PROJECT: Vulnerabilidad del paisaje supraforestal pirenaico frente al ascenso del límite superior del bosque (subproyecto de ecología) (REN2002-04268-C02-02)
2003-2006
Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología (CICYT)
Sensitivity of supra-forest landscape of the Pyrenees due to the timberline uprising (VULPIBOS)
This project was aimed to the study of some aspects in the supra-forest landscape of the Pyrenees, as related with an eventual rising of the upper forest boundary (timberline), within the global change. We especially studied the timberline dynamics, at the plot and at the landscape scales. First, we analyzed the structure and composition of the vegetation, the biology of
Pinus uncinata populations, including dendrochronology of this tree, in 12 intensive plots distributed over the Catalan Pyrenees. The landscape was analyzed through aerial photographs (old and recent) and GIS tools, taking into account vegetation and habitats maps, produced recently.
Concerning the alpine belt, we especially studied two large types of alpine habitats, particularly sensitive in front of the global change: fens and snow beds. In a more general view, we analyzed all the supra-forest habitats on physiographic and cartographic descriptors, and also on the basis of the adaptive traits of the plant species included in the different plant communities.
The results yielded may be summarised as follows:
- In natural or semi-natural areas, the timberline is rather sharp, and do not include any community transitional between forest and alpine grassland. This boundary is mostly formed by an irregular alternance of forest, sub-shrubby, and grassland spots, at small scale. The vegetation is mainly driven by the dominance of Pinus uncinata and Rhododendron ferrugineum, and by microtopography where these woody plants vanish.
- Populations of Pinus uncinata have become densier next to the timberline during the last decades, mainly due to young individuals, while the timberline has only risen in a few cases. In addition, the dynamics in tree populations and in landscape structure is strongly influenced by local factors, thus making difficult to give general patterns of forecasts.
- The established pines, including stumped forms (krummholz) promote the survival of conspecific seedlings after winter events of little snow cover and low temperatures, since they contribute to retain snow drifts around.
- The contrasting plant communities making the alpine landscape are mainly conditioned by the terrain exposure and slope, and by the soil type (lime-rich, etc.). As for functional morphology, plant communities of particular environments (rock, scree, fens) stand out through the particular traits they concentrate (woodiness, succulence, endozoocory, etc.). Contrarily, grasslands are characterized by trait combinations more typically alpine (herbaceous, grassy, anemochorous) and by higher species richness at the plot scale.
Research field: Project results:Batllori, E.; Camarero, J.J.; Gutiérrez, E. 2012
Climatic drivers of tree growth and recent recruitment at the Pyrenean alpine tree line ecotone.In: Myster, R.W. (ed.),
Ecotones between Forest and Grassland: 247-269. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-3797-0_11. Springer, New York.
+ information 
Batllori E.; Camarero, J.J.; Ninot, J.M.; Gutiérrez, E. 2009
Seedling recruitment, survival and facilitation in alpine Pinus uncinata treeline ecotones. Implications and potential responses to climate warming.Global Ecology and Biogeography 18: 460-472.
+ information Batllori, E.; Blanco-Moreno, J.M.; Ninot J.M.; Gutiérrez, E.; Carrillo, E. 2009
Vegetation patterns at the alpine treeline ecotone: the influence of tree cover on abrupt changes in species composition of alpine communities.Journal of Vegetation Science 20: 814-825. DOI: 10.1111/j.1654-1103.2009.01085.x.
+ information Batllori, E.; Gutiérrez, E. 2008
Regional treeline dynamics in response to global change in the Pyrenees.Journal of Ecology 96: 1275–1288.
+ information Ninot, J.M.; Batllori, E.; Carrillo, E.; Carreras, J.; Ferré, A.; Gutiérrez, E. 2008
Timberline structure and limited tree recruitment in the Catalan Pyrenees.Plant Ecology and Diversity 1: 47-57.
+ information Ninot, J.M.; Grau, O.; Batllori, E.; Camarero, J.J.; Carrillo, E. 2008
Winter drought impairs pine regeneration at the Pyrenean treeline.In:
Droughts: Causes, Effects and Predictions; Sánchez, J.M. (ed.). Nova Science Publishers, Inc. Nova York.
+ information Batllori, E.; Carrillo, E.; Gutiérrez, E. 2008
Dinàmica del límit superior del bosc.
In: VII Jornades sobre Recerca al Parc Nacional d'Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici: 115-130.
Batllori, E.; Carrillo, E.; Ferré, A.; Gutiérrez, E.; Ninot, J.M. 2007
Estudi de la regeneració del pi negre al límit superior del bosc.
Anuari Naturalista del Parc Natural de l’Alt Pirineu, Any 2006: 42-43. Dept Medi Ambient i Habitatge, Generalitat de Catalunya (document digital).
Ninot, J.M.; Carrillo, E.; Font, X.; Carreras, J.; Ferré, A.; Masalles, R.M.; Soriano, I.; Vigo, J. 2007
Altitude zonation in the Pyrenees. A geobotanic interpretation.Phytocoenologia 37: 371-398.
+ information Batllori, E.; Carreras, J.; Carrillo, E.; Ferré, A.; Gutiérrez, E.; Ninot, J.M. 2006
Dinàmica espacial i temporal de l’ecotò superior del bosc de Pinus uncinata als Pirineus.
Anuari Naturalista del Parc Natural de l’Alt Pirineu, Any 2005: 50-51. Dept Medi Ambient i Habitatge, Generalitat de Catalunya (document digital).
Batllori, E.; Carrillo, E.; Ferré, A.; Gutiérrez, E.; Ninot, J.M. 2006
Estudi de la regeneració del pi negre al límit superior del bosc.
Anuari Naturalista del Parc Natural de l’Alt Pirineu, Any 2005: 48-49. Dept Medi Ambient i Habitatge, Generalitat de Catalunya (document digital).
Carrillo, E. 2006
Ecosistemes d’alta muntanya: prats alpins i boscos de pi negre.L’Atzavara 14: 5-16.
+ information Illa, E,; Carrillo, E.; Ninot, J. M. 2006
Patterns of plant traits in Pyrenean alpine vegetation.Flora 201: 528-546.
+ information Wiegand, T.; Camarero, J.J.; Rüger, N.; Gutiérrez, E. 2006
Abrupt population changes in treeline ecotones along smooth gradients.Journal of Ecology 94: 880-892.
+ information Ferré, A., Carreras, J., Carrillo, E.; Ninot, J.M. 2005
Assessing the natural interest of the landscape of Andorra, a mountain country under contrasting change of land use.Acta Botanica Gallica 152(4): 443-455.
+ information Illa, E.; Ninot, J. M. 2005
Aportación al conocimiento de la estructura funcional de los pastos alpinos de los Pirineos catalanes.Bull. Soc. Hist. Nat. Toulouse 141: 175-182.
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