing basic knowledge and improving the currently limited management strategies.
Keywords: associated microorganisms; Host resistance; management strategies; Thermal requirements

The bark of holm oak (Quercus ilex, L.) for airborne Cr(VI) monitoring. - Minganti, Vincenzo; Drava, Giuliana; De Pellegrini, Rodolfo; Anselmo, Marco; Modenesi, Paolo; Malaspina, Paola; Giordani, Paolo (Chemosphere, 2014)
In this work, the bark of holm oak was used as a bioindicator to study the atmospheric distribution of Cr(VI). The chosen method (alkaline extraction and atomic absorption determination) was found in the literature, adapted for use with the matrix involved, and validated. The method had some limits, but provided an excellent estimation of Cr(VI) concentrations with good sensitivity and a reasonable time of analysis and cost. Thirty-four samples of holm oak collected in three areas characterised by different possible sources of pollution (the area near a former chromate production plant, an urban area, and a rural "reference" area) were analysed, obtaining concentrations ranging from 1.54 to 502μgg(-1) near the industrial plant, ranging from 0.22 to 1.35μgg(-1) in the urban area, and mostly below the detection limit (0.04μgg(-1)) in the rural area. The bark of holm oak proved to be a good bioindicator to detect Cr(VI) in the environment. The extraction procedure followed by atomic absorption analysis is simple, provides good sensitivity, and it is suitable for environmental studies.
Keywords: Bioindicator; ET-AAS; Hexavalent chromium; Tree bark

Bio-based versus traditional polymer composites. A life cycle assessment perspective - La Rosa, Angela Daniela; Recca, Giuseppe; Summerscales, John; Latteri, Alberta; Cozzo, Gulia; Cicala, Gianluca (Journal of Cleaner Production, 2014)
A comparative LCA between an eco-sandwich made of bio-based epoxy resin (SuperSap 100/1000) and natural fibers against a traditional sandwich made of epoxy/glass-fibers was carried out. The main purpose and contribution of this study is the exploration of the eco-efficiency of this new material which featured applications span from naval to automotive and building sectors. To a minor degree, it is also a contribution in the sense that it provides life cycle inventory data on composites, which as yet are scarce in the LCA community. Life cycle assessments of bio-based polymers have shown favourable results in terms of environmental impacts and energy use compared to petroleum-based products. However, calculation of these impacts always depends on the system and boundary conditions considered during the study.
Keywords: Bio-based epoxy resin; Eco-sandwich; Granulated cork; Hemp mat; Life cycle assessment (LCA)

Biomass-modulated fire dynamics during the last glacial-interglacial transition at the Central Pyrenees (Spain) - Gil-Romera, Graciela; González-Sampériz, Penélope; Lasheras-Álvarez, Laura; Sevilla-Callejo, Miguel; Moreno, Ana; Valero-Garcés, Blas; López-Merino, Lourdes; Carrión, José S; Pérez Sanz, Ana; Aranbarri, Josu; García-Prieto Fronce, Eduardo (Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 2014)
Understanding long-term fire ecology is essential for current day interpretation of ecosystem fire responses. However palaeoecology of fire is still poorly understood, especially at high-altitude mountain environments, despite the fact that these are fire-sensitive ecosystems and their resilience might be affected by changing fire regimes. We reconstruct wildfire occurrence since the Lateglacial (14.7calka BP) to the Mid-Holocene (6calka BP) and investigate the climate–fuel–fire relationships in a sedimentary sequence located at the treeline in the Central Spanish Pyrenees. Pollen, macro- and micro-charcoal were analysed for the identification of fire events (FE) in order to detect vegetation post-fire response and to define biomass–fire interactions. mean fire intervals (mfi) reduced since the Lateglacial, peaking at 9–7.7calka BP while from 7.7 to 6calka BP no fire is recorded. We hypothesise that Early Holocene maximum summer insolation, as climate forcing, and mesophyte forest expansion, as a fuel-creating factor, were responsible for accelerating fire occurrence in the Central Pyrenees treeline. We also found that fire had long-lasting negative effects on most of the treeline plant communities and that forest contraction from 7.7calka BP is likely linked to the ecosystem's threshold response to high fire frequencies.
Keywords: Fire history; historical biogeography; iberian peninsula; l Palaeoecology; Lateglacia; quaternary

Bird communities in traditional wood-pastures with changing management in Eastern Europe - Hartel, Tibor; Hanspach, Jan; Abson, David J; Máthé, Orsolya; Moga, Cosmin Ioan; Fischer, Joern (Basic and Applied Ecology, 2014)
Wood-pastures are fragile ecosystems because they were formed by, and depend on specific, low-intensity multifunctional management. Although their ecological and cultural significance is high, wood-pastures are rapidly deteriorating all over Europe, mainly due to changing land use. We still lack a basic understanding of the ecological value of wood-pastures, and in which features they differ from other landscape elements. In this paper we investigated the ecological value of wood-pastures for passerine birds by (i) comparing bird assemblages of wood-pastures with those of closed forests and open pastures and (ii) exploring the relationships between variables describing wood-pastures and species traits of the bird assemblages. Our study region (Southern Transylvania, Romania) provides a unique opportunity to understand the importance of a traditional cultural and ecological environment for many different organisms. Wood-pastures had a higher overall number of bird species, and a higher spatial turnover in bird community composition than closed forests and open pastures. We found significant associations between bird species traits and habitat structural elements in wood-pastures such as large trees, oak- and pear trees and shrubs. Our findings suggest that traditional wood-pastures in Southern Transylvania have distinct and rich passerine bird communities. This richness is inextricably linked to the multifunctional, low-intensity land use traditionally applied in the wood-pastures that promotes high niche diversity. For effective conservation of the biodiversity of wood-pastures, a detailed understanding is needed of how different management regimes may influence the key structural elements of wood-pastures relevant for biodiversity and these should be protected. Waldweiden sind empfindliche Ökosysteme, weil sie durch multifunktionale Bewirtschaftung geringer Intensität entstehen und davon abhängen. Auch wenn ihre ökologische und kulturelle Bedeutung hoch ist, verschlechtert sich der Zustand der Waldweiden in ganz Europa mit hoher Geschwindigkeit, überwiegend aufgrund von geänderter Landnutzung. Uns fehlt immer noch ein grundlegendes Verständnis des ökologischen Wertes der Waldweiden und der Eigenschaften, durch die sie sich von anderen Landschaftselementen unterscheiden. In dieser Studie untersuchten wir den ökologischen Wert von Waldweiden für Singvögel indem wir (1) die Vogelgemeinschaften von Waldweiden mit denen geschlossener Wälder und offener Weiden verglichen und (2) die Beziehungen zwischen die Waldweiden beschreibenden Variablen und Artmerkmalen der Vogelgemeinschaften erkundeten. Unser Untersuchungsgebiet (Südliches Transsilvanien, Rumänien) bietet eine einzigartige Gelegenheit, die Bedeutung einer traditionellen kulturellen und ökologischen Umwelt für viele verschiedene Organismen zu verstehen. Die Waldweiden wiesen eine höhere Gesamtzahl von Vogelarten auf und zeigten einen höheren räumlichen Turnover in der Zusammensetzung der Vogelgemeinschaften als geschlossener Wald und offene Weide. Wir fanden signifikante Beziehungen zwischen den Artmerkmalen der Vögel und Strukturelementen der Waldweiden wie alte Bäume, Eichen- und Birnbäume sowie Sträucher. Unsere Befunde legen nahe, dass die traditionellen Waldweiden im südlichen Transsilvanien charakteristische und artenreiche Vogelgemeinschaften beherbergen. Dieser Artenreichtum ist untrennbar mit der wenig intensiven, multifunktionalen Landnutzung verbunden, die traditionell in den Waldweiden ausgeübt wird und eine hohe Nischendiversität fördert. Für einen effektiven Schutz der Biodiversität der Waldweiden benötigen wir ein detailliertes Verständnis des Einflusses unterschiedlicher Managementmaßnahmen auf die entscheidenden Strukturelemente von Waldweiden mit Relevanz für die Biodiversität. Diese Strukturelemente sollten geschützt werden.
Keywords: Biodiversity; conservation; dead trees; Grazing; Romania; scattered trees; shrub; traditional cultural landscape

Breeding ecology of the Atlas Pied Flycatcher Ficedula speculigera in an old oak Quercus suber forest in northeastern Algeria - Boudeffa, Khaled; Brahmia, Zahra; Benyacoub, Slim (Bird Study, 2014)
Capsule Low clutch size (CS) in the Atlas Pied Flycatcher breeding in evergreen Mediterranean forest was compensated for by relatively high overall reproductive success. Aims To describe the breeding ecology of the Atlas Pied Flycatcher Ficedula speculigera in detail for the first time, in an old oak Quercus suber forest. Methods A total of 102 nests were monitored during 2010?2012. Breeding phenology, population density, clutch and brood sizes, egg biometrics, breeding losses and breeding success were accurately determined. Results The species arrived in the breeding area in late April. Population density was very high with 4.87 (±1.02) pairs/ha. Mean egg laying date (LD) was 19 May and CS averaged 4.92 eggs. Hatching and fledging success were 88.7% and 83.5%, respectively. The number of fledged young averaged 3.8 (±1.66) and decreased with LD (4.2?±?1.45 chicks fledged per nest at the start of the season versus 2.8?±?1.56 at the end). Conclusion Lower CS compared to Ficedula hypoleuca populations was compensated by relatively high fledging success, thereby ensuring overall reproductive success of this species. Moreover, the Atlas Pied Flycatchers seem to benefit from the lower seasonality in their food in the evergreen habitat.
Keywords: clutch size; Cork oak; mediterranean forest

Can ammonia tolerance amongst lichen functional groups be explained by physiological responses? - Munzi, S; Cruz, C; Branquinho, C; Pinho, P; Leith, I D; Sheppard, L J (Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987), 2014)
Ammonia (NH3) empirical critical levels for Europe were re-evaluated in 2009, based mainly on the ecological responses of lichen communities without acknowledging the physiological differences between oligotrophic and nitrophytic species. Here, we compare a nitrogen sensitive lichen (Evernia prunastri) with a nitrogen tolerant one (Xanthoria parietina), focussing on their physiological response (Fv/Fm) to short-term NH3 exposure and their frequency of occurrence along an NH3 field gradient. Both frequency and Fv/Fm of E. prunastri decreased abruptly above 3 μg m(-3) NH3 suggesting direct adverse effects of NH3 on its photosynthetic performance. By contrast, X. parietina increased its frequency with NH3, despite showing decreased capacity of photosystem II above 50 μg m(-3) NH3, suggesting that the ecological success of X. parietina at ammonia-rich sites might be related to indirect effects of increased nitrogen (NH3) availability. These results highlight the need to establish NH3 critical levels based on oligotrophic lichen species.
Keywords: Critical levels; Environmental protection policy; Evernia prunastri; nitrogen; Xanthoria parietina

Can ecological engineering restore Mediterranean rangeland after intensive cultivation? A large-scale experiment in southern France - Jaunatre, Renaud; Buisson, Elise; Dutoit, Thierry (Ecological EngineeringEcological Engineering, 2014)
Ecological restoration has been identified as one of the possible ways to replace biodiversity loss. While ecological engineering methods can successfully restore some ecosystem attributes, restoration is generally incomplete, mainly due to lack of target species propagule dispersal, unsuitable abiotic conditions and negative biotic interactions, especially after intensive cultivation. How best to restore reference ecosystems is therefore a vital research objective, not only on a small experimental scale but also on a large scale. This study aimed to determine which ecological engineering techniques are the most suitable for large-scale restoration of a low-productive species-rich ecosystem after intensive cultivation. Experiments were carried out at La Crau in southern France, within a 357ha land rehabilitation project whose aim was to recreate a herbaceous sheep-grazed habitat. We investigated: (i) covering species seeding, (ii) topsoil removal, (iii) hay transfer, and (iv) soil transfer as methods to restore a steppe plant community in this rehabilitated area, using the last remaining French Mediterranean steppe as a reference ecosystem. Species-richness, diversity and composition of vascular plant communities were monitored over three years. The rehabilitation made it possible to recover a large area dominated by grasses but with vegetation different from that of the steppe. Hay transfer was successful in transferring some target species, but the number of target species did not significantly increase by the end of the third year. Covering species seeding seemed to provide a suitable area for target species colonization, but probable competition with grasses needs to be monitored. The greatest similarity in richness, diversity, and composition with the reference ecosystem was obtained with topsoil removal and soil transfer, which made it possible to recover the species-richness and, to some extent, the composition of the steppe. Our findings show that current ecological restoration and ecological engineering techniques can lead to at least partial restoration of some ecosystem attributes. However, they also underline the importance of in situ conservation of natural habitats rather than restoring them after their destruction.
Keywords: Covering species seeding; ecological restoration; Hay transfer; Plant community composition; Soil transfer; Topsoil removal

Carbon dioxide emissions from semi-arid soils amended with biochar alone or combined with mineral and organic fertilizers. - Fernández, José M.; Nieto, M. Aurora; López-de-Sá, Esther G.; Gascó, Gabriel; Méndez, Ana; Plaza, César (The Science of the total environment, 2014)
Semi-arid soils cover a significant area of Earth's land surface and typically contain large amounts of inorganic C. Determining the effects of biochar additions on CO2 emissions from semi-arid soils is therefore essential for evaluating the potential of biochar as a climate change mitigation strategy. Here, we measured the CO2 that evolved from semi-arid calcareous soils amended with biochar at rates of 0 and 20tha(-1) in a full factorial combination with three different fertilizers (mineral fertilizer, municipal solid waste compost, and sewage sludge) applied at four rates (equivalent to 0, 75, 150, and 225kg potentially available Nha(-1)) during 182days of aerobic incubation. A double exponential model, which describes cumulative CO2 emissions from two active soil C compartments with different turnover rates (one relatively stable and the other more labile), was found to fit very well all the experimental datasets. In general, the organic fertilizers increased the size and decomposition rate of the stable and labile soil C pools. In contrast, biochar addition had no effects on any of the double exponential model parameters and did not interact with the effects ascribed to the type and rate of fertilizer. After 182days of incubation, soil organic and microbial biomass C contents tended to increase with increasing the application rates of organic fertilizer, especially of compost, whereas increasing the rate of mineral fertilizer tended to suppress microbial biomass. Biochar was found to increase both organic and inorganic C contents in soil and not to interact with the effects of type and rate of fertilizer on C fractions. As a whole, our results suggest that the use of biochar as enhancer of semi-arid soils, either alone or combined with mineral and organic fertilizers, is unlikely to increase abiotic and biotic soil CO2 emissions.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V. accession-num: 24632059
Keywords: Biochar; Carbonates; Inorganic C; Mineral fertilizer; Organic amendment; Soil organic matter

Carbon sequestration of modern Quercus suber L. silvoarable agroforestry systems in Portugal: a YieldSAFE-based estimation - Palma, J H N; Paulo, J a.; Tomé, M (Agroforestry Systems, 2014)
Modern alley cropping designs, with trees aligned in rows and adapted to operating farming machinery, have been suggested for Europe. This paper explores the potential for adoption of cork oak (Quercus suber L.) agroforestry in Portugal and estimates the potential carbon sequestration. Spatial modeling and Portuguese datasets were used to estimate target areas where cork oak could grow on farmland. Different implementation scenarios were then modeled for this area assuming amodern silvoarable agroforestry system (113 trees ha-1 thinned at year 20 for establishing 50 trees ha-1). The YieldSAFE process-based model was used to predict the biomass and carbon yield of cork oak under low and high soil water holding capacity levels. Approximately 353,000 ha are available in Por- tugal for new cork oak alley cropping. Assuming implementation rates between 10 % of the area with low soil water capacity (60 mm: 15 cm depth, coarse texture) and70 %of the areawithhigh soilwaterholding capacity (1,228 mm: 200 cm depth, very fine texture), then carbon sequestration could be 5 9 106 and 123 9 106 Mg CO2 respectively. Due to higher yields on more productive land, scenarios of limited J. H. N. Palma (&) ? J. A. Paulo ? M. Tome ´ FORCHANGE – Forest Ecosystems Management Under Global Change, Centro de Estudos Florestais, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal e-mail: joaopalma@isa.ulisboa.pt implementation implementation in high productivity locations can sequester similar amounts of carbon as wide implemen- tation on low productivity land, suggesting that a priori land classification assessments can improve the targeting of land and financial incentives for carbon sequestration.
Keywords: Agricultural land; alley cropping; Dehesa; Land use change; Modeling; montado

Cavity-nesting birds show threshold responses to stand structure in native oak forests of northwestern Tunisia - Touihri, Moez; Villard, Marc-André; Charfi, Faouzia (Forest Ecology and Management, 2014)
The detection of thresholds in forest bird response to gradients in forest alteration is a powerful approach to quantify their ecological requirements and to develop evidence-based targets for conservation. For this purpose, we analyzed the response of 31 forest bird species to a gradient in forest alteration by human activities (e.g. fire; grazing; firewood collection) in the Kroumirie region of northwestern Tunisia. We surveyed forest birds using point counts at 48 stations located throughout Feija National Park. From a data set of 12 vegetation variables, we obtained a gradient in forest alteration using a principal component analysis. Then, we modeled the probability of detection of bird species along this gradient using logistic regression. We selected the five most sensitive species as target species as indicated by the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC). Then, we quantified thresholds in their probability of detection as a function of four habitat structure variables: density of large-diameter trees (dbh>30cm), canopy closure, density of snags, and downed woody material. Nineteen of 31 species exhibited a significant response to forest alteration (PCA1), including 7 positive and 12 negative responses. Among these, the five best models (AUC>0.8) corresponded to Levaillant’s Woodpecker (Picus vaillantii), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major), Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocops minor), Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla), and Atlas Flycatcher (Ficedula speculgera). On the basis of their threshold values, we recommend to protect stands with densities of large-diameter trees of at least 650stemsha−1, and 207stemsha−1 of snags, to meet the structural requirements (90% probability of detection) of the most demanding species, respectively Levaillant’s Woodpecker and Atlas Flycatcher.
Keywords: Conservation targets; Dead Wood; Ecological thresholds; Forest harvesting; mediterranean forest; Woodpeckers

The challenge of Mediterranean sclerophyllous vegetation under climate change: From acclimation to adaptation - Bussotti, Filippo; Ferrini, Francesco; Pollastrini, Martina; Fini, Alessio (Environmental and Experimental Botany, 2014)
Forecasting models for climate change in southern Europe differ from those proposed for central and northern regions mainly with regard to precipitation. In fact, a strong reduction in average rainfall, mainly caused by decrease frequency of rainy events, is believe to occur in the Mediterranean basin in the forthcoming hundred years. Increased frequency of drought events will be paralleled and exacerbated by warming. Differently from areas where plant growth is limited by sub-optimal temperature (i.e. boreal and most temperate forests) and where warming has been reported to increase carbon assimilation and growth, plants growing in the Mediterranean basin are currently near their temperature optimum, and warming may contribute (e.g. with drought) to impair photosynthesis and depress growth and survival. Rising atmospheric CO2 has been found to increase growth, photosynthesis water use efficiency, and may partially alleviate the deleterious effects of warming and drought. However, in areas where severe and prolonged drought episodes occur, severe photoinhibition and metabolic limitation to photosynthesis may prevent Mediterranean sclerophylls to take advantage of higher atmospheric CO2, and may slow down recovery after the end of the dry season. The most sensitive forest types consist in tree species which are, in the Mediterranean basin, at the southernmost limit of their distribution range. In contrast, thermophilous trees are expected to have a greater diffusion both in southern and central Europe, as winter cold stress will be reduced by warming. Yet due to great variability of ecological features, the alleged substitution of tree species can follow a natural pattern from south to north and from low to high altitudes, without considering obstacles deriving from urbanization. For these reasons, research on the performance and ecologic plasticity of different genotypes, on species selection, and on planting and management techniques can have strategic importance for adaptive forest management.
Keywords: Drought stress; Global warming; Ozone; photosynthesis; UV radiation; Vegetation shift

THE CHALLENGES OF LAND AND WATER RESOURCES DEGRADATION IN JORDAN : DIAGNOSIS AND SOLUTIONS - Abu-Sharar (Desertification in the Mediterranean Region a Security Issue, 2014)
Desertification is the loss of complexity of biological and/or economic productivity of crop-, range- or wood-lands. Reasons of such a loss is mainly due to climatic change and unsustainable human activities. The arid and semi-arid lands of Jordan are sensitive to human interference that resulted in a severe depletion of its natural resources and in different forms of land degradation due to multiple interaction of socio-economic factors. Further, degradation will continue if human activities are not carefully controlled and managed. Almost 90% of the land area of Jordan receives less than 200 mm of rainfall annually. This is reflected in poor structural stability of soils and the subsequent vulnerability to excessive erosion following shallow rainstorm events. Such a fragile ecosystem has also been manifested by non sustainable land use patterns and poor vegetative cover of the range land and the remaining forest batchs. Therefore, most of the economic activities take place on the remaining 10% of the land area and the competition between different user groups for these lands is, therefore, intense. Factors such as livestock and grazing practices, inappropriate agricultural and irrigation techniques, the marginalizing of lands, poor socio-economic conditions and a high population growth rate as well as weak institutional arrangements need to be considered in a comprehensive and integrated framework. Rangelands are deteriorating at an accelerated rate due to widespread overgrazing, uncontrolled herd movements, firewood collection, unsuitable cultivation practices, and persisted periodic droughts, all of which worsen ecological conditions. Cultivation of marginal lands, and unsound practices such as ploughing down slopes, and use of heavy farm machinery have accelerated rate of soil erosion and lowered land productivity. Urbanisation is also steadily encroaching onto good quality agricultural land in the higher rainfall areas of the Jordanian highlands, reducing the traditional production areas of food crops such as wheat and barley. Jordan suffers from a scarcity of water resources, which is compounded by poor management of existing supplies. Pumping of aquifers for irrigation and municipal uses has been exceeding their renewable safe yield. No serious attempts have been committed to improve natural recharge into these aquifers, encourage water harvesting practices or adopt water conservation measures, especially in irrigation. The current demand for municipal, industrial and agricultural water in Jordan exceeds sustainable water supply and the problem is further aggravated in dry winters like the case in the 1998/99 season. Irrigation has made crop production possible in many areas but the long-term effects of fertilizers and pesticides on water quality, as well as on soil salinity, have been given only limited attention. Furthermore, poor wastewater treatment, and industrial pollution have compounded the problem. Current and future deterioration of water quality will have marked effects on land degradation. Socio-economic factors contribute negatively to desertification and to efforts to combat its effects, poverty constitutes a vicious circle linking deterioration of natural resources to deterioration of livelihoods. Also, the population increase is adding an additional pressure to land and water resources, as people need to encroach further on fragile soils, sparse vegetation and limited water resources. The institutional capabilities of the Government as well as the existing legislation and policies need to address the serious degradation of its agricultural, range and forest lands, and aim to improve land capabilities and increase production for communities will require support. Financial and technical support will be required to introduce new agricultural products, agricultural techniques, water harvesting techniques that will result in increased land productivity, yet with less pressure on fertility and water resources. Also, communities will be encouraged to engage in diversified economic activities that will alleviate pressure on natural resources. This may be accomplished through the adoption of participatory approaches that raise awareness of local communities to threats of desertification and to strengthen local institutions, which are essential for reversing desertification and environmental degradation, especially considering Jordan’s transition economy.
Keywords: Agriculture; degradation; desertification; Jordan; management (voyant); resources; water

Changes in DNA methylation fingerprint of Quercus ilex trees in response to experimental field drought simulating projected climate change - Rico, L; Ogaya, R; Barbeta, A; Penuelas, J (Plant Biology, 2014)
Rapid genetic changes in plants have been reported in response to current climate change. We assessed the capacity of trees in a natural forest to produce rapid acclimation responses based on epigenetic modifications. We analysed natural populations of Quercus ilex, the dominant tree species of Mediterranean forests, using the methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) technique to assess patterns and levels of methylation in individuals from unstressed forest plots and from plots experimentally exposed to drought for 12 years at levels projected for the coming decades. The percentage of hypermethylated loci increased, and the percentage of fully methylated loci clearly decreased in plants exposed to drought. Multivariate analyses exploring the status of methylation at MSAP loci also showed clear differentiation depending on stress. The PCA scores for the MSAP profiles clearly separated the genetic from the epigenetic structure, and also significantly separated the samples within each group in response to drought. Changes in DNA methylation highlight the large capacity of plants to rapidly acclimate to changing environmental conditions, including trees with long life spans, and our results demonstrate those changes. These changes, although unable to prevent the decreased growth and higher mortality associated with this experimental drought, occurred together with a dampening in such decreases as the long-term treatment progressed.
Keywords: climate change; DNA methylation; Drought; methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism

Climate and land-use change during the late Holocene at Lake Ledro (southern Alps, Italy). - Joannin, Sébastien; Magny, Michel; Peyron, Odile; Vannière, Boris; Galop, Didier (HoloceneHolocene, 2014)
This paper investigates the relative influences of climatic and anthropogenic factors in explaining environmental and societal changes in the southern Alps, Italy. We investigate a deep sediment core (LL081) from Lake Ledro (652 m a.s.l.). Environmental changes are reconstructed through multiproxy analysis, that is, pollen-based vegetation and climate reconstruction, magnetic susceptibility (MS), lake level, and flood frequency, and the paper focuses on the climate and land-use changes which occurred during the late Holocene. For this time interval, Lake Ledro records high mean water table, increasing amount of pollen-based precipitation, and more erosive conditions. Therefore, while a more humid late Holocene in the southern Alps has the potential to reinforce the forest presence, pollen evidence suggests that anthropogenic activities changed the impact of this regional scenario. Land-use activity (forest clearance for pastoralism, farming, and arboriculture) opened up the large vegetated slopes in the catchment of Lake Ledro, which in turn magnified the erosion related to the change in the precipitation pattern. The record of an almost continuous human occupation for the last 4100 cal. BP is divided into several land-use phases. On the one hand, forest redevelopments on abandoned or less cultivated areas appear to be climatically induced as they occurred in relation with well-known events such as the 2.8-kyr cold event and the ‘Little Ice Age’. On the other hand, climatically independent changes in land use or habitat modes are observed, such as the late-Bronze-Age lake-dwellings abandonment, the human population migration at c. 1600 cal. BP, and the period of the Black Death and famines at 600 cal. BP. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
Keywords: climate oscillations; Land-use; Late Holocene; soil erosion; southern Alps; Vegetation dynamic

Climate and taxonomy underlie different elemental concentrations and stoichiometries of forest species: the optimum ``biogeochemical niche'' - Sardans, J; Penuelas, J (PLANT ECOLOGY, 2014)
We previously hypothesised the existence of a ``biogeochemical niche{''} occupied by each plant species. Different species should have a specific elemental composition, stoichiometry and allocation as a consequence of their particular metabolism, physiology and structure (morphology) linked to their optimal functioning under the environmental (abiotic and biotic) conditions where they have evolved. We tested this hypothesis using data from the Catalan Forestry Inventory that covers different forest groups growing under a large climatic gradient. Mediterranean species that occupy hotter-drier environments have lower leaf N, P and K concentrations than non-Mediterranean forest species. Within a determined climatic biome, different species competing in the same space have different elemental compositions and allocations linked to their taxonomical differences and their phenotypic plasticity. Gymnosperms have a proportionally higher elemental allocation to leaves than to wood, higher C concentrations, and lower N, P and K concentrations mainly in the stem and branches than angiosperms. The differences among species are linked to asymmetrical use of different elements, suggesting that the biogeochemical niche is a final expression and consequence of long-term species adaptation to particular abiotic factors, ecological role (stress tolerant, ruderal, competitor), different soil occupations and use of resources to avoid interspecific competition, and finally of a certain degree of flexibility to adapt to current environmental shifts.
Keywords: Biogeochemical niche; C:N; Mediterranean; N:P; Nutrients; phosphorus; Potassium

Climate and topographic controls on simulated pasture production in a semiarid Mediterranean watershed with scattered tree cover - Lozano-Parra, J; Maneta, M P; Schnabel, S (HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES, 2014)
Natural grasses in semiarid rangelands constitute an effective protection against soil erosion and degradation, are a source of natural food for livestock and play a critical role in the hydrologic cycle by contributing to the uptake and transpiration of water. However, natural pastures are threatened by land abandonment and the consequent encroachment of shrubs and trees as well as by changing climatic conditions. In spite of their ecological and economic importance, the spatiotemporal variations of pasture production at the decadal-century scales over whole watersheds are poorly known. We used a physically based, spatially distributed ecohydrologic model applied to a 99.5 ha semiarid watershed in western Spain to investigate the sensitivity of pasture production to climate variability. The ecohydrologic model was run using a 300-year-long synthetic daily climate data set generated using a stochastic weather generator. The data set reproduced the range of climatic variations observed under the current climate. Results indicated that variation of pasture production largely depended on factors that also determined the availability of soil moisture such as the temporal distribution of precipitation, topography, and tree canopy cover. The latter is negatively related with production, reflecting the importance of rainfall and light interception, as well as water consumption by trees. Valley bottoms and flat areas in the lower parts of the catchment are characterized by higher pasture production but more interannual variability. A quantitative assessment of the quality of the simulations showed that ecohydrologic models are a valuable tool to investigate long-term (century scale) water and energy fluxes, as well as vegetation dynamics, in semiarid rangelands.
APS
Keywords: degradation; ecohydrology; Grasslands; pasture production; semiarid rangelands; soil erosion

Cloning mature holm oak trees by somatic embryogenesis - Barra-Jimenez, Azahara; Blasco, Miquel; Ruiz-Galea, Mar; Celestino, Cristina; Alegre, Jesús; Arrillaga, Isabel; Toribio, Mariano (TREES-STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION, 2014)
Integuments from holm oak developing ovules were suitable initial explants to obtain embryogenic lines from which plants could be regenerated. The implementation of multivarietal forestry as part of breeding strategies is expected to provide more productive forest plantations. To achieve this, a reliable and effective method for mass production of clonal plants is needed. Somatic embryogenesis is considered the enabling technology for implementing multivarietal forestry. The holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) is a Mediterranean evergreen tree of economic interests because of the acorn production for animal feed and edible fungi mycorrhization. The aim of this work was to obtain clonal plants by inducing somatic embryogenesis in tissues of female flowers from mature trees. The influence of the developmental stage of the explant, the genotype and medium composition, and the effect of arabinogalactan proteins on the induction frequency, were assessed. Somatic embryogenesis induction (frequency ranging from 1.2 to 3.2 %) was restricted to ovules excised at an advanced stage of development, when they were at least 3-4 mm wide and the rest of the ovules within the ovary had aborted. Somatic embryos arose from the integuments of those fertilized ovules. Embryogenic response was obtained on media with and without plant growth regulators. All the genotypes that were cultured on medium containing ``as reported by Schenk and Hildebrandt (Can J Bot 50:199-204, 1972){''} SH macronutrients could be captured. Treatments including Larix arabinogalactan proteins did not improve induction, while those from Acacia inhibited the embryogenic response. Several embryogenic lines were multiplied by repetitive embryogenesis on medium lacking plant growth regulators. Mature somatic embryos of three genotypes were germinated at frequencies ranging from 41 to 58 %, and converted into plants at frequencies from 11 to 30 %, depending on the genotype.
Keywords: adult trees; Arabinogalactan protein; Integuments; Ovules; Quercus ilex; vegetative propagation

Community structure, diversity and spatial organization of enchytraeids in Mediterranean urban holm oak stands - Rota, Emilia; Caruso, Tancredi; Bargagli, Roberto (European Journal of Soil Biology, 2014)
There is a strong northern bias in Europe as regards enchytraeid community ecology, particularly in urban settings. We approached the enchytraeid assemblages of urban holm oak stands in Naples and Siena adopting a high intensity sampling that, for the first time in the Mediterranean climate zone, would ensure that the data collected be representative of the target populations. Structural parameters (di- versity and evenness, biomass, size classes, aggregation) were compared across different spatial (regional, urban district, within habitat) and temporal scales (season and year). Species richness was found to change significantly only at regional scale; background data suggest that this may depend on the higher environmental heterogeneity occurring at Naples. Differences in size class structure were significant only on a seasonal scale and within either city separately. With one exception (Fridericia bulbosa s.s.), the patterns of spatial aggregation of the common species were fairly robust and the total range of patchiness was consistent with previous studies, despite the different sampling methodologies. The size of the sampling unit, the number of replicates per plot and the number of plots proposed in this study appear suitable to obviate the difficulties of evaluating Mediterranean enchytraeid communities.
Keywords: diversity; Mediterranean climate zone; patchiness; Size class structure; Species biomass; Terrestrial enchytraeids; Urban ecosystems

Community structures of N-2-fixing bacteria associated with the phyllosphere of a Holm oak forest and their response to drought - Rico, L; Ogaya, R; Terradas, J; Penuelas, J (PLANT BIOLOGY, 2014)
Biological nitrogen (N) fixation is a key pathway in terrestrial ecosystems and is therefore critical for understanding the responses of ecosystems to global environmental changes. The free-living diazotrophic community is distributed along the canopy-to-soil profile, but the ecological significance of epiphyllic N-2 fixers, despite their functional relevance, on plant foliar surfaces remains very poorly understood compared with the N-2-fixing community in forest litter and soils. We assessed the community structure of N-2 fixers and overall bacteria by genetic fingerprinting (t-RFLP) to explore the seasonal successional patterns of the microbial community in the natural phyllosphere of a Holm oak (Quercus ilex) forest submitted to 12-year field experiment of rain exclusion mimicking the conditions of drought projected for the coming decades. Leaves of Holm oak were analysed in different seasons over a period of 1.5years. The bacterial community of the phyllosphere did not correspond to the surrounding soil biome in the same area. These analyses provided field evidence for the presence of free-living diazotrophs associated with the tissues of leaves of Holm oak, the dominant tree species of many Mediterranean forests. The results also revealed that the community composition is affected seasonally and inter-annually by the environment, and that the composition shifts in response to climate change. Drought treatment increased the richness of the epiphyllic microbial community, especially during the summer. These changes were associated with higher C:N ratios of leaves observed in response to drought in semiarid areas. This epiphyllic microbiota that can potentially fix N-2 extends the capacity of plants to adapt to the environment.
Keywords: Bacterial TRF richness; diazotrophic community; Drought; foliar phyllosphere; Quercus ilex; t-RFLP; Trees

Comparative analysis of different methods for evaluating quality of Quercus ilex seedlings inoculated with Tuber melanosporum - Andres-Alpuente, Antonio; Sanchez, Sergio; Martin, Maria; Javier Aguirre, Angel; Barriuso, Juan J. (MYCORRHIZA, 2014)
The quality of seedlings colonized by Tuber melanosporum is one of the main factors that contributes to the success or failure of a truffle crop. Truffle cultivation has quickly grown in European countries and elsewhere, so a commonly shared seedling evaluation method is needed. Five evaluation methods are currently published in the literature: three are used in Spain and two in France and Italy. Although all estimate the percentage colonization by T. melanosporum mycorrhizae, they do it in different ways. Two methods also estimate total number of mycorrhizae per seedling. Most are destructive. In this work, ten batches of holm oak seedlings inoculated with T. melanosporum from two different nurseries were evaluated by means of the five methods noted above. Some similarity was detected between the percentages of T. melanosporum mycorrhizae estimated by each method but not in their ability to assess the suitability of each batch. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages for each method and suggest approaches to reach consensus within the truffle culture industry for certifying mycorrhizal colonization by T. melanosporum and seedling quality.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: pub-location: 233 SPRING ST, NEW YORK, NY 10013 USA publisher: SPRINGER
Keywords: Black truffle; Certification; Holm oak; Mycorrhization; Nurseries; Truffle culture

Comparison of methane, nitrous oxide fluxes and CO2 respiration rates from a Mediterranean cork oak ecosystem and improved pasture - Shvaleva, Alla; e Silva, Filipe; Costa, Joaquim Miguel; Correia, Alexandra; Anderson, Margaret; Lobo-do-Vale, Raquel; Fangueiro, David; Bicho, Catarina; Pereira, Joo Santos; Chaves, Maria Manuela; Skiba, Ute; Cruz, Cristina (PLANT AND SOIL, 2014)
During the recent decades, cork oak (Q. suber) mortality has been increasing in Mediterranean oak woodland endangering the economical and environmental sustainability of the ``montado{''} ecosystem. This fact in combination with climate change and conversion of forestland to pasture may significantly affect the soil-atmosphere greenhouse gases (GHGs) exchange. Our study evaluates the impact of oak trees as compared to pasture on net ecosystem GHG (CH4, N2O, and CO2) exchange as well as the main environmental factors influencing this exchange. We used field chamber measurements for the collection of GHGs under three different conditions: 1) open area (OA), 2) under tree canopy area (UC) and 3) improved pasture (IP). Experiments were done under typical Mediterranean climate at central Portugal in 2010 and 2011. The UC had higher nitrification potential, soil C/N ratio, electrical conductivity, litter input and soil organic matter (SOM) than OA and IP. SOM positively correlated with soil CH4 and N2O fluxes but not with soil CO2 respiration rates. Soil water content (SWC) drives both CH4 and N2O fluxes. Under certain conditions, when SWC reached a threshold (7 % for CH4 and 3 % for N2O) the result was net uptake and that net uptake increased with SWC. This was the case for the UC and OA. Conversely, for the IP soil water content above 4 % promoted net CH4 release. Our results show that cork oak influences soil properties and consequently GHGs fluxes. In the UC the input of litter for SOM together with soil moisture, favoured microbiological activity and related GHGs fluxes. Soil temperature is a secondary factor in the studied conditions. Our results also emphasized the potential impact posed by decreased cork oak tree density in the functioning of the ``montado{''} ecosystem.
Keywords: evergreen oak; Greenhouse gases; litter; Mediterranean; organic matter; Root density

A comprehensive assessment of the transcriptome of cork oak (Quercus suber) through EST sequencing. - Pereira-Leal, José B; Abreu, Isabel a; Alabaça, Cláudia S; Almeida, Maria Helena; Almeida, Paulo; Almeida, Tânia; Amorim, Maria Isabel; Araújo, Susana; Azevedo, Herlânder; Badia, Aleix; Batista, Dora; Bohn, Andreas; et al. (BMC genomics, 2014)
BACKGROUND: Cork oak (Quercus suber) is one of the rare trees with the ability to produce cork, a material widely used to make wine bottle stoppers, flooring and insulation materials, among many other uses. The molecular mechanisms of cork formation are still poorly understood, in great part due to the difficulty in studying a species with a long life-cycle and for which there is scarce molecular/genomic information. Cork oak forests are of great ecological importance and represent a major economic and social resource in Southern Europe and Northern Africa. However, global warming is threatening the cork oak forests by imposing thermal, hydric and many types of novel biotic stresses. Despite the economic and social value of the Q. suber species, few genomic resources have been developed, useful for biotechnological applications and improved forest management. RESULTS: We generated in excess of 7 million sequence reads, by pyrosequencing 21 normalized cDNA libraries derived from multiple Q. suber tissues and organs, developmental stages and physiological conditions. We deployed a stringent sequence processing and assembly pipeline that resulted in the identification of ~159,000 unigenes. These were annotated according to their similarity to known plant genes, to known Interpro domains, GO classes and E.C. numbers. The phylogenetic extent of this ESTs set was investigated, and we found that cork oak revealed a significant new gene space that is not covered by other model species or EST sequencing projects. The raw data, as well as the full annotated assembly, are now available to the community in a dedicated web portal at http://www.corkoakdb.org. CONCLUSIONS: This genomic resource represents the first trancriptome study in a cork producing species. It can be explored to develop new tools and approaches to understand stress responses and developmental processes in forest trees, as well as the molecular cascades underlying cork differentiation and disease response.
APS
Keywords: Cork oak; EST sequencing; Quercus suber; transcriptome

Context-dependent responses to neighbours and strangers in wild European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). - Monclus, Raquel; Saavedra, Irene; de Miguel, Javier (Behavioural processes, 2014)
Territorial animals defend their territories against intruders. The level of aggression directed to intruders depends on the familiarity and/or the relative threat they pose, and it could be modified by the context of the interaction. We explored in a wild social mammal, the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), whether residents responded more aggressively to strangers or to neighbours (dear enemy or nasty neighbour effects, respectively). We simulated the intrusion of neighbours or strangers in different parts of the territory of wild European rabbits in a suburban area in central Spain. For that, we placed faecal pellets of neighbouring or stranger rabbits in the territory of 5 rabbit colonies. Resident rabbits counter-marked preferably the odour stations with stranger odour, compared to the ones with neighbour odour, and they did not make a difference between neighbour and a non-odour control stimuli. The results suggest that rabbits show a dear enemy effect. However, repeated intrusions escalated the responses of rabbits towards neighbours. The location within the territory or the sex of the stranger did not affect the level of response. We conclude that in rabbits the relative threat posed by the intruder triggers the intensity of the interaction.
Keywords: Context-dependent; Dear enemy; European rabbit; Nasty neighbour; oryctolagus cuniculus; Territoriality

Contrasting effects of climate change along life stages of a dominant tree species: the importance of soil–climate interactions - Ibáñez, Beatriz; Ibáñez, Inés; Gómez-Aparicio, LORENA; Ruíz-Benito, PALOMA; Garcia, Luis V; Marañón, Teodoro (Diversity and Distributions, 2014)
Aim For tree species, adult survival and seedling and sapling recruitment dynamics are the main processes that determine forest structure and composition. Thus, studying how these two life stages may be affected by climate change in the context of other abiotic and biotic variables is critical to understand future population trends. The aim of this study was to assess the sustainability of cork oak (Quercus suber) forests at the core of its distributional range under future climatic conditions. Location Southern Spain. Methods Using forest inventory data collected at two periods 10 years apart, we performed a comprehensive analysis to evaluate the role of different abiotic and biotic factors on adult survival and recruitment patterns. Results We found that both life stages were influenced by climatic conditions, but in different ways. Adult tree survival was negatively impacted by warmer spring temperatures, while recruitment was positively affected by warmer winter temperatures. Our results also revealed the importance of soil texture as a modulator of winter precipitation effects on adult survival. With higher winter precipitation, adult survival increased in sandy soils and decreased in clayish soils. Therefore, under predicted future climate scenarios of wetter winters and warmer temperatures, the presence of cork oaks is more likely to occur in sandy soils vs. clayish soils. Biotic conditions also affected these life stages. We found a negative effect of heterospecific but not conspecific trees on both adult survival and seedling recruitment. Main conclusions Overall, the sustainability of the studied forests will be highly dependent not only on future climatic trends, but also on their interaction with other key factors – soil properties in particular – that modulate the effects of climate on demographic rates.
Keywords: Bayesian analysis; declining forest; demographic rates; Establishment; forest inventory data; Mediterranean Region

Contrasting land uses in Mediterranean agro-silvo-pastoral systems generated patchy diversity patterns of vascular plants and below-ground microorganisms. - Bagella, Simonetta; Filigheddu, Rossella; Caria, Maria Carmela; Girlanda, Mariangela; Roggero, Pier Paolo (Comptes rendus biologies, 2014)
The aims of this paper were (i) to define how contrasting land uses affected plant biodiversity in Mediterranean agro-silvo-pastoral-systems across a gradient of disturbance regimes: cork oak forests, secondary grasslands, hay crops, grass covered vineyards, tilled vineyards; (ii) to determine whether these patterns mirrored those of below-ground microorganisms and whether the components of γ-diversity followed a similar model. The disturbance regimes affected plant assemblage composition. Species richness decreased with increasing land use intensity, the Shannon index showed the highest values in grasslands and hay crops. Plant assemblage composition patterns mirrored those of Basidiomycota and Ascomycota. Richness in Basidiomycota, denitrifying bacteria and microbial biomass showed the same trend as that observed for vascular plant richness. The Shannon index pattern of below-ground microorganisms was different from that of plants. The plant γ-diversity component model weakly mirrored those of Ascomycota. Patchy diversity patterns suggest that the maintenance of contrasting land uses associated with different productions typical of agro-silvo-pastoral-systems can guarantee the conservation of biodiversity.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Academie des sciences accession-num: 25433564
Keywords: Cork oak forests; Grass covered vineyards; Grazing; Hay crops; Secondary grasslands; Tilled vineyards

Converting probabilistic tree species range shift projections into meaningful classes for management. - Hanewinkel, Marc; Cullmann, Dominik A; Michiels, Hans-Gerd; Kändler, Gerald (Journal of environmental management, 2014)
The paper deals with the management problem how to decide on tree species suitability under changing environmental conditions. It presents an algorithm that classifies the output of a range shift model for major tree species in Europe into multiple classes that can be linked to qualities characterizing the ecological niche of the species. The classes: i) Core distribution area, ii) Extended distribution area, iii) Occasional occurrence area, and iv) No occurrence area are first theoretically developed and then statistically described. The classes are interpreted from an ecological point of view using criteria like population structure, competitive strength, site spectrum and vulnerability to biotic hazards. The functioning of the algorithm is demonstrated using the example of a generalized linear model that was fitted to a pan-European dataset of presence/absence of major tree species with downscaled climate data from a General Circulation Model (GCM). Applications of the algorithm to tree species suitability classification on a European and regional level are shown. The thresholds that are used by the algorithm are precision-based and include Cohen's Kappa. A validation of the algorithm using an independent dataset of the German National Forest Inventory shows good accordance of the statistically derived classes with ecological traits for Norway spruce, while the differentiation especially between core and extended distribution for European beech that is in the centre of its natural range in this area is less accurate. We hypothesize that for species in the core of their range regional factors like forest history superimpose climatic factors. Problems of uncertainty issued from potentially applying a multitude of modelling approaches and/or climate realizations within the range shift model are discussed and a way to deal with the uncertainty by revealing the underlying attitude towards risk of the decision maker is proposed.
Keywords: Accuracy-based probability threshold; Bioclimatic envelope; climate change; Range shift model; Tree species distribution; Tree species suitability

Cork: a strategic material. - Gil, Luis (Frontiers in chemistry, 2014)
APS
Keywords: Cork; materials; Quercus suber

Cork oak physiological responses to manipulated water availability in a Mediterranean woodland - Besson, Cathy Kurz; Lobo-do-Vale, Raquel; Rodrigues, Maria Lucília; Almeida, Pedro; Herd, Alastair; Grant, Olga Mary; David, Teresa Soares; Schmidt, Markus; Otieno, Denis; Keenan, Trevor F.; Gouveia, Célia; Mériaux, Catherine; et al. (Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 2014)
This study details the physiological responses of cork oak (Quercus suber L.) to manipulated water inputs. Treatments named as dry, ambient and wet, which received 80, 100 and 120% of the annual precipitation, respectively, were applied to a Mediterranean woodland in southern Portugal. Tree ecophysiology and growth were monitored from 2003 to 2005. The impacts of the water manipulation were primarily observed in tree transpiration, especially dur- ing summer drought. Rainfall exclusion reduced the annual stand canopy transpiration by 10% over the 2-year study period, while irrigation increased it by 11%. The accumulated tree transpiration matched precipitation in spring 2004 and 2005 at the stand level, suggesting that cork oak trees rely on precip- itation water sources during the peak of the growing season. However, during the summer droughts, by trees appeared unaffected by the extreme drought of 2005. Our study shows that cork oak rapidly and completely recovered from the extreme dry year of 2005 or from rainfall exclusion. Our results support the eco-hydrological equilibrium theory by which plant acquire complementary protective mechanisms to buffer the large variability in water availability experienced in semi-arid ecosystems. In optimizing their structural biomass increase in response to increasing drought stress, cork oak trees succeeded in restricting water losses to maintain the minimum leaf water potential above the critical threshold of xylem embolism, though with narrower hydraulic safety margins in 2005. Our findings highlight cork oak’s sensitivity to the amount and timing of late spring precipitation. This could be critical as future climate scenarios predict a reduction of spring precipitation as well as enhanced severity of droughts in the Iberian Peninsula by the end of the 21st century. In inducing water stress before the onset of summer droughts, the predicted spring precipitation decline could drive the species closer to the threshold of catastrophic xylem embolism at the peak of the drought period. groundwater was the main water source for trees. Despite the significant differences in soil water content and tree transpiration, no treatment effects could be detected in leaf water potential and leaf gas exchange, except for a single event after spring irri- gations in the very dry year 2005. These irrigations were intentionally delayed to reduce dry spell duration during the peak of tree growing season. They resulted in an acute positive physiological response of trees from the wet treatment one week after the last irrigation event leading to a 32% raise of stem diame- ter increment the following months. Our results suggest that in a semi-arid environment precipitation changes in spring (amount and timing) have a stronger impact on cork oak physiology and growth than an overall change in the total annual precipitation. The extreme drought of 2005 had a negative impact on tree growth. The annual increment of tree trunk diameter in the ambient and dry treatments was reduced, while it increased for trees from the wet treatment. Water shortage also significantly reduced leaf area. The latter dropped by 10.4% in response to the extreme drought of 2005 in trees from the ambient treatment. The reduction was less pronounced in trees of the wet treatment (−7.6%), and more pronounced in trees of the dry treatment (−14.7%). Cork oak showed high resiliency to inter-annual precipitation variability. The annual accumulated tree transpiration, the minimum midday leaf water potential and the absolute amount of groundwater used
From Duplicate 1 ( Cork oak physiological responses to manipulated water availability in a Mediterranean woodland - Besson, Cathy Kurz; Lobo-do-Vale, Raquel; Rodrigues, Maria Lucília; Almeida, Pedro; Herd, Alastair; Grant, Olga Mary; David, Teresa Soares; Schmidt, Markus; Otieno, Denis; Keenan, Trevor F; Gouveia, Célia; Mériaux, Catherine; Chaves, Maria Manuela; Pereira, João S )From Duplicate 1 ( Cork oak physiological responses to manipulated water availability in a Mediterranean woodland - Besson, Cathy Kurz; Lobo-do-Vale, Raquel; Rodrigues, Maria Lucília; Almeida, Pedro; Herd, Alastair; Grant, Olga Mary; David, Teresa Soares; Schmidt, Markus; Otieno, Denis; Keenan, Trevor F; Gouveia, Célia; Mériaux, Catherine; Chaves, Maria Manuela; Pereira, João S )The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: Gas exchange; Precipitation change; Quercus suber; Soil moisture; Throughfall manipulation; Tree transpiration

Is cork oak (Quercus suber L.) woodland loss driven by eucalyptus plantation? A case-study in southwestern Portugal - Costa, a; Madeira, M.; Santos Lima, J.; Costa A, Madeira M.; J, Santos Lima (iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry, 2014)
Mediterranean landscapes with open cork oak (Quercus suber L.) woodlands have recently experienced drastic changes in southwestern Portugal. Changes in agricultural activities, the traditional driver of the economy in this region, led to new land uses such as long-term set aside (shrublands) and eucalyptus plantations. A study was conducted on the oak woodland landscape dynamics over a 50-year period (from 1958 to 2007) in order to assess the effect of different biophysical conditions on landscape spatial changes, and to identify the resilience of lanscape composition to different disturbances (e.g., socio-economic changes and wildfires). Land use changes over two consecutive periods (1958-1995 and 1995-2007) were inferred by spatial analysis of land cover data (aerial photographs) and related to landscape physical attributes (slope and soil type). A transition matrix of four vegetation land-cover classes was obtained, allowing the assessment of the landscape composition changes bewteen the two above periods. Results showed that lansdcape in 1958 was largely occupied by open farmland, with large patches of open oak woodlands on steep slopes surrounding watercourses. Open farmland and shrubland drastically declined from 1958 to 1995, while eucalyptus plantation exhibited a dramatic expansion. Although large areas of cork oak forest turned into eucalyptus plantation, the net loss of oak forest was low and counterbalanced by its increment on former open farmland. The occurrence of a wildfire in 2003 promoted a dramatic decrease in cork oak woodlands, which mostly turned into shrubland. However, shrubland may be considered “safe sites” for ecological succession, ensuring natural cork oak regeneration and the colonization of neighboring areas.
Keywords: agroforestry systems; Eucalyptus Plantations; evergreen oak woodlands; Land Cover; Mediterranean Climate Region; Quercus suber L.

Cork oak woodlands patchiness: A signature of imminent deforestation? - Costa, Augusta; Madeira, Manuel; Plieninger, Tobias (Applied Geography, 2014)
The cork oak (Quercus suber L.) woodlands of the agroforestry landscapes of Southwestern Iberia are undergoing drastic change due to severe natural and anthropogenic disturbances. These may eventually result in woodland loss or deforestation, the final step of an ongoing process of woodland degradation. Monitoring changes in the spatial patterns of woodlands – especially fractional canopy cover of woodlands and/or their patchiness in the landscape mosaic – potentially enables forecasting of loss and responding to it at an early stage. We examine the degradation process in two cork oak woodlands, resulting from distinct disturbances, wildfire and oak mortality, aimed at evaluating the changes, trends and deviations of the spatial attributes of these woodlands as they move from an initial (less disturbed ecosystem) to a final state (more disturbed ecosystem). While undergoing disturbances, both woodlands exhibited similar trends of decreasing fractional canopy cover and decreasing number of larger patches. Patchiness rather than fractional canopy cover seems, however, to be potentially more useful as a signature of imminent oak woodlands deforestation, given that its contrast before and after disturbance was much higher. The structural dynamics of oak woodlands is a crucial but neglected issue that needs greater attention from policy forums working toward their conservation and restoration as well as from stakeholders and society as a whole.
Keywords: Forest degradation; Fractional canopy cover; mediterranean landscape; Patch size–frequency distribution; Power-law function; Quercus suber L.

Cork stoppers as an effective sorbent for water treatment: the removal of mercury at environmentally relevant concentrations and conditions - Lopes, Claudia B; Oliveira, Joana R; Rocha, Luciana S; Tavares, Daniela S; Silva, Carlos M; Silva, Susana P; Hartog, Niels; Duarte, Armando C; Pereira, E (ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH, 2014)
The technical feasibility of using stopper-derived cork as an effective biosorbent towards bivalent mercury at environmentally relevant concentrations and conditions was evaluated in this study. Only 25 mg/L of cork powder was able to achieve 94 % of mercury removal for an initial mercury concentration of 500 mu g/L. It was found that under the conditions tested, the efficiency of mercury removal expressed as equilibrium removal percentage does not depend on the amount of cork or its particle size, but is very sensitive to initial metal concentration, with higher removal efficiencies at higher initial concentrations. Ion exchange was identified as one of the mechanisms involved in the sorption of Hg onto cork in the absence of ionic competition. Under ionic competition, stopper-derived cork showed to be extremely effective and selective for mercury in binary mixtures, while in complex matrices like seawater, moderate inhibition of the sorption process was observed, attributed to a change in mercury speciation. The loadings achieved are similar to the majority of literature values found for other biosorbents and for other metals, suggesting that cork stoppers can be recycled as an effective biosorbent for water treatment. However, the most interesting result is that equilibrium data show a very rare behaviour, with the isotherm presenting an almost square convex shape to the concentration axis, with an infinite slope for an Hg concentration in solution around 25 mu g/L.
Keywords: Cork; Ionic competition; Kineticmodelling; Mercury; Metal removal; Recycling; Sorption

Current ozone levels threaten gross primary production and yield of Mediterranean annual pastures and nitrogen modulates the response - Calvete-Sogo, Héctor; Elvira, Susana; Sanz, Javier; González-Fernández, Ignacio; García-Gómez, Héctor; Sánchez-Martín, Laura; Alonso, Rocío; Bermejo-Bermejo, Victoria (Atmospheric Environment, 2014)
Pastures are among the most important ecosystems in Europe considering their biodiversity and distribution area. However, their response to increasing tropospheric ozone (O3) and nitrogen (N) deposition, two of the main drivers of global change, is still uncertain. A new Open-Top Chamber (OTC) experiment was performed in central Spain, aiming to study annual pasture response to O3 and N in close to natural growing conditions. A mixture of six species of three representative families was sowed in the field. Plants were exposed for 40 days to four O3 treatments: filtered air, non-filtered air (NFA) reproducing ambient levels and NFA supplemented with 20 and 40 nl l-1 O3. Three N treatments were considered to reach the N integrated doses of “background”, +20 or +40 Kg N ha-1. Ozone significantly reduced green and total aboveground biomass (maximum reduction 25%) and increased the senescent biomass (maximum increase 40%). Accordingly, O3 decreased community Gross Primary Production due to both a global reduction of ecosystem CO2 exchange and an increase of ecosystem respiration. Nitrogen could partially counterbalance O3 effects on aboveground biomass when the levels of O3 were moderate, but at the same time O3 exposure reduced the fertilization effect of higher N availability. Therefore, O3 must be considered as a stress factor for annual pastures in the Mediterranean areas.
Keywords: annual grasslands interactions; Critical levels; Dehesa; Global change; nitrogen; tropospheric ozone

Decreased rates of terpene emissions in Ornithopus compressus L. and Trifolium striatum L. by ozone exposure and nitrogen fertilization. - Llusia, Joan; Bermejo-Bermejo, Victoria; Calvete-Sogo, Héctor; Penuelas, Josep (Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987), 2014)
Increasing tropospheric ozone (O3) and nitrogen soil availability (N) are two of the main drivers of global change. They both may affect gas exchange, including plant emission of volatiles such as terpenes. We conducted an experiment using open-top chambers to analyze these possible effects on two leguminous species of Mediterranean pastures that are known to have different O3 sensitivity, Ornithopus compressus and Trifolium striatum. O3 exposure and N fertilization did not affect the photosynthetic rates of O. compressus and T. striatum, although O3 tended to induce an increase in the stomatal conductance of both species, especially T. striatum, the most sensitive species. O3 and N soil availability reduced the emission of terpenes in O. compressus and T. striatum. If these responses are confirmed as a general pattern, O3 could affect the competitiveness of these species.
Keywords: Annual pastures; BVOCS; Emissions; Gas exchange; legumes; Nitrogen deposition; Ozone; terpenes

Defoliation triggered by climate induced effects in Spanish ICP Forests monitoring plots - de la Cruz, Ana C.; Gil, Paula M.; Fernández-Cancio, Ángel; Minaya, Mayte; Navarro-Cerrillo, Rafael M.; Sánchez-salguero, Raúl; Grau, José Manuel; De, Ana C.; Gil, Paula M.; Fernández-Cancio, Ángel; Minaya, Mayte; Navarro-Cerrillo, Rafael M.; et al. (Forest Ecology and Management, 2014)
In a context of global change, climate impacts can trigger defoliation processes in different forest species. The ICP Forests network estimates the level of forest defoliation over time in different European countries. Those data are used to related defoliation with potential causal factors. In European Southwestern forests, climate change appears to be the detonating factor of generalized defoliation. The objectives of this study were: (i) identity defoliation trends in forest trees at network of Spanish ICP Forests monitoring plots and, (ii) find out if there are underlying climate factors that trigger defoliation process along the time. The spatiotemporal synchronization of the defoliation response was analyzed with cross-correlation using COFECHA software. The relationship between the 88 climatic variables proposed and defoliation was analyzed using Correlated Component Regression models (CCR models) and Discriminant Analysis (DA). The significance of the variables in each model was compared using contingency tables. A peak of defoliation was observed in the mid-1990s with no recovered to the initial values of the early 1990s. The behavior of the different tree species with respect to defoliation, synchronized both in time and space, involves one or several factors that have a general and similar effect on forests in Spain. The most significant factors related to defoliation were the thermal-related factors, particularly average temperatures in April and June and the thermal oscillation of both the current year and the previous year. Only one drought indicator as statistically significant was identified (A, duration of aridity in months) and suggests that it is of limited relevance in the Spanish forest defoliation conditions.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: climate change; Cross-correlation; crown condition; Forest decline; Mediterranean forests; Synchronization

Design and Simulation of a Solar Field Coupled to a Cork Boiling Plant - Biencinto, Mario; González, Lourdes; Valenzuela, Loreto; Fernández, Aránzazu (Energy Procedia, 2014)
Cork production and processing are important sectors of activity in Portugal and Spain. The cork boiling consists of cork immersion for approximately 1h in boiling water (100°C). This industrial process demands thermal energy that is suitable to be provided by solar energy. In this work, the results of coupling a solar field with thermal collectors with the cork boiling plant ECOTRAFOR, placed in Extremadura (Spain), are presented, including solar field sizing, simulation and annual yield analysis of the system.
Keywords: cork industrial process; solar collector; solar energy; solar field

Detecting leaf-water content in Mediterranean trees using high-resolution spectrometry - de Jong, Steven M; Addink, Elisabeth A.; Doelman, Jonathan C (International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 2014)
Abstract Water content of the vegetation canopy or individual leaves is an important variable in physiological plant processes. In Mediterranean regions where water availability is an important production limiting factor, it is a strong indicator of vegetation stress. Spectroscopic earth-observation techniques in the solar part of the electromagnetic spectrum provide opportunities to determine leaf and canopy-water content due to the presence of water-absorption bands around 970 and 1200 nm. We investigated the possibilities to predict leaf-water content of three dominant tree species in a study area in Mediterranean France using spectral indices. During a field campaign leaf-water content (EWT) was determined and high-resolution spectra were measured of the same leaves. The spectra were measured in two ways: using an optical cable with a field of view of 25° and using a leaf clip with its own artificial illumination source. The spectra were analyzed and related to leaf-water content as original reflectance spectra and as continuum-removed spectra using eight spectral leaf-water indices. Next, reflectance spectra were simulated to explore their sensitivity to environmental conditions like leaf area index and illumination angle using a radiative transfer model. Results show that a good correlation (0.70) exists between leaf-water content and spectral indices using the right slope of the 970 nm water-absorption band. Continuum-removal correction of the spectra improved the relations. The model sensitivity analysis illustrated that from a set of five environmental variables leaf area index has, as may be expected, an important impact on leaf-water estimates. This field and model study illustrates that it is feasible to determine foliar water content on the basis of spectral indices located around the minor water-absorption bands with a limited effect of environmental conditions.
Keywords: equivalent water thickness; Equivalent water thickness (EWT); ewt; Field experiment; Lithological substrates; spectral leaf-water indices

Development of a robust chromatographic method for the detection of chlorophenols in cork oak forest soils. - McLellan, Iain; Hursthouse, Andrew; Morrison, Calum; Varela, Adélia; Pereira, Cristina Silva (Environmental monitoring and assessment, 2014)
A major concern for the cork and wine industry is 'cork taint' which is associated with chloroanisoles, the microbial degradation metabolites of chlorophenols. The use of chlorophenolic compounds as pesticides within cork forests was prohibited in 1993 in the European Union (EU) following the introduction of industry guidance. However, cork produced outside the EU is still thought to be affected and simple, robust methods for chlorophenol analysis are required for wider environmental assessment by industry and local environmental regulators. Soil samples were collected from three common-use forests in Tunisia and from one privately owned forest in Sardinia, providing examples of varied management practice and degree of human intervention. These provided challenge samples for the optimisation of a HPLC-UV detection method. It produced recoveries consistently >75 % against a soil CRM (ERM-CC008) for pentachlorophenol. The optimised method, with ultraviolet (diode array) detection is able to separate and quantify 16 different chlorophenols at field concentrations greater than the limits of detection ranging from 6.5 to 191.3 μg/kg (dry weight). Application to a range of field samples demonstrated the absence of widespread contamination in forest soils at sites sampled in Sardinia and Tunisia.
Keywords: chlorophenols; Cork oak; hplc; method development; NATO Science for peace; Quercus Suber L; soils

Diplodia corticola and Phytophthora cinnamomi : the main pathogens involved in holm oak decline on Caprera Island (Italy) - Linaldeddu, B. T.; Scanu, B.; Maddau, L.; Franceschini, A. (Forest Pathology, 2014)
Since 2008, severe and widespread tree decline and mortality has been observed at the main growing Quercus ilex L. (holm oak) forest on Caprera Island, Italy. To clarify the symptomatology and aetiology of this phenomenon, field surveys and isolations from symptomatic trees were carried out in summer 2010. Affected trees exhibited crown thinning, branch dieback, sunken cankers, epicormic shoots, exudates on branches and trunk, root losses and sudden death symptoms. Four fungal species belonging to Botryosphaeriaceae family, namely Botryosphaeria dothidea, Diplodia corticola, D. seriata and Neofusicoccum parvum, were isolated from cankers on trunk and branches, whereas three species of Phytophthora, namely P. cinnamomi, P. cryptogea and P. gonapodyides, were isolated from fine roots and rhizosphere soil samples. Isolates were identified using both morphological analysis and DNA-based techniques. Pathogenicity trials on holm oak seedlings showed that all the isolated species are pathogenic. D. corticola proved to be the most aggressive species. Our results provide the first evidence for a combined involvement of D. corticola and P. cinnamomi in the aetiology of holm oak decline in Italy and suggest that these pathogens are not only important contributing factors in the onset of long-term tree decline, but also may cause the rapid devastation of extensive oak ecosystems.
Key words by Adriana SilvaKey words by Adriana SilvaThe following values have no corresponding Zotero field: label: APS;Quercus ilex L.;fungus;mortality;pathogens;tree decline
Keywords: APS; Fungus; mortality; pathogens; Quercus ilex L.; tree decline

Direct and indirect effects of tree canopy facilitation in the recruitment of Mediterranean oaks - Caldeira, Maria C.; Ibáñez, Inés; Nogueira, Carla; Bugalho, Miguel N.; Lecomte, Xavier; Moreira, Andreia; Pereira, João S. (Journal of Applied Ecology, 2014)
* Tree recruitment in Mediterranean ecosystems is strongly limited at the seedling stage by drought. Increasing evidence shows the critical positive role of the canopy nurse effect on seedling survival which results from direct and indirect, positive and negative interactions between species. * Most studies, however, have only focused on the effects of tree canopy on water and light, ignoring other critical factors affecting seedling regeneration, such as canopy effects on high temperatures and the competing herb biomass. * Here, we evaluate how tree canopy cover and removal of herbs affect the survival and growth of seedlings of two dominant Mediterranean Quercus species during a 3-year study. We use an integrated model that combines several data sets to quantify and predict regeneration dynamics along environmental gradients of soil moisture, temperature and light. * Low soil moisture, increased soil temperature and herb biomass negatively affected seedling survival of both Quercus species. Seedling growth was positively associated with increasing soil moisture and light. * Although tree canopy cover directly facilitated seedling survival in both Quercus species, it also negatively affected herb biomass and thus indirectly facilitated the survival of Quercus suber, but not of Quercus ilex seedlings at low levels of soil moisture. * Overall, tree canopies increased seedling survival but not growth during the establishment phase, mainly by ameliorating the effects of low soil moisture and high temperatures. Tree canopy indirectly facilitated survival of Q. suber seedlings by negatively affecting the competing herb layer. * Synthesis and applications. To improve tree recruitment and conserve Mediterranean Quercus woodlands, the removal of herbs should be integrated into management plans for dry habitats. Interactions between abiotic and biotic factors may also effect the regeneration of these tree species. In particular, a healthy tree canopy will become important for providing conditions to facilitate seedling establishment if these habitats become drier and warmer, as predicted by some climate change scenarios.
Keywords: climate change; herb management; high temperatures; positive interactions; Quercus ilex; Quercus suber; tree recruitment

Drought enhances folivory by shifting foliar metabolomes in Quercus ilex trees. - Rivas-Ubach, Albert; Gargallo-Garriga, Albert; Sardans, Jordi; Oravec, Michal; Mateu-Castell, Laia; Pérez-Trujillo, Míriam; Parella, Teodor; Ogaya, Romà; Urban, Otmar; Penuelas, Josep (The New phytologist, 2014)
At the molecular level, folivory activity on plants has mainly been related to the foliar concentrations of nitrogen (N) and/or particular metabolites. We studied the responses of different nutrients and the whole metabolome of Quercus ilex to seasonal changes and to moderate field experimental conditions of drought, and how this drought may affect folivory activity, using stoichiometric and metabolomic techniques. Foliar potassium (K) concentrations increased in summer and consequently led to higher foliar K : phosphorus (P) and lower carbon (C) : K and N : K ratios. Foliar N : P ratios were not lowest in spring as expected by the growth rate hypothesis. Trees exposed to moderate drought presented higher concentrations of total sugars and phenolics and these trees also experienced more severe folivory attack. The foliar increases in K, sugars and antioxidant concentrations in summer, the driest Mediterranean season, indicated enhanced osmoprotection under natural drought conditions. Trees under moderate drought also presented higher concentrations of sugars and phenolics; a plant response to avoid water loss. These shifts in metabolism produced an indirect relationship between increased drought and folivory activity.
Keywords: Drought; ecology; ecometabolomics; folivory; metabolomics

Drought events determine performance of Quercus ilex seedlings and increase their susceptibility to Phytophthora cinnamomi - Corcobado, Tamara; Cubera, Elena; Juárez, Enrique; Moreno, Gerardo; Solla, Alejandro (Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 2014)
More frequent weather extremes are expected to occur in the Mediterranean region within the present context of climate change. These extremes could affect forests and plant diseases driven by pathogens. It is hypothesised that simulation of weather extremes during Quercus ilex growth will influence early performance and susceptibility to the invasive oomycete Phytophthora cinnamomi. In 2010, 140 Q. ilex seedlings were subjected to three watering regimes under greenhouse conditions: waterlogging (W), water stress (S) and optimal watering regime for growth (C). During the second vegetative period, conditions were altered to create the following scenarios: WW, WS, SS, SW and CC. After the second vegetative period, plants were artificially infested with P. cinnamomi. Holm oak (Q. ilex) was more sensitive to flooding in the first year of growth than in the second year. The altered scenarios produced plants with a lower fine-to-total root ratio than plants in unaltered scenarios. Plants with the highest growth rates maintained their relatively rapid growth and photosynthetic activity under altered scenarios. However, plants with the highest growth rates became the plants with the lowest growth rates when two consecutive years of drought occurred, indicating a trade-off by Q. ilex in growth investment, observed only if the water stress scenario persists. Seedlings were more sensitive to water shortage than to waterlogging, especially if they encountered a dry scenario during the first year. Exposure to drought events increased seedling mortality rates after P. cinnamomi infection. Waterlogging combined with subsequent water deprivation was the worst scenario when soil was infested with P. cinnamomi, causing 100% mortality of plants.
Keywords: climate change; Drought; Flooding; Invasive pathogen; Oak decline; Weather extremes

Drought stress does not protect Quercus ilex L. from ozone effects: results from a comparative study of two subspecies differing in ozone sensitivity - Alonso, R; Elvira, S; González-Fernández, I; Calvete, H; García-Gómez, H; Bermejo, V (Plant Biology, 2014)
Long-term effects of ozone (O3) exposure and drought stress were assessed on two subspecies of Quercus ilex: ssp. ilex and ssp. ballota. Two-year-old seedlings were continuously exposed for 26 months in open-top chambers to three O3 treatments: charcoal filtered air, non-filtered air and non-filtered air supplemented with 40 nl·l−1 O3. Additionally, two irrigation regimes were adopted: half of the plants were well-watered and the others received half of the water supplied to control plants. Growth, shoot water potential and gas exchange rates were assessed seasonally, and biomass accumulation was determined at the end of the experiment. Drought stress caused higher reductions of gas exchange, growth and biomass accumulation than O3 exposure in both subspecies. The combination of O3 and drought stress caused further decreases of accumulated aboveground biomass but no additive effects were observed on gas exchange rates or root biomass. Thus, drought stress did not protect Q. ilex from O3 effects on biomass when the response of the whole plant was considered. Q. ilex ssp. ballota was more sensitive to O3 and ssp. ilex was more affected by drought stress. The different O3 sensitivity was not only related to pollutant uptake but also to the ability of plants for resource acquisition and allocation. Based on biomass dose–response functions, Q. ilex is more resistant to O3 than other European evergreen tree species, however, O3 represents an additional stress factor that might be impairing plant ability to withstand current and future climate change.
Keywords: evergreen broadleaf mediterranean; Evergreen broadleaf Mediterranean vegetation; Gas exchange; Growth; Holm oak; ozone response functions; Vegetation

Ecology and diversity of Cortinarius species (Agaricales, Basidiomycota) associated with Quercus ilex L. in the Mediterranean area of Liguria (North-western Italy) - Zotti, M; Ambrosio, E; Di Piazza, S; Bidaud, A; Boccardo, F; Pavarino, M; Mariotti, M G; Vizzini, A (Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology, 2014)
Cortinarius is one of the most widespread macrofungal genera. Although Mediterranean basin is considered a biodiversity hotspot, very few studies have addressed the presence and importance of Cortinarius species in such area. Surveys were carried out in Liguria (NW Italy) in different habitats characterized by the presence of Quercus ilex. Altogether 67 taxa were observed: 49 of them are new records for Liguria while 23 represent new records for Italy. In addition, we report the distinguishing characters and ecological traits of the species which are also rare in Europe.
doi: 10.1080/11263504.2013.877538
Keywords: Agaricomycetes; Biodiversity; conservation; Cortinariaceae; holm-oak; Macrofungi

Ecopolyol Production from Industrial Cork Powder via Acid Liquefaction Using Polyhydric Alcohols - Soares, Belinda; Gama, Nuno; Freire, Carmen; Barros-Timmons, Ana; Brandão, Inês; Silva, Rui; Pascoal Neto, Carlos; Ferreira, Artur (ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING, 2014)
Ecopolyol production from acid liquefaction of cork powder was studied for the first time using PEG 400 and glycerol as liquefaction solvents in the presence of sulfuric acid at moderate temperature and atmospheric pressure. The effect of the temperature, concentration of catalyst, and time on the liquefaction yield has been investigated using a fixed set of reaction conditions namely, a liquefaction solvent mixture/cork powder ratio of 5/1 and a solvent mixture PEG 400/glycerol ratio of 90/10. The full-factorial design of experiments (DOE) 23 was applied to obtain an optimized set of liquefaction conditions aiming at minimizing the residue content. The minimum residue contents experimentally obtained in this study were 29 wt %, related to cork powder, which were achieved at 150 C, 4 wt % of sulfuric acid, and 60 min. This value corresponds to 5 wt % of residue per total mass of reaction product. The polyols obtained under optimal conditions present similar characteristics (hydroxyl number value 219 mg(KOH)/g(polyol) and viscosity 2875 cP, at 25 degrees C) to those of petroleum-based polyols typically used in the polyurethane foam industry.
Keywords: Glycerol; Liquefaction process; PEG 400; Polyols

An ecosystem services perspective on brush management : research priorities for competing land-use objectives - Archer, Steven R; Predick, Katharine I (Journal of Ecology, 2014)
1. The vegetation of semi-arid and arid landscapes is often comprised of mixtures of herbaceous and woody vegetation. Since the early 1900s, shifts from herbaceous to woody plant dominance, termed woody plant encroachment and widely regarded as a state change, have occurred world-wide. This shift presents challenges to the conservation of grassland and savanna ecosystems and to animal production in commercial ranching systems and pastoral societies. 2. Dryland management focused on cattle and sheep grazing has historically attempted to reduce the abundance of encroaching woody vegetation (hereafter, ‘brush management’) with the intent of reversing declines in forage production, stream flow or groundwater recharge. Here, we assess the known and potential consequences of brush management actions, both positive and negative, on a broader suite of ecosystem services, the scientific challenges to quantifying these services and the trade-offs among them. 3. Our synthesis suggests that despite considerable investments accompanying the application of brush management practices, the recovery of key ecosystem services may be short-lived or absent. However, in the absence of such interventions, those and other ecosystem services may be compromised, and the persistence of grassland and savanna ecosystem types and their endemic plants and animals threatened. 4. Addressing the challenges posed by woody plant encroachment will require integrated manage- ment systems using diverse theoretical principles to design the type, timing and spatial arrangement of initial management actions and follow-up treatments. These management activities will need to balance cultural traditions and preferences, socio-economic constraints and potentially competing land-use objectives. 5. Synthesis. Our ability to predict ecosystem responses to management aimed at recovering ecosystem services where grasslands and savannas have been invaded by native or exotic woody plants is limited for many attributes (e.g. primary production, land surface–atmosphere interactions, biodiversity conser- vation) and inconsistent for others (e.g. forage production, herbaceous diversity, water quality/quantity, soil erosion, carbon sequestration). The ecological community is challenged with generating robust information about the response of ecosystem services and their interactions if we are to position land managers and policymakers to make objective, science-based decisions regarding the many trade-offs and competing objectives for the conservation and dynamic management of grasslands and savannas.
Keywords: bush clearing; drylands; ecosystem services; Shrub encroachment; state change; vegetation change; woody plant encroachment; woody weeds

Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis in declining and non-declining Quercus ilex trees infected with or free of Phytophthora cinnamomi - Corcobado, Tamara; Vivas, María; Moreno, Gerardo; Solla, Alejandro (Forest Ecology and Management, 2014)
Quercus ilex decline and the presence of the soil-borne pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi are hypothesised to be associated with shifts in ectomycorrhizal fungi abundance. Soil properties may also influence the relation of this pathogen to ectomycorrhizae. To investigate these associations, 96 Q. ilex declining stands were selected in western Spain and both declining and non-declining trees were sampled. Soil properties (soil depth, Ah horizon thickness, texture, pH, redox potential, soil bulk density and N–NH4+ and N–NO3− concentrations), P. cinnamomi root infections and ectomycorrhizal fungi abundance were assessed. The most dominant ectomycorrhizal morphotypes were Cenococcum geophilum, Tomentella spp. and Russula spp. Lower percentages of non-vital and vital ectomycorrhizal root tips were observed in declining than in non-declining trees. No significant differences in parameters characterising the ectomycorrhizal community between trees infected with or free of P. cinnamomi were observed. However, results indicate that non-mycorrhizal root tips are vulnerable entry points for the pathogen into the tree. More tips were colonised by Russula spp. and other ectomycorrhizal fungi in non-declining infected trees than in declining infected trees. Trees growing on stream banks showed a lower abundance of ectomycorrhizal root tips in fine-textured soils than in coarse-textured soils. Ectomycorrhizal tip abundance was positively related to Ah horizon thickness, irrespective of tree health status. The presence of P. cinnamomi altered relations between ectomycorrhizal abundance and several soil properties. The limited ectomycorrhizal diversity in Q. ilex declining stands and interactions of ectomycorrhizal abundance with soil texture, topography and P. cinnamomi root infections are reported and discussed.
Keywords: Ectomycorrhizae; Iberian dehesa; Invasive pathogen; Oak decline; Soil fertility

Effect of different carotenoid-containing diets on the vitamin A levels and colour parameters in Iberian pigs' tissues: utility as biomarkers of traceability. - Álvarez, R; Vicario, I M; Meléndez-Martínez, a J; Alcalde, M J (Meat science, 2014)
Retinol and fat colour parameters in Iberian pigs fed on different carotenoid-containing diets were assessed. Thirty animals in two groups were considered: Iberian breed pigs fed on acorns and grass (Montanera) and on concentrate (Cebo). Carotenoids and retinoids were analysed in the diets and in plasma, liver and perirenal fat of the animals by HPLC and HPLC-MS. Retinol levels in plasma and fat were similar in Montanera and Cebo animals. The utility of retonids and colour parameters as traceability index was also explored. Retinoids in liver classified correctly 93% of the animals according to their diet L* and hab. CIELAB parameters of the perirenal fat discriminated correctly 78.6% of the animals according to their diet. L* values for the Montanera animals were significantly different (P<0.01) from those fed on concentrate. It can be claimed that the liver retinol profile and fat colour parameters can be useful for feeding traceability purposes in Iberian pigs breed in Montanera and Cebo.

Effect of sex and final fattening on ultrasound and carcass traits in Iberian pigs. - Ayuso, D; González, a; Hernández, F; Peña, F; Izquierdo, M (Meat science, 2014)
A hundred and twenty-five castrated Iberian pigs (61 males and 64 females, from 106.9 kg of live weight at star to 160.3 kg at slaughter) was used to investigate the effect of feeding system on carcass attributes (backfat thickness and loin area measured with ultrasound before slaughter, and intramuscular fat and weights and yields of hams, forelegs and loins after slaughter). Pigs were fattened outdoor under extensive conditions. There were 4 treatments: "montanera", M; "recebo", R; "cebo a campo", C; and high oleic fed, O). Ultrasound images were collected at two rib locations (10th and 14th). M and O groups had the highest fat thickness and loin area was lower in M than in C group. M and O showed higher carcass weight and yield than the other groups. The largest ham weight was for C and the lowest for M groups. Loin weight and yield were higher in M and R than the other two groups (O and C).
Keywords: Adipose Tissue; Adipose Tissue: chemistry; Adipose Tissue: ultrasonography; Animal Feed; Animal Feed: analysis; Animals; Body Weight; fatty acids; Fatty Acids: analysis; Female; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Male; meat; Meat: analysis; Muscle, Skeletal; Muscle, Skeletal: chemistry; Muscle, Skeletal: ultrasonography; Phenotype; Sex Factors; Swine

Effects of forest certification on the ecological condition of Mediterranean streams - Dias, Filipe S.; Bugalho, Miguel N.; Rodríguez-González, Patricia M.; Albuquerque, António; Cerdeira, J. Orestes (Journal of Applied Ecology, 2014)
1. Forest certification, a proxy for sustainable forest management, covers more than 10% of the world’s forests. Under forest certification, forest managers and landowners must comply with environmental, economic and social management standards aiming to promote forest conservation. Despite an increasing area of certified forests, there is a dearth of data on how forest certification is affecting the conservation of forest ecosystems and associated habitats. 2. Here, we assess the effects of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, one of the largest certification schemes in the world, on the ecological condition of streams crossing Mediterranean evergreen oak woodlands. 3. We used the Stream Visual Assessment Protocol (SVAP) to compare the ecological condi- tion of streams located in areas with 3 and 5 years of certification, in non-certified areas and in least disturbed streams. 4. Forest certification positively affected the ecological condition of the surveyed streams, but its effects were only measurable after 5 years of certification. Streams with 5 years of certification had more continuous, dense and diverse riparian vegetation when compared to streams located in non-certified areas. Moreover, the condition of streams located in areas with 5 years of forest certification was similar to the condition of least disturbed streams. 5. Synthesis and applications. Forest certification promotes the ecological condition of streams occurring within Mediterranean evergreen oak woodlands. This mainly happens because in areas under forest certification, managers and landowners have to comply with management practices that require them to remove or reduce the main causes for stream deg- radation, allowing riparian habitats to recover. Within landscapes with large and increasing areas under forest certification, such as the Mediterranean cork oak woodlands, the positive effects of certification on the ecological condition of streams may spread across the hydro- graphic network in the medium to long term.
Keywords: Cork oak; Forest management; Forest Stewardship Council; freshwater habitats; rapid bio-assessment protocol; Riparian vegetation; Stream Visual Assessment Protocol

Effects of human disturbance on nest placement of the woodpigeon (Columba palumbus): a case study from the Middle Atlas, Morocco. - Hanane, Saâd (Integrative zoology, 2014)
The woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) is a common and widespread bird in Morocco (North Africa). I examined, over 2 years (2010 and 2011), the breeding density and nest placement of this game species in relation to nest site habitat and degree of human disturbance. The study area was in the Middle Atlas Tighboula mountain forest, Morocco, in a disturbed and an undisturbed site. Using data collected in the 2 study sites, I aimed to identify the factors influencing the placement of nests within holm oak trees (Quercus rotundifolia) and their densities. I found that habitat structures, influenced by grazing disturbance, have affected nesting density and the location of nests of this species. Woodpigeons place their nests in a higher position (3.42 ± 0.19 m) when disturbance intensity is high and lower (1.68 ± 0.1 m) when disturbance intensity is low, and show higher nesting density in less disturbed zone (3.1 ± 0.4 nests/ha) than in highly disturbed zones (1.4 ± 0.2 nests/ha). Grazing disturbance could pose a threat to population persistence at a broader scale and could potentially reduce the abundance of this species by altering the composition and the structure of the forest nesting habitat. Further multi-scale studies are needed to assess the effects of different levels of grazing disturbance on woodpigeon nest density and placement, and to enhance our knowledge of the breeding behavior of this game species under variable environments.
Keywords: breeding density; columba palumbus; Holm oak; middle atlas; Morocco; nest location; woodpigeon

Effects of wildfire on soil nutrients in Mediterranean ecosystems - Caon, Lucrezia; Vallejo, V. Ramón; Ritsema, Coen J.; Geissen, Violette (Earth-Science Reviews, 2014)
High-intensity and fast-spreadingwildfires are natural in the Mediterranean basin. However, since 1960,wildfire occurrence has increased because of changes in land use,whichresultedinextensive land abandonment, increases in the fuel load and continuity in the landscape. The level of soil degradation related towildfire occurrence depends on fire recurrence, topography of the site, intensity of the soil erosion processes and plant cover post-fire regener- ation rate. Therefore assessing fire impacts on soil properties is critical to quantify land degradation processes and to assess post-fire restoration plans. This article reviews the changes in soil nutrient status ofMediterranean eco- systems affected bywildfires by focusing on the interactions between the different drivers and factors, and the un- derlying processes of these changes. Articles dealingwithwildfires in areas belonging to the Mediterranean basin and characterizedby an annual average rainfall of 300–900mmand amean annual temperature around 14–19 °C, have been reviewed. The data show that the soil nutrient content in Mediterranean drylands affected by wildfires depends on the vegetation type, fire recurrence and fire intensity. Immediately after a fire, the nutrient content in boththeOandAhorizons oftenincreasesbecause of ash deposition,nutrient release fromthe burnt vegetation and formationofstablenutrientforms.Ash deposition persistenceonthe soil surfaceisone of themost important fac- tors in determining the soil nutrient content both immediately after a fire and for the long-term. For the restoration of burned habitats it is important to knowthe content and the spatial distribution of nutrients in the soil because this can act as a limiting factor to vegetation recovery. Carbon and nitrogen pools in the soil have been recognized as fundamental to vegetation recuperation after a fire. To promote the accumulation and retention of nutrients in soil after a fire, it is important to stabilize the burnt site by applying post-fire measures that limit soil erosion, sur- face runoff and wind loss of the ash. Depending on the plant species and the time elapsing between consecutive wildfires, fire is responsible for the transition frommature ecosystems (i.e. conifer forests) to shrublands, which are poorer in soil nutrient status. Wildfire occurrence can be reduced by planting fire-resilient plants in fire- prone areas. To define the best post-fire and restoration treatments, the impacts of fire on both the O and the A horizon aswellas the impactsofdifferent post-fire treatments on the soil nutrient content require further study.
Keywords: desertification; Dryland; Mediterranean ecosystem; Restoration; Soil nutrient; Wildfire

Energetic and biochemical valorization of cork boiling wastewater by anaerobic digestion. - Marques, Isabel Paula; Gil, Luis; La Cara, Francesco (Biotechnology for biofuels, 2014)
BACKGROUND: In addition to energy benefits, anaerobic digestion offers other interesting advantages. The cork industry is of great environmental, economic and social significance in the western Mediterranean region, with Portugal being the world-leading producer and exporter. Cork boiling wastewater (CBW) is a toxic and recalcitrant organic effluent produced by this sector, which constitutes a serious environmental hazard. However, there is no documented research on anaerobic treatment/valorization performed with this effluent. The work presented here was developed with the aim to use the anaerobic digestion process to convert the CBW polluting organic load into an energy carrier gas and valuable molecules for industry. RESULTS: No lag phases were observed and a methane yield of 0.126 to 0.142 m(3) kg(-1) chemical oxygen demand (COD)added was registered in the mesophilic consortium experiments carried out in batch flasks at 37 ± 1°C. Anaerobic digestion can be advantageously connected to ultrafiltration or electrochemical processes, due to the following: 1) reduction of ellagic acid content and consequent decrease of CBW viscosity; and 2) increase in conductivity after the anaerobic process, avoiding the electrolyte application of the electrochemical process. The improvement of several CBW biochemical features shows that anaerobic digestion may provide additionally useful molecules. The rise in concentration of some of these compounds, belonging to the benzoic acid family (gallic, protocatechuic, vanillic and syringic acids), is responsible for the increase of antiradical activity of the phenolic fraction. Additionally, some enzymatic activity was also observed and while the laccase activity increased in the digested effluent by anaerobiosis, xylanase was formed in the process. CONCLUSIONS: The multidisciplinary approach adopted allowed the valorization of CBW in terms of energy and valuable biomolecules. By exploiting the anaerobic digestion process potential, a novel methodology to toxic and recalcitrant cork processing wastewater was developed.
Keywords: Anaerobic digestion; Cork boiling wastewater; Enzymes; Methane; Phenols; Valuable biomolecules

Environmental risk assessment of carbosulfan on target and non-target beetles when used as white grub larvicide in the cork oak forest of Mamora (Morocco) - Fegrouche, R; Kadiri, N; Ghailoule, D; Kadiri, Z Atay; Lumaret, J -P. (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PEST MANAGEMENT, 2014)
The protection of new cork oak plantations against the larvae of the beetle Sphodroxia maroccana (Melolonthidae), which destroy the roots of newly planted trees, was provided for many years in the forest of Mamora in Morocco by the use of carbosulfan, usually formulated as dry granules for direct incorporation into the soil at planting. Ecotoxicological tests were conducted in the laboratory on S. maroccana and on two non-target beetle species, namely Pachychila obtusecostata and Pimelia platynota (Tenebrionidae), to measure the acute effects of carbosulfan and evaluate the potential risk associated with inappropriate practices. The mortality was measured at both 4 d and 7 d after ingestion of a known quantity of carbosulfan. The recommended dose by the manufacturer was exceeded by at least four-fold in the Mamora Forest, with obvious environmental risks. Risks were identified for wildlife when the pesticide is misused and spread on the soil around the plants.
Keywords: carbosulfan; Cork oak; environmental risk; Melolonthidae; Morocco; mortality; Pachychila obtusecostata; Pimelia platynota; Sphodroxia maroccana; Tenebrionidae

Epigenetic and hormonal profile during maturation of Quercus Suber L. somatic embryos. - Pérez, Marta; Viejo, Marcos; LaCuesta, Maite; Toorop, Peter; Cañal, Maria Jesus (Journal of plant physiology, 2014)
Somatic embryogenesis is a powerful alternative to conventional mass propagation of Quercus suber L. However, poor quality and incomplete maturation of somatic embryos restrict any application. Given that epigenetic and hormonal control govern many developmental stages, including maturation of zygotic embryos, global DNA methylation and abscisic acid (ABA) were analyzed during development and maturation of cork oak somatic embryos. Our results indicated that development of somatic embryos concurred with a decrease in 5-mdC. In contrast, endogenous ABA content showed a transient increase with a peak in immature E2 embryos denoting the onset of the maturation phase. A cold stratification phase was necessary for embryos to acquire germination ability, which coincided with a significant decrease in 5-mdC and ABA content. Immunohistochemical analyses showed that there was a specific spatial-temporal regulation during embryogenesis, particularly after the cold treatment. The acquisition of germination capacity concurred with a general low 5-mdC signal in the root meristem, while retention of the 5-mdC signal was mainly located in the shoot meristem and provascular tissues. Conversely, ABA immunolocalization was mainly located in the root and shoot apical meristems. Furthermore, a strong decrease in the ABA signal was observed in the root cap after the stratification treatment suggesting a role for the root cap during development of somatic embryos. These results suggest that, in addition to ABA, epigenetic control appears to play an important role for the correct maturation and subsequent germination of cork oak somatic embryos.
Keywords: ABA; DNA methylation; Immunolocalization; maturation; Somatic embryogenesis

Evaluating connectivity between Natura 2000 sites within the montado agroforestry system: a case study using landscape genetics of the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) - Mullins, Jacinta; Ascensão, Fernando; Simões, Luciana; Andrade, Leonardo; Santos-Reis, Margarida; Fernandes, Carlos (Landscape Ecology, 2014)
Context The Natura 2000 network is the centerpiece of European nature conservation policy but its effectiveness is challenged by ongoing landscape change. Objective Our objective was to assess landscape connectivity between Natura 2000 sites in the biodiversity-rich western Mediterranean region. Methods We used the wood mouse as a focal species with short-range dispersal and obtained genetic data for 393 individuals uniformly distributed between two Natura 2000 sites in SW Portugal. We created a map of connectivity between the two sites that was based on a stack of analyses including reciprocal causal modeling and least-cost path modeling coupled with resistant kernel analysis. Results Wood mice in the study area were genetically diverse and connected by gene flow over a large area. We did not find evidence of major population subdivision in the study area. Gene flow was limited by geographic distance, with significant genetic similarity between individuals within 3 km of each other. Vegetation cover and land use explained more of the variation in genetic distance than geographic distance alone. In particular, agroforestry areas and transitional woodland were associated with higher costs to movement than forest or arable land uses. This result may have been influenced by the difficulty in classifying land use in the open montado. Conclusions The Natura 2000 sites we studied are well connected by multiple corridors for dispersal. Our analysis also highlighted the importance of the Serra de Graˆndola, part of the European Long Term Ecological Research Network but not yet included in Natura 2000.
Keywords: Isolation-by-resistance; Landscape genetics; Population connectivity; Reciprocal causal modeling; Small mammal; UNICOR

Evolution of forest cover in Portugal: A review of the 12th-20th centuries - Reboredo, Fernando; Pais, Joao (JOURNAL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH, 2014)
Portugal's forests in the 12th century were dominated by the Fagaceae represented by Quercus and Castanea, and several pine species. From the 12th century onwards, forests underwent changes in their management starting with protection and ultimately leading to intense exploitation. The massive naval construction during the maritime expansion (mainly in the 15th-16th centuries) involved felling of approximately 5 million trees mainly Quercus suber, Pious pinea and other Quercus species. Cumulative fuel-wood consumption of 959 Mm(3) during 1300-1854 was attributed to demographic expansion while the deforestation rate during 1636-1854 accounted for a minimum of 72.6% and a maximum of 96% of total forest cover. The volume of timber used in railway sleepers from 1856 onwards might have reached 0.5 Mm(3). The last quarter of the 20th century increased the forest cover of Portugal through the World Bank program of Eucalyptus globulus reforestation.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: pub-location: NO 26 HEXING RD, XIANGFANG DISTRICT, HARBIN, 150040, PEOPLES R CHINA publisher: NORTHEAST FORESTRY UNIV
Keywords: forest cover change; forest economics; forest exploitation; Portugal

Experimental thermal properties characterization of insulating cork–gypsum composite - Cherki, Abou-bakr; Remy, Benjamin; Khabbazi, Abdelhamid; Jannot, Yves; Baillis, Dominique (Construction and Building Materials, 2014)
Gypsum plaster is a building material used in walls or false ceilings. The aim of this paper consists on the improvement of thermal properties and lightness of gypsum plaster by combining it with granular cork collected from Moroccan Maamora’s forest. This composite material is intended to be used in false ceiling such as cork–gypsum board instead of plasterboard; its use will be a contribution to improve energy efficiency in buildings. By varying the granular cork size, an experimental investigation of thermal proprieties of gypsum based composite material with embedded granular cork was mainly performed using the asymmetrical transient Hot Plate method. A comparative study based on other experiments (Differential Scanning Calorimeter and Steady state Hot Plate) was realized and the thermal conductivity results were confronted to different theoretical models of equivalent thermal conductivity determination. The experimental results exhibit a good agreement with the weighted geometric mean equation.
Keywords: Asymmetrical transient Hot Plate method; Building materials; Composite material; Cork; Cork–gypsum board; False ceiling; Gypsum plaster; Thermal conductivity; Thermal insulation

Experiments on the life cycle and factors affecting reproduction of Sphaerosporella brunnea provide evidence for rapid asexual propagation by conidiospores and for homothallism in an ectomycorrhizal competitor of cultivated truffle species - Sánchez, S; Gómez, E; Martín, M; DE MIGUEL, A M; Urban, A; Barriuso, J (Fungal Ecology, 2014)
Sphaerosporella brunnea is a pioneer and opportunist ectomycorrhizal species, and the most common fungal competitor in nurseries producing plants mycorrhized with Tuber species. Our objective was to learn more about its life cycle as the first step to manage its presence in greenhouses. Conidiation and formation of resting spore-like structures were found to be triggered by aeration and to be highest on CMA medium. In pot experiments S. brunnea was able to form ectomycorrhizas and ascocarps rapidly, in 2 and 3 months respectively, if substratum moisture was high. Both mycelia and conidiospores were effective sources of inoculum for mycorrhization. This species seems to be homothallic as apothecia have been obtained after inoculations with single monospore isolates. Propagation by mitospores and homothallism are poorly documented in ECM fungi, therefore these results may be of fundamental interest beyond the question of greenhouse management.
Keywords: Conidiation; Controlled mycorrhization; Dichobotrys; Mycorrhized plants; Nurseries; Truffle cultivation

Feeding preferences of native terrestrial isopod species (Oniscoidea, Isopoda) for native and introduced leaf litter - Gerlach, A; Russell, D J; Jaeschke, B; Römbke, J (Applied Soil Ecology, 2014)
Due to current predictions for Central Europe that forecast higher frequencies of hot and dry summers, Mediterranean drought-tolerant oak species are being evaluated as future forest trees for German forest sites that are becoming increasingly damaged by water deficit. As a result of planting foreign tree species, the leaf litter composition and thus the food resources of native saprophagous macroarthropods will change, possibly altering primary decomposition processes. Therefore, experiments concerning the acceptance and palatability of introduced versus native litter for native isopods were undertaken. Consumption rates of four native isopod species (Porcellio scaber, Oniscus asellus, Trachelipus rathkii, Trachelipus ratzeburgii) were investigated in laboratory choice tests with introduced (Quercus pubescens, Quercus frainetto, Quercus ilex) and comparable native (Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur) leaf litter. Litter was characterized by measurement of C/N-ratios and lignin content. Although species-specific preferences of isopods could be observed in the experiments, Mediterranean oak litter was consumed by all investigated species. Furthermore, two isopod species even preferred the leaf litter of the introduced Q. ilex. Compared to native beech or oak litter, litter from these introduced tree species thus apparently do not negatively influence the consumption rates of terrestrial isopods. Possible reasons for the determined preferences are discussed.
Keywords: Feeding activity; Introduced leaf litter; Isopoda; Laboratory choice tests; Primary leaf litter decomposition

Fertilization regime interacts with fall temperature in the nursery to determine the frost and drought tolerance of the Mediterranean oak Quercus ilex subsp. ballota - Heredia-Guerrero, Norberto; Oliet, Juan a; Villar-Salvador, Pedro; Benito, Luis F; Peñuelas, Juan L (Forest Ecology and Management, 2014)
Nitrogen fertilization in the nursery usually improves the transplanting performance of Mediterranean oaks. However, high N fertilization can reduce seedling stress tolerance, probably depending on the environmental conditions under which plants grow. We hypothesize that high N fertilization under mild fall conditions reduces cold and drought acclimation. To assess this hypothesis, we studied if fall temperature differences among cultivation locations influence the effect of N fertilization regime on cold and drought tolerance, N status and growth in the evergreen Mediterranean oak Quercus ilex subsp. ballota (Desf.) Samp. Plants were cultivated in two nurseries of distinct fall temperature conditions (mild and cold fall nurseries) under four fertilization regimes: Low and high N at constant rate (total N, 33 and 175mgseedling−1), high N at exponential rate (175mgNseedling−1) and fall N loading (89mgNseedling−1). Seedling water relations, survival to a −12°C frost and leaf soluble carbohydrates concentration were assessed three times in the fall, and shoot elongation was measured weekly through the fall. Moreover, seedling mass and N concentration were measured at the end of the fall. Fall loaded seedlings had the highest tissue N concentration, while seedling mass was highest in the high N constant and exponential fertilization regimes. Seedlings at the cold fall nursery concentrated more N but were smaller than seedlings at the mild fall nursery. Cessation of shoot elongation in the mild fall nursery occurred 1month later than in the cold location and high N exponentially-fertilized plants ceased shoot elongation later than the rest of fertilization treatments. Seedlings at the mild fall location had lower drought and cold tolerance than plants at the cold fall site. At mid fall, exponential fertilization at the mild nursery reduced seedling frost and drought tolerance, but treatment differences vanished at the end of the fall. In contrast, fertilization regime did not affect either cold or drought tolerance of seedlings at the cold fall nursery. Across dates and nurseries, frost survival was positively related to leaf soluble carbohydrates concentration and dry weight fraction. Beside, degree of cold acclimation decreased with shoot elongation cessation date and increased with leaf soluble carbohydrates concentration, suggesting a link between shoot growth activity, soluble carbohydrates, and frost tolerance. We conclude that Q. ilex subsp. ballota hardening is reduced by high N exponential fertilization mainly under mild fall conditions, while fall loading and constant low N fertilization did not affect hardening.
Keywords: Cold acclimation; Hardening; nitrogen; Nutrient loading; Osmotic potential; Soluble carbohydrate

Field trapping of the flathead oak borer Coroebus undatus (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) with different traps and volatile lures - Fürstenau, Benjamin; Quero, Carmen; Riba, Josep Ma; Rosell, Gloria; Guerrero, Angel (Insect Science, 2014)
The flathead oak borer Coroebus undatus F. (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is one of the primary pests of cork oak Quercus suber L. in the Mediterranean region causing great economic losses to the cork industry. Very little is known about its biology and behavior and, so far, no control measures have been established. We present the results of a pilot study aimed to develop an efficient trapping method for monitoring this harmful pest. In a 3-year field study, purple-colored prism traps baited with a mixture of green leaf volatiles (GLVs) from the host have been shown the most effective combination to catch C. undatus adults (solely females) compared to other trap and lure types tested. Wavelength and reflectance measurements revealed that purple traps exhibit reflectance peak values similar to those found in the abdominal and elytral cuticle of both sexes, suggesting the involvement of visual cues for mate location in this species. The data presented are the first to demonstrate captures of adults of the genus Coroebus by an attractant-based trapping method.
Keywords: attractants; Buprestidae; Coroebus undatus; Green leaf volatiles; monitoring; Quercus suber

Fire , percolation thresholds and the savanna forest transition : a neutral model approach - Abades, R; Gaxiola, Aurora; Marquet, Pablo A (Journal of Ecology, 2014)
1. Recent empirical and theoretical analyses have suggested that biomes could correspond to alterna- tive equilibrium states; one such example is the transition between forest, savanna and treeless states. 2. Fire supposes to be a key functional component of savanna ecosystems and is a powerful predic- tor of tree cover that can differentiate between forest and savanna ecosystems. Interestingly, empiri- cal evidence suggests that fire occurrence drops at a threshold tree cover near 40%. Since savannas are ecosystems characterized by a discontinuous tree canopy cover immersed in a continuous grass layer a 40% of tree cover implies around 60% cover of grasses, which are the flammable component of this ecosystem. 3. In this article, we hypothesize that the observed common pattern of 40% tree cover versus 60% in grass cover often reported for savanna ecosystems is the outcome of a spatial phase transition associated with the existence of a critical percolation threshold for fire spread. 4. To test this hypothesis, we developed a spatially explicit neutral metacommunity model to explore the relationship between species cover and the emergence of percolation patterns. The model is intended to emulate savanna dynamics under neutrality assumptions. 5. Using a statistical mechanical approach, we show that a second-order phase transition behaviour is observed for the probability that a grass species develops a percolating cluster. Using a simple finite size scaling analysis, the percolation threshold pc for our model was estimated to be in the range of 0.53–0.62. 6. Synthesis. Our results point out that the emergence of a spatial phase transition associated with percolation is a robust result of neutral metacommunity dynamics with a critical threshold of space occupancy close to pc ~ 0.6, which supports our hypothesis that the empirically observed 40% tree cover (60% grass cover) is associated with a percolation threshold for C4 grasses that in turn imply the existence of a spatially connected or spanning cluster of grass cover over which fire can spread.
Keywords: fire; neutral model; percolation; plant population and community dynamics; savanna forest transition; threshold

First report of Laimaphelenchus heidelbergi (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae) in Europe - Maleita, C; Costa, S R; Abrantes, I (Forest Pathology, 2014)
A survey of nematodes associated with branches of cork oak, Quercus suber, a species in decline since the second half of the 20th century, was conducted on two farms located in Alentejo, Portugal. Using specific morphological characters, some nematodes were identified as belonging to the genus Laimaphelenchus and one of the isolates being identified as L. heidelbergi. This research aimed to characterize the Portuguese L. heidelbergi isolate using morphobiometrical and molecular analyses and to analyze its phylogenetic relationship to other Laimaphelenchus spp. Morphometric and morphological characteristics of L. heidelbergi females and males were similar to the original description. For molecular analyses, the mitochondrial DNA region from the cytochrome oxidase subunit I and the D2/D3 expansion segments of the large subunit of rDNA were amplified and sequenced. In phylogenetic analyses, sequences of the Portuguese L. heidelbergi isolate clustered with sequences from the Australian isolate. Laimaphelenchus heidelbergi was originally described from wood of Pinus radiata growing in Australia and is here reported for the first time in Europe and Portugal. Cork oak is a new host record for L. heidelbergi.
APS
Keywords: Alentejo; Cork oak; decline; Laimaphelenchus; mitochondrial DNA; morphological characters; nematodes; Quercus suber

Foliar absorption and root translocation of nitrogen from different chemical forms in seedlings of two Mediterranean trees - Uscola, Mercedes; Villar-Salvador, Pedro; Oliet, Juan; Warren, Charles R (Environmental and Experimental Botany, 2014)
Along with root uptake, plants can also absorb N through leaves. There are few comparative studies on the foliar absorption of N from different chemical forms of N in forest tree species. We compared the foliar N absorption capacity in seedlings of two forest trees widespread in the Mediterranean basin, Quercus ilex and Pinus halepensis. Plants were sprayed with the following individual N forms at 40mM N: 15N-nitrate (NO3−), 15N-ammonium (NH4+), 15N-urea or 13C and 15N dual-labeled glycine. Cuticular conductance was used as a surrogate of cuticle permeability to water. Q. ilex had higher N foliar absorption than P. hapelensis. Neither cuticular conductance nor shoot surface area explained N differences in absorption rate between species, which were instead likely linked to differences in stomatal density and presence of trichomes. In both species, foliar N absorption rate and N recovery differed among N forms: urea>NH4+≥glycine≥NO3−. Differences in N absorption rate among N forms were correlated with their physico-chemical properties. The strong positive relationship between 15N and 13C uptake together with detection in shoots of intact dual-labeled glycine (measured by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry), indicated that a significant fraction of glycine was absorbed intact by the seedlings. In both species, higher cuticular conductance was related to faster N absorption from all forms except NO3−. Cuticular conductance had a stronger effect on N absorption from urea and NH4+ than N absorption from glycine, and the effects were more intense in Q. ilex than in P. halepensis. This suggests that variations in cuticle permeability in both species are determined by different mechanisms and that each N form was differently affected. Absorbed N was rapidly translocated to roots, with a larger proportion of N from organic forms being translocated than N from inorganic forms. Foliar fertilization increased plant N content, especially in urea fertilized plants, but direct foliar absorption only explained up to 10% of N content increase. This study demonstrates that two important Mediterranean forest tree species can absorb through their leaves both, inorganic and organic N forms. This has important ecological and applied implications, because all chemical forms of N are present in natural N deposition. Also results show that foliar N fertilization can play an important role for seedling N nutrition, and that the effect will have different impacts depending on the species.
Keywords: Ammonium-nitrate; Cuticular conductance; Glycine; Pinus halepensis; Quercus ilex; Urea

Foliar CO2 in a holm oak forest subjected to 15 years of climate change simulation - Ogaya, Romà; Llusia, Joan; Barbeta, Adrià; Asensio, Dolores; Liu, Daijun; Alessio, Giorgio Arturo; Penuelas, Josep (Plant Science, 2014)
A long-term experimental drought to simulate future expected climatic conditions for Mediterranean forests, a 15% decrease in soil moisture for the following decades, was conducted in a holm oak forest since 1999. Net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and leaf water potential were measured from 1999 to 2013 in Quercus ilex and Phillyrea latifolia, two co-dominant species of this forest. These measurements were performed in four plots, two of them received the drought treatment and the two other plots were control plots. The three studied variables decreased with increases in VPD and decreases in soil moisture in both species, but the decrease of leaf water potential during summer drought was larger in P. latifolia, whereas Q. ilex reached higher net photosynthetic rates and stomatal conductance values during rainy periods than P. latifolia. The drought treatment decreased ca. 8% the net photosynthetic rates during the overall studied period in both Q. ilex and P. latifolia, whereas there were just non-significant trends toward a decrease in leaf water potential and stomatal conductance induced by drought treatment. Future drier climate may lead to a decrease in the carbon balance of Mediterranean species, and some shrub species well resistant to drought could gain competitive advantage relative to Q. ilex, currently the dominant species of this forest.
Keywords: climate change; Drought; mediterranean forest; phillyrea latifolia; photosynthetic rates; Quercus ilex

Forest soil organic carbon dynamics as affected by plant species and their corresponding litters: a fluorescence spectroscopy approach - D'Orazio, Valeria; Traversa, Andreina; Senesi, Nicola (PLANT AND SOILPLANT AND SOIL, 2014)
The effect of forest cover distribution and plant litter input on soil organic carbon were analyzed to better understand the dynamics of carbon cycling across ecosystems on the ``Natural Oriented Reserve Bosco delle Pianelle{''}. Fluorescence spectroscopy represents a very useful tool to characterize soil organic matter properties, since it allows to directly monitor the molecular status of a fluorophore depending on its chemical environment, as well as on its structure, substituents of the aromatic moieties, and molecular weight. Here, fluorescence analysis was performed on humic acids isolated from four litters (HALs) and their underlying soils (HAs) at three depths. All samples were collected from a protected forest area, Southern Italy, under different plant covering: Quercus ilex L. (Q), mixed Carpinus betulus L. and Carpinus orientalis Mill. (CC), Pinus halepensis L. (P), and mixed Quercus trojana Webb. and Quercus ilex L. (QQ). Data obtained showed a fast decomposition process for P and QQ litters, with HAs in the underlying soils characterized by the presence of simple, highly fluorescent structural components also in the deepest layers. On the contrary, a slow decomposition process was observed for Q and CC litters, whose underlying soil HAs were characterized by an increasing aromatic polycondensation and humification degree from the surface to the deepest layers, as supported by low values of fluorescence intensity and high wavelength maxima. Results obtained indicate that P and QQ species promote C accumulation and stock in the underlying soils, thanks to a greater decomposition of their litter, and fluorescence spectroscopy is a very simple and suitable method to evaluate the influence of three species distribution on soil organic carbon pools.
Keywords: Fluorescence spectroscopy; Forest soils and litters; humic acids; Soil organic carbon; Total luminescence spectroscopy

Fragmentation patterns of evergreen oak woodlands in Southwestern Iberia: Identifying key spatial indicators - Costa, Augusta; Madeira, Manuel; Lima Santos, José; Plieninger, Tobias; Seixas, Júlia (Journal of Environmental Management, 2014)
Abstract Mediterranean evergreen oak woodlands (composed of Quercus suber L. and Quercus rotundifolia Lam.) are becoming increasingly fragmented in the human-modified landscapes of Southwestern Portugal and Spain. Previous studies have largely neglected to assess the spatial changes of oak woodlands in relation to their surrounding landscape matrix, and to characterize and quantify woodland boundaries and edges. The present study aims to fill this gap by analyzing fragmentation patterns of oak woodlands over a 50-year period (1958–2007) in three landscapes. Using archived aerial imagery from 1958, 1995 and 2007, for two consecutive periods (1958–1995 and 1995–2007), we calculated a set of landscape metrics to compare woodland fragmentation over time. Our results indicated a continuous woodland fragmentation characterized by their edge dynamics. From 1958 to 2007, the replacement of open farmland by shrubland and by new afforestation areas in the oak woodland landscape surrounding matrix, led to the highest values for edge contrast length trends of 5.0 and 12.3, respectively. Linear discriminant analysis was performed to delineate fragmented woodland structures and identify metric variables that characterize woodland spatial configuration. The edge contrast length with open farmland showed a strong correlation with F1 (correlations ranging between 0.55 and 0.98) and may be used as a proxy for oak woodland mixedness in landscape matrix. The edge dynamics of oak woodlands may result in different patterns of oak recruitment and therefore, its study may be helpful in highlighting future baselines for the sustainable management of oak woodlands.
Keywords: Forest change; Forest spatial pattern; mediterranean forest; Oak woodlands; Quercus rotundifolia; Quercus suber

Functional traits and adaptive capacity of European forests to climate change - Bussotti, Filippo; Pollastrini, Martina; Holland, Vera; Brüggemann, Wolfgang (Environmental and Experimental Botany, 2014)
Increasing temperatures and drought risks through climate change are expected to have several consequences for European forests. Adaptive strategies may include: (i) persistence of the current forest types, thanks to the acclimatization to local conditions and to phenotypic plasticity of the populations; (ii) evolution, or local adaptation, i.e., change in genotype (frequencies) within the same species due to environmental pressure. It is favored by large within population diversity and (when possible) gene flow among populations; (iii) migration and substitution of species; and (iv) extinction of populations with low ecological plasticity, especially at the edges of their distribution or in the case of isolated (relict) populations. Because of the economic and ecological relevance of forests, it is of fundamental importance to apply appropriate forest management to make forests able to cope with the new environmental conditions. This may include changes in the composition and structure of forest stands, selection of adapted provenances of the most important European tree species or, if this is regarded as insufficient, assisted migration (i.e., the use of species suitable for the future climatic conditions) and, alternatively, substitution of native with non native species. The intraspecific (genetic and phenotypic) variability at a given site has been proven to be often higher than the variability among sites. Species with a large distribution range are supposed to have a wide variety of genotypes, allowing them to be adapted to different environmental conditions. Genetic variability and phenotypic plasticity are the key factors for the identification of useful tree genotypes for future forestation programs. Adaptation to drought, i.e., the probably most important future abiotic risk factor for forestry, can be reflected in variation of key functional traits (FT), at morphological, physiological and phenological level. FT utilized to screen for adapted genotypes in common gardens and provenance trials include growth, survival, leaf flushing and senescence, foliar features as leaf mass per area and nitrogen content, water use efficiency (e.g., estimated by analysis of the stable carbon isotopes, d13C) chlorophyll content, photosystem II functioning, and photosynthetic capacity under water shortage. Current modeled simulation of future forest distribution suggests the expansion of forests at the highest latitudes and altitudes, alongside with a reduction in the hottest and driest Mediterranean regions of South Europe. The general expectations, however, may be disproved especially at a regional level, by factors unexpected or not well known, such as possible extreme climatic events and increased roles of parasites/diseases (with negative effects), or high capacity of forest persistence or adaptation (with positive effects). Natural migration and species substitution can be hampered by co-factors of climate change, such as forest fragmentation and increased frequency and intensity of forest fires.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: Adaptation; Extinction; functional traits; Local evolution; migration; Phenotypic plasticity; Phenotyping; provenances

Functional traits of cryptogams in Mediterranean ecosystems are driven by water, light and substrate interactions - Giordani, Paolo; Incerti, Guido; Rizzi, Guido; Rellini, Ivano; Nimis, Pier Luigi; Modenesi, Paolo (JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE, 2014)
Question Poikilohydric organisms can survive desiccation without damage and recover soon after re-wetting. In this work we explore the realized niches of epilithic, poikilohydric organisms, i.e. lichenized and lichenicolous fungi and bryophytes, grouped into 15 functional guilds based on growth form, reproductive strategy and photosynthetic traits. We hypothesize that in Mediterranean ecosystems, the distribution of these guilds is controlled by water availability and solar radiation, together with characteristics of the substrate. Location Western Sardinia (Italy). The area hosts Mediterranean Quercus ilex forests on basaltic substrata within an agroforestry landscape. Methods The presence or absence of species from each guild was recorded in 1025 small quadrats (10x10cm). Four environmental variables were measured: solar radiation, microtopography (potential water run-off), substrate roughness and number of cracks. The occurrence of each guild was related to environmental variables using non-parametric multiplicative regression, and ecological niches of the guilds were derived from those models. Results The occurrence of all functional guilds varied significantly according to the selected environmental variables. In most cases, solar radiation was the most important variable; TI was included first in the model of two sorediate guilds, whereas four sexually reproducing functional guilds had surface relief as first variable. The growth forms were separated along a gradient of increasing solar radiation, whereas water run-off and surface roughness mainly discriminated reproductive strategies and photobionts. Vegetatively reproducing guilds with other photobionts than Euphyta-like pigments were confined to the border of the ecological space, defined by gradients of environmental factors, which was largely occupied by more competitive, sexually reproducing organisms. Conclusions Functional traits of epilithic poikilohydric organisms were associated with ecological adaptations to the stressful environment of Mediterranean outcrops. We showed that their response in terms of probability of occurrence is coherent with quantitative gradients of solar radiation and water availability at the micro-scale.
Keywords: bryophytes; functional traits; lichens; Photosynthetic strategy; Reproductive strategy

Functional traits predict drought performance and distribution of Mediterranean woody species - Lopez-Iglesias, Bárbara; Villar, Rafael; Poorter, Lourens (Acta Oecologica, 2014)
Water availability is one of the key environmental factors that affect plant establishment and distribution. In many regions water availability will decline with climate change, exposing small seedlings to a greater likelihood of drought. In this study, 17 leaves, stem, root, and whole-plant traits of ten woody Mediterranean species were measured under favourable growing conditions and seedling drought survival was evaluated during a simulated dry-down episode. The aims of this study were: i) to assess drought survival of different species, ii) to analyse which functional traits predict drought survival time, and iii) to explain species distribution in the field, based on species drought survival and drought strategies. Drought survival time varied ten-fold across species, from 19 to 192 days. Across species, drought survival was positively related to the rooting depth per leaf area, i.e., the ability to acquire water from deeper soil layers while reducing transpiring leaf area. Drought survival time was negatively related to species ability to grow quickly, as indicated by high relative growth and net assimilation rates. Drought survival also explained species distribution in the field. It was found that species were sorted along a continuum, ranging between two contrasting species functional extremes based on functional traits and drought performance. One extreme consisted of acquisitive fast-growing deciduous species, with thin, soft metabolically active leaves, with high resource use and vulnerability to drought. The opposite extreme consisted of conservative slow-growing evergreen species with sclerophyllous leaves, deep roots, a low transpiring area, and low water use, resulting in high drought survival and drought tolerance. The results show that these drought strategies shape species distribution in this Mediterranean area.
Keywords: Drought; Functional groups; functional traits; mediterranean species; RGR; Rooting depth

Functionalization of Natural Cork Composite with Microcapsules after Plasma Treatment - Oliveira, Fernando Ribeiro; Silva, Etienne Albino A; do Carmo, Sidney Nascimento; Steffens, Fernanda; de Valadares Souto, Antonio Pedro (ADVANCES IN MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, 2014)
This research aims to study the chemical and physical modifications of natural cork agglomerate after plasma treatment using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD). Different experimental techniques were used to evaluate the surface alterations of the pretreated samples with DBD plasma, as well as the adsorption and adhesion of microcapsules in the substrate, namely, static and dynamic contact angle, surface energy, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy ( FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Plasma discharge greatly increases the wettability and surface energy of the samples. Chemical and physical analyses of the cork agglomerate confirmed considerable surface modification. All these surface changes of the cork after plasma treatment led to a remarkable increase in microcapsule adsorption and adhesion when compared with the untreated cork sample.
APS
Keywords: agglomerates; chemical modifications; natural cork; physical modifications

Functionalized cork-polymer composites (CPC) by reactive extrusion using suberin and lignin from cork as coupling agents - Fernandes, Emanuel M.; Aroso, Ivo M.; Mano, João F.; Covas, José A.; Reis, Rui L. (Composites Part B: Engineering, 2014)
High density polyethylene (HDPE) and cork powder were compounded in a co-rotating twin-screw extruder to obtain cork-polymer composites (CPC) with improved properties. Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) was used as initiator agent, and suberin or lignin isolated from cork enhanced filler-matrix bonding and promoted mechanical reinforcement with environmental benefits. The novel composites were characterized in terms of dimensional stability, evolution of morphology, thermal and mechanical properties and their performance was compared with that of composites containing polyethylene-grafted maleic anhydride (PE-g-MA) as coupling agent. As expected, composites with coupling agent present higher mechanical properties, lower water uptake and thickness swelling variation. Suberin acts as plasticizer with antioxidant benefits, while lignin works as a coupling agent, improving tensile modulus and maximum strength. Increasing lignin content does not improve the mechanical properties but improves thermal stability.
Keywords: Coupling agent; Electron microscopy; Extrusion; Fibre/matrix bond; Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs)

Future impacts of nitrogen deposition and climate change scenarios on forest crown defoliation. - De Marco, Alessandra; Proietti, Chiara; Cionni, Irene; Fischer, Richard; Screpanti, Augusto; Vitale, Marcello (Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987), 2014)
Defoliation is an indicator for forest health in response to several stressors including air pollutants, and one of the most important parameters monitored in the International Cooperative Programme on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests (ICP Forests). The study aims to estimate crown defoliation in 2030, under three climate and one nitrogen deposition scenarios, based on evaluation of the most important factors (meteorological, nitrogen deposition and chemical soil parameters) affecting defoliation of twelve European tree species. The combination of favourable climate and nitrogen fertilization in the more adaptive species induces a generalized decrease of defoliation. On the other hand, severe climate change and drought are main causes of increase in defoliation in Quercus ilex and Fagus sylvatica, especially in Mediterranean area. Our results provide information on regional distribution of future defoliation, an important knowledge for identifying policies to counteract negative impacts of climate change and air pollution.
Keywords: climate change; Crown defoliation; General regression models; Nitrogen deposition; Random forests analysis

Gas Exchange, Water Relations and their Relationships with Photochemical Reflectance Index in Quercus ilex Plants during Water Stress and Recovery - Tsonev, Tsonko; Wahbi, Said; Sun, Pengsen; Sorrentino, Giuseppe; Centritto, Mauro (INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND BIOLOGY, 2014)
Diffusional limitations to photosynthesis (A), relative water content (RWC) and their association with photochemical reflectance index (PRI) were studied in holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) saplings subjected to water stress and subsequent water stress relief. RWC decreased sharply as drought progressed. Following rewatering, RWC gradually increased to pre-stress values. A, stomatal conductance (g(s)), mesophyll conductance (g(m)), total conductance (g(t)), and PRI changed in parallel with RWC. A decrease in A resulted from coordinated suppression in leaf conductance. As water stress progressed, A measured in non-photorespiratory conditions (A(1%O2)) became more than 3 times higher compared to that recorded at 21% \{[\}O-2], indicating that photorespiration likely increased in response to water stress. A(1%O2) was significantly correlated with all leaf conductances. A(1%O2) was limited more by g(s) than by g(m), indicating that higher g(m) favors photosynthesis over photorespiration. There was a significant linear correlation between RWC and PRI. Significant non-linear relationships were also found both between PRI and A and PRI and g(t). These data imply that PRI may clearly detect normal and stressed status of holm oak, but it is not very informative when plants are severely stressed. Overall, our data indicate that: a) PRI is an important indicator of leaf water status as evident from RWC; b) because leaf conductance did not limit photosynthesis when photorespiration was suppressed, holm oak, and in general sclerophyllous species, will respond to future elevated \{[\}CO2] significantly more than mesophyllous plants; c) PRI can be used to predict changes in the performance of holm oak subjected to physiological water stress, whereas caution is needed under severe drought. (C) 2014 Friends Science Publishers
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: pub-location: 399-B, PEOPLES COLONY NO 1, FAISALABAD, 38090, PAKISTAN publisher: FRIENDS SCIENCE PUBL
Keywords: CO2 transport conductance; Drought; leaf gas exchange; photorespiration; Relative water content; Spectral reflectance index

Genetic diversity assessment and estimation of phylogenetic relationships among 26 Fagaceae species using ISSRs - Coutinho, João Paulo; Carvalho, Ana; Lima-Brito, José (Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 2014)
The family Fagaceae includes several species and presents huge genetic variability. In the last two decades, several genetic studies about phylogenetics and genetic diversity of Fagaceae have emerged. ISSR markers were used to evaluate the genetic diversity of 26 species of Fagaceae belonging to the genera Castanea, Fagus and Quercus. Among several primers tested, 17 were selected for the evaluation of diversity and estimation of genetic relationships. A total of 371 ISSR markers were produced and each primer revealed high polymorphism. Specific ISSR markers for the Quercus infrageneric groups were amplified. ISSRs proved to be a reliable tool for the discrimination of the analyzed species per genus, infrageneric group and/or ecological origin.
Keywords: Fagaceae; Genetic variability; Inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSRs); Quercus

Genetic patterns, host use and larval morphology in Tunisian populations of Orgyia trigotephras - Ezzine, Olfa; Hausmann, Axel; Branco, Manuela; Mannai, Yaussra; Dhahri, Samir; Nouira, Said; Ben Jamaa, Mohamed Lahbib (BULLETIN OF INSECTOLOGY, 2014)
Orgyia trigotephras Boisduval 1829 (Erebidae Lymantriinae) is a polyphagous moth widely distributed across the Mediterranean Basin. Current taxonomy validates several taxa at subspecies level within this species. Two of them, Orgyia trigotephras anceps Oberthur 1884 and Orgyia trigotephras transiens Staudinger et Rebel 1901 were found to occur in Tunisia. Although considered a rare species in southern Europe, an extensive outbreak was observed in Tunisia in the last decade. In this paper we present details on genetic patterns (mitochondrial DNA marker CO1), on larval phenotypic traits and on host plant species of Tunisian populations of O. trigotephras. Tunisian specimens clearly differentiated into two lineages, restricted to western and eastern Tunisia respectively. Both Tunisian haplotype-lineages strongly diverge from southern Spanish and southern Italian `conspecifics', questioning current taxonomy. Furthermore, we describe four larval phenotypes occurring in Tunisia and register Quercus coccifera, Quercus suber, Erica multiflora and Pistacia lentiscus as the four main host plant species. There was no association of the two genetic lineages with larval phenotypic traits. However, host plant species differed significantly between the two lineages.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: pub-location: DEPT AGROENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES & TECHNOLOGY, VIALE G FANIN, 42, BOLOGNA, 40127, ITALY publisher: ALMA MATER STUDIORUM, UNIV BOLOGNA
Keywords: CO1; host plants; larval phenotypes; Orgyia trigotephras; phylogeography

Grass – woodland transitions : determinants and consequences for ecosystem functioning and provisioning of services - Sala, Osvaldo E; Maestre, Fernando T (Journal of Ecology, 2014)
1. A large fraction of grasslands world-wide is undergoing a rapid shift from herbaceous to woody- plant dominance, while in other parts of the world, the opposite transition from woodland to grassland is the dominant phenomenon. These shifts have received increasing attention in the ecological litera- ture during the last two decades due to their global extent and their impacts on ecosystem functioning. 2. This Special Feature includes a series of contributions on key topics within the study of grass– woodland transitions, including three articles addressing the drivers of these vegetation shifts and another three evaluating their ecological consequences. These articles, which include reviews, mod- elling and empirical studies, highlight the multiplicity of approaches and spatial scales being cur- rently used when studying grass–woodland transitions. 3. The first articles focus on the role of fire in driving the dynamics of mesic grasslands in the USA, on the effects of climate change on the transition zones between treeless vegetation, savanna and forest in tropical and subtropical Americas and on the role of the internal structure of vegetation as a determinant of grassland–woodland transitions. The articles devoted to exploring the conse- quences include a modelling study on the ecohydrological consequences of shrub removal in wes- tern North America and an empirical study aiming at understanding how abiotic and biotic attributes influence above-ground net productivity across Patagonian grasslands and shrublands, as well as a review of the consequences of brush management on the provision of ecosystem services. 4. Synthesis. Identifying the best actions to avoid or take advantage of grass–woodland transitions requires a mechanistic understanding of both the drivers of these shifts and their ecological conse- quences. The collection of reviews, empirical and modelling studies included in this Special Feature contributes to forecasting how ongoing global change will affect grass–woodland transitions and their consequences for the provisioning of ecosystem services from drylands, which account for a large fraction of Earth’s surface.
Keywords: climate change; ecosystem services; ecosystem–water dynamics; fire; Grasslands; inva- sion ecology; primary production; shrublands; vegetation shifts; woody-plant encroachment

Growth performance, carcass and meat quality of lambs supplemented with increasing levels of a tanniferous bush (Cistus ladanifer L.) and vegetable oils. - Francisco, A; Dentinho, M T; Alves, S P; Portugal, P V; Fernandes, F; Sengo, S; Jerónimo, E; Oliveira, M a; Costa, P; Sequeira, A; Bessa, R J B; Santos-Silva, J (Meat science, 2014)
The effects of dietary inclusion of Cistus ladanifer L. (CL) and a vegetable oil blend were evaluated on growth performance, carcass and meat quality of fifty four lambs that were assigned to 9 diets, corresponding to 3 levels of CL (50, 100 and 200 g/kg DM) and 3 levels of oil inclusion (0, 40 and 80 g/kg DM). Treatments had no effects on growth rate. Oil depressed dry matter intake (P = 0.017), carcass muscle (P = 0.041) and increased (P = 0.016) kidney knob channel fat. Chemical and physical meat quality traits were not affected by treatments. Off-flavour perception was higher for 8% of oil (P < 0.001). The level of 100 g/kg DM of CL inclusion improved meat stability after 7 days of storage. Supplementation with linseed and soybean oils (2:1) was a good approach to improve meat nutritional value from feedlot lambs, increasing total n-3 PUFA.
Keywords: carcass quality; Cistus ladanifer; lamb; meat quality; oil supplementation

A highly spatially resolved GIS-based model to assess the isoprenoid emissions from key Italian ecosystems - Pacheco, Claudia Kemper; Fares, Silvano; Ciccioli, Paolo (Atmospheric Environment, 2014)
The amount of Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds (BVOC) emitted from terrestrial vegetation is of great importance in atmospheric reactivity, particularly for ozone-forming reactions and as condensation nuclei in aerosol formation and growth. This work presents a detailed inventory of isoprenoid emissions from vegetation in Italy using an original approach which combines state of the art models to estimate the species-specific isoprenoid emissions and a Geographic Information System (GIS) where emissions are spatially represented. Isoprenoid species and basal emission factors were obtained by combining results from laboratory experiments with those published in literature. For the first time, our investigation was not only restricted to isoprene and total monoterpenes, but our goal was to provide maps of isoprene and individual monoterpenes at a high-spatial (∼1 km2) and temporal resolution (daily runs, monthly trends in emissions are discussed in the text). Another novelty in our research was the inclusion of the effects of phenology on plant emissions. Our results show that: a) isoprene, a-pinene, sabinene and b-pinene are the most important compounds emitted from vegetation in Italy; b) annual biogenic isoprene and monoterpene fluxes for the year 2006 were ∼31.30 Gg and ∼37.70 Gg, respectively; and c) Q. pubescens+Q. petrea+Q. robur, Q. ilex, Q. suber and Fagus sylvatica are the principal isoprenoid emitting species in the country. The high spatial and temporal resolution, combined with the species-specific emission output, makes the model particularly suitable for assessing local budgets, and for modelling photochemical pollution in Italy.
Keywords: BVOC inventory; isoprene; Isoprenoids; Italian forests; Monoterpenes

Histopathology of infection and colonization of Quercus ilex fine roots by Phytophthora cinnamomi - Ruiz Gómez, F. J.; NAVARRO-CERRILLO, R. M.; Sánchez-Cuesta, R.; Pérez-de-Luque, A. (Plant Pathology, 2014)
Quercus ilex is one of the European forest species most susceptible to root rot caused by the oomycete Phytophthora cinnamomi. This disease contributes to holm oak decline, a particularly serious problem in the ‘dehesas’ ecosystem of the southwestern Iberian Peninsula. This work describes the host–pathogen interaction of Q. ilex and P. cinnamomi, using new infection indices at the tissue level. Fine roots of 6-month-old saplings inoculated with P. cinnamomi were examined by light microscopy and a random pool of images was analysed in order to calculate different indices based on the measured area of pathogen structures. In the early stages of invasion, P. cinnamomi colonizes the apoplast and penetrates cortical cells with somatic structures. On reaching the parenchymatous tissues of the central cylinder, the pathogen develops different reproductive and survival structures inside the cells and then expands through the vascular system of the root. Some host responses were identified, such as cell wall thickening, accumulation of phenolic compounds in the middle lamella of sclerenchyma tissues, and mucilage secretion blocking vascular cells. New insights into the behaviour of P. cinnamomi inside fine roots are described. Host responses fail due to rapid expansion of the pathogen and a change in its behaviour from biotrophic to necrotrophic.
Keywords: histopathology; infection index; main factors responsible for; Oak decline; phytophthora cinnamomi; Quercus ilex; root rot; s

Holocene dynamics of tree taxa populations in Italy - Magri, Donatella; Agrillo, Emiliano; Di Rita, Federico; Furlanetto, Giulia; Pini, Roberta; Ravazzi, Cesare; Spada, Francesco (Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 2014)
The Holocene distribution of nine tree taxa (Picea, Abies, Betula, Fagus, Carpinus betulus, Corylus, deciduous and evergreen Quercus, and Olea) in Italy is visually shown by pollen maps. A hundred pollen sites were selected, percentageswere derived fromthe original pollen counts or digitized frompublished diagrams, and represented on maps in subsequent time windows at 1000-year intervals. The pollen maps depict the Holocene history of Italian forest cover as a complex puzzle influenced by very diverse climate, physiography, edaphic and ecological processes, and a long history of human activity. A reasonably goodmatch between the abundance and distribution of pollen data during the last thousand years and the current tree species distribution in Italy indicates that the Holocene pollen maps may represent a fundamental basis for a better understanding of the modern vegetation patterns, often showing discontinuous ranges and complex distributions. Although clear latitudinal gradientswere not detected, regions characterized by high precipitation values hosted dense forest cover since the Holocene onset, while areas with arid climate experienced a delayed increase in trees and a faster decrease during the last four millennia. Fagus, C. betulus and Picea showdisplacement in their distribution inItaly in the course of theHolocene.Other taxa, likedeciduous and evergreen Quercus, and Betula have always occupied the same locations during the Holocene, but show changes in abundance. Abies had a broken distribution in Italy throughout the postglacial. Its populations are currently found within the regions they occupied at the onset of the Holocene. The importance of considering all the available records in their geographical context to reconstruct complex vegetational patterns is discussed.
Keywords: Database; Holocene; Italy; Pollen map; Woody taxon

How drought severity constrains GPP and its partitioning among carbon pools in a Quercus ilex coppice? - Rambal, S; Lempereur, M; Limousin, J M; Martin-StPaul, N K; Ourcival, J M; Rodríguez-Calcerrada, J (Biogeosciences Discuss., 2014)
The partitioning of photosynthates toward biomass compartments has a crucial role in the carbon sink function of forests. Few studies have examined how carbon is allocated toward plant compartments in drought prone forests. We analyzed the fate of GPP in relation to yearly water deficit in an old evergreen Mediterranean Quercus ilex coppice severely affected by water limitations. Gross and net carbon fluxes between the ecosystem and the atmosphere were measured with an eddy-covariance flux tower running continuously since 2001. Discrete measurements of litterfall, stem growth and fAPAR allowed us to derive annual productions of leaves, wood, flowers and acorns and an isometric relationship between stem and belowground biomass has been used to estimate perennial belowground growth. By combining eddy-covariance fluxes with annual productions we managed to close a C budget and derive values of autotrophic and heterotrophic respirations, NPP and carbon use efficiency (CUE, the ratio between NPP and GPP). Average values of yearly NEP, GPP and Reco were 282, 1259 and 977 g C m−2. The corresponding ANPP components were 142.5, 26.4 and 69.6 g C m−2 for leaves, reproductive effort (flowers and fruits) and stems. Gross and net carbon exchange between the ecosystem and the atmosphere were affected by annual water deficit. Partitioning to the different plant compartments was also impacted by drought, with a hierarchy of responses going from the most affected, the stem growth, to the least affected, the leaf production. The average CUE was 0.40, which is well in the range for Mediterranean-type forest ecosystems. CUE tended to decrease more slightly in response to drought than GPP and NPP, probably due to drought-acclimation of autotrophic respiration. Overall, our results provide a baseline for modeling the inter-annual variations of carbon fluxes and allocation in this widespread Mediterranean ecosystem and highlight the value of maintaining continuous experimental measurements over the long term.
APS
Keywords: carbon sink; Drought; GPP; photosynthates; Quercus ilex

Humus forms in a Mediterranean area (Castelporziano Reserve, Rome, Italy): classification, functioning and organic carbon storage - De Nicola, Cristina; Zanella, Augusto; Testi, Anna; Fanelli, Giuliano; Pignatti, Sandro (GeodermaGeoderma, 2014)
This work reports the results of an investigation on humus forms in a Mediterranean LTER (Long-Term Ecosystem Research) site. The study tests the effectiveness of the recent European humus forms classification (Zanella et al. 2011b), based on morpho-genetic characteristics of diagnostic organic and organo-mineral horizons. Furthermore it reveals how humus forms, at the level of diagnostic horizons, are related to vegetation/soil type and carbon storage capacity of the soil. The humus forms were surveyed in different substrates, soil types, and vegetation units of a Mediterranean forest ecosystem in Central Italy (Castelporziano Reserve). Thickness, organic carbon (OC) and total nitrogen (Ntot) contents in organic and organo-mineral horizons, pH and texture in the organo-mineral horizon were measured and statistically analysed. The three main humus forms (Mull, Moder and Amphi) covering the soil of the Reserve appeared well separated on the PCA diagram. Thickness, OC and Ntot showed a high correlation with axes of PCA. Kruskal–Wallis tests revealed differences between Mull, Moder and Amphi: 1) the thickness of the A horizon was larger in Amphi; 2) OC in the A horizon was less in Moder; 3) Mull had less OC in organic horizons than Moder and Amphi; and 4) Mull and Amphi had twice OC of Moder in bulked organic and organo-mineral horizons. Two main ecological gradients, from neutral/aerated Mull to acid/anaerobic-water saturated logged Moder on one side and from fresh Mull to dry Amphi on the other, explain the distribution of humus forms in the Reserve. The first gradient concerns circular belts around periodically filled small basins and is peculiar to the more or less impermeable plain of Castelporziano; on the contrary, the second progressive transition is very common in Mediterranean forests. The European humus forms classification allows to better understand the organic matter cycle at the level of soil bio-structures even in this relatively small Mediterranean forest. New diagnostic horizons are proposed and necessary for surveying humus forms perturbed by wild boars. The crucial role played by the here investigated Amphi forms could increase with the prospect of climate change.
Keywords: European humus classification; humus forms; Mediterranean forest soil; Soil organic carbon

Hypogeous fungi in Mediterranean maquis, arid and semi-arid forests - Zambonelli, A; Donnini, D; Rana, G L; Fascetti, S; Benucci, G M N; Iotti, M; Morte, A; Khabar, L; Bawadekji, A; Piattoni, F; Compagno, R; Venturella, G (Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology, 2014)
Hypogeous fungi are common in arid and semi-arid areas of the Mediterranean basin and, in particular, they are found in Italy, Spain, northern African countries (especially in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia), and in the Middle East. These fungi and, in particular, some species belonging to the genus Tuber and the desert truffles (Terfezia spp. and Tirmania spp.) form ascomata of considerable economic value. In this review, a panorama of hypogeous fungal diversity and information on their ecology in Mediterranean arid and semi-arid ecosystems have been reported; their economical importance and cultivation potential are also underlined.
doi: 10.1080/11263504.2013.877537
Keywords: cultivation; ecology; hypogeous fungi; Terfezia; Tirmania; Tuber

Improving the quality of protein identification in non-model species. Characterization of Quercus ilex seed and Pinus radiata needle proteomes by using SEQUEST and custom databases - Romero-Rodríguez, M Cristina; Vázquez, Jesús Pascual; Valledor, Luis; Jorrín-novo, Jesús (Journal of Proteomics, 2014)
Nowadays the most used pipeline for protein identification consists in the comparison of the MS/MS spectra to reference databases. Search algorithms compare obtained spectra to an in silico digestion of a sequence database to find exact matches. In this context, the database has a paramount importance and will determine in a great deal the number of identifications and its quality, being this especially relevant for non-model plant species. Using a single Viridiplantae database (NCBI, UniProt, TAIR) is not the best choice for non-model species since they are underrepresented in databases resulting in poor identification rates. We demonstrate how it is possible to improve the rate and quality of identifications in two orphan species, Quercus ilex and Pinus radiata, by using SEQUEST and a combination of public (Viridiplantae NCBI, UniProt) and a custom-built specific database which contained 593,294 and 455,096 peptide sequences (Quercus and Pinus, respectively). These databases were built after gathering and processing (trimming, contiging, 6-frame translation) publicly available RNA sequences, mostly ESTs and NGS reads. A total of 149 and 1533 proteins were identified from Quercus seeds and Pinus needles, representing a 3.1- or 1.5-fold increase in the number of protein identifications and scores compared to the use of a single database. Since this approach greatly improves the identification rate, and is not significantly more complicated or time consuming than other approaches, we recommend its routine use when working with non-model species. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE In this work we demonstrate how the construction of a custom database (DB) gathering all available RNA sequences and its use in combination with Viridiplantae public DBs (NCBI, UniProt) significantly improve protein identification when working with non-model species. Protein identification rate and quality is higher to those obtained in routine procedures based on using only one database (commonly Viridiplantae from NCBI), as we demonstrated analyzing Quercus seeds and Pine needles. The proposed approach based on the building of a custom database is not difficult or time consuming, so we recommend its routine use when working with non-model species. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Proteomics of non-model organisms.
Keywords: Custom databases; ESTs; NGS; Non-model species; Protein identification; SEQUEST

Influence of land use on soil quality and stratification ratios under agro-silvo-pastoral Mediterranean management systems - Francaviglia, Rosa; Benedetti, Anna; Doro, Luca; Madrau, Salvatore; Ledda, Luigi (Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 2014)
a b s t r a c t A case study from north-eastern Sardinia (Italy) in semiarid conditions is presented. Agriculture is mainly extensive and markedly agro-silvo-pastoral, and is typical of similar areas of the Mediterranean basin. The following land uses at different levels of crop intensification were considered: tilled vineyard (TV), no-tilled grassed vineyard (GV), hay crop and pasture with sparse cork oaks (HC and PA), semi-natural systems (SN, former vineyards set-aside about 30 years ago), cork oak forest (Quercus suber L.) established in the past century (CO). Some soil quality parameters were considered: soil organic carbon (SOC) and total N (TN) concentrations, stocks and their stratification ratios with depth (SRs), microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and its quotient to SOC (qmic), and C:N ratios. Both in terms of concentrations and stocks, SOC and TN were generally higher in HC, PA, CO and SN: in these land uses SOC in the topsoil were in the range 17.0–24.3 g kg−1 and 48.9–65.4 t ha−1; TN values were 1.07–2.08 g kg−1 and 3.1–6.0 t ha−1. SOC and TN SRs under the CO land use were higher than 4, quite above the proposed threshold (?2), >2 in GV, and ≥2.0 in PA. MBC in mg kg−1 and qmic in ?g g−1 were higher under CO (194 and 0.89) and GV (156 and 0.97). C:N ratios had optimum or nearly optimum (9–12) values in CO, PA and the GV, in agreement with the SRs, MBC and qmic. A positive and significant correlation was found between SOC and TN concentrations in all the land uses. ©
Keywords: C:N; mediterranean systems; Microbial biomass; Microbial quotient; Soil organic carbon; Stratification ratio; Total N

Influence of particle fragmentation and non-sphericity on the determination of diffusive and kinetic fluidized bed biochar combustion data - Pereira, C C; Pinho, C (Fuel, 2014)
In several studies of batch combustion of mineral or vegetal coal in fluidized bed reactors, it is assumed that the fragmentation of the fuel particles is meaningless and also that these particles are spheres. None of these assumptions is corrected although they are commonly accepted in many design and calculation procedures. Here the influence of the above mentioned phenomena on the experimentally obtained diffusive and kinetic data are compared with the equivalent results previously obtained by ignoring such occurrences. Four chars made from typical woods from the Portuguese forest were tested. The results show that for the studied chars, ignoring the phenomenon of fragmentation, diffusive and kinetic data are overestimated by about 5–10%, whereas not taking into account the actual shape of the particles overestimates the diffusive data between 45% and 50% and the kinetic data between 25% and 30%. This highlights the extreme importance of particle shape in the study and modeling of char combustion in fluidized bed reactors.
Keywords: biomass; Combustion; Fluidized bed

Influence of temperature on germination of Quercus ilex in Phytophthora cinnamomi , P. gonapodyides, P. quercina and P. psychrophila infested soils - Martín-García, J.; Solla, A.; Corcobado, T.; Siasou, E.; Woodward, S. (Forest Pathology, 2014)
The influence of temperature on germination of Quercus ilex acorns in Phytophthora infested soils was quantified for the first time. Radicle damage and mortality of Q. ilex seeds germinating at 17, 20, 23 and 26°Cin Phytophthora cinnamomi, P. gonapodyides, P. quercina and P. psychrophila infested soils were assessed and related to in vitro mycelium growth of the same isolates of the pathogens. The optimum growth temperatures of isolates of P. cinnamomi, P. gonapodyides, P. quercina and P. psychrophila were 20–23, 23–26, 20–23 and 20°C, respectively. At 17 and 20°C, all four Phytophthora species caused 100% acorn mortality, whereas at 26°C, acorn mortality was 100, 10, 25 and 0% in P. cinnamomi, P. gonapodyides, P. quercina and P. psychrophila infested soils, respectively. At 23°C, P. cinnamomi and P. gonapo- dyides reduced acorn radicle length more than P. quercina and P. psychrophila, whereas at 26°C, only P. cinnamomi caused further reduction in radicle length. The higher susceptibility of germinating acorns in comparison to seedlings reported in the literature indicates age-related susceptibility of Q. ilex to Phytophthora. The seedling/pathogen growth ratio was inversely related to the reduction in radicle length at different temperatures (R2 adj = 0.84, p < 0.0001), suggesting that rapid germination may allow seedlings to escape from infection. Increasing temperatures had different effects on damage to acorns depending on the pathogen present in the soil, indicating that Phytoph- thora species 9 temperature interactions determined Q. ilex germination. The effects of temperature on the impacts of Phytophthora spe- cies based on climate change predictions for Mediterranean countries are discussed.
Keywords: infected soils; phytophthora cinnamomi; Quercus ilex

Influence of tree cover on herbaceous layer development and carbon and water fluxes in a Portuguese cork-oak woodland - Dubbert, Maren; Mosena, Alexander; Piayda, Arndt; Cuntz, Matthias; Correia, Alexandra Cristina; Pereira, João Santos; Werner, Christiane (Acta Oecologica, 2014)
Facilitation and competition between different vegetation layers may have a large impact on small-scale vegetation development. We propose that this should not only influence overall herbaceous layer yield but also species distribution and understory longevity, and hence the ecosystems carbon uptake capacity especially during spring. We analyzed the effects of trees on microclimate and soil properties (water and nitrate content) as well as the development of an herbaceous community layer regarding species composition, aboveground biomass and net water and carbon fluxes in a cork-oak woodland in Portugal, between April and November 2011. The presence of trees caused a significant reduction in photosynthetic active radiation of 35molm−2d−1 and in soil temperature of 5°C from April to October. At the same time differences in species composition between experimental plots located in open areas and directly below trees could be observed: species composition and abundance of functional groups became increasingly different between locations from mid April onwards. During late spring drought adapted native forbs had significantly higher cover and biomass in the open area while cover and biomass of grasses and nitrogen fixing forbs was highest under the trees. Further, evapotranspiration and net carbon exchange decreased significantly stronger under the tree crowns compared to the open during late spring and the die back of herbaceous plants occurred earlier and faster under trees. This was most likely caused by interspecific competition for water between trees and herbaceous plants, despite the more favorable microclimate conditions under the trees during the onset of summer drought.
Keywords: carbon fluxes; competition; Facilitation; Mediterranean; Plant interactions; Understory; water fluxes

Inocybe aureocitrina (Inocybaceae), a new species of section Rimosae from Mediterranean evergreen oak forests - ESTEVE-RAVENTóS, F (Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology, 2014)
The new agaricoid species Inocybe aureocitrina, belonging to section Rimosae, is described and illustrated based on morphological and ecological characters. It is recognized by the pale citrine yellow when young to golden yellow or orange yellow pileus colour at maturity, habitat in evergreen oak calcareous forests and especially by the rather small spores, broadly ellipsoid and not reniform in profile. A comparison with the holotypes of two close taxa with yellowish colours, e.g. Inocybe obsoleta var. lutea and Inocybe fastigiata var. cerina, is presented. Illustrations of the macro- and micro-morphological features of this new species are given.
doi: 10.1080/11263504.2013.877532
Keywords: Evergreen oak forests; Inocybe fastigiata var. cerina; Inocybe obsoleta var. lutea; Mediterranean ecosystems; morphology; Spanish mycobiota; taxonomy

Insight into the photosynthetic apparatus in evergreen and deciduous European oaks during autumn senescence using OJIP fluorescence transient analysis - Holland, V; Koller, S; Brüggemann, W (Plant Biology, 2014)
Climate change is one of the major issues nowadays, and Mediterranean broadleaf species have been suggested to fill possible future gaps created by climate change in Central European forests. To provide a scientific-based foundation for such practical strategies, it is important to obtain a general idea about differences and similarities in the physiology of Central European and Mediterranean species. In the present study, we evaluated the onset of leaf senescence of a broad spectrum of oak species under the Central European climate in a common garden experiment. Degradation of the photosynthetic apparatus of evergreen (Quercus ilex, Q. suber), semi-evergreen (Q. × turneri, Q. × hispanica) and deciduous oaks (Q. robur, Q. cerris, Q. frainetto, Q. pubescens) was monitored as chlorophyll content and analysed chlorophyll fluorescence induction transients. In the deciduous species, a significant decline in chlorophyll content was observed during autumn/winter, with Q. pubescens showing the slowest decline. Analysis of fluorescence induction transients revealed a significant decline in quantum efficiency of the primary photochemistry and reaction centre density and later, a decrease in quantum efficiency of end acceptor reduction. Alterations in fluorescence parameters were compared to the decline in chlorophyll content, which occurred much more slowly than expected from the fluorescence data. The evergreen species showed no decline in chlorophyll content, nor different chlorophyll a fluorescence induction behaviour despite temperature falling below 0 °C. The hybrids showed intermediate behaviour between their parental evergreen and deciduous taxa.
Keywords: chlorophyll fluorescence; climate change; portable fluorimeter; Quercus; Senescence; SPAD

Interactions between larvae of the threatened saproxylic beetle Osmoderma eremita and other flower chafers in Mediterranean woodlands: implications for conservation - Chiari, Stefano; Zauli, Agnese; Audisio, Paolo; Carpaneto, Giuseppe M (Insect Conservation and Diversity, 2014)
* Interactions between larvae of one of the most charismatic and threatened saproxylic beetles, Osmoderma eremita (Scopoli, 1763), and other flower chafer species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) were investigated by taking samples of wood mould, i.e. loose material inside the cavity, from 151 living hollow trees in two Mediterranean woodlands during August 2010. * Multi-species occupancy models estimate low occupancy probabilities for both O. eremita (ψ ± SE = 0.36 ± 0.13) and other flower chafer species (0.42 ± 0.06), which showed similar microhabitat requirements without competing. * In cavities where larvae of both groups were present, the probability of detecting O. eremita during the sieving of 2 l of wood mould was not affected by whether larvae of other flower chafers occur in the same sample and vice versa. * Unexpectedly, larvae of O. eremita were detected with a higher probability when larvae of other flower chafers occurred in the cavity. * Model selection statistics strongly support that increasing the sampled volume of wood mould increases the probability of detecting larvae, especially for O. eremita. * Wood mould sampling resulted in a reliable method for detecting the presence of O. eremita larvae, but further studies are needed to investigate the potential damage caused by this procedure in the fragile microhabitat of tree cavities. * To preserve populations of O. eremita and other flower chafers, management actions should be focused on increasing the density of hollow trees and the volume of tree cavities by favouring the natural ageing of trees and by creating artificial habitats in living trees.
Keywords: co-occurrence; detectability; hollow trees; monitoring; occupancy; PRESENCE; Scarabaeidae; wood mould sampling

International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation Detecting leaf-water content in Mediterranean trees using high-resolution spectrometry - Jong, Steven M De; Addink, Elisabeth a; Doelman, Jonathan C (International Journal of Applied Earth Observations and GeoinformationInternational Journal of Applied Earth Observations and Geoinformation, 2014)
Keywords: equivalent water thickness; ewt; spectral leaf-water indices

International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation Detecting leaf-water content in Mediterranean trees using high-resolution spectrometry - Jong, Steven M. De; Addink, Elisabeth A.; Doelman, Jonathan C. (International Journal of Applied Earth Observations and Geoinformation, 2014)
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Keywords: equivalent water thickness; ewt; spectral leaf-water indices

Laboratory and field measurements of enantiomeric monoterpene emissions as a function of chemotype, light and temperature - Song, W; Staudt, M; Bourgeois, I; Williams, J (BIOGEOSCIENCES, 2014)
Plants emit significant amounts of monoterpenes into the earth's atmosphere, where they react rapidly to form a multitude of gas phase species and particles. Many monoterpenes exist in mirror-image forms or enantiomers. In this study the enantiomeric monoterpene profile for several representative plants (Quercus ilex L., Rosmarinus officinalis L., and Pinus halepensis Mill.) was investigated as a function of chemotype, light and temperature both in the laboratory and in the field. Analysis of enantiomeric monoterpenes from 19 Quercus ilex individuals from Southern France and Spain revealed four regiospecific chemotypes (genetically fixed emission patterns). In agreement with previous work, only Quercus ilex emissions increased strongly with light. However, for all three plant species no consistent enantiomeric variation was observed as a function of light, and the enantiomeric ratio of alpha-pinene was found to vary by less than 20% from 100 and 1000 mu mol m(-2) s(-1) PAR (photosynthetically active radiation). The rate of monoterpene emission increased with temperature from all three plant species, but little variation in the enantiomeric distribution of alpha-pinene was observed with temperature. There was more enantiomeric variability between individuals of the same species than could be induced by either light or temperature. Field measurements of alpha-pinene enantiomer mixing ratios in the air, taken at a Quercus ilex forest in Southern France, and several other previously reported field enantiomeric ratio diel cycle profiles are compared. All show smoothly varying diel cycles (some positive and some negative) even over changing wind directions. This is surprising in comparison with variations of enantiomeric emission patterns shown by individuals of the same species.
APS
Keywords: Monoterpenes; Pinus halepensis Mill.; Quercus ilex L.; Rosmarinus officinalis L.

The Late Holocene in the western Pyrenees: A critical review of the current situation of palaeopalynological research - Hernández-Beloqui, Begoña; Iriarte-Chiapusso, María-José; Echazarreta-Gallego, Amaya; Ayerdi, Miren (Quaternary International, 2014)
As the vegetation is a social product resulting from the interaction of human beings with the environment, its study contributes towards an understanding of past human cultures. In particular, during the Late Holocene, the socio-cultural evolution of humans has undergone a series of major changes, which have impacted on their environmental setting. In this way, palynological analysis has been able to observe an interesting evolution in anthropization processes since the early Iron Age. However, these observations are conditioned by the volume of deposits that have been studied and their chrono-cultural sequencing. Other factors, such as the deficient preservation of sporo-pollen remains and the lack of well-dated continuous records in non-anthropic deposits, equally restrict our knowledge of the topic. The information available to date confirms that since the first millennium cal BC the vegetation (determining the bio-geographic variety of the territory) has been greatly influenced by human action, on both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean sides of the watershed.
Keywords: Anthropization; Late Holocene; Northern Iberian Peninsula; Palaeopalynology; Vegetation

Light transmissivity of tube shelters affects root growth and biomass allocation of Quercus ilex L. and Pinus halepensis Mill - de Castro, Alberto Vázquez; Oliet, Juan A.; Puértolas, Jaime; Jacobs, Douglass F.; Puértolas, Jaime; Jacobs, Douglass F. (ANNALS OF FOREST SCIENCE, 2014)
Context Tube shelters have been shown to enhance field performance of several Mediterranean species, but responses of newly planted seedlings to the microenvironment induced by shelter walls with different light transmissivity are still poorly documented. Aims We studied effects of a range of shelters with varying light transmissivity on post-planting seedling responses during the wet season establishment phase for two Mediterranean trees of contrasting functional ecology. Methods Root growth, biomass allocation, water potential, and chlorophyll fluorescence of Quercus ilex and Pinus halepensis seedlings were evaluated across shelters varying in light transmissivity (80, 40, 20, and 10 % plus a mesh shelter) with irrigation. Results Plants in dark tubes (20 and 10 % light transmissivity) had less above-and belowground growth and more than two times greater leaf to protruding roots mass ratio, with shoot growth response of Q. ilex being less plastic. Ratio of leaf area/protruding roots area decreased when light transmissivity increased, although no differences were found at >= 40 % transmissivity. Xylem water potential indicated lack of water stress, and high maximum photosynthetic efficiency (F-v/F-m) values show no photoinhibition symptoms irrespective of light transmissivity. Conclusion Shelter transmissivity >= 40 % promotes rapid and vigorous root growth immediately after planting for these species. This minimum transmissivity should be considered as a target when designing shelters to help root development and improve water balance of Mediterranean seedlings.
Keywords: Aleppo pine; chlorophyll fluorescence; Forest restoration; Holm oak; Light ambient response; Mediterranean climate; Transplanting performance; Treeshelters

Lightweight screed containing cork granules: mechanical and hygrothermal characterization - Moreira, A; António, J; Tadeu, A (Cement and Concrete Composites, 2014)
This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the use of expanded cork granule waste with cement-based mixtures to produce lightweight screeds as an overlay of a structural concrete slab. Lightweight screeds (LWSs) were made with Portland cement, sand, expanded cork granules (ECG) and water. These cork particles are industrial waste and are still a completely natural material even after industrial processing. The experiments were carried out on 3 cement dosages of 150 kg/m3, 250 kg/m3 and 400kg/m3, incorporating expanded cork granules as replacement of part of the sand. Three additional mixtures without cork were prepared and used as reference. They had the same cement content as the lightweight ones. Hardened density, compressive strength, thermal conductivity, water vapor permeability, adsorption isotherms and water absorption by partial immersion of the mixtures were determined. Results show that the addition of expanded cork granules affects the screeds by decreasing their density, compressive strength and thermal conductivity while increasing their water vapor permeability.
Keywords: expanded cork aggregates; hygrothermal properties; lightweight screed; mechanical properties

Long-term changes in soil aggregation comparing forest and agricultural land use in different Mediterranean soil types - Chrenková, Katarína; Mataix-Solera, Jorge; Dlapa, Pavel; Arcenegui, Victoria (Geoderma, 2014)
The formation and stabilization of soil aggregates have a key role to play in adequate soil functioning. Aggregate stability (AS) is considered by some authors to be a property that provides information on soil quality. It's also a property that is highly influenced by land use and management. This study aims to identify the long-term changes in soil aggregation and related properties comparing forest and agricultural land use in Mediterranean calcareous soils. For the research, seven study sites with different soil characteristics located in Alicante Province (E Spain) were chosen to compare the overall effect of land use change from agriculture to forestry on soil aggregation. At every site, samples of the same soil type were collected from agricultural land (dry crops with conventional tillage management using ploughing), and nearby forest, where agriculture was abandoned between 20 and 50years ago. Selected physical and chemical properties like: texture, total content of aggregates (TCA), aggregate stability (AS), organic matter content (OM), carbonates, mean weight diameter (MWD) of aggregates and water repellency (WR) were analysed on the collected soil samples. As expected, in all soils, the AS was significantly lower in agricultural sites than in forest sites. But in some cases the differences were much higher than in others. In forest sites the AS varied between 46 and 82% while in agricultural sites it ranged between 14 and 45%. The results showed strong positive correlation of AS with OM. The lowest values of AS in forest areas were found in wettable sandy soils. The relative increase of AS in forest soils compared to agricultural land use ranged from 39 to 79%. These differences can be explained mainly by some soil properties, such as OM content, texture, and WR. In particular, the lower OM content and absence of WR are responsible for the lower values of AS in agricultural land use due to the long-term conventional tillage management. Soil WR was found in three of the sites, and its presence plays a key role in soil aggregation and its stability, especially for sandy soils. The MWD was in most cases higher in forest than in agricultural sites, except for two wettable sandy soils with the lowest initial AS. In the case of carbonates, no correlations were found with AS, and only in the group of sandy soils, significant positive correlations between carbonates and TCA and with MWD were found. In conclusion we can say that the prolonged use of conventional tillage management using ploughing has a strong influence on AS in all types of soils studied in this research. The recovery after decades of land use abandonment not only is dependent on how is the increase of soil OM content, but also is controlled by some soil properties such as the texture and the presence of WR. In some cases the presence of hydrophobic substances can play a key role in the formation and stabilization of soil aggregates, contributing to maintaining good levels of OM and avoiding higher levels of soil degradation.
Keywords: Aggregate stability; Conventional tillage; Mean weight diameter; water repellency

Macrofungi in Mediterranean maquis along seashore and altitudinal transects - Pecoraro, Lorenzo; Angelini, Paola; Arcangeli, Andrea; Bistocchi, Giancarlo; Gargano, Maria Letizia; Rosa, Alfonso La; Lunghini, Dario; Polemis, Elias; Rubini, Andrea; Saitta, Alessandro; Venanzoni, Roberto; Zervakis, Georgios I (Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology, 2014)
In semiarid Mediterranean environments, fungal activity is fundamental for buffering biotic and abiotic stress to the plant and for sustaining a vegetation cover. Despite the important role that fungi play in habitats stability, mycological data from Mediterranean ecosystems are scarce and fragmentary. We investigated fungal diversity in several areas characterized by Mediterranean maquis, from continental Italy, Sicily and Greece in order to contribute to the analysis of distribution, ecology and diversity of macrofungi in evergreen sclerophyllous shrublands at different elevation and distance from the seashore across the Mediterranean Basin. Several fungal taxa that are remarkable due to their ecology, rarity and limited geographical distribution were recovered. Among them, the ectomycorrhizal species Amanita dunensis and A. valens were recorded for the first time in Italy. The wood-inhabiting macrofungi, Aleurodiscus dextrinoideocerussatus, Peniophorella tsugae, Perenniporia meridionalis, Phanerochaete martelliana, Vararia ochroleuca and six Peniophora species were reported for the first time in Greece. Some species, such as Gloeodontia columbiensis, Ceriporia aurantiocarnescens, Peniophora pithya and P. tamaricicola were collected on new substrates. For the two rare basidiomycetes Amanita eliae and Battarrea phalloides, molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis gave valuable information on their relationship with similar taxa.
doi: 10.1080/11263504.2013.877535
Keywords: ectomycorrhizal species; macromycetes; Mediterranean ecosystems; molecular analysis; saprotrophs; wood-inhabiting fungi

Mediterranean Quercus suber wooded grasslands risk disappearance: New evidences from Sardinia (Italy) - Rossetti, Ivo; Bagella, Simonetta (Forest Ecology and Management, 2014)
Wooded grasslands are the most widespread agro-forestry systems in Europe, and are included in the Natura 2000 network due to their importance in biodiversity conservation. Similar to many man-made systems, long-term wooded grasslands conservation depends on sustainable use practices. Regeneration of the tree layer is indispensable to assure wooded grassland maintenance. Several studies in Spanish dehesas and Portuguese montados generated concerns regarding the long-term conservation of these agro-silvo-pastoral systems. In the present study, we tested if tree regeneration issues documented for the Iberian Peninsula also affected wooded grasslands located in another Mediterranean area inside and outside Natura 2000 network. The size structure of Quercus suber L. stands, and the abundance and height of seedlings and saplings were determined at farm and landscape scales, in grazed, grazed and tilled wooded grasslands, and non-grazed woodlands to test the compatibility of management type for tree regeneration. A frequency model of size structure was calculated to estimate the probability of cork oak stand survival in a medium and long term time period. New evidences of a generalised absence of regeneration in grazed wooded grasslands emerged from all the study sites. Some management practices are indicated for the long-term conservation of the habitat.
Keywords: Grazing; Habitat 6310; Natura 2000; Predictions; SIZE STRUCTURE; Tillage

Mid-Holocene vegetation dynamics in the Tejo River estuary based on palaeobotanical records from Ponta da Passadeira (Barreiro-Setúbal, Portugal) - Gómez-Orellana, Luis; Ramil-Rego, Pablo; Badal, Ernestina; Carrión Marco, Yolanda; Muñoz Sobrino, Castor (Boreas, 2014)
This paper presents the results of pollen and charcoal analyses carried out in the sedimentary formation of Ponta da Passadeira, south of the Tejo River estuary, Portugal. The data provide information regarding the evolution of the coastline and ecosystem of the estuary during the mid and late Holocene. The study focuses on a group of upright woody fossilized tree remains that, together with those identified earlier by García-Amorena et al. (2007), form part of the fossil forest of Ponta da Passadeira. Eight remains were identified as Pinus pinaster, four as Pinus pinea and one as Pinus sp. Two specimens of these species were dated to 6523 and 5805 cal. a BP. Pollen analysis was undertaken in a clay layer located at the same point as the fossil forest, which is currently below sea level; the base of the clay layer was dated to 4906 cal. a BP. The pollen spectra reflect the dynamics of the vegetation that grew on this deposit, whereas the sporopollinic input masks the contribution of the regional vegetation. Wood charcoal remains recovered at an adjacent Final Neolithic settlement were also analysed, and a Pinus sp. specimen was radiocarbon dated to 5050 cal. a BP. The correlation amongst the three records provides key ecological markers for the understanding of the evolution of coastline ecosystems, and helps to clarify and understand the Holocene sea rise on the Atlantic seaboard of Iberia. The geographical location of Ponta da Passadeira is strategic because it enables a more clear definition of the configuration of landscapes that show an inflection point in this area of central Portugal.
APS
Keywords: charcoal analyses; fossil forest; fossilized wood; Pollen analysis; Vegetation dynamics

miRNA profiling in leaf and cork tissues of Quercus suber reveals novel miRNAs and tissue-specific expression patterns - Chaves, Inês; Lin, Yao-Cheng; Pinto-Ricardo, C; de Peer, Yves; Miguel, Célia (TREE GENETICS & GENOMES, 2014)
The differentiation of cork (phellem) cells from the phellogen (cork cambium) is a secondary growth process observed in the cork oak tree conferring a unique ability to produce a thick layer of cork. At present, the molecular regulators of phellem differentiation are unknown. The previously documented involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the regulation of developmental processes, including secondary growth, motivated the search for these regulators in cork oak tissues. We performed deep sequencing of the small RNA fraction obtained from cork oak leaves and differentiating phellem. RNA sequences with lengths of 19-25 nt derived from the two libraries were analysed, leading to the identification of 41 families of conserved miRNAs, of which the most abundant were miR167, miR165/166, miR396 and miR159. Thirty novel miRNA candidates were also unveiled, 11 of which were unique to leaves and 13 to phellem. Northern blot detection of a set of conserved and novel miRNAs confirmed their differential expression profile. Prediction and analysis of putative miRNA target genes provided clues regarding processes taking place in leaf and phellem tissues, but further experimental work will be needed for functional characterization. In conclusion, we here provide a first characterization of the miRNA population in a Fagacea species, and the comparative analysis of miRNA expression in leaf and phellem libraries represents an important step to uncovering specific regulatory networks controlling phellem differentiation.
Keywords: miRNA; phellem; Quercus suber; secondary growth; Small RNA; Tree

A model-based integrated assessment of land degradation by water erosion in a valuable Spanish rangeland - Ibáñez, J; Contador, J F Lavado; Schnabel, S; Fernández, M Pulido; Valderrama, J Martínez (Environmental Modelling & Software, 2014)
This paper presents an integrated assessment model aimed at evaluating land degradation by water erosion in dehesa rangelands in the Iberian Peninsula. The model is built following the system dynamics approach. The degradation risk is likened to the probability of losing a certain amount of soil within a number of years, as estimated over a great number of stochastic simulations. Complementary indicators are the average times needed to lose different amounts of soil over the simulations. A group of exogenous factors are ranked in order of importance. These factors are mainly climatic and economic and potentially affect soil erosion. Calibration is carried out for a typical dehesa defined over 22 working units selected from 10 representative farms distributed throughout the Spanish region of Extremadura. The degradation risk turns out to be moderate. The importance of climatic factors on soil erosion considerably exceeds that of those linked to human activities.
Keywords: Dehesa rangeland; Integrated assessment model; Land degradation; soil erosion; System dynamics

Modeling and forecasting MODIS-based Fire Potential Index on a pixel basis using time series models - Huesca, Margarita; Litago, Javier; Merino-de-Miguel, Silvia; Cicuendez-López-Ocaña, Victor; Palacios-Orueta, Alicia (International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 2014)
The aim of this research was to model and forecast MODIS-based Fire Potential Index (FPI), implemented with Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), as a proxy of forest fire risk, in Navarre (Spain) on a pixel basis using time series models with a forecasting horizon of one year. We forecast FPINDWI for 2009 based on time series from 2001 to 2008. In the modeling process, the Box and Jenkins methodology was applied in two consecutive stages. First, several generic models based on average FPINDWI time series from different “fuel type-ecoregion” combinations were developed. In a second stage, the generic models were implemented at the pixel level for the entire study region. The usefulness of the proposed autoregressive (AR) model, using the original data and introducing significant seasonal AR parameters, was demonstrated. Results show that 93.18% of the estimated models (EMs) are highly accurate and present good fore- casting ability, precisely reproducing the original FPINDWI dynamics. Best results were found in the Mediterranean areas dominated by grasslands; slightly lower accuracies were found in the temperate and alpine regions, and especially in the transition areas between them and the Mediterranean region
Keywords: Autoregressive models; MODIS; time series analysis

Modelling farming system dynamics in High Nature Value Farmland under policy change - Ribeiro, Paulo Flores; Santos, José Lima; Bugalho, Miguel N; Santana, Joana; Reino, Luís; Beja, Pedro; Moreira, Francisco (Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 2014)
Abstract Understanding the factors driving changes in farm management is needed for designing policies and subsidy schemes to protect High Nature Value Farmland (HNVF). We describe farming system dynamics in HNVF of southern Portugal, between 2000–2002 and 2008–2010, encompassing a period of major policy transformations introduced by the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of the European Union in 2003. We also assess how farming system dynamics was modulated by structural, biophysical and policy factors constraining agricultural options. Farming systems changed in about 40% of the farmed area during the period of study. Overall, there was a marked transition from arable systems to either specialized livestock or permanent crop systems, involving major declines in the traditional system of dry cereal rotations and sheep grazing. Transitions were influenced by farm size, soil quality and coverage by open oak woodlands, while there was little effect of agri-environment schemes and legal regulations specifically targeted to support the traditional farming system. Despite these changes, agricultural intensity remained essentially stable, though there was a marked decline in land-use heterogeneity with likely negative impacts on biodiversity. Observed changes agree with ex-ante impact assessments of the CAP reform in Iberian cereal steppes, which suggested that decoupling of payments from production could promote shifts from the traditional cereal–fallow–sheep system towards specialized livestock grazing systems. Effectively protecting HNFV may thus require a better integration of horizontal policies and agri-environment schemes.
From Duplicate 1 ( Modelling farming system dynamics in High Nature Value Farmland under policy change - Ribeiro, Paulo Flores; Santos, José Lima; Bugalho, Miguel N.; Santana, Joana; Reino, Luís; Beja, Pedro; Moreira, Francisco )
Keywords: Agri-environment schemes; Biodiversity conservation; CAP reform; Farming systems; High Nature Value Farmland

Modelling impact response of agglomerated cork - Fernandes, F A O; Pascoal, R J S; Alves de Sousa, R J (Materials & Design, 2014)
Cellular materials have been intensively used in engineering applications where a good energy absorp- tion capability is a desired feature. Cork is a natural cellular material capable of absorbing considerable amounts of energy. When compared to synthetic cellular materials, cork also appears as a sustainable alternative, once it is fully recyclable. The purpose of this work is to simulate cork’s compressive behav- iour when subjected to impact, including the material’s relaxation after dynamic compression. This study comprises experimental and numerical tests at quasi-static and dynamic strain rates under axial com- pressive loading. Numerical simulations are performed using Finite Element Analysis, and the material model developed is validated against experimental results. After validation, a dynamic test resorting to a drop tower is carried out successfully validating the model and representing adequately cork’s mechan- ical behaviour under dynamic compressions. ?
APS
Keywords: Compression; Cork

Molecular Organization of the 25S-18S rDNA IGS of Fagus sylvatica and Quercus suber: A Comparative Analysis. - Inácio, Vera; Rocheta, Margarida; Morais-Cecílio, Leonor (PloS one, 2014)
The 35S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) units, repeated in tandem at one or more chromosomal loci, are separated by an intergenic spacer (IGS) containing functional elements involved in the regulation of transcription of downstream rRNA genes. In the present work, we have compared the IGS molecular organizations in two divergent species of Fagaceae, Fagus sylvatica and Quercus suber, aiming to comprehend the evolution of the IGS sequences within the family. Self- and cross-hybridization FISH was done on representative species of the Fagaceae. The IGS length variability and the methylation level of 18 and 25S rRNA genes were assessed in representatives of three genera of this family: Fagus, Quercus and Castanea. The intergenic spacers in Beech and Cork Oak showed similar overall organizations comprising putative functional elements needed for rRNA gene activity and containing a non-transcribed spacer (NTS), a promoter region, and a 5'-external transcribed spacer. In the NTS: the sub-repeats structure in Beech is more organized than in Cork Oak, sharing some short motifs which results in the lowest sequence similarity of the entire IGS; the AT-rich region differed in both spacers by a GC-rich block inserted in Cork Oak. The 5'-ETS is the region with the higher similarity, having nonetheless different lengths. FISH with the NTS-5'-ETS revealed fainter signals in cross-hybridization in agreement with the divergence between genera. The diversity of IGS lengths revealed variants from ∼2 kb in Fagus, and Quercus up to 5.3 kb in Castanea, and a lack of correlation between the number of variants and the number of rDNA loci in several species. Methylation of 25S Bam HI site was confirmed in all species and detected for the first time in the 18S of Q. suber and Q. faginea. These results provide important clues for the evolutionary trends of the rDNA 25S-18S IGS in the Fagaceae family.
APS
Keywords: chromosomal loci; Fagaceae; Fagus sylvatica; intergenic spacer; Quercus suber; ribosomal DNA

Monitoring intra-annual cambial activity based on the periodic collection of twigs - a feasibility study - Luz, Ana Luísa; Pereira, Helena; Lauw, Alexandra; Leal, Sofia (Dendrochronologia, 2014)
This study aims at monitoring the cambial activity and xylogenesis along the growing season under Mediterranean climate using a newly designed sampling method based on the periodic collection of twigs from the crown, in order to test its efficacy. Ten species were selected; seven hardwood (Acer pseudoplatanus L.,Ceratonia siliqua L., Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi, Olea europaea L., Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl, Populus alba L., Quercus suber L.) and three softwood species (Abies alba Mill., Cupressus sempervirens L., Pinus pinea L.). The twigs were collected monthly during one year. After microtome sectioning and staining, the sections were photographed and analyzed to monitor ring development and the period of cambial activity. The twigs revealed large differences in radial growth, within and among species, which might be associated to their particular position in the tree, to the effect of the different crown microclimates, and/or to the crown conformation and type of leaves. The method showed effectiveness in the study of cambial activity, but limitations in the study of ring development due to impossibility of comparing samples. Improvements to the method are proposed, aiming essentially at minimizing the variability among samples.
Keywords: cambial activity; Dendrochronology; growth-ring; Mediterranean; twig sampling

Monitoring water stress in Mediterranean semi-natural vegetation with satellite and meteorological data - Moreno, a.; Maselli, F; Chiesi, M; Genesio, L; Vaccari, F; Seufert, G; Gilabert, M.a. A (International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 2014)
In arid and semi-arid environments, the characterization of the inter-annual variations of the light use efficiency ε due to water stress still relies mostly on meteorological data. Thus the GPP estimation based on procedures exclusively driven by remote sensing data has not found yet a widespread use. In this work, the potential to characterize the water stress in semi-natural vegetation of three spectral indices (NDWI, SIWSI and NDI7) – from MODIS broad spectral bands – has been analyzed in comparison to a meteorological factor (Cws). The study comprises 70 sites (belonging to 7 different ecosystems) uniformly distributed over Tuscany, and three eddy covariance tower sites. An operational methodology, which combines meteorological and MODIS data, to characterize the inter-annual variations of ε due to summer water stress is proposed. Its main advantage is that it relies on existing series of meteorological data characterizing each site and allows calculating a typical Cws profile that can be “updated” (C∗ ws) for the actual conditions using MODIS spectral indices. The results confirm that the modified C∗ ws can be used as a proxy of water stress that does not require concurrent information on meteorological data
Keywords: light use efficiency; Satellite data; Semi-natural vegetation; water stress

Natural vegetation covers as indicators of the soil water content in a semiarid mountainous watershed - Gómez-Giráldez, Pedro J; Aguilar, Cristina; Polo, María José (Ecological Indicators, 2014)
This paper investigates the use of the vegetative state of natural covers as an indicator of soil moisture conditions at the end of the dry season in order to evaluate the cumulative effect of the hydrological regime. To achieve this, the three major vegetation covers in a mountainous semiarid environment in southern Spain were selected. Temporal and spatial trends of NDVI from Landsat-TM images were computed and related to the different hydrological patterns of variables in the study site, which were obtained with the hydrological WiMMed model. The heterogeneity in the hydrological behavior during the study period (914.5mm of annual rainfall in the wettest year (2009–2010) and 284.4mm in the driest year (2004–2005)) was reflected in the annual differences in NDVI values with steady mean NDVI values in coniferous vegetation (0.5–0.6) and more variable values in scrub cover. Both Correlation Analysis and Principal Component Analysis showed correlations among the different states of the vegetation cover, the variables involved in the soil water balance and those related to the snow dynamics of the antecedent year. Exponential fits were obtained between the mean annual soil water content and NDVI values with Pearson r2 coefficients of over 0.7 in scrub cover. In certain years, the best fits were also found in scrub cover with r2 values of up to 0.9. These results demonstrate the relationship between soil water content, the vigor of the natural vegetation and the hydrological characteristics of the antecedent year. The expressions obtained may serve to adjust the soil water content at the beginning of a hydrological year and to use the scrub cover as an indicator of the soil water balance in the area for a given year.
Keywords: Hydrological modeling; Landsat-TM; NDVI; Soil moisture; water stress; WiMMed

New tools to extract cork from Quercus suber L.: increasing productivity and reducing damage - Beira, J; Prades, C; Santiago, R (FOREST SYSTEMS, 2014)
Aim of study: The aim of this study is to test new tools designed to debark cork oak trees: mechanized tools to perform cutting operations (IPLA-Morell, Stihl MC200 and COVELESS) and manual tools to separate and extract the cork (cork pincers, MIJURO). Area of study: Southwestern Spain. Material and methods: One of the longstanding problems affecting the sector is the shortage of skilled labor to perform debarking due to the difficulty of handling axes and the temporary nature of the work. To overcome these problems, four debarking systems using the new tools were designed according to the morphological properties of cork oak. The viability of the debarking systems were evaluated based on productivity (kg . person(-1). hour(-1)), production costs (is an element of center dot t(1)) and percentage of pieces smaller than 400 cm(2)(%), and compared with the traditional system. Debarking quality and operator experience were also evaluated. A total of 204 trees were debarked. Main results: The new systems obtain better results: productivity is higher, the percentage of pieces is slightly lower and production costs are reduced, except for one system. Debarking quality improves with the new tools as cork is extracted in a more precise and cleaner manner, thus permitting cork manufacturers to obtain higher yields from the cork planks. Research highlights: Semi-skilled operators using the new tools obtain very similar results to skilled operators using axes. This would therefore resolve the problem of the lack of skilled labor, while improving the working conditions of operators. The results demonstrate that the new tools are viable for cork debarking and can bring potential benefits to the sector.
Keywords: axe; cork debarking; cork stripping damage; COVELESS; IPLA_Morell; mechanization; productivity; Q. suber L.; Sthil MC 200

Nitrogen form and concentration interact to affect the performance of two ecologically distinct Mediterranean forest trees - Uscola, Mercedes; Oliet, JuanA.; Villar-Salvador, Pedro; Díaz-Pinés, Eugenio; Jacobs, DouglassF. (European Journal of Forest Research, 2014)
Most studies examining inorganic N form effects on growth and nutrition of forest trees have been conducted on single species from boreal or temperate environments, while comparative studies with species from other biomes are scarce. We evaluated the response of two Mediterranean trees of contrasting ecology, Quercus ilex L. and Pinus halepensis Mill., to cultivation with distinct inorganic N forms. Seedlings were fertilized with different NH4 (+)/NO3 (-) proportion at either 1 or 10 mM N. In both species, N forms had small effects at low N concentration, but at high N concentration they markedly affected the plant performance. A greater proportion of NH4 (+) in the fertilizer at high N caused toxicity as it reduced growth and caused seedling death, with the effect being greater in Q. ilex than in P. halepensis. An increase in the proportion of NO3 (-) at high N strongly enhanced growth relative to low N plants in P. halepensis but had minor effects in Q. ilex. Relatively more NH4 (+) in the fertilizer enhanced plant P concentration but reduced K concentration in both species, while the opposite effect occurred with NO3 (-), and these effects were enhanced under high N concentration. We conclude that species responses to inorganic N forms were related to their ecology. P. halepensis, a pioneer tree, had improved performance with NO3 (-) at high N concentration and showed strong plasticity to changes in N supply. Q. ilex, a late successional tree, had low responsiveness to N form or concentration.
Keywords: ammonium; ecophysiology; Growth; nitrate; Pinus halepensis; Quercus ilex

Oak Root Response to Ectomycorrhizal Symbiosis Establishment: RNA-Seq Derived Transcript Identification and Expression Profiling - Sebastiana, Monica Mónica; Vieira, Bruno; Lino-Neto, Teresa; Monteiro, Filipa; Figueiredo, Andreia; Sousa, Lisete; Pais, Maria Salome Salomé; Tavares, Rui; Paulo, Octávio S Octaavio S (PLOS ONE, 2014)
Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis is essential for the life and health of trees in temperate and boreal forests where it plays a major role in nutrient cycling and in functioning of the forest ecosystem. Trees with ectomycorrhizal root tips are more tolerant to environmental stresses, such as drought, and biotic stresses such as root pathogens. Detailed information on these molecular processes is essential for the understanding of symbiotic tissue development in order to optimize the benefits of this natural phenomenon. Next generation sequencing tools allow the analysis of non model ectomycorrhizal plant-fungal interactions that can contribute to find the ``symbiosis toolkits'' and better define the role of each partner in the mutualistic interaction. By using 454 pyrosequencing we compared ectomycorrhizal cork oak roots with non-symbiotic roots. From the two cDNA libraries sequenced, over 2 million reads were obtained that generated 19552 cork oak root unique transcripts. A total of 2238 transcripts were found to be differentially expressed when ECM roots were compared with non-symbiotic roots. Identification of up-and down-regulated gens in ectomycorrhizal roots lead to a number of insights into the molecular mechanisms governing this important symbiosis. In cork oak roots, ectomycorrhizal colonization resulted in extensive cell wall remodelling, activation of the secretory pathway, alterations in flavonoid biosynthesis, and expression of genes involved in the recognition of fungal effectors. In addition, we identified genes with putative roles in symbiotic processes such as nutrient exchange with the fungal partner, lateral root formation or root hair decay. These findings provide a global overview of the transcriptome of an ectomycorrhizal host root, and constitute a foundation for future studies on the molecular events controlling this important symbiosis.
From Duplicate 2 (Oak Root Response to Ectomycorrhizal Symbiosis Establishment: RNA-Seq Derived Transcript Identification and Expression Profiling - Sebastiana, Monica; Vieira, Bruno; Lino-Neto, Teresa; Monteiro, Filipa; Figueiredo, Andreia; Sousa, Lisete; Pais, Maria Salome; Tavares, Rui; Paulo, Octaavio S)
Keywords: boreal forests; ectomycorrhizal symbiosis; stress tolerance; temperate forests

Optimization of Landscape Services under Uncoordinated Management by Multiple Landowners - Porto, Miguel; Correia, Otilia; Beja, Pedro (PLOS ONE, 2014)
Landscapes are often patchworks of private properties, where composition and configuration patterns result from cumulative effects of the actions of multiple landowners. Securing the delivery of services in such multi-ownership landscapes is challenging, because it is difficult to assure tight compliance to spatially explicit management rules at the level of individual properties, which may hinder the conservation of critical landscape features. To deal with these constraints, a multi-objective simulation-optimization procedure was developed to select non-spatial management regimes that best meet landscape-level objectives, while accounting for uncoordinated and uncertain response of individual landowners to management rules. Optimization approximates the non-dominated Pareto frontier, combining a multi-objective genetic algorithm and a simulator that forecasts trends in landscape pattern as a function of management rules implemented annually by individual landowners. The procedure was demonstrated with a case study for the optimum scheduling of fuel treatments in cork oak forest landscapes, involving six objectives related to reducing management costs (1), reducing fire risk (3), and protecting biodiversity associated with mid-and late-successional understories (2). There was a trade-off between cost, fire risk and biodiversity objectives, that could be minimized by selecting management regimes involving ca. 60% of landowners clearing the understory at short intervals (around 5 years), and the remaining managing at long intervals (ca. 75 years) or not managing. The optimal management regimes produces a mosaic landscape dominated by stands with herbaceous and low shrub understories, but also with a satisfactory representation of old understories, that was favorable in terms of both fire risk and biodiversity. The simulation-optimization procedure presented can be extended to incorporate a wide range of landscape dynamic processes, management rules and quantifiable objectives. It may thus be adapted to other socio-ecological systems, particularly where specific patterns of landscape heterogeneity are to be maintained despite imperfect management by multiple landowners.
APS
Keywords: Biodiversity; Fire risk; fuel management; Landscape management; landwoners; socio-ecology

Organic farming has little effect on carbon stock in a Mediterranean dehesa (southern Spain) - Parras-Alcántara, Luis; Díaz-Jaimes, Luisa; Lozano-García, Beatriz; Fernández Rebollo, Pilar; Moreno Elcure, Félix; Carbonero Muñoz, María D (CATENA, 2014)
Understanding soil dynamics is essential for making appropriate land management decisions, as soils can affect the carbon content from the atmosphere, emitting large quantities of CO2 or storing carbon. This property is essential for climate change mitigation strategies as agriculture and forestry soil management can affect the car- bon cycle. The Mediterranean dehesa (Mediterranean grassland ecosystem with scattered oak trees — grazing systemwith Quercus ilex spp. ballota) is a silvopastoral systemthat integrates forestry, agricultural and livestock practices. The dehesa is characterized by the preservation of forest oaks that provide environmental services includingcarbon capture and storage.Thispaper showsthe relationships betweensoilproperties andsoil organic carbon (SOC) in two soil types: Cambisols (CM) and Leptosols (LP), with two management systems: organic farming (OF) for 20 years and conventional tillage (CT) in a Mediterranean dehesa of southern Spain without cropping. An analysis of 85 soil profiles was performed in 2009 in Los Pedroches Valley (Cordoba, southern Spain). TheSOCstock (SOC-S)was greater inCM(75.64 Mg ha−1)thaninLP(44.01 Mg ha−1). Physical parameters were themain variables affecting soil development. SOC-S was very similar in OF and CT (CM [74.90 Mg ha−1-CT; 76.39 Mg ha−1-OF] and LP [44.77 Mg ha−1-CT; 43.25 Mg ha−1-OF]). Data analysis showed that management practices had little effect on SOC storage in the study zone. Significant differences between soil types and manage- ment practiceswere found in SOC content for different horizons. The stratification ratiowas N2in bothsoils types (CM and LP) and management systems (OF and CT). These results indicate that the soil is of high quality, and that management practices have little influence on SOC-S in Los Pedroches Valley.
Keywords: Conventional tillage; Management practices; Organic farming; Quercus ilex; Soil organic carbon

Overstorey and topographic effects on understories: Evidence for linkage from cork oak (Quercus suber) forests in southern Spain - Simonson, William D; Allen, Harriet D; Coomes, David A (Forest Ecology and Management, 2014)
The understorey is a critical feature of forest ecosystems, affecting nutrient cycling, biodiversity, regeneration capacity and wildfire regimes. Understanding the interaction of environmental and canopy controls on understorey development is therefore important for forest management. We use airborne lidar to elucidate this interaction in a forest of cork oak (Quercus suber) mixed with the deciduous oak (Quercus canariensis) on complex topographic relief in southern Spain. Solar radiation (controlled by aspect) and topographic position were highly influential in the differential distribution of the two dominant canopy trees, and exerted some control on their canopy density and height. There was a detectable effect of both canopy characteristics and solar radiation on the amount of understorey shrub cover, indicating direct and indirect controls of the environment on this stratum. In cork oak forest, understorey shrubbery increased towards valley bottoms, at lower levels of solar radiation and under shorter canopies. Our results are relevant to the management of these forest systems in the face of future change. They suggest that maturation and closure of these even-aged stands, coupled with climate warming, may lead to impoverishment of the shrub layer, reducing the build-up of fuel but also the biodiversity value of these systems.
Keywords: Airborne lidar; Mediterranean; microclimate; Plant–plant interactions; Remote sensing; vegetation structure

Ozone and nitrogen effects on yield and nutritive quality of the annual legume Trifolium cherleri - Sanz, J; González-Fernández, I; Calvete-Sogo, H; Lin, J S; Alonso, R; Muntifering, R; Bermejo, V (Atmospheric Environment, 2014)
Two independent experiments were performed in an Open-Top Chamber facility to determine the response of biomass and nutritive quality of the annual legume Trifolium cherleri to increased levels of ozone (O3) and nitrogen (N) deposition, two main drivers of global change. Plants growing in pots were exposed to three O3 treatments: charcoal-filtered air (CFA); non-filtered air, reproducing ambient O3 levels of the site (NFA); and non-filtered air supplemented with 40 nl l−1 (NFA+). Nitrogen was added in biweekly doses to achieve final doses of 5 (N5), 15 (N15) and 30 kg ha−1 (N30), reproducing the N deposition range in the Iberian Peninsula. Ozone negatively affected all the growth-related parameters and increased plant senescent biomass. The pollutant affected subterranean biomass to a greater extent than aerial biomass, resulting in altered aerial/subterranean ratio. Effects in the second experiment followed the same pattern as in the first, but were of lesser magnitude. However, these differences between assays could not be explained adequately by the absorbed O3 fluxes (Phytotoxic Ozone Dose, POD). Concentrations of cell-wall constituents related to nutritive quality increased with the O3 exposure, reducing the Relative Food Value index (RFV) that indicates decreased nutritive quality of the forage. Nitrogen stimulated all growth-related parameters, but increased the aboveground biomass more than the subterranean biomass. No effects of N fertilizer were detected for the nutritive quality parameters. A significant interaction between O3 and N was found in the second experiment. N further enhanced the increase of senescent biomass caused by O3. Results indicate that O3 is a potentially significant environmental stress factor in terms of structure and diversity of Mediterranean pastures.
Keywords: annual grasslands; Dehesa; Forage quality; Ozone fluxes; POD; Senescence

PAHs in decaying Quercus ilex leaf litter: Mutual effects on litter decomposition and PAH dynamics - De Nicola, F; Baldantoni, D; Alfani, a (Chemosphere, 2014)
The investigation of the relationships between litter decomposition and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is important to shed light not only on the effects of these pollutants on fundamental ecosystem processes, such as litter decomposition, but also on the degradation of these pollutants by soil microbial community. This allows to understand the effect of atmospheric PAH contamination on soil PAH content via litterfall. At this aim, we studied mass and PAH dynamics of Quercus ilex leaf litters collected from urban, industrial and remote sites, incubated in mesocosms under controlled conditions for 361d. The results highlighted a litter decomposition rate of leaves sampled in urban>industrial>remote sites; the faster decomposition of litter of the urban site is also related to the low C/N ratio of the leaves. The PAHs showed concentrations at the beginning of the incubation of 887, 650 and 143ngg−1d.w., respectively in leaf litters from urban, industrial and remote sites. The PAHs in litter decreased along the time, with the same trend observed for mass litter, showing the highest decrease at 361d for the urban leaf litter. Anyway, PAH dynamics in all the litters exhibited two phases of loss, separated by a PAH increase observed at 246d and mainly linked to benzo[e]pyrene.
Keywords: C/N ratio; decomposition; Holm oak; Litter bags; Litter PAH contamination

Pattern of Tuber melanosporum extramatrical mycelium expansion over a 20-year chronosequence in Quercus ilex-truffle orchards - Liu, B.; Fischer, C.; Bonet, J. A.; Olivera, A.; Inchusta, A.; Colinas, C. (MYCORRHIZA, 2014)
Successful cultivation of black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) requires a long-term investment and the maintenance of the symbiosis throughout its preproductive and productive years. Monitoring the symbiosis over time is challenging, as it requires methods that can detect the belowground proliferation of the fungus associated with its host tree. In this study, we used a chronosequence design to study the expansion pattern of this fungus as the host tree grows. We hypothesize that this expansion can be estimated by monitoring T. melanosporum DNA from soil beneath host trees of different ages (3, 5, 7, 10, 14, and 20 years old) and at different distances from the trunk of the trees (40, 100, and 200 cm). We also wished to evaluate the presences of Tuber brumale and Tuber indicum, potentially problematic truffle species, in these plantations. To detect the mycelium of T. melanosporum in these soils, we extracted DNA and performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with Tuber species-specific primers, and to estimate DNA amount, we measured relative band intensities from the amplicons in agarose gels. Both age and distance were related to T. melanosporum DNA quantity, which was more abundant in the oldest age classes, reaching a plateau in 5-7 years. At 40 cm from the tree, there were no differences in T. melanosporum DNA amounts in orchards of different ages, but at 100 and 200 cm, younger orchards had less T. melanosporum DNA. We did not detect DNA from T. brumale or T. indicum in any of our samples.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: pub-location: 233 SPRING ST, NEW YORK, NY 10013 USA publisher: SPRINGER
Keywords: Black truffle cultivation; Chronosequence; ecology; Soil DNA analysis; Tuber melanosporum

Performance of LAI-MODIS and the influence on drought simulation in a Mediterranean forest - Chakroun, H; Mouillot, F; Nasr, Z; Nouri, M; Ennajah, A; Ourcival, J M (Ecohydrology, 2014)
This study investigates the benefits and methodological issues to integrate weekly 1 km Leaf Area Index (LAI) Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (LAI-MODIS) (MOD15A2) satellite product in a distributed water budget model over a Mediterranean forested ecosystem of about 2553 km2 for drought assessment at regional scale. The high overestimation of LAI-MODIS compared to field measurements was corrected based on the calibration of high-resolution Satellites Pour l'Observation de la Terre (SPOT) images combined with ground measurements. The LAI-MODIS time series over the 2003 to 2009 period has been calibrated and integrated into a spatially explicit water budget model at the regional level using spatial information on vegetation, soil types and topoclimates. Actual LAI-MODIS scenario was tested against temporal and spatial null models to assess for the benefits of the regional heterogeneity from MODIS and its intra-annual and interannual variation in a water budget model. From water budget analyses at local and regional scales, we concluded that calibration of LAI-MODIS images was mandatory to enhance the correlation coefficient between measured and simulated daily actual transpiration. We estimated daily bias in the resulting ‘Water Stress Index’ to be slightly affected between constant and seasonally-varying LAI datasets. However, the interannual variability in LAI detected by MODIS followed LAI adjustments expected from the ecohydrological equilibrium hypothesis. This can significantly affect the simulated annual drought period features, so that integrating LAI-MODIS spatial and temporal variability into water budget models for evergreen Mediterranean vegetation can be a useful dataset when carbon allocation schemes in dynamic vegetation models are lacking, but should be carefully calibrated particularly in transitions towards semi-arid zones. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Keywords: Ecohydrological Equilibrium; LAI-MODIS; mediterranean forest; Water Stress Index

Persistence and detection of black truffle ectomycorrhizas in plantations: comparison between two field detection methods - Sanchez, Sergio; Agreda, Teresa; Agueda, Beatriz; Martin, Maria; de Miguel, Ana María; Barriuso, Juan; Sanchez, Sergio; Agreda, Teresa; Agueda, Beatriz; Martin, Maria; de Miguel, Ana María; Barriuso, Juan (MYCORRHIZA, 2014)
Owners of black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) plantations are concerned about the persistence of its mycorrhizas and mycelium in the soil, especially until the appearance of the ``truffle burn{''} areas and the triggering of sporocarp production, at least 5-7 years after planting truffle-inoculated seedlings. During this period, the farmer does not know whether his management is promoting black truffle development. To study the presence and abundance of T. melanosporum ectomycorrhizas in plantations, two sampling methods, direct sampling of root tips and soil core collection, are compared by analyzing 48 evergreen oak trees (Quercus ilex) inoculated with truffle. Those trees are grouped by age (< 6, 6-9, > 9 years old) and presence or absence of truffle production. T. melanosporum was present in 46 out of the 48 studied trees, and its ectomycorrhizas appeared in 65 % of the ectomycorrhizal tips. Its abundance is significantly higher with productive trees and young trees. Direct sampling of root tips and soil core collection were equally effective in detecting this species, although soil core collection proved a better method to also evaluate ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity. To detect the presence of T. melanosporum in a given plantation, three samples suffice, with a single sample per random tree. Although the presence of mycorrhizas is not a sure sign of the future success of a black truffle plantation, its absence influences managers as to whether to continue culturing truffles in a plantation.
Keywords: direct; Direct method; method; Mycorrhizas; Soil core method; Trufficulture; Tuber melanosporum

Phenotypic correlates of potential range size and range filling in European trees - Nogués-Bravo, David; Pulido, Fernando; Araújo, Miguel B; Diniz-Filho, Jose Alexandre F; GARCÍA-VALDÉS, Raúl; Kollmann, Johannes; Svenning, Jens-Christian; Valladares, Fernando; Zavala, MIGUEL a (Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 2014)
Understanding the biological correlates of range sizes in plant species is important to predict the response of species to climate change. We used climate envelope models to estimate species’ potential range size and range filling for 48 European tree species. We hypothesized that potential range size relates to the climatic tolerances of plant species, and that the degree of range filling is influenced by species dispersal. We tested these hypotheses using, for each species, estimates for tolerance to cold and drought, type of dispersal, fruit size and seed size. Consistent with previous observations, we found that both the size of potential ranges and range filling increase from south to north. Species tolerance to temperature and water stress, as well as their dispersal-related traits also showed marked spatial patterns. There was, moreover, a significant positive partial correlation between cold tolerance and potential range size, when drought tolerance was partialed out, and a non-significant partial correlation between drought tolerance and potential range size, with cold tolerance partialed out. Range filling was not significantly larger in species dispersed by wind than in those dispersed by animals. There was a negative correlation between seed mass and range filling, but its statistical significance varied across different subsets of species and climate envelope algorithms; the correlation between fruit length and range filling was not significant. We conclude that climatic tolerances and dispersal traits influence species range size and range filling, and thus affect the range dynamics of species in response to global change. Using traits will therefore help to predict future distribution of species under climate change.
Keywords: Climate envelope models; Climatic tolerances; Dispersal traits; European trees; Geographical range size; Range filling

A pheromone analogue affects the evaporation rate of (+)-disparlure in Lymantria dispar. - Sollai, Giorgia; Murgia, Sergio; Secci, Francesco; Frongia, Angelo; Cerboneschi, Anna; Masala, Carla; Liscia, Anna; Crnjar, Roberto; Solari, Paolo (Pest management science, 2014)
BACKGROUND: The gypsy moth Lymantria dispar L. is a widespread pest that causes economic damage to cork oak forests. Females produce the sex pheromone (+)-(7R,8S)-epoxy-2-methyloctadecane, known as (+)-disparlure [(+)D], for long-distance attraction of conspecific males. A (+)D analogue, 2-decyl-1-oxaspiro[2.2]pentane (OXP-01), neither stimulating nor attractive by itself, causes short-time inhibition of male response in a 1:1 blend with (+)D. The authors investigated whether and how the biological activity of the natural pheromone is affected by OXP-01 on a long-time basis (up to 16 days), also by looking at possible physicochemical reciprocal interactions. RESULTS: Blending of (+)D with OXP-01 decreased, under low evaporation rate, the pheromone effectiveness, as assessed by electroantennogram recordings. In male trappings, within the first 24 h, OXP-01 decreased and later enhanced the blend attractiveness, but only under high evaporation rate. Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy indicates that quantitative retrieval of (+)D from blend cartridges is higher than for pure pheromone, and nuclear magnetic resonance measurements show that OXP-01 produces, possibly by Van der Waals interactions, a bimolecular entity with pheromone causing retention and lengthening of its attractiveness over time. CONCLUSION: The biological and physicochemical interactions between (+)D and OXP-01 may provide valuable information for the optimisation of pheromone-based control strategies for gypsy moths.
Keywords: behaviour; Electrophysiology; insects; pheromone; self-diffusion nuclear magnetic resonance

Photosynthetic performance and biochemical adjustments in two co-occurring Mediterranean evergreens, Quercus ilex and Arbutus unedo, differing in salt-exclusion ability - Fusaro, Lina; Mereu, Simone; Brunetti, Cecilia; Di Ferdinando, Martina; Ferrini, Francesco; Manes, Fausto; Salvatori, Elisabetta; Marzuoli, Riccardo; Gerosa, Giacomo; Tattini, Massimiliano (FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY, 2014)
The responses to mild root zone salinity stress were investigated in two co-occurring Mediterranean woody evergreens, Quercus ilex L. and Arbutus unedo L., which differ in morpho-anatomical traits and strategies to cope with water deficit. The aim was to explore their strategies to allocate potentially toxic ions at organism level, and the consequential physiological and biochemical adjustments. Water and ionic relations, gas exchange and PSII performance, the concentration of photosynthetic pigments, and the activity of antioxidant defences, were measured. Q. ilex displayed a greater capacity to exclude Na+ and Cl- from the leaf than A. unedo, in part as a consequence of greater reductions in transpiration rates. Salt-induced reductions in CO2 assimilation resulted in Q. ilex suffering from excess of light to a greater extent than A. unedo. Consistently, in Q. ilex effective mechanisms of nonphotochemical quenching, also sustained by the lutein epoxide-lutein cycle, operated in response to salinity stress. Q. ilex also displayed a superior capacity to detoxify reactive oxygen species (ROS) than A. unedo. Our data suggest that the ability to exclude salt from actively growing shoot organs depends on the metabolic cost of sustaining leaf construction, i.e. species-specific leaf life-span, and the relative strategies to cope with salt-induced water stress. We discuss how contrasting abilities to restrict the entry and transport of salt in sensitive organs relates with species-specific salt tolerance.
Keywords: leaf longevity; net ion fluxes; salt tolerance; Stomatal conductance; violaxanthin-cycle pigments; water relations.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination in an urban area assessed by Quercus ilex leaves and soil - De Nicola, F; Alfani, a; Maisto, G (Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2014)
We investigated the PAH contamination of Naples urban area, densely populated and with high traffic flow, by analyses of environmental matrices: soil and Quercus ilex leaves. Being some PAHs demonstrated to have hazardous effects on human health, the accumulation of carcinogenic and toxic PAHs (expressed as B(a)Peq) was evaluated in the leaves and soil. The main sources of the PAHs were discrim- inated by the diagnostic ratios in the two matrices. The urban area appeared heavily contaminated by PAHs, showing in soil and leaves total PAH concentrations also fivefold higher than those from the remote area. The soil mainly accumulated heavy PAHs, whereas leaves the lightest ones.Median values of carcinogenic PAH concentrations were higher in soil (440 ng g−1 d.w.) and leaves (340 ng g−1 d.w.) fromthe urban than the remote area (60 and 70 ng g−1 d.w., respectively, for soil and leaves). Also, median B(a)Peq concentrations were higher both in soil and leaves from the urban (137 and 63 ng g−1 d.w., respectively) than those from the remote area (19 and 49 ng g−1 d.w., respectively).Different from the soils, the diagnostic ratios found for the leaves discerned PAH sources in the remote and urban areas, highlighting a great contribution of vehicular traffic emission as main PAHsource in the urban area. Responsible
Keywords: carcinogenic pahs; Diagnostic ratios; Environmental matrices; Light and heavy PAHs; Naples urban area; PAH toxicity

Polypropylene-based cork–polymer composites: Processing parameters and properties - Fernandes, Emanuel M; Correlo, Vitor M; Mano, João F; Reis, Rui L (Composites Part B: Engineering, 2014)
Cork–polymer composites are one of the most promising fields of cork technology to create materials for a sustainable development. In this work, cork particles and powder were compounded with polypropylene (PP) by twin-screw extrusion and further processed by injection or compression moulding. The obtained PP/cork injection moulded composites were used to investigate the tensile properties before and after water absorption (WA) tests. The addition of polypropylene–graft–maleic anhydride (PP–g–MA) and stearic acid was evaluated. The composites show good distribution and dispersion of cork with interesting aesthetic characteristics. Low cork content (5wt.%) reinforces the stiffness of the PP. The addition of PP–g–MA up to 8wt.% promotes an increase on the tensile strength while the stearic acid contributes only with a slight increase on the tensile strain. The thermo-physical properties were investigated and the composites present low WA. In general the tensile properties of the composites were not significantly affected after the WA tests. Moreover, the WA was found to increase with an increase in cork content and was reduced with the PP–g–MA and stearic acid. It was also found, that cork act as nucleating agent and promotes antioxidant protection to PP. Both properties ameliorate with the increase of the cork content. Low cork content improves the thermal resistance while increasing the bio-based component increases the composite density and the thermal conductivity. The maximum incorporation of cork on the PP matrix through extrusion process was 93% in volume.
Keywords: A. Polymer–matrix composites (PMCs); B. Fibre/matrix bond; B. Mechanical properties; B. Thermal properties; E. Extrusion

Population variation and natural selection on leaf traits in cork oak throughout its distribution range - Ramírez-Valiente, José Alberto; Valladares, Fernando; Sánchez-Gómez, David; Delgado, Antonio; Aranda, Ismael (Acta Oecologica, 2014)
A central issue in evolutionary biology is the exploration of functional trait variation among populations and the extent to which this variation has adaptive value. It was recently proposed that specific leaf area (SLA), leaf nitrogen concentration per mass (Nmass) and water use efficiency in cork oak play an important role in adaptation to water availability in the environment. In order to investigate this hypothesis, we explored, first, whether there was population-level variation in cork oak (Quercus suber) for these functional traits throughout its distribution range; if this were the case, it would be consistent with the hypothesis that different rainfall patterns have led to ecotypic differentiation in this species. Second, we studied whether the population-level variation matched short-term selection on these traits under different water availability conditions using two fitness components: survival and growth. We found high population-level differentiation in SLA and Nmass, with populations from dry places exhibiting the lowest values for SLA and Nmass. Likewise, reduced SLA had fitness benefits in terms of growth for plants under dry conditions. However, contrary to our expectations, we did not find any pattern of association between functional traits and survival in nine-year-old saplings despite considerable drought during one year of the study period. These results together with findings from the literature suggest that early stages of development are the most critical period for this species. Most importantly, these findings suggest that cork oak saplings have a considerable potential to cope with dry conditions. This capacity to withstand aridity has important implications for conservation of cork oak woodlands under the ongoing climate change.
Keywords: Adaptation; Nitrogen leaf content; Phenotypic selection; Population divergence; Specific leaf area; water use efficiency

Production of biomaterials from cork: Liquefaction in polyhydric alcohols at moderate temperatures - Yona, Arnaud Maxime Cheumani; Budija, Franc; Kričej, Borut; Kutnar, Andreja; Pavlič, Matjaž; Pori, Pavel; Tavzes, Črtomir; Petrič, Marko (Industrial Crops and Products, 2014)
The aim of this study was to develop polymers in a liquid solution, from renewable bio-resources, usable as intermediate materials in the preparation of plastics, adhesives or coatings. The liquefaction of cork with glycerol was investigated at 150◦C, 180◦C, and 200◦C under acidic (sulphuric acid) or alkaline conditions (sodium hydroxide). Cork appears as a two-component material, containing suberin and lig- nocelluloses. In the presence of sulphuric acid, only the liquefaction of the lignocellulosic components was achieved, leading to liquefaction yield of less than 47% at all investigated conditions. The inverse phenomenon was observed with sodium hydroxide. Suberin was almost completely liquefied, but an increase of temperature and/or sodium hydroxide content was necessary to improve the liquefaction of lignocelluloses. Addition of polyethylene glycol to glycerol to a certain extent caused the conversion of suberin under acid conditions leading to liquefaction yield up to 93%. Therefore, it was demonstrated that it is possible to use cork dust, a less valuable by-product, for the production of various basic chemicals and/or polymers with a high added value
Keywords: Cork; Glycerol; Liquefaction; Polyethylene glycol; suberin

Proteotyping of Holm Oak (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota) Provenances Through Proteomic Analysis of Acorn Flour - Valero Galván, José; González Fernandez, Raquel; Valledor, Luis; Rafael Cerrillo, Ma.Navarro; Jorrín-Novo, Jesús V (Methods in Molecular Biology Plant Proteomics SE - 49, 2014)
Proteomics has become a powerful tool to characterize biodiversity and natural variability in plant species, as well as to catalogue and establish phylogenetic relationships and distances among populations, provenances or ecotypes. In this chapter, we describe the standard proteomics workflow that we currently use in cataloguing Holm oak (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota [Desf.] Samp.) populations. Proteins are extracted from acorn flour or pollen by TCA/acetone or TCA/acetone-phenol methods, resolved by one- or two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and gel images are captured and analyzed by appropriate software and statistical packages. Quantitative or qualitative variable bands or spots are subjected to MS analysis in order to identify them and correlate differences in the protein profile with the phenotypes or environmental conditions.
Keywords: Holm oak proteomics; Plant biodiversity; Plant proteotyping

Is the QBS-ar index a good tool to detect the soil quality in Mediterranean areas? A cork tree Quercus suber L. (Fagaceae) wood as a case of study - Galli, L.; Capurro, M.; Menta, C.; Rellini, I. (Italian Journal of Zoology, 2014)
Abstract Cork oak (Quercus suber L., 1753) is a Mediterranean evergreen tree species with a thick and characteristic bark covering the trunk and branches. Despite the fact that cork oak is distributed over about 1.7 million hectares in the western Mediterranean Basin, information about soil biota in this particular habitat at present is scanty. This study was carried out in a cork tree wood in Bergeggi (Liguria, NW Italy), characterized by a Pluvioseasonal Oceanic Mediterranean bioclimate. The profile, texture, pH, total carbonate content, total organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents, soluble phosphorus (P) and cation exchange capacity were measured in order to characterize the soil. Soil biological quality was evaluated by studying microarthropod communities. Each month, from February 2007 to January 2008, 10 soil samples measuring 10 ? 10 ? 10 cm were collected from the wood being studied and arthropods were extracted using Berlese-Tullgren funnels. The biological quality of soil based on arthropods (QBS-ar) index, taxa abundance, Shannon diversity index (H?) and Pielou?s evenness index (J) were applied to assess soil biological quality in the cork oak being studied. A total of 29 taxonomic groups were identified. Some important groups, such as Pseudoscorpionida, Palpigradi, Miriapoda and Protura were detected every month, but only a few groups showed a clear abundance distribution trend throughout the year and globally it was impossible to define general trends. The results suggested that the condition of the soil was good, as generally observed in natural environments not subjected to significant impacts. It was also possible to demonstrate that the Mediterranean climate causes strong seasonal fluctuations in soil biota, resulting in corresponding differences in the QBS-ar index values. Therefore, the QBS-ar index could be considered to be a valid candidate for the biomonitoring of soil biodiversity in natural and anthropic soils, but in Mediterranean climates comparisons of different areas must be performed analyzing samples collected during the same period.
From Duplicate 2 (Is the QBS-ar index a good tool to detect the soil quality in Mediterranean areas? A cork tree Quercus suber L. (Fagaceae) wood as a case of study - Galli, L; Capurro, M; Menta, C; Rellini, I)From Duplicate 2 (Is the QBS-ar index a good tool to detect the soil quality in Mediterranean areas? A cork tree Quercus suber L. (Fagaceae) wood as a case of study - Galli, L; Capurro, M; Menta, C; Rellini, I)The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Taylor & Francis
Keywords: Biological index; Cork Oak Forest; microarthropods; QBS-ar; soil quality

Quantification of biomass and energetic value of young natural regenerated stands of Quercus ilex under Mediterranean conditions - Fernandez-Puratich, Harald; Vicente Oliver-Villanueva, Jose (BOSQUE, 2014)
Forest biomass is key to Spain's energy policy. National, regional and local strategies, development programs of management plans and biomass and quantification of the most important species are fundamental. The objective of this research was to quantify and to analyze the calorific value of biomass of holm oak (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota) under Mediterranean conditions. To do this, several natural regenerated plots were selected in the Valencian Community (Eastern Spain). The main obtained results show that the average volume and weight per tree are 0.045 m(3) tree(-1) and 0.033 Mg tree(-1) respectively. In addition, the form factor was determined (0.66). With an average stand density of 3,200 trees ha(-1), the total potential biomass is 105.4 Mg ha(-1). With the results obtained, a function of stem biomass related to the variables DBH (diameter at breast height) and Vf (volume of stem) has been adjusted with significantly high determination level and low estimation errors. This function can be used for the prediction of biomass quantification in natural regenerated holm oak pure stands in the Mediterranean area. Laboratory results show an energetic value of 17.0 MJ kg(-1) biomass. Therefore, the total potential energy is 513 MJ tree(-1) and 1.8 GJ ha(-1). Considering the large forest areas and the potential resources derived from clearings, thinning and fire prevention silvicultural treatments, the holm oak has the aptitude to be considered a valid raw material for energy use (mainly thermal) in Mediterranean rural areas.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: pub-location: CASILLA 567, VALDIVIA, 00000, CHILE publisher: UNIV AUSTRAL CHILE, FAC CIENCIAS FORESTALES
Keywords: biomass; energetic value; quantification; Quercus ilex

Rapid climatic changes and resilient vegetation during the Lateglacial and Holocene in a continental region of south-western Europe - Aranbarri, Josu; González-Sampériz, Penélope; Valero-Garcés, Blas; Moreno, Ana; Gil-Romera, Graciela; Sevilla-Callejo, Miguel; García-Prieto, Eduardo; Di Rita, Federico; Mata, M. Pilar; Morellón, Mario; Magri, Donatella; Rodríguez-Lázaro, Julio; et al. (Global and Planetary Change, 2014)
Palynological, sedimentological and geochemical analyses performed on the Villarquemado paleolake sequence (987m a.s.l, 40°30′N; 1°18′W) reveal the vegetation dynamics and climate variability in continental Iberia over the last 13,500calyrBP. The Lateglacial and early Holocene periods are characterized by arid conditions with a stable landscape dominated by pinewoods and steppe until ca. 7780calyrBP, despite sedimentological evidence for large paleohydrological fluctuations in the paleolake. The most humid phase occurred between ca. 7780 and 5000calyrBP and was characterized by the maximum spread of mesophytes (e.g., Betula, Corylus, Quercus faginea type), the expansion of a mixed Mediterranean oak woodland with evergreen Quercus as dominant forest communities and more frequent higher lake level periods. The return of a dense pinewood synchronous with the depletion of mesophytes characterizes the mid-late Holocene transition (ca. 5000calyrBP) most likely as a consequence of an increasing aridity that coincides with the reappearance of a shallow, carbonate wetland environment. The paleohydrological and vegetation evolution shows similarities with other continental Mediterranean areas of Iberia and demonstrates a marked resilience of terrestrial vegetation and gradual responses to millennial-scale climate fluctuations. Human impact is negligible until the Ibero-Roman period (ca. 2500calyrBP) when a major deforestation occurred in the nearby pine forest. The last 1500years are characterized by increasing landscape management, mainly associated with grazing practices shaping the current landscape.
Keywords: aridity; Continental Iberia; Holocene; Multiproxy reconstructio; Pinewoods; Vegetation resilience

Regression using hybrid Bayesian networks: Modelling landscape–socioeconomy relationships - Ropero, R F; Aguilera, P A; Fernández, A; Rumí, R (Environmental Modelling & Software, 2014)
Modelling environmental systems becomes a challenge when dealing directly with continuous and discrete data simultaneously. The aim in regression is to give a prediction of a response variable given the value of some feature variables. Multiple linear regression models, commonly used in environmental science, have a number of limitations: (1) all feature variables must be instantiated to obtain a prediction, and (2) the inclusion of categorical variables usually yields more complicated models. Hybrid Bayesian networks are an appropriate approach to solve regression problems without such limitations, and they also provide additional advantages. This methodology is applied to modelling landscape–socioeconomy relationships for different types of data (continuous, discrete or hybrid). Three models relating socioeconomy and landscape are proposed, and two scenarios of socioeconomic change are introduced in each one to obtain a prediction. This proposal can be easily applied to other areas in environmental modelling.
Keywords: Continuous Bayesian networks; landscape; Mixtures of truncated exponentials; Regression; Socioeconomic structure

Relationships between photochemical reflectance index and light-use efficiency in deciduous and evergreen broadleaf forests - Soudani, Kamel; Hmimina, Gabriel; Dufrêne, Eric; Berveiller, Daniel; Delpierre, Nicolas; OURCIVAL, JEAN-MARC; Rambal, Serge; Joffre, Richard (Remote Sensing of Environment, 2014)
In this study, we evaluate the relationships between the photochemical reflectance index (PRI) and light-use efficiency (LUE) based on eight years of continuous in situ measurements acquired on a half-hourly basis for PRI, NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), the main micrometeorological variables and net CO2 exchange data in two deciduous and evergreen mature forests. More specifically, the objectives of this study include investigating the daily, seasonal, and interannual variations of PRI and LUE; linking PRI variations to the main influencing meteorological and eco-physiological variables; and evaluating the performance of PRI as a remote-sensing proxy of LUE under different environmental conditions. The data analysis was performed at different time scales within the season using moving temporal windows and between years. On a seasonal scale, statistical analyses revealed positive relationships between PRI and absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (aPAR) and negative relationships between PRI and LUE. Over shorter periods of a few days, the signs of these relationships remained unchanged; however, their correlations were strongly improved. The highest correlations were most often observed over periods characterized by clear or slightly overcast skies. However, all the periods of clear skies did not involve improvements in the relations of PRI vs. aPAR or PRI vs. LUE. Temporal variations of the intercept (called PRI0 in this study) of PRI vs. aPAR regressions suggest the presence of a temporal trend that may reflect seasonal changes of the biochemical characteristics of the canopy. Regardless of the cause of this trend, it is important to note that once PRI0 was subtracted from the measured PRI, the correlations between the corrected PRI and LUE for each year were significantly improved, and a stable multi-year model was obtained. Nevertheless, further studies are required to explain the temporal changes of PRI0 during the season and to develop a more accurate disentangling approach that would make PRI-based remote-sensing of ecosystem light-use efficiency less sensitive to confounding factors related to spatial and temporal changes in the structural and biochemical properties of the canopy.
Keywords: Forests; Light use efficiency LUE; Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI); photochemical reflectance index (PRI)

Resource manipulation reveals flexible allocation rules to growth and reproduction in a Mediterranean evergreen oak - Pulido, Fernando; Moreno, Gerardo; Garcia, Eustolia; Obrador, Jose J; Bonal, Raul; Díaz, Mario (JOURNAL OF PLANT ECOLOGY, 2014)
Aims In plants, resource allocation to growth and reproduction may depart from trade-off expectations if (i) investment in growth and reproduction relies on different resource pools, (ii) allocation to reproduction is dependent upon reaching some growth threshold or (iii) reproduction is developmentally linked to growth, both functions relying on the same resource pool. We examined the effects of enhanced resource level on patterns of resource allocation to growth and reproduction in holm oak (Quercus ilex sbsp. ballota), a Mediterranean evergreen tree. Methods In the experimental year (2003), we manipulated the amount of soil nutrients in autumn (to increase nutrient uptake during shoot elongation in the following spring) and soil water in summer (to increase water uptake during acorn growth). Indicators of growth and male and female reproduction were estimated in the pre-experimental (2002), experimental (2003) and post-experimental (2004) years. Important Findings Fertilized trees produced significantly longer shoots, but the number of female flowers per shoot was not affected by treatments. The production of male catkins was also enhanced by fertilization. Irrigation did not affect the production of female flowers or abortion rates. Growth and female reproduction showed no consistent relationship in untreated trees, but resource addition elicited a growth-female reproduction trade-off in the experimental year. The sign of this significant relationship changed in the post-experimental year, indicating the existence of lagged effects of resource manipulation on acorn production. Overall, patterns of allocation to growth and reproduction varied as a function of sex, resource availability and year, a result consistent with extreme allocational plasticity in holm oak.
Keywords: acorn abortion; allocational plasticity; Dehesa; growth-reproduction trade-offs; nutrient addition; Quercus ilex; resource allocation

Response strategies of the main forest types to climatic anomalies across Croatian biogeographic regions inferred from FAPAR remote sensing data - Pilaš, Ivan; Medved, Ivan; Medak, Jasna; Medak, Damir (Forest Ecology and Management, 2014)
Croatia is positioned in the transitional zone of South-eastern Europe and the Mediterranean, a region with frequent occurrence of severe droughts and dry spells, which makes it particularly vulnerable to the impact of climate change. It distends across three main European biogeographical regions – Continental, Alpine and Mediterranean – and therefore has a very high level of forest diversity comprised of 11 out of 14 European forest types. This makes it very convenient to study the exposure of main European forest types to extreme climatic events in the southern limits of their species distribution range. This study provides an assessment of responses of forest vegetation under episodes of climatic anomalies consisting of the most severe historical dry and warm spells in 2000 and 2003, together with the extremely rainy season in 2005 across Croatian territory. The question of interest in this study was to reveal how the existing forest types across the territorial gradient respond to highly expressed extreme climatic variations and to infer some clues about related adaptive strategies. The regional scale approach was applied which previously performed structural delineation of forest cover into eleven main forest groups or bioclimates and were examined considering functional differences. Responses of eleven bioclimatic types were analyzed by time series (1998–2005) of monthly FAPAR (The Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetic Active Radiation) coverage with a spatial resolution of 1.2km, freely available from JRC FAPAR project. To quantify and differentiate the vegetation response in the considered years we adopted indices of resilience (resistance, recovery, resilience and relative resilience). We also provided a modified approach by applying these indices on a seasonal scale to examine the relationship between variations of phenology and ecosystem responses. The results confirmed the modification of seasonality of photosynthetic activity in relation to the altitudinal and spatial gradient. At the intra-seasonal scale, we distinguished specific opportunistic behavior of the common beech and oak forest types to alternating climatic conditions. Beech forest types show a very high ability to shift their phenology to earlier spring warming as a consequence of global warming. However, continental and Mediterranean oak forest types and in particular Aleppo pine and holm oak forests showed a higher increase of FAPAR during rainy events. The revealed capability of some tree species to better exploit rainfall in very wet periodic episodes has to be further evaluated in drawing conclusions about the overall resilience of forests under future climate change scenarios.
Keywords: Climate change impacts; Extreme climatic events; Forest resilience; Forest responses; Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Rad; Land surface phenology

Restoring silvopastures with oak saplings: effects of mulch and diameter class on survival, growth, and annual leaf-nutrient patterns - Jiménez, M. N.; Pinto, J. R.; Ripoll, M. A.; Sanchez-Miranda, A.; Navarro, F. B. (Agroforestry Systems, 2014)
In Southwestern Spain, multifunctional silvopastoral systems consisting of pastureland and open oak woodlands are known as Dehesas. These, and other similar systems of the Mediterranean basin, are currently threatened by increasing intensive land use. As a consequence, oak regeneration is declining and is in need of adequate management and active restoration. Traditional restoration practices outplant one-year-old, nursery-produced oak seedlings grown in 250–350 cm3 containers, but establishment and growth results are typically poor. This work examines holm oak (Quercus ilex L. subsp. ballota (Desf.) Samp.) grown in a non-conventional container size (24 l) and age (6–7 years) with three mulch treatments (control, stone, and straw). In an open Dehesa of SE Spain, 106 oak saplings were planted in March 2010, and survival, diameter at breast height (DBH), and leaf-nutrient concentrations were analyzed. Forty months after planting, all treatments showed high survival (81 %) but only straw-mulched saplings differed significantly (94 %) from control (74 %). DBH increased over time but showed no significant differences among mulch treatments. Saplings with high initial DBH showed the greatest growth and change in DBH at the end of the study period. Leaf- nutrient concentrations changed significantly in the year following outplanting. Bi-monthly foliar nutrient concentration data show decreases in P, K, Zn, and B and sharp increases in Ca and Fe. In this work, we provide some evidence concerning the viability of non-conventional oak size for restoring, regenerating, or building up new agroforestry or silvopastoral systems. A combination of saplings with more than 10 mm of DBH and straw mulch is recommended.
Keywords: 10; 1007; ballota á saplings á; contains supple-; DBH; Dehesa; dehesa á mulch á; doi; electronic supplementary material the; Mulch; online version of; quercus ilex subsp; quercus ilex subsp. ballota; s10457-014-9737-y; Saplings; semi-arid; semi-arid á dbh á; Spain; this article

Rigid polyurethane foams derived from cork liquefied at atmospheric pressure - Gama, Nuno V; Soares, Belinda; Freire, Carmen S R; Silva, Rui; Brandão, Inês; Neto, C Pascoal; Barros-Timmons, Ana; Ferreira, Artur (Polymer International, 2014)
The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of using polyols derived from liquefied cork in the production of novel bio-based polyurethane foams (PUFs). For that purpose, different liquefaction conditions were used at atmospheric pressure and moderate temperature where poly(ethylene glycol) and glycerol were used as solvents and sulfuric acid as catalyst. The ensuing polyols were used to produce foams which were characterized using structural, morphological, thermal and mechanical analyses to demonstrate that liquefaction conditions play a crucial role in the properties of the foams. The resulting foams exhibited the typical cellular structure of PUFs with low densities (57.4–70.7 kg m−3) and low thermal conductivities (0.038–0.040 W m−1 K−1). However, the mechanical properties differed significantly depending on the liquefaction conditions. The best stress–strain results were obtained for PUFs prepared using the polyol with lowest IOH and water content (Young's modulus of 475.0 kPa, compressive stress (σ10%) of 34.6 kPa and toughness of 7397.1 J m−3). This PUF was thermally stable up to 200 °C and presented a glass transition temperature of around 27 °C. The results obtained demonstrate that these polyols from liquefied cork yield PUFs that are adequate materials for insulation applications. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Keywords: bio-based polyol; liquefied cork; polyurethane foams; renewable resources

Saprotrophic litter fungi in a Mediterranean ecosystem: Behaviour on different substrata - Pasqualetti, M; Mulas, B; Rambelli, A; Tempesta, S (Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology, 2014)
Saprotrophic fungi sporulating on 17 types of leaf litter collected during the dry season in the Sardinian Mediterranean area were analysed. The fungal assemblages identified in each substratum showed an overlap value ranging from 5.9 to 46.7%. A consistent connection between certain fungal species and their substrata was detected; among the 168 fungal species identified, 104 (62%) may be regarded as specialised. Each fungal species was characterised according to morphological and ecological features. Multidimensional scaling (MDS) showed that ubiquitous and common species have morphological characters distinguishing them from specialised species.
doi: 10.1080/11263504.2013.877534
Keywords: litter decomposition; Mediterranean ecosystem; saprotrophic fungi

Saprotrophic litter fungi in a Mediterranean ecosystem: Behaviour on different substrata - Pasqualetti, M.; Mulas, B.; Rambelli, A.; Tempesta, S. (Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology, 2014)
Saprotrophic fungi sporulating on 17 types of leaf litter collected during the dry season in the Sardinian Mediterranean area were analysed. The fungal assemblages identified in each substratum showed an overlap value ranging from 5.9 to 46.7%. A consistent connection between certain fungal species and their substrata was detected; among the 168 fungal species identified, 104 (62%) may be regarded as specialised. Each fungal species was characterised according to morphological and ecological features. Multidimensional scaling (MDS) showed that ubiquitous and common species have morphological characters distinguishing them from specialised species.
doi: 10.1080/11263504.2013.877534doi: 10.1080/11263504.2013.877534The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Taylor & Francis
Keywords: litter decomposition; Mediterranean ecosystem; saprotrophic fungi

Satellite Earth observation data to identify anthropogenic pressures in selected protected areas - Nagendra, Harini; Mairota, Paola; Marangi, Carmela; Lucas, Richard; Dimopoulos, Panayotis; Honrado, João Pradinho; Niphadkar, Madhura; Mücher, Caspar a.; Tomaselli, Valeria; Panitsa, Maria; Tarantino, Cristina; Manakos, Ioannis; et al. (International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 2014)
Protected areas are experiencing increased levels of human pressure. To enable appropriate conserva- tion action, it is critical to map and monitor changes in the type and extent of land cover/use and habitat classes, which can be related to human pressures over time. Satellite Earth observation (EO) data and techniques offer the opportunity to detect such changes. Yet association with field information and expert interpretation by ecologists is required to interpret, qualify and link these changes to human pressure. There is thus an urgent need to harmonize the technical background of experts in the field of EO data analysis with the terminology of ecologists, protected area management authorities and policy makers in order to provide meaningful, context-specific value-added EO products. This paper builds on the DPSIR framework, providing a terminology to relate the concepts of state, pressures, and drivers with the appli- cation of EO analysis. The type of pressure can be inferred through the detection of changes in state (i.e. changes in land cover and/or habitat type and/or condition). Four broad categories of changes in state are identified, i.e. land cover/habitat conversion, land cover/habitat modification, habitat fragmentation and changes in landscape connectivity, and changes in plant community structure. These categories of change in state can be mapped through EO analyses, with the goal of using expert judgement to relate changes in state to causal direct anthropogenic pressures. Drawing on expert knowledge, a set of pro- tected areas located in diverse socio-ecological contexts and subject to a variety of pressures are analysed to (a) link the four categories of changes in state of land cover/habitats to the drivers (anthropogenic pres- sure), as relevant to specific target land cover and habitat classes; (b) identify (for pressure mapping) the most appropriate spatial and temporal EO data sources as well as interpretations from ecologists and field data useful in connection with EO data analysis. We provide detailed examples for two protected areas, demonstrating the use of EO data for detection of land cover/habitat change, coupled with expert interpretation to relate such change to specific anthropogenic pressures. We conclude with a discussion of the limitations and feasibility of using EO data and techniques to identify anthropogenic pressures, suggesting additional research efforts required in this direction.
Keywords: Biodiversity conservation; changes in state; earth conservation; protected areas

Secretome analysis identifies potential virulence factors of Diplodia corticola, a fungal pathogen involved in cork oak (Quercus suber) decline - Fernandes, Isabel; Alves, Artur; Correia, António; Devreese, Bart; Esteves, Ana Cristina (Fungal Biology, 2014)
The characterisation of the secretome of phytopathogenic fungi may contribute to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis. This is particularly relevant for Diplodia corticola, a fungal plant pathogen belonging to the family Botryosphaeriaceae, whose genome remains unsequenced. This phytopathogenic fungus is recognised as one of the most important pathogens of cork oak, being related to the decline of cork oak forests in the Iberian Peninsula. Unfortunately, secretome analysis of filamentous fungi is limited by the low protein concentration and by the presence of many interfering substances, such as polysaccharides, which affect the separation and analysis by 1D and 2D gel electrophoresis. We compared six protein extraction protocols concerning their suitability for further application with proteomic workflows. The protocols involving protein precipitation were the most efficient, with emphasis on TCA–acetone protocol, allowing us to identify the most abundant proteins on the secretome of this plant pathogen. Approximately 60 % of the spots detected were identified, all corresponding to extracellular proteins. Most proteins identified were carbohydrate degrading enzymes and proteases that may be related to D. corticola pathogenicity. Although the secretome was assessed in a noninfection environment, potential virulence factors such as the putative glucan-β-glucosidase, neuraminidase, and the putative ferulic acid esterase were identified. The data obtained forms a useful basis for a deeper understanding of the pathogenicity and infection biology of D. corticola. Moreover, it will contribute to the development of proteomics studies on other members of the Botryosphaeriaceae.
Keywords: 2D-electrophoresis; Botryosphaeriaceae; Filamentous fungi; Plant pathogen; Quercus suber

Seeding phenology influences wood mouse seed choices: the overlooked role of timing in the foraging decisions by seed-dispersing rodents - Sunyer, Pau; Espelta, Josep Maria; Bonal, Raul; Muñoz, Alberto (Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2014)
Scatter-hoarding rodents influence the population dynamics of plants by acting as seed predators and dispersers. Therefore, rodent foraging preferences for certain seed traits (species, size, condition) have been extensively studied. However, to what extent these preferences are fixed or they track the temporal changes on seed characteristics due to phenological differences has been seldom explored.We stud- ied the temporal variability in seed preferences by wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), according to phenological changes in seed characteristics of two co-occurring oaks (Quercus ilex and Quercus pubescens). The phenology of acorn abundance and the acorn predation/dispersal patterns by rodents were monitored over an entire seeding season. Results revealed temporal changes in rodent preferences for acorns of the two oaks, matching their different seeding phe- nology (earlier in Q. pubescens and later in Q. ilex). On the other hand, whatever the species considered, rodents preferred larger and sound acorns along the entire season, although the dispersal of infested ones increased slightly during the peaks of acorn drop. The observed influence of seeding phenology on seed choices by rodents warns about inferring definite conclusions regarding their foraging behavior when arising from short-term experiments. Indeed, this study reveals that foraging preferences may be highly dynamic and context- dependent for some seed traits (e.g., species and condition), rather than fixed behavioral patterns. Plasticity in rodent for- aging choices may allowthem to successfully exploit different oaks with uncoupled seeding phenologies, while potentially favoring their coexistence.
Keywords: acorn; Apodemus sylvaticus; dispersal; Quercus; seed; seed traits

Shrub encroachment shifts the bioclimatic limit between marcescent and sclerophyllous oaks along an elevation gradient in west-central Spain - Madrigal-González, Jaime; García-Rodríguez, José a.; Zavala, Miguel A. (Journal of Vegetation Science, 2014)
Questions (1) Does shrub encroachment affect the regeneration of two contrasting species of oak along an elevation gradient in the west-central Iberian Peninsula? (2) Do different nurse shrubs have any relevant species-specific effects along the gradient? (3) Does shrub encroachment affect the location of the bioclimatic limit between these two oak species along the elevation gradient? Location Twelve sites distributed from the Arribes del Duero plains to the Sistema Central mountains (Salamanca province, Spain). Methods We measured the regeneration of two contrasting oak tree species (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota Samp - sclerophyllous, Q.pyrenaica Willd - marcescent) as the relative percentage cover of seedlings and saplings (<1.3-m high) in plots 10m in diameter distributed in stands of different age. We fixed the bioclimatic limit at 50% relative proportion of species in each plot, i.e. whether one species was more abundant than the other in a plot. Shrub stand age was estimated by counting growth rings in the principal stems of the oldest shrubs in a plot. We fitted generalized linear mixed models to analyse the effects of elevation, specific nurse shrub and shrub stand age on regeneration and the probability of one species being more abundant than the other. Results The regeneration and relative proportion of Q.ilex (sclerophyllous) decreased with elevation. Regeneration did not vary with shrub encroachment, although the relative proportion increased notably in the youngest stands. In turn, regeneration and relative proportion of Q.pyrenaica (deciduous) significantly increased towards the upper sites and mature shrub stands. We found no evidence of specific nurse shrub effects on regeneration or the probability of one species being more abundant than the other in either of the two species of oak. Conclusions The bioclimatic limit between the two contrasting species of oak shifted with shrub stand age along the elevation gradient. Land practices preventing shrub encroachment can thus indirectly shift this limit towards higher elevations. The effects of shrubs may be critical in resolving the climatic and land-use effects on elevation shifts of species under changing conditions in bioclimatic transitions.
Keywords: Bioclimatic limit; Elevation gradient; Oak trees; Regeneration; Shrub encroachment; Species distribution

Socioeconomic factors in fl uencing land cover changes in rural areas : The case of the Sierra de Albarracín ( Spain ) - Hernández, E I; Gómez, I (Applied Geography, 2014)

Socioeconomic factors influencing land cover changes in rural areas: The case of the Sierra de Albarracín (Spain) - Melendez-Pastor, I; Hernández, E I; Navarro-Pedreño, J; Gómez, I (Applied Geography, 2014)
Rural abandonment in mountainous regions is a habitual process that occurs in many countries and has socioeconomic and environmental implications. Land cover changes in Mediterranean mountains resulting from farming abandonment have been associated with certain processes of land degradation. This study employed Landsat satellite images for mapping the land cover changes in 1984 and 2007, south of the Iberian Range (region of Sierra de Albarracín, Teruel, Spain). A neural network classification was used to achieve sufficient land cover accuracy. The land cover change analysis revealed an expansion of forestland at the expense of pastureland and abandoned rainfed cropland. These changes were associated with demographic and economic shifts that resulted from a continuous process of rural abandonment. Population reduction has been the natural trend for a century, characterized by massive internal migrations to nearby cities. The dynamic displacement of the population centroid was used to identify the migratory processes in the last century. The primary sector and the associated secondary sector (farming and forestry) were diminished and resulted in a decrease in natural resource exploitation. Economic activity moved towards the tertiary sector, which focuses on rural tourism. The current socioeconomic scenario has unknown future implications for land cover dynamics and their associated ecosystem services values. Thus, monitoring of land cover changes and ecosystem services is required to promote sustainable development in an area that is highly dependent on the conservation of natural resources and ecological services.
Keywords: Land cover change; Mediterranean mountain; Remote sensing; Rural abandonment

Soil Bradyrhizobium population response to invasion of a natural Quercus suber forest by the introduced nitrogen-fixing tree Acacia mearnsii in El Kala National Park, Algeria - Boudiaf, Imène; Le, Christine; Baudoin, Ezekiel; Galiana, Antoine; Beddiar, Arifa; Prin, Yves; Duponnois, Robin; Le Roux, Christine; Baudoin, Ezekiel; Galiana, Antoine; Beddiar, Arifa; Prin, Yves; et al. (Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 2014)
We analyzed the diversity and identity of the rhizobial populations nodulating an invasive Australian legume tree Acacia mearnsii in a natural Quercus suber forest in the El Kala National Park, Algeria. Soils from three different forest plots corresponding to non invaded original Q. suber stand, partially invaded by A. mearnsii, and totally invaded (monodominant) A. mearnsii stand were used to trap nodulating bacteria with the same tree species. Symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria were isolated from root nodules and characterized by sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region, then submitted to phylogenetic analyses. A total of 67 isolates was obtained, representing the 3 different forest plots, all renodulating A. mearnsii in monoxenic conditions. Phylogenetic analyses showed that all isolates belong to different Bradyrhizobium lineages, according to each of the three locations with little intermixing between forest plots. These results illustrate the adaptation of nodulating Bradyrhizobium populations to the new soil conditions induced by invasion. This symbiotic adaptability is presumed to be a key factor of the invasive character of this tree species.
The following values have no corresponding Zotero field: publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Keywords: Cork oak; Exotic; Invasivity; Mimosoideae; Nodulation; North Africa; Rhizobia

Soil physical properties influence "black truffle" fructification in plantations. - Alonso Ponce, Rafael; Agreda, Teresa; Agueda, Beatriz; Aldea, Jorge; Martínez-Peña, Fernando; Modrego, María Pilar (Mycorrhiza, 2014)
Although the important effects of pH and carbonate content of soils on "black truffle" (Tuber melanosporum) production are well known, we poorly understand the influence of soil physical properties. This study focuses on physical soil characteristics that drive successful production of black truffles in plantations. Seventy-eight Quercus ilex ssp. ballota plantations older than 10 years were studied in the province of Teruel (eastern Spain). Soil samples were analyzed for various edaphic characteristics and to locate T. melanosporum ectomycorrhizae. The influence of cultivation practices, climatic features, and soil properties on sporocarp production was assessed using multivariate analyses. Low contents of fine earth and silt and high levels of bulk density, clay content, and water-holding capacity appear to promote fructification. Watering is also highly positive for truffle fructification. We develop and discuss a logistic model to predict the probability of truffle fructification in field sites under consideration for truffle plantation establishment. The balance between water availability and aeration plays a crucial role in achieving success in black truffle plantations.
Keywords: aeration; fine earth; production logistic model; silt; Soil; Tuber melanosporum; Water availability

Soil physical properties influence “black truffle” fructification in plantations - Alonso Ponce, Rafael; Agreda, Teresa; Agueda, Beatriz; Aldea, Jorge; Martínez-Peña, Fernando; Modrego, MaríaPilar (Mycorrhiza, 2014)
Although the important effects of pHand carbonate content of soils on “black truffle” (Tuber melanosporum) production are well known, we poorly understand the influ- ence of soil physical properties. This study focuses on phys- ical soil characteristics that drive successful production of black truffles in plantations. Seventy-eight Quercus ilex ssp. ballota plantations older than 10 years were studied in the province of Teruel (eastern Spain). Soil samples were ana- lyzed for various edaphic characteristics and to locate T. melanosporum ectomycorrhizae. The influence of cultiva- tion practices, climatic features, and soil properties on sporo- carp production was assessed using multivariate analyses. Low contents of fine earth and silt and high levels of bulk density, clay content, and water-holding capacity appear to promote fructification. Watering is also highly positive for truffle fructification.We develop and discuss a logistic model to predict the probability of truffle fructification in field sites under consideration for truffle plantation establishment. The balance between water availability and aeration plays a crucial role in achieving success in black truffle plantations. Electronic
Keywords: fine earth; production logistic model; silt; Soil aeration; Tuber melanosporum; Water availability

Sonic environment and vegetation structure: A methodological approach for a soundscape analysis of a Mediterranean maqui - Farina, Almo; Pieretti, Nadia (Ecological InformaticsEcological Informatics, 2014)
Herein we present one of the first attempts to couple the complexity of vegetation and topographic features with the sonic environment to understand the distribution of bird species and individuals in their habitat. To achieve this, the sonic features of a bird community were studied during the spring and early summer of 2011 in a Mediterranean maqui located on the western slope of a remote hanging valley that is dominated by Erica arborea, Quercus ilex and Arbutus unedo. Species composition, height, vertical foliage profile, canopy density and dispersion of vegetation were utilized as probable proxies for the sonic patterns. The acoustic activity of birds was collected through the use of a regular matrix of 20 audio recorders, spaced 25m apart, which were placed following the topographic isoclines. The sonic complexity of the soundscape was evaluated using the Acoustic Complexity Index (ACI), which is a recently developed metric. The PCA applied to the vegetation parameters revealed two principal distinguishing factors, which we were able to define as “vegetation density and structure” and “species segregation.” Moreover, the results show that, even in the case of sampling sites that are very close together, sonic patterns vary across the season, highlighting the great variability of the soundscape and confirming the adequacy of the sampling scale of 25m adopted in this study. The topographic features do not seem to be connected to the sonic environment. The main sonic complexity was found where the vegetation was taller and denser, especially where E. arborea was the dominant species. Although this proves that acoustic dynamics can be linked to vegetation structure, even on a small scale, a consistent element of sonic variability cannot be explained by vegetation patterns alone, and a soundtope hypothesis must be invoked.
Keywords: Acoustic Complexity Index; birds; Mediterranean maqui; Sonotopes; Soundscape ecology; Soundtopes

Species richness and similarity of vascular plants in the Spanish dehesas at two spatial scales - Garcia, Jose M; Ponce, Rafael Alonso; Benavides, Raquel; Roig, Sonia (Forest Systems, 2014)
Aims of study: The goals of this paper are to summarize and to compare plant species richness and floristic similarity at two spatial scales; mesohabitat (normal, eutrophic, and oligotrophic dehesas) and dehesa habitat; and to establish guidelines for conserving species diversity in dehesas. Area of study: We considered four dehesa sites in the western Peninsular Spain, located along a climatic and biogeographic gradient from north to south. Main results: Average alpha richness for mesohabitats was 75.6 species, and average alpha richness for dehesa sites was 146.3. Gamma richness assessed for the overall dehesa habitat was 340.0 species. The species richness figures of normal dehesa mesohabitat were significantly lesser than of the eutrophic mesohabitat and lesser than the oligotrophic mesohabitat too. No significant differences were found for species richness among dehesa sites. We have found more dissimilarity at local scale (mesohabitat) than at regional scale (habitat). Finally, the results of the similarity assessment between dehesa sites reflected both climatic and biogeographic gradients. Research highlights: An effective conservation of dehesas must take into account local and regional conditions all along their distribution range for ensuring the conservation of the main vascular plant species assemblages as well as the associated fauna
Keywords: agroforestry systems; alpha richness; climatic and biogeographic range; floristic similarity; gamma richness; mesohabitat; non-parametric estimators

Start of the dry season as a main determinant of inter-annual Mediterranean forest production variations - Maselli, Fabio; Cherubini, Paolo; Chiesi, Marta; Gilabert, María Amparo; Lombardi, Fabio; Moreno, Alvaro; Teobaldelli, Maurizio; Tognetti, Roberto (Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 2014)
Recent investigations have highlighted the dependence of Mediterranean forest production on spring rainfall. The current work introduces the concept of the start of the dry season (SDS) and performs a three-step analysis to determine the effect of SDS on Mediterranean forest production. Seven forest zones of Tuscany (Central Italy), which present differently pronounced Mediterranean features, are considered. First, a statistical analysis investigates the influence of spring water budget on forest Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) inter-annual variations during July–August. The analysis is then extended to assess the impact of inter-annual SDS variability on forest gross primary production (GPP) simulated by a NDVI driven parametric model, modified C-Fix. These simulations lead to rank the considered forest types according to the relevance of SDS in regulating inter-annual GPP variations. The application of similar statistical analyses to detrended tree ring-width time series of typical Tuscany forests confirms the existence of an eco-climatic gradient in the functional relevance of SDS. The influence of SDS on tree growth is attenuated moving from Mediterranean arid to temperate humid environments. These findings are examined and interpreted from an eco-physiological viewpoint taking into consideration the peculiarity of Mediterranean forest ecosystems. Next, relevant implications are discussed in view of the possible consequences of ongoing climate change.
Keywords: Dry season; GPP; Mediterranean forests; Modified C-Fix; NDVI; Ring-widths

Stereochemistry of C18 Monounsaturated Cork Suberin Acids Determined by Spectroscopic Techniques Including 1H-NMR Multiplet Analysis of Olefinic Protons - Santos, Sara; Graça, José (Phytochemical Analysis, 2014)
Introduction Suberin is a biopolyester responsible for the protection of secondary plant tissues, and yet its molecular structure remains unknown. The C18:1 ω-hydroxyacid and the C18:1 α,ω-diacid are major monomers in the suberin structure, but the configuration of the double bond remains to be elucidated. Objective To unequivocally define the configuration of the C18:1 suberin acids. Methods Pure C18:1 ω-hydroxyacid and C18:1 α,ω-diacid, isolated from cork suberin, and two structurally very close C18:1 model compounds of known stereochemistry, methyl oleate and methyl elaidate, were analysed by NMR spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy, and GC–MS. Results The GC–MS analysis showed that both acids were present in cork suberin as only one geometric isomer. The analysis of dimethyloxazoline (DMOX) and picolinyl derivatives proved the double bond position to be at C–9. The FTIR spectra were concordant with a cis-configuration for both suberin acids, but their unambiguous stereochemical assignment came from the NMR analysis: (i) the chemical shifts of the allylic 13C carbons were shielded comparatively to the trans model compound, and (ii) the complex multiplets of the olefinic protons could be simulated only with 3JHH and long-range 4JHH coupling constants typical of a cis geometry. Conclusion The two C18:1 suberin acids in cork are (Z)-18-hydroxyoctadec-9-enoic acid and (Z)-octadec-9-enedoic acid. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Keywords: (Z)-18-hydroxyoctadec-9-enoic acid; (Z)-octadec-9-enedoic acid; 1H-NMR multiplet analysis; Cis/trans configuration; cork suberin