Abstract
This paper analyzes the effect of the spatial characteristics and intensity of land use on vascular plant species richness in Castanea (Chestnut) woodlots of the northwestern Iberian Peninsula included in the category “9260 Castanea sativa woodland” (Annex I, DC 92/43 European Community). Digital maps were used to characterize 30 woodlots for which land use intensity was estimated and all plants found were inventoried. The results show that woodlot shape and land use intensity have a significant effect on vascular plant richness and indicator species number. However, an analysis of the interaction between woodlot characteristics and land use intensity suggests that the response of vascular plant species to land use intensity does not exhibit a uniform pattern and that it is modulated by the shape of the woodlots. We conclude that restricting the use of these types of woods to traditional practices must be determined in keeping with the specific characteristics of each woodlot, since the moderate management of Castanea sativa woodlots of the northwest Iberian Peninsula may continue to play an important role to maintaining plant species diversity in this area.
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Acknowledgments
We would like to express our gratitude to Asier R. Larrinaga, Patricia Martínez-Leyenda, Tania Veiga and José Guitián for their help at various stages of the project. Two anonymous referees contributed with their comments to improve the original version. The study of the Chestnut woodlots was funded by the “Dirección Xeral de Investigación of the Xunta de Galicia” through the sectorial research program on Biodiversity. The “Dirección Xeral de Medio Rural” provided the human and material resources for the execution of the cartography of the woodlots. A.M. received a Basque Government FPI fellowship.
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Guitián, J., Guitián, P., Magrach, A. et al. Effect of management and spatial characteristics on plant species richness of Castanea sativa Mill. woodlots in the NW Iberian Peninsula. J For Res 17, 98–104 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10310-011-0261-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10310-011-0261-x