Monitoring montane-subalpine forest ecotone in the Pyrenees through sequential forest inventories and Landsat imagery
Abstract Key message Abies alba Mill.–Pinus uncinata Ramond. ecotone dynamics are examined along both altitudinal and protection level gradients by combining field inventories and Landsat data. An upward expansion of A. alba to the subalpine belt is observed in the last decades as a result of stand...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Annals of Forest Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13595-023-01198-4 |
| _version_ | 1827707510450028544 |
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| author | Isabel Aulló-Maestro Cristina Gómez Laura Hernández J. Julio Camarero Mariola Sánchez-González Isabel Cañellas Antonio Vázquez de la Cueva Fernando Montes |
| author_facet | Isabel Aulló-Maestro Cristina Gómez Laura Hernández J. Julio Camarero Mariola Sánchez-González Isabel Cañellas Antonio Vázquez de la Cueva Fernando Montes |
| author_sort | Isabel Aulló-Maestro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Key message Abies alba Mill.–Pinus uncinata Ramond. ecotone dynamics are examined along both altitudinal and protection level gradients by combining field inventories and Landsat data. An upward expansion of A. alba to the subalpine belt is observed in the last decades as a result of stand maturation after logging cessation. Context High-mountain forests constitute sensitive locations to monitor the impacts of global change on tree-species composition and ecotone dynamics. In this study, we focus on the Spanish Pyrenees where silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) coexists with mountain pine (Pinus uncinata Ramond.) forming montane-subalpine ecotones. Aims The main goal of this study is to assess the spatiotemporal dynamics of the silver fir–mountain pine ecotone and its underlying driving factors. Methods We reconstructed the spatial distribution and dynamics of the species by combining remote sensing imagery and field plot data from 1989 to 2015, employing support vector machine techniques for image classification. Using variance analysis and mixed effects models, we then analyzed the evolution of basal area and replacement index, a measure of relative change in species composition, over time and altitude range. Additionally, we explored their relationship with site factors and protection level (National Park vs. protection buffer zone). Results Silver fir has expanded its distribution in both the National Park and the protection buffer zone, whereas mountain pine has remained stable. Both species exhibit increased basal area associated with stand maturation and a higher level of protection. The replacement index indicates a rise in silver fir in the understory on North-facing slopes, attributed to stand densification. These findings are particularly noticeable in the area with the highest level of protection. Conclusion The cessation of traditional land uses has led to ongoing stand densification, promoting succession and favoring the increased abundance of silver fir at its uppermost locations, where this species outcompetes mountain pine. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:49:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-37dc009b74cf4d4fb4e1c15ceb55673a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1297-966X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:49:36Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Forest Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-37dc009b74cf4d4fb4e1c15ceb55673a2023-11-20T11:21:39ZengBMCAnnals of Forest Science1297-966X2023-08-0180111610.1186/s13595-023-01198-4Monitoring montane-subalpine forest ecotone in the Pyrenees through sequential forest inventories and Landsat imageryIsabel Aulló-Maestro0Cristina Gómez1Laura Hernández2J. Julio Camarero3Mariola Sánchez-González4Isabel Cañellas5Antonio Vázquez de la Cueva6Fernando Montes7Instituto de Ciencias Forestales (ICIFOR - INIA), CSICMONTES (School of Forest Engineering and Natural Environment), Universidad Politécnica de MadridInstituto de Ciencias Forestales (ICIFOR - INIA), CSICInstituto Pirenaico de Ecología (IPE-CSIC)Instituto de Ciencias Forestales (ICIFOR - INIA), CSICInstituto de Ciencias Forestales (ICIFOR - INIA), CSICInstituto de Ciencias Forestales (ICIFOR - INIA), CSICInstituto de Ciencias Forestales (ICIFOR - INIA), CSICAbstract Key message Abies alba Mill.–Pinus uncinata Ramond. ecotone dynamics are examined along both altitudinal and protection level gradients by combining field inventories and Landsat data. An upward expansion of A. alba to the subalpine belt is observed in the last decades as a result of stand maturation after logging cessation. Context High-mountain forests constitute sensitive locations to monitor the impacts of global change on tree-species composition and ecotone dynamics. In this study, we focus on the Spanish Pyrenees where silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) coexists with mountain pine (Pinus uncinata Ramond.) forming montane-subalpine ecotones. Aims The main goal of this study is to assess the spatiotemporal dynamics of the silver fir–mountain pine ecotone and its underlying driving factors. Methods We reconstructed the spatial distribution and dynamics of the species by combining remote sensing imagery and field plot data from 1989 to 2015, employing support vector machine techniques for image classification. Using variance analysis and mixed effects models, we then analyzed the evolution of basal area and replacement index, a measure of relative change in species composition, over time and altitude range. Additionally, we explored their relationship with site factors and protection level (National Park vs. protection buffer zone). Results Silver fir has expanded its distribution in both the National Park and the protection buffer zone, whereas mountain pine has remained stable. Both species exhibit increased basal area associated with stand maturation and a higher level of protection. The replacement index indicates a rise in silver fir in the understory on North-facing slopes, attributed to stand densification. These findings are particularly noticeable in the area with the highest level of protection. Conclusion The cessation of traditional land uses has led to ongoing stand densification, promoting succession and favoring the increased abundance of silver fir at its uppermost locations, where this species outcompetes mountain pine.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13595-023-01198-4Field inventory dataAbies albaPinus uncinataLandsat imagesSpecies classificationSpecies replacement index |
| spellingShingle | Isabel Aulló-Maestro Cristina Gómez Laura Hernández J. Julio Camarero Mariola Sánchez-González Isabel Cañellas Antonio Vázquez de la Cueva Fernando Montes Monitoring montane-subalpine forest ecotone in the Pyrenees through sequential forest inventories and Landsat imagery Annals of Forest Science Field inventory data Abies alba Pinus uncinata Landsat images Species classification Species replacement index |
| title | Monitoring montane-subalpine forest ecotone in the Pyrenees through sequential forest inventories and Landsat imagery |
| title_full | Monitoring montane-subalpine forest ecotone in the Pyrenees through sequential forest inventories and Landsat imagery |
| title_fullStr | Monitoring montane-subalpine forest ecotone in the Pyrenees through sequential forest inventories and Landsat imagery |
| title_full_unstemmed | Monitoring montane-subalpine forest ecotone in the Pyrenees through sequential forest inventories and Landsat imagery |
| title_short | Monitoring montane-subalpine forest ecotone in the Pyrenees through sequential forest inventories and Landsat imagery |
| title_sort | monitoring montane subalpine forest ecotone in the pyrenees through sequential forest inventories and landsat imagery |
| topic | Field inventory data Abies alba Pinus uncinata Landsat images Species classification Species replacement index |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13595-023-01198-4 |
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