Mediterranean hay meadow communities: diversity and dynamics in mountain areas throughout the Iberian Central Range (Spain)

Rodríguez‐Rojo, Maria Pilar; Sánchez‐Mata, Daniel

doi:10.1023/b:bioc.0000047918.00589.90

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The subhumid meadows and manured meadows with sedges have higher probabilities of keeping moisture conditions (high number of moisture indicator species and higher values of clay and soil field capacity), and reduced water stress during the summer, when compared to the other colony types described (e.g. Rodrı´guez-Rojo and Sa´nchez-Mata 2004). Although the Cabrera vole has developed physiological strategies to cope with dry Mediterranean conditions (Mathias et al 2003), being a microtine grazer, it is still dependent on fresh grass to Vectors with arrows are explanatory variables.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Vegetation analysis in colonies of an endangered rodent, the Cabrera vole (Microtus cabrerae), in southern Portugal

Santos

Simões

Mathias

et al. 2005

Ecological Research

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The Cabrera vole (Microtus cabrerae) is a threatened rodent endemic in the Iberian Peninsula with a patchy distribution and specific microhabitat requirements. This aim of this study was to document the composition of plant communities in habitats of Cabrera vole colonies in southern Portugal. Differences observed in plant species composition were also compared with vegetation structure, taxonomic and life form groups, species and group diversity, disturbance, topography and soil properties. Vegetation was sampled between March and July 2004, in 26 colonies occurring in five geographical areas. Grasses were the most abundant, common and diverse family in the colonies, and the perennial grass Agrostis castellana was present in 92% of colonies, with a mean cover of 16% of the site. Other frequently occurring species were Briza maxima (85%), Vulpia myuros (85%), Gaudinia fragilis (81%), Leontodon spp. (81%), Avena barbata (77%), Bromus hordeaceus (77%) and Tolpis barbata (77%). Colonies were classified in eight vegetation groups that included meadows, tall perennial grasslands, manured meadows with tall sedges, annual grasslands and ruderal and nitrophilous grasslands. Main gradients associated with composition differences were grass richness, annual and perennial grass cover, vegetation structure (herbaceous vegetation height), soil properties (texture and moisture), disturbance (ruderal species) and colony dimensions (area). Results suggest that the Cabrera vole is able to exploit a wide variety of grasslands, with a varying degree of ecological disturbance. Meadows and perennial grassland communities seem to be higherquality microhabitats for voles.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rodrı´guez-Rojo and Sa´nchez-Mata 2004). Although the Cabrera vole has developed physiological strategies to cope with dry Mediterranean conditions (Mathias et al 2003), being a microtine grazer, it is still dependent on fresh grass to Vectors with arrows are explanatory variables.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vegetation analysis in colonies of an endangered rodent, the Cabrera vole (Microtus cabrerae), in southern Portugal

Santos

Simões

Mathias

et al. 2005

Ecological Research

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“…Management often includes burning, domestic cutting and grazing (Hampton 2008). Extensively managed meadows are dominated by typical lowland mesohygrophilous grasses of the Arrhenatherion Koch phytosociological alliance (Rodríguez-Rojo & Sánchez-Mata, 2004), corresponding to habitat type 6510. These meadows are mostly managed for hay (Aguiar & al., 2000).…”

Section: Habitats Surveyed and Underlying Land-usementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Under more intensive management (often involving grazing and fertilising), meadows show the dominance of plants of the Cynosurion cristati Tüxen alliance, e.g. Hypochoeris radicata L. and Cynosurus cristatus L. (Rodríguez-Rojo & Sánchez-Mata, 2004;Aguiar & al., 2010). Finally, crop fields comprise cover crops usually used for silage, and dominated by corn (summer crop) or the annual ryegrass, Lolium multiflorum Lam.…”

Section: Habitats Surveyed and Underlying Land-usementioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating population and community structure against climate and land-use determinants to improve the conservation of the rare <em>Narcissus pseudonarcissus</em> subsp. <em>nobilis</em>

Vaz

Silva

Alves

et al. 2016

Anal. Jard. Bot. Madr.

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Vaz, A.S., Silva, D., Alves, P., Vicente, J.R., Caldas, F.B., Honrado, J.P. & Lomba, A. 2016. Evaluating population and community structure against climate and land-use determinants to improve the conservation of the rare Narcissus pseudonarcissus subsp. nobilis. Anales Jard. Bot. Madrid 73(1): e027.Climate and land-use changes are among the most relevant determinants of future persistence of rare plant species in rural landscapes. We analysed the structure of populations of a rare plant, Narcissus pseudonarcissus subsp. nobilis, and of their respective plant communities against several environmental variables (climate-, topography-, land-use-, and soil-related) in order to identify the pressures that may directly or indirectly affect the persistence of the rare species. Overall, local land-use was the primary determinant of traits related to population renewal and community composition. Specifically, traditional farmlands supported higher community diversity and population individuals. Though moderate land-use intensification seemed to benefit plant community diversity, land abandonment could allow the persistence of N. pseudonarcissus subsp. nobilis populations. Also, a relevant influence of regional environment was perceived on species richness as well as on traits related to population condition, highlighting climate change as a potential determinant of the future persistence of the species. This study highlights the importance of considering key population traits as well as of community structure to accomplish conservation goals by accounting with the factors driving changes in the habitats in which rare species occur, from climate change to land-use and landscape management.Keywords: Endangered species, Iberian Peninsula, land-use, population traits, rural landscapes ResumenVaz, A.S., Silva, D., Alves, P., Vicente, J.R., Caldas, F.B., Honrado, J.P. & Lomba, A. 2016. Evaluando la estructura de la población y de la comunidad frente al clima y el uso del suelo para mejorar la conservación de una especie rara, Narcissus pseudonarcissus subsp. nobilis. Anales Jard. Bot. Madrid 73(1): e027.Las alteraciones del clima y del uso del suelo están entre los factores más relevantes para la persistencia de las especies raras de plantas en paisajes rurales. Este trabajo evalúa la estructura de las poblaciones de una especie rara, Narcissus pseudonarcissus subsp. nobilis, así como de las comunidades de plantas en las cuales se incluyen, frente a variables ambientales (relacionadas con el clima, la topografía, el uso del suelo, y las propiedades del suelo), para identificar las presiones que puedan directa o indirectamente afectar a la especie. En general, el uso local del suelo fue el principal determinante de las características de las poblaciones relacionadas con la capacidad de renovación de esta subespecie, así como de la composición específica de las comunidades. Específicamente, la intensificación media de uso del suelo parece beneficiosa para la diversidad de las comunidades de plantas, pero el abandono agr...

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“…This gradient allows studying the incidence of dry or humid period on the balance. Furthermore, grazing and harvesting managements increase meadow type and richness (Fernández-González 1988, Rodríguez-Rojo & Sánchez-Mata 2004. Studies about their relationships are important for future management plans which should preserve these uses in order to maintain biodiversity of grasslands.…”

Section: Habitats Valuementioning

confidence: 99%

Composición vegetal de la estación biológica de la UCM ‘Finca de Ontalba’

Castoldi

Molina

2012

Obs. Medioambient.

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Mediterranean hay meadow communities: diversity and dynamics in mountain areas throughout the Iberian Central Range (Spain)

Cited by 6 publications

References 8 publications

Vegetation analysis in colonies of an endangered rodent, the Cabrera vole (Microtus cabrerae), in southern Portugal

Vegetation analysis in colonies of an endangered rodent, the Cabrera vole (Microtus cabrerae), in southern Portugal

Evaluating population and community structure against climate and land-use determinants to improve the conservation of the rare <em>Narcissus pseudonarcissus</em> subsp. <em>nobilis</em>

Composición vegetal de la estación biológica de la UCM ‘Finca de Ontalba’

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