Quercus rotundifolia Lam. Woodlands of the Southwestern Iberian Peninsula

Ricardo Quinto Canas,Sara Del Río,Carmelo Maria Musarella,Mauro Raposo,José Carlos Piñar Fuentes,Ana Cano-Ortiz,Carlos Pinto Gomes

doi:10.3390/land10030268

Ricardo Quinto Canas, Sara Del Río + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/land10030268

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Abstract

The holm oak woodlands as ecotonic phytocoenoses occur under different ecological conditions, and frequently representing the climax of edaphoxerophilous series of crests and siliceous rocky areas. In this paper we study the floristic, ecological, and biogeographical differences of the edaphoxerophilous holm oak woodlands of the southwestern Iberian Peninsula, included in the Querco rotundifoliae-Oleenion sylvestris suballiance. Our phytosociological (Braun–Blanquet methodology) and numerical analysis (hierarchical cluster analysis) of three formerly described association and our own samples lead us to propose a new association: Ulici argentei-Quercetum rotundifoliae, growing mostly on semihyperoceanic Monchique Sierran Biogeographic District, on rocky slopes and outcrops derived from schists and greywackes. Moreover, we present an overview of ecological features and the diversity of plant communities occurring in the serial dynamic of the thermophile holm oak woodlands of the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula.

Highlights

The vegetation geoseries or geosigmetum represents the basic unit of dynamic-catenal phytosociology
They develop in edaphoxerophilous biotopes that appear as evidence of extreme xericity conditions, namely great edaphic draught as a result of the soils reduced capacity for water retention [4,5]. In these situations, which are often associated to crests and rocky areas, the edaphoxerophilous holm oak woodlands are characterized by xerophytic floristic patterns, in comparison with the encompassing potential natural vegetation
The present paper aims to provide a new knowledge of the thermophilous holm oak communities of the southwestern Iberian Peninsula (Figure 1), included in the Querco rotundifoliae-Oleenion sylvestris suballiance

Summary

Introduction

The vegetation geoseries or geosigmetum represents the basic unit of dynamic-catenal phytosociology. The xerophilous series can be found in the driest sites (crests, rocky slopes, lithosols, leptosols, and arenosols) In this context, the holm oak (Quercus rotundifolia) communities of the southwestern Iberian Peninsula are of particular interest. The holm oak (Quercus rotundifolia) communities of the southwestern Iberian Peninsula are of particular interest They develop in edaphoxerophilous biotopes that appear as evidence of extreme xericity conditions, namely great edaphic draught as a result of the soils reduced capacity for water retention [4,5]. The holm oak vegetation series dominate large areas of Iberian Peninsula, since Quercus rotundifolia plant communities are present in a wide range of bioclimatic stages (ranging from dry to humid ombroclimates in the thermomediterranean to supramediterranean belts) and pedological/lithological substrata (e.g., schist, greywacke, quartzite, limestone, calco-dolomitic), and tends to occupy environments with special characteristics, especially when compared with the other native forest species.

Classification of Southwestern Iberian Peninsula Holm Oak Communities

Description of Holm Oak Communities

Syntaxonomical Scheme

Conclusions