Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Valuing acorn dispersal and resprouting capacity ecological functions to ensure Mediterranean forest resilience after fire

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
European Journal of Forest Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Ecological processes within forests provide vital ecosystem services to society, most of which depend on the persistence of tree cover that can be altered after the impact of a disturbance. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of seed dispersal and resprouting that mediate resilience to large fires and evaluate the economic costs that these ecological functions provide. We used field data from 412 plots of the Spanish National Forest Inventory providing information on pre- and post-fire conditions of Mediterranean Pinus spp. and Quercus spp.-dominated forests. Then, we determined the need for restoration (N Rest) and estimated the minimum pre-fire densities needed to ensure adequate post-fire cover. Economic valuations were assessed through three different scenarios (Sc) of possible human-management actions aimed at ensuring proper post-fire tree cover: Sc. 1) a pre-fire management scenario evaluating the costs of planting Quercus spp. seedlings in the understory, mimicking the whole dispersal function; Sc. 2) a pre-fire scenario in which enrichment plantations increased the densities of natural oaks; and Sc. 3) a post-fire scenario where the restoration is done through planting pines within the burned area. Approximately 90% of the burned area (371 out of 412 plots) was able to recover after fire supporting the view that Mediterranean forests are resilient to fire. This resilience was primarily mediated by biotic seed dispersal and posterior resprouting of tree species. These ecological functions saved between 626 and 1,326 €/ha compared to the human-management actions. Ensuring key ecological processes within forests increases forest resilience and recovery after fire leading to a generally significant saving of economic resources. In a perspective of increased future impact of disturbances and decrease availability of economic resources for forest management, the implications of the present study can be far reaching and extended to other forest planning exercises.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Using the cheapest techniques available and without considering extra potential costs of seedlings replacement following post-planting failures caused by environmental factors from Catalonian public forest enterprise fares.

References

  • Broncano MJ, Retana J, Rodrigo A (2005) Predicting the recovery of Pinus halepensis and Quercus ilex forests after a large wildfire in northeastern Spain. Plant Ecol 180:47–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castro J, Moreno-Rueda G, Hódar J (2010) Experimental test of postfire management in pine forests: impact of salvage logging versus partial cutting and nonintervention on bird–species assemblages. Conserv Biol 24:810–819

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Curt T, Adra W, Borgniet L (2009) Fire-driven oak regeneration in French Mediterranean ecosystems. For Ecol Manag 258:2127–2135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daily GC (1997) Nature’s services: societal dependence on natural ecosystems. Island Press, Washington (DC)

    Google Scholar 

  • DGCN (2005) Tercer inventario forestal nacional. (1997–2007): Cataluña. Ministerio de Medio, Ambiente, Madrid

    Google Scholar 

  • Espelta J, Retana J, Habrouk A (2003) An economic and ecological multi-criteria evaluation of reforestation methods to recover burned Pinus nigra forests in NE Spain. For Ecol Manag 180:185–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forestal Catalana (2007) Banc de Forestal Catalana SA (FCSA) per a la realització d’obres i treballs forestals a Catalunya, Barcelona

  • Gómez JM (2003) Spatial patterns in long-distance dispersal of Quercus ilex acorns by jays in a heterogeneous landscape. Ecography 26:573–584

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gómez JM, Valladares F, Puerta-Piñero C (2004) Differences between structural and functional environmental heterogeneity caused by seed dispersal. Funct Ecol 18:787–792

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gómez-Aparicio L, Zavala MA, Bonet F, Zamora R (2009) Are pine plantations valid tools for restoring Mediterranean forests? An assessment along gradients of climatic conditions, stand density and distance to seed sources. Ecol App 19:2124–2141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González JR, Palahí M, Pukkala T (2005a) Integrating fire risk considerations in forest management planning in Spain- a landscape perspective. Landscape Ecol 20:957–970

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González JR, Pukkala T, Palahí M (2005b) Optimising the management of Pinus sylvestris L. stand under risk of fire in Catalonia (north-east of Spain). Ann For Sci 62:493–501

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González JR, Trasobares A, Palahí M, Pukkala T (2007) Predicting stand damage and tree survival in burned forests in Catalonia (North-East Spain). Ann For Sci 64:733–742

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González-Moreno P, Quero JL, Poorter L, Bonet FJ, Zamora R (2011) Is spatial structure the key to promote plant diversity in Mediterranean forest plantations? Basic Appl Ecol doi:10.1016/j.baae.2011.02.012

  • Holling C (1973) Resilience and stability of ecological systems. Ann Rev Ecol Sys 4:1–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hooper D, Chapin F III, Ewel J, Hector A, Inchausti P, Lavorel S, Lawton J, Lodge D, Loreau M, Naeem S (2005) Effects of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning: a consensus of current knowledge. Ecol monographs 75:3–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hougner C, Colding J, Söderquist T (2006) Economic valuation of a seed dispersal service in the Stockholm National Urban Park, Sweden. Ecol Econ 59:364–374

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huberman D (2009) A gateway to payments for ecosystem services: using payments for ecosystem services for livelihoods and landscapes. IUCN, Gland, p 35

    Google Scholar 

  • ICONA (1993–2000) Segundo Inventario Forestal Nacional 1986–1995. Cataluña: Lleida & Barcelona. ICONA, MAPA, Madrid

  • IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) (2007) Climate change 2007: the physical science basis. Contribution of working group I to the fourth assessment report of the IPCC

  • Kremen C (2005) Managing ecosystem services: what do we need to know about their ecology? Ecol Lett 8:468–479

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kremen C, Williams NM, Aizen M, Gemmill-Herren B, LeBuhn G, Minckley R et al (2007) Pollination and other ecosystem services produced by mobile organisms: a conceptual framework for the effects of land-use change. Ecol Lett 10:299–314

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Luck GW, Harrington R, Harrison PA, Kremen C, Berry PM, Bugter R, Dawson TP, De Bello F, Diaz S, Feld CK, Haslett JR, Hering D, Kontogianni A, Lavorel S, Rounsevell M, Samways MJ, Sandin L, Settele J, Sykes MT, Van Den Hove S, Vandewalle M, Zobel M (2009) Quantifying the contribution of organisms to the provision of ecosystem services. Bioscience 59:223–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mäler K, Aniyar S, Jansson Å (2008) Accounting for ecosystem services as a way to understand the requirements for sustainable development. Proc Nat Acad Sci 105:9501

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Merlo M, Croitoru L (2005) Valuing Mediterranean forests: towards total economic value. CABI Publishing

  • Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) Ecosystems and human well-being: biodiversity synthesis. World Resources Institute, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Naidoo R, Ricketts T (2006) Mapping the economic costs and benefits of conservation. Plos Biol 4:2153–2164

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pemán J, Navarro-Cerrillo R (1998) Repoblaciones Forestales. Ed. Universidad de Lleida, Lleida

  • Pons J, Pausas J (2008) Modelling jay (Garrulus glandarius) abundance and distribution for oak regeneration assessment in Mediterranean landscapes. For Ecol Manag 256:578–584

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prévosto B, Monnier Y, Ripert C, Fernandez C (2011) Diversification of Pinus halepensis forests by sowing Quercus ilex and Quercus pubescens acorns: testing the effects of different vegetation and soil treatments. Eur J For Res 130:67–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Puerta-Piñero C, Gómez J, Valladares F (2007) Irradiance and oak seedling survival and growth in a heterogeneous environment. For Ecol Manag 242:462–469

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Puettmann K, Messier C, a Coates K (2008) A critique of silviculture: managing for complexity. Island Pr, Montreal

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodrigo AI (2006) Integrated management of wildland fires. For Ecol Manag 234:S255–S255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodrigo A, Retana J, Picó X (2004) Direct regeneration is not the only response of Mediterranean forests to large fires. Ecology 85:716–729

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SCBD (Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity) (2001) The value of forest ecosystems, Montreal

  • Thompson I, Mackey B, McNulty S, Mosseler A (2009) Forest resilience, biodiversity, and climate change: a synthesis of the biodiversity/resilience/stability relationship in forest ecosystems. Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Montreal

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Ryan Chisholm and several anonymous referees for their review of this manuscript. Cian Gill kindly helped us with English translation and grammar. This research was primarily supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation via CGL2008-05506-C02-01/BOS project and the Consolider-Ingenio Montes project (CSD2008-00040); a Ramon y Cajal contract to LB and LC; and a Juan de la Cierva contract to JRG. CPP was partially supported by a Fundacion Caja Madrid grant. Partial funding was also provided by the Catalan Government grant SGR2009-531.

Author information

Author notes

  1. C. Puerta-Piñero

    Present address: Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Unit 0948 DPO AA, Washington, DC, 34002-0948, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre Tecnològic Forestal de Catalunya (CTFC), Crta. St. Llorenç de Morunys, km 2, 25280, Solsona, Spain

    C. Puerta-Piñero, L. Brotons, L. Coll & J. R. González-Olabarría

Authors
  1. C. Puerta-Piñero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. Brotons
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L. Coll
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. R. González-Olabarría
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Puerta-Piñero.

Additional information

Communicated by M. Moog.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Puerta-Piñero, C., Brotons, L., Coll, L. et al. Valuing acorn dispersal and resprouting capacity ecological functions to ensure Mediterranean forest resilience after fire. Eur J Forest Res 131, 835–844 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-011-0557-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-011-0557-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation