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Oak Regeneration: Ecological Dynamics and Restoration Techniques

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Mediterranean Oak Woodland Working Landscapes

Part of the book series: Landscape Series ((LAEC,volume 16))

Abstract

The acreage of oak woodlands has decreased in California and Spain, especially in the twentieth century. Currently, most surviving stands in Spain suffer from oak regeneration failure and it has been noted as a problem in many stands in California. A lack of dispersers transferring acorns to safe (shaded) sites is the main recruitment limitation in dehesas, where shrub encroachment generally results in higher oak recruitment rates. In California, recruitment failure is due to a combination of factors. The effects of introduced Mediterranean annuals, heavy livestock grazing, fire suppression, and predation by native and non-native wildlife on acorns and seedlings are all implicated, depending on locale and time period. Afforestation has been the main instrument for addressing the regeneration problem, especially in Spain. Natural regeneration at local scales is favored by shrubs, but also supported by protecting seedlings and by modifying the environment so young oaks can grow to a safe height. Complete livestock exclusion is of limited value in California as it hampers seedling establishment due to increasing rodent density. In dehesas, however, natural regeneration can only occur in seasonally grazed or wholly ungrazed sites, though livestock-dependent landowners are generally reluctant to carry out these measures.

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Acknowledgments

The authors want to thank two anonymous referees for constructive criticisms on an earlier draft.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Grupo de Investigación Forestal, Universidad de Extremadura, E-10600, Plasencia, Spain

    Fernando Pulido

  2. UC Sierra Foothill Research and Extension, University of California, 8279 Scott Forbes Road, Browns Valley, California, 95918, USA

    Doug McCreary

  3. Forest Research Center, National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology, Ctra. de la Coruña km. 7,5, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Isabel Cañellas

  4. School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, 325 Biosciences East Tucson, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA

    Mitchel McClaran

  5. Ecosystem Services Research Group, Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Jägerstr 22/23, 10117, Berlin, Germany

    Tobias Plieninger

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  1. Fernando Pulido
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  2. Doug McCreary
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  3. Isabel Cañellas
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  4. Mitchel McClaran
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  5. Tobias Plieninger
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fernando Pulido .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Institute of Public Goods and Policies, Spanish National Research Council, Albasanz 26-28, Madrid, 28037, Madrid, Spain

    Pablo Campos

  2. , Dept. Environ. Sci. Policy Manage., University of California at Berkeley, 130 Mulford Hall MC 3114, Berkeley, 94720, California, USA

    Lynn Huntsinger

  3. , Institute of Public Goods and Policies, Spanish National Research Council, Albasanz 26-28, Madrid, 28037, Madrid, Spain

    Jose Luis Oviedo Pro

  4. , Department of Geography, University of Nevada at Reno, MacKay Science Mail Stop, Reno, 89557, Nevada, USA

    Paul F Starrs

  5. , Biogeography and Global Change, Spanish National Research Council, Serrano 115 bis, Madrid, 28006, Madrid, Spain

    Mario Diaz

  6. , Dept of Environ Sci Policy and Manage, University of California at Berkeley, 130 Mulford Hall MC 3114, Berkeley, 94720, California, USA

    Richard B Standiford

  7. , Centro de Investigación Forestal, Inst Nacl Invest Tecnol Agrar Aliment, Ctra. de La Coruña, km 7.5, Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Gregorio Montero

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Pulido, F., McCreary, D., Cañellas, I., McClaran, M., Plieninger, T. (2013). Oak Regeneration: Ecological Dynamics and Restoration Techniques. In: Campos, P., et al. Mediterranean Oak Woodland Working Landscapes. Landscape Series, vol 16. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6707-2_5

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