Geobotanical Study of the Microforests of <i>Juniperus oxycedrus</i> subsp. <i>badia</i> in the Central and Southern Iberian Peninsula

Geobotanical Study of the Microforests of <i>Juniperus oxycedrus</i> subsp. <i>badia</i> in the Central and Southern Iberian Peninsula

Eusebio Cano, Carmelo M. Musarella, Ana Cano-Ortiz, José C. Piñar Fuentes, Alfonso Rodríguez Torres, Sara Del Río González, Carlos J. Pinto Gomes, Ricardo Quinto-Canas, Giovanni Spampinato

We have studied Juniperus oxycedrus L. subsp. badia (H.Gay) Debeaux in the central and southern Iberian Peninsula, where the macrobioclimate ranges from Mediterranean-pluviseasonal-oceanic to Mediterranean-pluviseasonal-continental, and the thermotype from the thermo- to the supramediterranean. The relev&#233;s were taken following the Braun-Blanquet phytosociological methodology. A statistical treatment was applied to establish a separation among Juniperus communities. To understand the presence of Juniperus communities in territories dominated by species in the Quercus genus, we applied Thornthwaite&#8217;s formula to calculate potential evapotranspiration. The general cluster analysis clearly distinguishes two groups of plant communities and separates the different associations in each group. All the plant communities growing on rocky crests and in extremely steep sloping areas are significantly influenced by the soil. The ombroclimatic index does not explain the presence of plant communities influenced by substrate, so we proposed a new ombroedaphoxeric index which explains the presence of Juniperus communities in territories with a thermotype between the thermo- and supramediterranean. The areas of distribution of Juniperus species are expanding due to the spread of rocky areas; this phenomenon causes an increase in edaphoxerophilous areas and a decrease in climatophilous ones. We propose four new plant associations, with updated structures and floristic compositions. Efficient conservation is possible in both the territories studied (Spain and Portugal) through the implementation of specific cross-border cooperation projects.

2019

<i>Juniperion lagunae</i>, Cluster analysis, Cross-Border Cooperation, SCI areas, conservation, landscape evolution, ombroedaphoxeric index, phytosociology, sustainable development, territorial cohesion

10.3390/su11041111

Sustainability

MDPI AG

Environmental sciences, Environmental effects of industries and plants, Renewable energy sources