Perspectives of forest ecophysiological research in the context of Mediterranean Basin

Abstract

The mediterranean-climate regions are linked to the presence of the unusual global conditions of cool rainy winters and warm dry summers. Thus, the common drought periods, frost nights, summer heat and fires and soil erosion disturb plants life. These regions have a global significance by their floristic richness. Nevertheless, these areas have been more heavily impacted by human activities than almost any other ecosystem. The foreseeable global change will most likely influence plant life, and the Mediterranean Basin will be specially affected (e.g. a decrease in spring and winter rainfalls, an increase in mean annual temperature), affecting the delicate equilibrium of these ecosystems. Ecophysiology is a powerful tool to examine the controlling mechanisms behind the functioning, distribution, abundance, and productivity of forest tree species and their response to a changing environment. This science discipline can help to the forest management by physiological approaches of the response of plant processes to the biotic and abiotic constraints imposed by the environment.Key words: Tree research, forest ecosystems, plant physiological ecology. ResumenPerspectivas en la investigación ecofisiológica forestal en el contexto de la cuenca mediterráneaLas regiones de clima mediterráneo se caracterizan por presentar las precipitaciones concentradas en la época fría y veranos secos y calurosos. Ello conduce a la frecuente aparición de períodos de sequía, heladas, altas temperaturas estivales, fuegos forestales y fenómenos de erosión edáfica que afectan la vida de las plantas. Estas regiones poseen una alta riqueza florística de importancia mundial, pero son ecosistemas altamente influenciados por la actividad humana a lo largo de la historia y su delicado equilibrio puede verse afectado aún más si se cumplen las previsiones de cambio climático (aumento de temperaturas, disminución de precipitaciones, oscurecimiento global, etc.). Por tanto, la gestión y manejo de los sistemas forestales precisa de un mayor conocimiento del funcionamiento de las especies y de la respuesta de éstas ante las nuevas condiciones ambientales venideras, así como del resto de factores bióticos y abióticos que limitan el crecimiento de las plantas. Para ello la ecofisiología, a través del mejor conocimiento de los procesos fisiológicos vegetales, permitirá conocer el funcionamiento, distribución, abundancia y productividad de los ecosistemas forestales mediterráneos.Palabras clave: ecofisiología vegetal, investigación forestal, ecosistemas mediterráneos, investigación en especies arbóreas.

Structure and Evolution of Mediterranean Forest Research: A Science Mapping Approach

“…Future climate changes will be likely affected by further increases in mean temperature, frequency and severity of extreme droughts and hot extreme events [ 27 , 28 ], therefore the understanding of plant responses to the changing environment represents an important research challenge for the Mediterranean forest ecosystems [ 29 ]. Ecophysiology represents an important tool to understand how plants will respond to the changing environmental conditions through the examination of mechanisms driving the functioning, distribution, abundance, and productivity of tree species [ 30 ]. Our analysis revealed that ecophysiology is a stable and a well defined research topic in the Mediterranean forest research.…”

Alternative sampling methods to estimate structure

“…Mediterranean Basin ecosystems are disturbed by soil erosion, drought periods, night frost, summer heat and forest fires (Fernández and Tapias, 2005). In recent decades, climate change (higher aridity and longer drought periods) and its consequences, such as changes in fire dynamics, could induce a loss of vigor, productivity and alter reproductive dynamics, decreasing the ecosystem resilience (Moriondo et al, 2006;Schiller and Atzmon, 2009).…”