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Abstract
Windstorms are forest disturbances which generate canopy gaps. However, their effects on Mediterranean forests are understudied. To fill that research gap, changes in tree, cover, growth and soil features in Pinus halepensis and Pinus sylvestris plantations affected by windthrows were quantified. In each plantation, trees and soils in closed-canopy stands and gaps created by the windthrow were sampled. Changes in tree cover and radial growth were assessed by using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and dendrochronology, respectively. Soil features including texture, nutrients concentration and soil microbial community structure were also analyzed. Windthrows reduced tree cover and enhanced growth, particularly in the P. halepensis site, which was probably more severely impacted. Soil characteristics were also more altered by the windthrow in this site: the clay percentage increased in gaps, whereas K and Mg concentrations decreased. The biomass of Gram positive bacteria and actinomycetes increased in gaps, but the biomass of Gram negative bacteria and fungi decreased. Soil gaps became less fertile and dominated by bacteria after the windthrow in the P. halepensis site. We emphasize the relevance of considering post-disturbance time recovery and disturbance intensity to assess forest resilience within a multi-scale approach.
Highlights
IntroductionPublisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
From April to October, since it was positively related to the annual Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) (P. sylvestris, r = 0.97; P. halepensis, r = 0.94; p < 0.001 in both cases)
In the percent of clay wascanopy higherstands in the gap soils than in the nearby, P. halepensis site, the analyses revealed higher K and Mg concentrations in gaps than in stands (21%), which could be defined as clay-loam and loam, respectively (Table 2, Figure closed-canopy patches (Figure S5)
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. European forests are being increasingly impacted by disturbances such as windstorms [1,2,3]. Wind disturbances are intensifying at global and continental scales and such a tendency is forecasted to continue with ongoing climate change [4,5]. An increase in the frequency and severity of wind disturbances could compromise the capacity of European forests to uptake and store carbon [6], and negatively impact economic activities depending on timber and non-woody products and related ecosystem services (climate warming mitigation, regulation of the water cycle, soil formation, etc.) [3]
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