Juan Francisco Mota Poveda

Can gypsophytes distinguish different types of gypsum habitats

Abstract From an ecological point of view, gypsum outcrops and their corresponding vegetation are not yet fully understood. Most of the studies have concentrated on merely describing these plant communities. However, some researchers have tried to differentiate between these scrublands not only in terms of their geographical location, but also in terms of their ecological behaviour. Our botanical, edaphic and ecophysiological study, which adopts this last approach, makes use of chlorophyll fluorescence to distinguish the small—sized and sparse scrublands growing on gypsum barrens from the very different shrublike Ononis tridentata communities in the gypsum outcrop of the karst in Sorbas (Almería, Spain). In the three gypsophytes used to measure chlorophyll fluorescence values (Gypsophila struthium, Helianthemum squamatum and Teucrium turredanum), the records reveal that the environment has an impact on the Fv/Fm minimum values, however different the reaction of the species may be.

Conceptual baseline for a global checklist of gypsophytes

espanolEl vinculo entre las plantas y los suelos de yeso (gipsofilia) puede remontarse hasta el siglo XIX. Durante los ultimos anos ha sido creciente el numero de articulos que se han ocupado, desde diferentes puntos de vista, de esta flora tan peculiar. La existencia de costras en el suelo, la xericidad y los desequilibrios nutricionales que afrontan estas plantas, algunas de ellas acumuladoras de ciertos minerales, las convierte en interesantes objetos de estudio a diferentes escalas, desde la molecular a la biogeografica y macroecologica. Estas plantas pueden representar un interesante modelo para el estudio de la evolucion y especiacion vegetal por el gran numero de endemismos que se concentran en los yesos, algunos de ellos muy locales y en no pocos casos seriamente amenazados. De hecho, la Directiva Habitats de la UE no solo incluye varias especies gipsofilas, sino que considera a los afloramientos de yeso un habitat prioritario. La creacion de un catalogo o checklist de gipsofitos a nivel global puede impulsar el conocimiento de esta interesante flora. Sin embargo, puesto que existen muchos territorios yesiferos repartidos por todas las regiones de la Tierra, la elaboracion de este listado requiere la participacion de un gran numero de investigadores y expertos locales. Para construir esa checklist, cuatro aspectos fueron considerados de interes en esta investigacion. En primer lugar la discusion en torno a si pueden ser considerados sinonimos “planta gipso-tolerante” (capaz de crecer sobre el yeso) y gipsofito, por analogia con “planta resistente a la salinidad” y halofito (o “tolerancia a la salinidad” y “halofilia”). Esta discusion se extenderia a los conceptos de gipso-tolerante y gipsofilia. En segundo lugar esta la cuestion terminologica que afecta sobre todo a las palabras derivadas de la raiz gyps- (gipsofilo, gipsicola, gypsovago,…), asi como a toda una serie de adjetivos complementarios (estricto, verdadero, preferente, extendido,…). En este caso la cuestion fundamental es si gipsofito y gipsofilo pueden emplearse indistintamente. La tercera cuestion esta relacionada con los suelos yesiferos o quizas sea mejor decir con los horizontes gipsicos ya que el contenido en yeso de los mismos puede ser critico a la hora de discriminar entre un gipsofito y una especie que no lo sea. El cuarto aspecto tiene que ver con la posibilidad de utilizar la composicion quimica o estequiometrica para distinguir a los gipsofitos de las plantas que no lo son o, al menos, para separar la estrategia acumuladora de otras estrategias nutricionales. Y quedaria un quinto, poner sobre la mesa aunque sea de forma somera, aquellos territorios (en este caso paises) de los que se tiene noticia que pueden tener una flora gipsofila. Tras examinar estas cuestiones a traves de la revision de 91 articulos obtenidos de una busqueda en Scopus, es evidente que no se pueden considera sinonimos la gipso-tolerancia y la gisofilia. Ademas, los gipsofitos, al menos de momento, no pueden definirse de otra manera que no sea recurriendo al criterio clasico o inductivo, i.e., plantas que crecen exclusivamente en el yeso. Por lo que respecta al suelo, el nivel de yeso que soporta la vegetacion gipsofila suele estar frecuentemente muy por encima del 50%. Por otra parte, aunque entre los gipsofitos es frecuente la estrategia acumuladora, en especial de Ca y S, no es un rasgo generalizable como tampoco lo es que esos minerales se concentren exclusivamente en las hojas. Las raices, al menos en el caso del Ca, tambien pueden acumular grandes cantidades. Hasta ahora la investigacion sobre la gipsofilia se ha concentrado en unos 10 paises, lo que contrasta con los 75 en los que se han encontrado referencias o indicios que pueden albergar flora gipsofila, circunstancia que pone de manifiesto el interes de elaborar una checklist para favorecer el conocimiento de este tipo de flora. EnglishThe link between plants and gypsum soil dates back to the 19th century. In recent years, an increasing number of articles have dealt with this very special type of flora from various perspectives. The existence of crusts on the soil, xericity and nutritional imbalances that these plants – some of which are mineral accumulators – are submitted to, have turned them into interesting subjects of study at different levels, from the molecular to the biogeographical and macroecological ones. These plants might represent a relevant model for research on vegetal evolution and specialization, due to the high number of endemisms that concentrate on gypsum, some of them very local and seriously endangered in many cases. As a matter of fact, the Habitats Directive in the E.U. does not only include several gypsophile species, but it also considers gypsum outcrops priority habitats. The creation of a global gypsophytes checklist may favour the possibility to increase knowledge about this interesting flora further. Nevertheless, as there are many gypsum territories in the world, the elaboration of such a list demands the participation of an ever growing number of researchers and local experts. Four aspects have been deemed of interest in this research for the creation of a checklist: Firstly, discussion about whether to consider “gypsum-tolerant plant” and “gypsophyte” (gypso- from the Greek, gypsum and –phyte, plant) as synonymous terms or not, as happens with “salt-tolerant plant” and “halophyte” (or “salt tolerance” and “halophily”). In the second place, there is the terminological question that affects all those words derived from the root gyps- (gypsophile, gypsicolous, gypsovag …) which should be standardized so as to facilitate scientific communication. The third question is related to the gypsiferous soils, or maybe it would better to call them gypsic horizons as the gypsum contents of these can be critical in order to discriminate between gypsophytes and plants that are not so. The fourth aspect deals with the possibility to use chemical composition or stoichiometry in order to discriminate between gypsophytes and the rest of plants, or at least, to discriminate between the accumulative strategy and other nutritional strategies. Finally, a fifth aspect remains to be discussed, highlighting, at least superficially, which territories (in this case, countries) are those where the putative existence of gypsophile flora is believed to appear. Having examined these questions through the revision of 91 papers resulting from a search on Scopus it is clear that gypsum-tolerance and gypsophily cannot be accepted as synonyms. In addition, gypsophytes, at least for the time being, cannot be defined in any other way but resorting to the classical or inductive criterion, i.e., plants growing exclusively on gypsum. As regards soils, the level of gypsum gypsophile vegetation can tolerate is frequently over 50%. Apart from that, although the accumulator strategy is common among gypsophytes, especially of Ca and S, this is not a trait that can be generalized, as is not the fact that these minerals should concentrate on leaves. Roots, at least in the case of Ca, can also accumulate large quantities. So far, research on gypsophily has focused on around ten countries, which is noteworthy when compared to the 75 where references or signs of gysophile flora have been found; this makes it even more interesting to elaborate a checklist that could broaden knowledge in this area.

The application of vegetation cartography and databases to the management and conservation of the biodiversity: an approach from the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula.

Abstract The vegetation cartography is a tool with an enormous potential for the management and conservation of biodiversity. Within the framework of an Andalusian project, we have carried out an accurate cartography (scale 1:10.000) of the flora and vegetation of 300.000 ha of the province of Almería. Due to the heterogeneity of this large area, the collected data allow us to do a quantitative assessment of the territory and determinate which are the richest patches from different points of view. The results emphasise that the semiarid lowlands and the Murciano—Almerienses territories are as rich and diverse than the Baetic sierras. The seasonal rivers are significant biodiversity reserves as well as the littoral dunes. The endangered flora tends to occur in the peaks of Sierra de Gádor, the Eastern coast, the gypsum outcrops and the subsaline marls of the sub—deserts of Almería. Lately, the holm oaks vegetation series are the most natural ones and those with higher vegetation cover. All these results must be guidelines in the management politics of natural protected areas and future SCIs in order to stop the current biodiversity loss in Almería.

Los pastizales anuales semiáridos del sector Almeriense: Spergulo fallacis-Plantaginetum ovatae, una nueva comunidad endémica

Tras estudiar los pastizales de ambientes semitiridos de Almeria, creemos que es conveniente designar una nueva asociacion: Spergulo fallacis-Plantaginetum ovatae , que se presenta sobre suelos nitriticados y limosos de ombroclimna semiarido en el piso termomediterraneo.La comunidad se encuadra dentro de la alianza Stipion retortae Br.-BI. ex O. Bolos 1956 ( Trachynietalia distachyae Rivas-Martinez 1978; Thero-Brachypodietea Br-BI. ex A. De Bolos y Vayreda 1950) y se distingue de las demas por la presencia constante de Spergula fallax , taxon distribuido por zonas aridas desde el Norte de Africa hasta el centro de Asia, cuyas unicas poblaciones europeas se dan en la provincia de Almeria.