A SPATIAL PATTERN ANALYSIS OF LANDSCAPE CHANGES BETWEEN 1956-1999 OF PINUS HALEPENSIS MILLER PLANTATIONS IN MONTES DE MALAGA STATE PARK (ANDALUSIA, SPAIN)

作者：Navarro Cerrillo R M^*; Guzman Alvarez J R; Clavero Rumbao I; Ceaceros C

来源：Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 2013, 11(2): 293-311.

• diversity
• fragmentation
• landscape metrics
• vegetation cover
• Mediterranean ecosystem

Changes in forest diversity and the conversion of coniferous plantations into more natural woodlands are of the especial interest in the Mediterranean. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in land use patterns and vegetation cover from 1956 to 1999 in Pinus halepensis Miller plantations in Montes of Malaga State Park (southern Spain). At a landscape level, a FRAGSTAT analysis was performed using aerial photograph series. At the community level, a total of 47 sample plots were analyzed. Field measurements indicate the presence of a total of 70 species in the different vegetation types sampled. Diversity indices showed a higher species richness for Aleppo pine plantations (H = 1.54 +/- 0.2; D = 3.88 +/- 0.6), while Holm oak forests (H = 1.37 +/- 0.1; D = 3.35 +/- 0.6) and agricultural land (H = 1.33 +/- 0.01; D = 2.80 +/- 0.03) had lower values. FRAGSTATS analyses at landscape and class levels indicated increases in patch richness, number of patches, and percent of landscape mainly for pine plantations, Holm oak forests and shrub. Replacement of agricultural uses by conifer plantations led to a homogenization of landscape structure. This shift has modified the landscape by recovering a natural indigenous tree species, and improving the regeneration of Holm oak species, which are stabilizing and protecting the future establishment of native forests in this area. Our findings suggest that pine plantations could favour woody species diversity by increasing individual abundance and species richness in contrast to the situation in non forested agricultural land.

• 出版日期2013