Gypsicolous flora, conservation and restoration of quarries in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula

Poveda, Juan Francisco Mota; Sola, Ana J.; Jiménez-Sánchez, María L.; Pérez-García, Francisco J.; Merlo, Encarna

doi:10.1023/b:bioc.0000035866.59091.e5

Cited by 99 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…This prediction is supported by numerous studies undertaken in different environments and conducted in postquarrying sites after re-vegetation, analysing flora, avifauna and insects such as butterflies, dragonflies and grasshoppers (Beneš et al, 2003;Bétard, 2013;Jefferson, 1984;Lucas et al, 2014;Wang et al, 2011). Thus, abandoned quarries properly managed (Gentili et al, 2011;Gilardelli et al, 2016;Mota et al, 2004) instead of harming species, namely priority species, might contribute to habitat creation that promotes landscape diversity and favours nature conservation. Quarrying landscapes, in particular, those including quarries that have been inactive for different periods, offer opportunities for wildlife tourism, which is defined as tourism based on encounters with non-domesticated animals (Higginbottom, 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…Inadequate man-induced restoration of abandoned quarries can also be a serious threat to restricted endemic flora and promote the spread of colonising and invasive species (Gentili, Sgorbati, & Baroni, 2011;Mota, Sola, Jiménez-Sánchez, Pérez-García, & Merlo, 2004). However, if properly restored, allowing the recovery of autochthonous taxa and preventing the colonisation of non-native species (Gentili et al, 2011;Gilardelli, Sgorbati, Citterio, & Gentili, 2016), abandoned quarries do not seem to represent a major menace to rare/endemic plants.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The impact of abandoned/disused marble quarries on avifauna in the anticline of Estremoz, Portugal: does quarrying add to landscape biodiversity?

et al. 2016

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Although the extractive operations of quarrying are often considered environmental threats, there is some evidence that abandoned quarries may have a significant positive impact on biodiversity by enhancing habitat quality for several species. In Estremoz Anticlinal, SE Portugal, many of the existing marble quarries have been inactive for decades and were abandoned without any restoration project in progress. The impact of quarry abandonment on avifauna diversity was assessed relative to reference conditions using adjacent rural fields as control areas. No significant differences were found in within-community diversity (alpha diversity) between abandoned quarries and reference sites. However, several dissimilarity indices showed a clear divergence in species composition between abandoned quarries and reference sites. Furthermore, statistically significant differences in species compositions were found between quarries abandoned for different periods. Over time, species composition becomes more similar to that observed in reference sites, reflecting ecological succession and landscape resilience to quarrying. Nevertheless, the studied quarrying landscape exhibited higher gamma and beta diversity than the former traditional landscape; thus, our results suggest that abandoned quarries, rather than damaging and destroying niches, can promote new ecological niches and significantly diversify rural landscapes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of abandoned/disused marble quarries on avifauna in the anticline of Estremoz, Portugal: does quarrying add to landscape biodiversity?

et al. 2016

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“…The selection of the natural areas to conserve must be done taking into account the biogeographic patterns of the gypsicolous plants. In addition, this knowledge must be the main guidelines of the restoration plans when the mining activities eventually finish (see Mota et al, 2004Mota et al, , 2005.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preliminary essay on the chorology of the Iberian gypsicolous flora: rarity and richness of the gypsum outcrops

Martínez-Hernández¹,

Medina-Cazorla²,

Mendoza-Fernández³

et al. 2009

Acta Botanica Gallica

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Abstract.-The Iberian aljezares have been recognized as areas of high phytodiversity and endemism as they harbour an extremely peculiar flora. Mining activities can endanger this flora. It is necessary to indicate the most important areas in order to conserve the biodiversity, so the chorology of 53 gypsophytes taxa have been developed where "1" was used for presences of every taxon and "0" for absences in UTM cells of 10 x 10 km 2 . This chorology is a complex dataset including numerous local endemics and high territorial differences (high β-diversity). In addition, the results indicate that the richest aljezares are present in the Central Iberian Meseta (plateau), while the highest values of rarity are situated in the semiarid South East of the Iberian Peninsula.Key words : biodiversity -conservation -selection of reserves -edaphismplant endemism.Résumé.-Les aljezares ibériques ont été identifiés comme secteurs de hauts phytodiversité et endémisme car hébergeant une flore extrêmement particulière. Les activités d'extraction peuvent mettre en danger cette flore. Il est donc néces-saire d'indiquer les domaines les plus importants afin de conserver la biodiversité et pour cela une étude chorologique de 53 espèces gypsophiles a été eláborée par la présence/absence des taxons dans les grilles UTM de 10 x 10 km 2 . Puis on a évalué la richesse et la rareté dans les grilles. C'est un ensemble de données complexes comprenant de nombreuses endemiques locales et des différences territoriales élevées (β-diversité élevée). En outre, les résultats indiquent que les aljezares les plus riches sont présents dans la Meseta ibérique centrale (plateau), alors que les valeurs les élevées de la rareté sont situées dans le sud-est semi-aride de la péninsule ibérique.

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“…These soils host very rare and narrow endemic flora that includes many endangered species, 56 making them priority sites for biological conservation (Anonymous, 1992;Parsons, 1976;Mota et al, 2011;Sosa and De-Nova, 2012). However, gypsum habitats are 58 often impacted by human disturbances such as quarrying, ploughing or grazing (AlHarthi, 2001;Mota et al, 2004;Pulido-Bosch et al, 2004;Pueyo and Alados, 2007; 60 Ballesteros et al, 2013). Therefore, recovery plans for these environments need to be addressed, and proactive measures need to be considered (Ballesteros et al, 2012(Ballesteros et al, , 62 2014, because natural succession has proved inefficient over the short term (Mota et al 2003(Mota et al , 2004Dana and Mota, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhancing seedling production of native species to restore gypsum habitats

Cañadas

Ballesteros

Foronda

et al. 2015

Journal of Environmental Management

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Gypsum habitats are widespread globally and are important for biological conservation. 20Nevertheless, they are often affected by human disturbances and thus require restoration. Sowing and planting have shown positive results, but these actions are 22usually limited by the lack of native plant material in commercial nurseries, and very little information is available on the propagation of these species. We address this 24issue from the hypothesis that gypsum added to a standard nursery growing medium (peat) can improve seedling performance of gypsum species and, therefore, optimise 26 the seedling production for outplanting purposes. We test the effect of gypsum on emergence, survival, and growth of nine native plant species, including gypsophiles 28 (exclusive to gypsum) and gypsovags (non-exclusive to gypsum). We used four treatments according to the proportions, in weight, of gypsum:standard peat, i.e. high-g 30 (50:50), medium-g (25:75), low-g (10:90), and standard-p (0:100).Our results showed that the gypsum treatments especially benefited the 32 emergence stage, gypsophiles as group, and Ononis tridentata as a taxon. In particular, the gypsum treatments enhanced emergence of seven species, survival of 34 three species, and growth of two gypsophiles, while the use of the standard peat favoured only the emergence or growth of three gypsovags. Improving emergence and 36 survival in the nursery can provide a reduction of costs associated with seed harvesting, watering, and space, while enlarging seedlings can favour the 38 establishment of individuals after outplanting. Thus, we suggest adding gypsum to a standard growing medium for propagating seedlings in species from gypsum habitats, 40 thereby potentially cutting the costs of restoring such habitats. Our assessment enables us to provide particular advice by species. In general, we recommend using between 42 25 and 50% of gypsum to propagate gypsophiles, and between 0 and 10% for gypsovags. The results can benefit not only the production of widely distributed species 44 commonly affected by gypsum quarrying, but also of narrow and threatened endemic species that require particularly efficient use of their seeds. In addition, our study 46 shows the importance of using an appropriate growing medium to propagate plants characteristic of special soils such as gypsum soils. 48

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Gypsicolous flora, conservation and restoration of quarries in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula

Cited by 99 publications

References 24 publications

The impact of abandoned/disused marble quarries on avifauna in the anticline of Estremoz, Portugal: does quarrying add to landscape biodiversity?

The impact of abandoned/disused marble quarries on avifauna in the anticline of Estremoz, Portugal: does quarrying add to landscape biodiversity?

Preliminary essay on the chorology of the Iberian gypsicolous flora: rarity and richness of the gypsum outcrops

Enhancing seedling production of native species to restore gypsum habitats

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