Habitat quality assessment of Atlantic wet heathlands in Serra do Xistral, NW Spain

  1. C.V. Muñoz-Barcia 1
  2. L. Lagos 1
  3. C.A. Blanco-Arias 2
  4. R. Díaz-Varela 2
  5. J. Fagúndez 1
  1. 1 Universidade da Coruña
    info

    Universidade da Coruña

    La Coruña, España

    ROR https://ror.org/01qckj285

  2. 2 Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
    info

    Universidade de Santiago de Compostela

    Santiago de Compostela, España

    ROR https://ror.org/030eybx10

Revista:
Cuadernos de investigación geográfica: Geographical Research Letters
  1. Lasanta Martínez, Teodoro (ed. lit.)

ISSN: 0211-6820 1697-9540

Ano de publicación: 2019

Volume: 45

Número: 2

Páxinas: 533-549

Tipo: Artigo

DOI: 10.18172/CIG.3628 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openDialnet editor

Outras publicacións en: Cuadernos de investigación geográfica: Geographical Research Letters

Resumo

The assessment of habitat quality, especially in semi-natural managed systems, provides a powerful tool for monitoring short and long-term conservation actions. The Erica mackayana Atlantic wet heathlands of the Serra do Xistral protected area in Galicia, NW Spain, represent a dynamic system with high conservation value associated to traditional management through grazing of free-ranging cattle and wild ponies. Here, we aimed to develop a spatially-explicit, quantitative method for Habitat Quality Assessment, defining an optimum state and the alternative states that may arise from habitat degradation. Vegetation structure, grass-shrub cover ratio, gorse cover, presence of bracken, exotic species such as pine trees and saplings, erosive events and altered hydrological dynamics were identified as the main indicators of habitat degradation. A heterogeneous vegetation structure with a dominant shrub cover of c.0.5 m height and constant gaps among shrubs, with a limited cover of gorse and absence of pine trees, bramble and bracken, and absence of erosive events was recognized as the optimum state. We applied the Habitat Quality Assessment (HQA) method to a pilot area within the Xistral protected site. Wet heathland was the dominant habitat, covering 37.1% of the area. 7.0% of the assessed heathlands were recognized as in the optimum state for habitat quality. Recommendations are made for habitat management to revert low scores, mainly by the adjustment of livestock numbers and the removal of exotic pine trees.

Información de financiamento

This study was financed by the EU LIFE+ program through the LIFE IN COMMON LAND project (LIFE16 NAT/ES/000707).

Financiadores

Referencias bibliográficas

  • Aldezabal, A., Mandaluniz, N., Laskurain, N.A. 2013. Gorse (Ulex spp.) use by ponies in winter: Is the spatial pattern of browsing independent of the neighbouring vegetation? Grass and Forage Science 68, 49-58. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2494.2012.00865.x.
  • Alonso, I., Härdtle, W. 2015. Resolving potential conflicts between different heathland ecosystem services through adaptive management. Ecological Questions 21, 101-103. http://doi.org/10.12775/EQ.2015.017.
  • Bárcena, F. 2012. Garranos: Os póneis selvagens (Equus ferus sp.) do norte da Península Ibérica. In: Livro de Atas, I Congresso Internacional do Garrano, Arcos de Valdevez, 23-25 september 2011, pp 75-96.
  • Bokdam, J., Gleichman, J.M. 2000. Effects of grazing by free-ranging cattle on vegetation dynamics in a continental north-west European heathland. Journal of Applied Ecology 37, 415–431. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2664.2000.00507.x.
  • Bried, J.T., Jog, S.K., Matthews, J.W. 2013. Floristic quality assessment signals human disturbance over natural variability in a wetland system. Ecological indicators 34, 260-267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2013.05.012.
  • CNIG (Centro Nacional de Información Geográfica) 2018. PNOA Ortophotos. Avaliable at: http://centrodedescargas.cnig.es/CentroDescargas/catalogo.do?Serie=INTMI (last access: 24/10/2018).
  • Consellería de Medio Ambiente, Territorio e Vivienda. 2018. Serra do Xistral. Avaliable at: https://cmaot.xunta.gal/seccion-tema/c/Conservacion?content=Direccion_Xeral_Conservacion_Natureza/Espazos_protexidos/seccion.html⊂=Rede_natura_2000/&ui=Direccion_Xeral_Conservacion_Natureza/Dinamico/Lic/lic_0055.html (last access: 23/10/2018).
  • Corbane, C., Lang, S., Pipkins, K., Alleaume, S., Deshayes, M., García Millán, V.E., Strasser, T., Vanden Borre, J., Toon, S., Michael, F. 2015. Remote sensing for mapping natural habitats and their conservation status – New opportunities and challenges. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation 37, 7–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2014.11.005.
  • Cordingley, J.E., Newton, A.C., Rose, R.J., Clarke, R.T., Bullock, J.M. 2015. Habitat fragmentation intensifies trade-offs between biodiversity and ecosystem services in a heathland ecosystem in southern England. PloS One 10 (6), e0130004. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0130004.
  • de la Hoz, F.M., Oliet, J.A., Abellanas, O.B., Cuadros, S., Fernández, P., Zamora, R. 2004. Manual de ordenación de montes de Andalucía. Consejería de medio Ambiente de la Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla, 365 pp.
  • Díaz-Varela, R.A., Iglesias, S.C., Castro, C.C., Varela, E.D. 2018. Sub-metric analisis of vegetation structure in bog-heathland mosaics using very high resolution rpas imagery. Ecological Indicators 89, 861-873. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2017.11.068.
  • European Environment Agency (EEA) 2018. EUNIS habitat classification. Available at: https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/data/eunis-habitat-classification (last access: 05/06/2018).
  • European Space Agency (ESA) 2018. Sentinel Data Products of the Copernicus Data and Information Access Service. Available at: https://sentinel.esa.int/web/sentinel/sentinel-data-access (last access: 24/10/2018).
  • Fagúndez, J. 2013. Heathlands confronting global change: drivers of biodiversity loss from past to future scenarios. Annals of Botany 111 (2), 151-172. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcs257.
  • Fagúndez, J. 2016. Grazing effects on plant diversity in the endemic Erica mackayana heathland community of north-west Spain. Plant Ecology & Diversity 9 (2), 207-217. https://doi.org/10.1080/17550874.2016.1191555.
  • Fagúndez, J. 2018. Canopy height and competition explain species segregation in wet heathlands. Journal of Vegetation Science 29, 765-774. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.12661.
  • García, R.R., Fraser, M.D., Celaya, R., Ferreira, L.M.M., García, U., Osoro, K. 2013. Grazing land management and biodiversity in the Atlantic European heathlands: a review. Agroforestry Systems 87(1), 19-43. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-012-9519-3.
  • Garshelis, D.L. 2000. Delusions in habitat evaluation: measuring use, selection, and importance. In: L. Boitani, T.K. Fuller (Eds.) Research techniques in animal ecology: controversies and consequences. Columbia University Press, New York, pp. 111-164.
  • Gibbons, P., Freudenberger, D. 2006. An overview of methods used to assess vegetation condition at the scale of the site. Ecological Management & Restoration 7, 10-17. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-8903.2006.00286.x.
  • Gimingham, C.H. 1975. An introduction to heathland ecology. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh, 124 pp.
  • Hall, L.S., Krausman, P.R., Morrison, M.L. 1997. The habitat concept and a plea for standard terminology. Wildlife Society Bulletin 25, 173-182.
  • Hellawell, J.M. 1991. Development of a rationale for monitoring. In: F.B. Goldsmith (Ed.), Monitoring for Conservation and Ecology. Springer Netherlands, Dordrecht, pp. 1-14.
  • Holden, J., Shotbolt, L., Bonn, A., Burt, T.P., Chapman, P.J., Dougill, A.J., Fraser, E.D.G., Hubacek, K., Irvine, B., Kirkby, M.J., Reed, M.S., Prell, C., Stagl, S., Stringer, L.C., Turner, A., Worrall, F. 2007. Environmental change in moorland landscapes. Earth-Science Reviews 82, 75-100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2007.01.003.
  • Hooftman, D. A., Edwards, B., Bullock, J. M. 2016. Reductions in connectivity and habitat quality drive local extinctions in a plant diversity hotspot. Ecography 39 (6), 583592. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.01503.
  • Iglesia, P. 1973. Los caballos gallegos explotados en régimen de libertad o caballos salvajes de Galicia. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Facultad de Veterinaria, 1.205 pp.
  • JNCC (Joint Nature Conservation Committee) 2004. Common Standards for Monitoring Guidance - Lowland Heathland. Petersborough, U.K.
  • Lagos, L. 2013. Ecología del lobo (Canis lupus), del poni salvaje (Equus ferus atlanticus) y del ganado vacuno semiextensivo (Bos taurus) en Galicia: interacciones depredador-presa. Ph.D Thesis. Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, 458 pp.
  • Loidi, J., Biurrun, I., Campos, J.A., García‐Mijangos, I., Herrera, M. 2010. A biogeographical analysis of the European Atlantic lowland heathlands. Journal of Vegetation Science 21 (5), 832-842. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1654-1103.2010.01204.x.
  • Marrs, R.H., 1987. Studies on the Conservation of Lowland Calluna Heaths. I. Control of Birch and Bracken and its Effect on Heath Vegetation. Journal of Applied Ecology 24, 163-175. https://doi.org/10.2307/2403795.
  • Marrs, R.H., Hicks, M.J., Fuller, R.M. 1986. Losses of lowland heath through succession at four sites in Breckland, East Anglia, England. Biological Conservation 36, 19-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3207(86)90099-6.
  • McCarthy, M.A., Parris, K.M., Van Der Ree, R., McDonnell, M.J., Burgman, M.A., Williams, N.S.G., McLean, N., Harper, M.J., Meyer, R., Hahs, A., Coates, T. 2004. The habitat hectares approach to vegetation assessment: an evaluation and suggestions for improvement. Ecological Management & Restoration 5 (1), 24-27. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-8903.2004.00173.x.
  • Michez, A., Piégay, H., Lisein, J., Claessens, H., Lejeune, P., 2016. Classification of riparian forest species and health condition using multi-temporal and hyperspatial imagery from unmanned aerial system. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 188, 146. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4996-2.
  • Morán-Ordóñez, A., Bugter, R., Suárez-Seoane, S., de Luis, E., Calvo, L. 2013. Temporal changes in socio-ecological systems and their impact on ecosystem services at different governance scales: a case study of heathlands. Ecosystems 16 (5), 765-782. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-013-9649-0.
  • Nuñez, C., Scorolli, A., Lagos, L., Berman, D., Kane, A. 2016. Management of free-roaming horses. In: J.I. Ransom, P. Kaczensky (Eds.) Wild equids. Ecology, management, and conservation. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, pp. 133-148.
  • Parkes, D., Newell, G., Cheal, D. 2003. Assessing the quality of native vegetation: the ‘habitat hectares’ approach. Ecological Management & Restoration 4, 29-38. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1442-8903.4.s.4.x.
  • Pywell, R.F., Meek, W.R., Webb, N.R., Putwain, P.D., Bullock, J.M. 2011. Long-term heathland restoration on former grassland: the results of a 17-year experiment. Biological Conservation 144 (5), 1602-1609. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2011.02.010.
  • Tehrany, M.S., Kumar, L., Drielsma, M.J. 2017. Review of native vegetation condition assessment concepts, methods and future trends. Journal for Nature Conservation 40, 12-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnc.2017.08.004.
  • Vandvik, V., Heegaard, E., Maren, I.E., Aarrestad, P.A., 2005. Managing heterogeneity: the importance of grazing and environmental variation on post-fire succession in heathlands. Journal of Applied Ecology 42, 139-149. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2005.00982.x.
  • Webb, N.R. 1998. The traditional management of European heathlands. Journal of Applied Ecology 35 (6), 987-990. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.1998.tb00020.x.