J. Jesús Casas

Riparian vegetation of two semi-arid Mediterranean rivers: Basin-scale responses of woody and herbaceous plants to environmental gradients

Mediterranean fluvial ecosystems are subjected to ever-increasing water demands and to a wide variety of other human impacts with potential negative effects on riparian vegetation. Nevertheless, few studies have compared the importance of human versus natural factors in structuring riparian vegetation in this region, particularly in semi-arid areas. We examined basin-scale responses of riparian vegetation to the main environmental gradient extracted by canonical correspondence analysis in two semi-arid Mediterranean rivers in southern Spain, considering different community attributes (woody, herbaceous, functional groups, and exotics species) and using different metrics (species composition, richness, and cover). The results show two main environmental gradients for riparian vegetation: a prime altitudinal gradient of increasing salinity towards the lower sites, and a second gradient of increasing water pollution and human physical impact parallel to the hydroperiod shortening. Species richness of woody and herbaceous life forms, and cover of woody species, reacted negatively to the increasing salinity downstream, a pattern that was driven by most functional groups. This is consistent with the key role of salinity for vegetation. Furthermore, as for other semi-arid riparian ecosystems, the decline in rainfall coupled with higher temperatures and evaporative stress at the lower elevation open-canopy sites may have constrained herbaceous species. Woody richness and cover declined with shorter hydroperiod and increasing human impacts, a response that was driven by mesic and hydric species. These results agree with the idea that surface flow permanence is an outstanding limiting factor for woody vegetation in semi-arid rivers, possibly exerting more influence on species richness than flood disturbance. However, herbs showed very little response to drought or human impacts compared to woody species, which may be related to the higher recovery rate from disturbance of herbaceous life forms, due to their shorter life-span and higher colonization rates. Generally, exotic species were positively affected by dissolved nutrients (N and P), especially exotic herbaceous richness and cover by nitrogen. As in other Mediterranean rivers, percentage richness of exotics in our rivers was substantially lower compared to fluvial ecosystems in other regions.

Changes in chironomid assemblage composition in two Mediterranean mountain streams over a period of extreme hydrological conditions

An opportunity to test Coffmans (1989) proposal that ecological heterogeneity is one of the main factors for chironomid species richness occurred when prolonged drought in southern Spain was broken by heavy rain. Chironomid assemblage composition was studied in two Mediterranean mountain first-order streams, one permanent and the other temporary. Samples were collected in the permanent stream over extreme hydrological conditions: 1991–95 with relatively low and stable flow, and 1996–97 with relatively high and unstable flow. The temporary stream flowed, and therefore was sampled, only during the second period. In the permanent stream, spate events resulted in a notable increase in species richness due to the arrival of 32 species and to the permanence of 81% of the species resident over the prespate period. This relatively high percentage suggests that chironomids, as a group, have important resilience properties. However, some species disappeared from the permanent stream after the spates and the considerable decrease in abundance of other species, shows that, at the species level, resilience may vary greatly within the Chironomidae. Most of the species that appeared in the temporary stream were the same as those of the permanent stream during the fast flow period despite the great ecological differences between the two streams under study, suggesting the key role of discharge in structuring chironomid assemblages. The outstanding exception was the fugitive species Orthocladius calvus, the most abundant species in the temporary stream during the initial successional stages but never collected in the permanent stream.

Farm Ponds as Potential Complementary Habitats to Natural Wetlands in a Mediterranean Region

We compared morphometric and physico-chemical characteristics of farm ponds and natural wetlands in Andalusia (southern Spain) to determine whether artificial waterbodies might act as alternative and/or complementary habitats for aquatic biodiversity. Farm ponds were much smaller than natural wetlands, making them unsuitable for species requiring large waterbodies. However, we observed high farm pond density in areas lacking natural wetlands, which suggests a prime role for the conservation of species with low dispersal capacities. Natural-substrate ponds were abundant in traditional extensive farming systems and showed shoreline complexity as high as the most complex natural wetlands. Areas with more intensive agriculture were dominated by artificial-substrate ponds and wetlands, with low physical complexity in both. The high copper load in sediments, due to the use of copper sulphate as biocide, differentiated the artificial-substrate ponds from natural-looking ponds and all natural wetland types. Aqueous mineral levels in farm ponds were much lower than in natural wetlands. We can conclude that farm ponds might play a principal role in region-wide habitat complementarity, by providing a relatively high density of small, permanent, oligohaline waterbodies that is not matched by natural wetland. To enhance this role, measures regulating both pond construction and management are needed, particularly for artificial-substrate ponds.

Leaf litter decomposition of native and introduced tree species of contrasting quality in headwater streams: how does the regional setting matter?

Terrestrial plant litter is important in sustaining stream food webs in forested headwaters. Leaf litter quality often decreases when native species are replaced by introduced species, and a lower quality of leaf litter inputs may alter litter decomposition at sites afforested with non-native species. However, since detritivore composition and resource use plasticity may depend on the prevalent litter inputs, the extent of the alteration in decomposition can vary between streams. We tested 2 hypotheses using 2 native and 3 introduced species of tree differing in quality in 4 Iberian regions with contrasting vegetational traits: 1) decomposition rates of all plant species would be higher in regions where streams normally receive litter inputs of lower rather than higher quality; 2) a higher resource-use plasticity of detritivores in regions vegetated with plants of lower litter quality will cause a greater evenness in decomposition rates among plant species compared to regions where streams normally receive higher-quality plant litter inputs. Results showed a highly consistent interspecific ranking of decomposition rates across regions driven by litter quality, and a significant regional effect. Hypothesis 1 was supported: decomposition rates of the five litter types were generally higher in streams from regions vegetated with species producing leaf litter of low quality, possibly due to the profusion of caddisfly shredders in their communities. Hypothesis 2 was not supported: the relative differences in decomposition rates among leaf litter species remained essentially unaltered across regions. Our results suggest that, even in regions where detritivores can be comparatively efficient using resources of low quality, caution is needed particularly when afforestation programs introduce plant species of lower litter quality than the native species.

Pond management and water quality for drip irrigation in Mediterranean intensive horticultural systems

The influence of pond management on water quality for drip-irrigated crops was studied throughout a field survey and a mesocosm experiment. Water sources were pooled into two groups: ground or surface water (GW/SW) and recycled wastewater. Pond covering, which was limited to about a quarter of them, improved water quality by reducing phytoplankton biomass. However, biocide applications and pond dredging were ineffective at improving in-pond water quality. Dredging did not reduce the concentrations of planktonic chlorophyll a or total suspended solids (TSS) in GW/SW fed ponds, whereas biocide applications increased both parameters. Field and experimental data proved that the two predominant taxa of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) found in ponds (Potamogeton pectinatus and Chara spp.) improved water quality by increasing water oxygenation and decreasing chlorophyll a and TSS concentrations. Preserving SAV (especially Chara spp.) appears to be an environment-friendly, cost-effective and recommendable alternative strategy for irrigation pond management.

Chironomid species richness of a permanent and a temporary Mediterranean stream: a long-term comparative study

Abstract Patterns of chironomid species richness were compared between 1 permanent and 1 temporary Mediterranean mountain stream in the same basin. From 1991 to 1995, pupal exuviae were collected at irregular intervals in the permanent stream, but the temporary stream was dry because of a long-lasting drought in the region. From March 1996 to March 2000, pupal exuviae were collected fortnightly in both streams. In contrast to other comparative studies that found more species in permanent than in temporary streams, our 2 streams harbored similar temporal γ and α diversity during the 1996 to 2000 study period. This result might be explained by the relatively long time the temporary stream was flowing. In addition, the temporary stream showed higher temporal β diversity than the permanent stream, a result that might be attributable to the greater variability in temperature and substrates in the temporary stream. Spates scarcely affected α diversity and favored colonization by new species in both streams, a result that supports the patch-dynamic concept of streams. A period of >1 y without spates also resulted in colonization by new species in the permanent stream, but led to a pool phase in the temporary stream that reduced α diversity considerably. Overall, both streams had similar chironomid species richness and species rarity and high faunal complementarity. These results support the view that temporary aquatic habitats deserve consideration in conservation plans designed to protect species and their habitats.

Physical, chemical, and management-related drivers of submerged macrophyte occurrence in Mediterranean farm ponds

The construction of ponds for irrigation has proliferated during last decades in Mediterranean regions. If properly constructed and managed, ponds may simultaneously meet conservation and agricultural objectives: the preservation of certain macrophytes might improve water quality for irrigation purposes. However, the effects of management are often neglected when analyzing the main drivers of organisms community structure. Here we investigated the effect of environmental variables, construction type and management practices on the occurrence of submerged macrophytes (vascular plants, charophytes, filamentous algae). Total submerged macrophyte coverage and richness did not vary with pond type, but the presence of submerged macrophytes was significantly higher in embankment ponds. Artificial ponds showed the highest charophyte richness but lowest vascular plant occurrence. Total submerged macrophyte occurrence mainly correlated with conductivity and littoral vegetation, whilst the relative importance of environmental factors was higher than variables related to pond type and management. However, embankment ponds showed the highest richness of vascular plants and filamentous algae, and artificial ponds contributed to the regional pool of charophyte species. Thus, construction pond type and management levels might be relevant to understand submerged macrophytes occurrence in man-made ponds, since the three pond types contributed to the local and regional species pool.

Agricultural Practices in the Mediterranean: A Case Study in Southern Spain

Abstract This chapter appraises the evolution of agricultural practices in the Mediterranean region. Since the early domestication of plants and animals over 10,000 years ago in the eastern Mediterranean, farming practices have been pivotal for the transformation of human society and the environment in this region. Such practices have fundamentally evolved to cope with fluctuating environmental conditions, eventually leading to highly resilient traditional socio-agro systems. In recent times, intensified farming has considerably increased productivity but, in turn, has impaired the environment and human welfare, which has threatened farming sustainability in certain areas. Three farming systems producing dietetically valued foods typically related to the Mediterranean diet are characterized in southern Spain: the extensive Iberian pig production system, the olive production system, and the greenhouse vegetable agro industry.This chapter appraises the evolution of agricultural practices in the Mediterranean region. Since the early domestication of plants and animals over 10,000 years ago in the eastern Mediterranean, farming practices have been pivotal for the transformation of human society and the environment in this region. Such practices have fundamentally evolved to cope with fluctuating environmental conditions, eventually leading to highly resilient traditional socio-agro systems. In recent times, intensified farming has considerably increased productivity but, in turn, has impaired the environment and human welfare, which has threatened farming sustainability in certain areas. Three farming systems producing dietetically valued foods typically related to the Mediterranean diet are characterized in southern Spain: the extensive Iberian pig production system, the olive production system, and the greenhouse vegetable agro industry.

Management effects on fungal assemblages in irrigation ponds: are biodiversity conservation and the control of phytopathogens compatible?

The study of fungi and fungus-like organisms in irrigation ponds has applied interest since waterborne phytopathogens can disperse through the irrigation system to the crop roots. We tested the hypothesis that manag- ing irrigation ponds to maintain high levels of biodiversity could entail agronomic benefits through the control of phytopathogens. The structure of assemblages of fungi and fungus-like taxa were characterized and compared us- ing samples taken from two strata depths (superficial and deep). This was done in four management/water source pond groups of southeastern Spain: groundwater-fed ponds with submerged aquatic vegetation stands (untreated SAV ponds); groundwater-fed ponds submitted to low and high doses of copper sulfate, and ponds fed with recy- cled urban wastewater bearing intermediate doses of copper sulfate. Higher density and diversity of fungi, besides a singular assemblage composition, were found in untreated SAV ponds compared to treated ponds, particularly for samples taken in the deep stratum. Phytopathogenicity of the main phytopathogens detected (Pythium isolates) was generally low and rather unaffected by the type of pond management. However, much evidence from poten- tial unsuitable hosts (submerged macrophyte species) and fungal composition (related to the presence of potential pathogen antagonists) suggests that managing ponds to preserve submerged vegetation might prove useful for controlling root rot diseases.

Climate-driven changes of riparian plant functional types in permanent headwater streams. Implications for stream food webs

Little is known regarding consequences of climate change on riparian plant functional types (PFTs) related to leaf traits, with putative domino effects on stream food webs, plausible even if the tipping point of stream-desiccation is not reached. We hypothesized that, as stream food-webs are highly dependent on riparian subsidies, climate change might alter PFTs to the point of weakening terrestrial-aquatic linkages. We conducted a gradient analysis to assess the relative effects of climate, soil and riparian physical characteristics on PFTs. If PFTs differ significantly in leaf traits and climate had major influences on them, we could assume space-for-time interchangeability forward in time to predict leaf traits changes, and consequences for stream food webs under future climate change scenarios. Results indicated a clear distinction in leaf traits among PFTs: woody deciduous plants showed leaf traits associated to high decomposability and nutritional value for invertebrate shredders compared to evergreen woody and giant graminoid groups. We found a prime role of climate predicting changes in abundance and diversity of PFTs: 1) a warming and precipitation-decline scenario, coupled with soil characteristics related to aridification, would have detrimental effects on deciduous plants, while fostering giant graminoids; 2) in a scenario of no precipitation-reduction in wetter areas, warming might promote the expansion of evergreen to the detriment of deciduous plants. In both scenarios the net outcome implies increasing recalcitrance of leaf litter inputs, potentially weakening terrestrial-aquatic linkages in headwater streams.