2003-2005
Departament de Medi Ambient de la Generalitat de Catalunya
Ninot Sugrañes, Josep M. (IP). Batriu Vila, Efrem.


Monitoring of biological parameters during the construction of new infrastructures in the Llobregat delta. Subproject 4: vegetation

The main project was structured into various subprojects, aimed to the main animal groups, to the aquatic systems, and to terrestrial vegetation. The vegetation study was done by members of our research group, together with Dr. Joan Pino from CREAF and the Autonomous University of Barcelona.

The aim of this subproject was the study of various plant communities as related to ecological parameters. The vegetation consisted in reed beds, rush beds and salt marshes. We recorded monthly during two years the level and the salinity of the water table, from permanent pipes sunk into the soil. Also, we obtained soil samples from representative sites, every four months during one year, to evaluate various parameters, mainly the concentration of the most determinant ions (Ca2+, K+, Na+, Mg2+). According to our results, the distribution of the dominant species in these communities is mainly due to salinity, flooding regime, and the concentration of some ions in the soil. However, the species competition ability and the recruitment success of the dominant species seem to have a noticeable incidence in the space distribution of the plants and communities studied.


Research field:
Ecology of plant communities


Project results: