Biological diversity in communities of Erica ciliaris and Erica tetralix : analysis of their spatial and temporal variation.

Abstract

AbstractThe shrubland communities of Erica ciliaris and Erica tetralix, as in other types of West European shrublands, are so linked to human activity that the abandonment of their traditional uses in recent times has altered their areas. These communities form part of the typical mountain mosaic landscape (open natural and artificial forest, dense natural and artificial forest, shrublands, meadows ...) in some areas of Galicia where animals can seasonally graze. The wet heathland communities are still subject to human exploitation, such as clearing and burning, to create cattle pastures. In two wet heathland sites located in different areas of Galicia, Masgalán (Pontevedra) and Baio (A Coruña), four replicate plots were fixed in each community - two burned to simulate a cultural fire and two used as controls. Sampling was carried out every spring and autumn from spring 2002 to evaluate the changes produced in the biological diversity of the vegetation after burning. A quantified temporal and spatial comparison of biological diversity using different variables is made in this study.