Clipping intensity improves growth rate of kermes oak twigs

Comparative investigation of physiological responses of field-grown alfalfa and tall fescue to cutting under different water regimes

“…Similar results, where  values remained at high levels after cutting, have been reported by Wolf and Parish (1982) in grasses, whereas slightly higher  values upon cutting were reported by Tsiouvaras et al (1986) for woody plants. The beneficial effect of cutting is attributed to changes in hydraulic resistance and/or stomatal behaviour Noitsakis 2005, Kostopoulou et al 2010b) and/or to the reduction of the transpiration surface area that minimises water loss and to the maintenance of the soil moisture (Wolf andParish 1982, Georgiadis et al 1989).…”

“…Previous experiments have shown that cutting mitigates water deficit stress to some degree, preserving higher leaf water potential and higher stomatal conductance (Tsiouvaras et al 1986, Georgiadis et al 1989, Lazaridou et al 2004). However, this mitigation has not been fully elucidated.…”

A review of the development of Mediterranean pine–oak ecosystems after land abandonment and afforestation: are they novel ecosystems?

“…Disturbances are very common in Mediterranean ecosystems (Naveh and Dan 1973). Oaks evolved mechanisms of strong and effective vegetative regeneration following disturbances (Margaris 1981;Tsiouvaras et al 1986;Tsiouvaras 1988;Espelta et al 1999). In contrast, pines cannot regenerate vegetatively and are obligate seeders, except P. canariensis (Ne'eman and Trabaud 2000;Tapias et al 2004).…”

Quercus calliprinos regrowth advantage under grazing in Mediterranean maquis and its management implications

“…The regrowth rate is commonly affected by tree age, size, aboveground biomass and stem density (Ehleringer and Mooney, 1983;Danell et al, 1985;Malanson and Trabaud, 1988;Bellingham and Sparrow, 2000). Tsiouvaras et al (1986) showed that as response to repeated clipping of Kermes oak (Q. coccifera) canopies, growth rate of twigs had increased and the growth period was extended into the summer, a season in which Kermes oak trees do not normally grow. Carrión et al (2000) studied the distribution of the evergreen Q. suber (cork oak) and concluded that the dense monospecific forests of cork oak in the Iberian Peninsula are the result of human selection and, that in the absence of human intervention, Q. suber would develop into mixed forests with other evergreen and deciduous oaks.…”