The alien conifer Cupressus arizonica can outcompete native pines in Mediterranean mixed forests under climate change

Exotic species have been introduced in afforestation and reforestation initiatives worldwide. Climate change, including increased aridity and extreme events, can promote the spread of exotic species used in forest plantations while hampering the performance of natives. Evaluating whether climate cha...

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Main Authors: Silvia Medina-Villar, M. Esther Pérez-Corona, Asier Herrero, Verónica Cruz-Alonso, Noelia Carro-Martinez, Enrique Andivia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pensoft Publishers 2024-04-01
Series:NeoBiota
Online Access:https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/116634/download/pdf/
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author Silvia Medina-Villar
M. Esther Pérez-Corona
Asier Herrero
Verónica Cruz-Alonso
Noelia Carro-Martinez
Enrique Andivia
author_facet Silvia Medina-Villar
M. Esther Pérez-Corona
Asier Herrero
Verónica Cruz-Alonso
Noelia Carro-Martinez
Enrique Andivia
author_sort Silvia Medina-Villar
collection DOAJ
description Exotic species have been introduced in afforestation and reforestation initiatives worldwide. Climate change, including increased aridity and extreme events, can promote the spread of exotic species used in forest plantations while hampering the performance of natives. Evaluating whether climate change may affect the success of biological invasions is key to project dominance shifts in forest ecosystems, yet it requires a comprehensive approach that integrates main demographic rates driving tree population dynamics. Here, we evaluated the performance of co-occurring native pine species (Pinus pinaster, P. nigra and P. sylvestris) and the exotic Cupressus arizonica in mixed forests in Mediterranean mountains by comparing their main demographic rates (regeneration, mortality and growth) and radial growth response to extreme droughts and to climate change scenarios. Overall, the exotic C. arizonica showed less growth dependence to climatic variability, higher growth resilience to drought, lower mortality and higher regeneration capacity than P. sylvestris and P. pinaster. However, P. nigra showed higher regeneration and similar growth response to extreme droughts than C. arizonica. In addition, growth models pointed to better performance of the exotic species under future climate change scenarios than co-occurring natives. Our results suggest that C. arizonica can increase its dominance (relative presence within the forest area), which can enhance its invasive potential and range expansion. Thus, attention is needed to better control the invasive potential of this exotic species in Mediterranean forest ecosystems.
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spelling doaj.art-9cad493a07994dbcb8e5dfdbb7d998c42024-04-19T06:31:15ZengPensoft PublishersNeoBiota1314-24882024-04-019221123110.3897/neobiota.92.116634116634The alien conifer Cupressus arizonica can outcompete native pines in Mediterranean mixed forests under climate changeSilvia Medina-Villar0M. Esther Pérez-Corona1Asier Herrero2Verónica Cruz-Alonso3Noelia Carro-Martinez4Enrique Andivia5IE UniversityUniversidad Complutense de MadridUniversity of Basque CountryUniversidad Complutense de MadridUniversidad Complutense de MadridUniversidad Complutense de MadridExotic species have been introduced in afforestation and reforestation initiatives worldwide. Climate change, including increased aridity and extreme events, can promote the spread of exotic species used in forest plantations while hampering the performance of natives. Evaluating whether climate change may affect the success of biological invasions is key to project dominance shifts in forest ecosystems, yet it requires a comprehensive approach that integrates main demographic rates driving tree population dynamics. Here, we evaluated the performance of co-occurring native pine species (Pinus pinaster, P. nigra and P. sylvestris) and the exotic Cupressus arizonica in mixed forests in Mediterranean mountains by comparing their main demographic rates (regeneration, mortality and growth) and radial growth response to extreme droughts and to climate change scenarios. Overall, the exotic C. arizonica showed less growth dependence to climatic variability, higher growth resilience to drought, lower mortality and higher regeneration capacity than P. sylvestris and P. pinaster. However, P. nigra showed higher regeneration and similar growth response to extreme droughts than C. arizonica. In addition, growth models pointed to better performance of the exotic species under future climate change scenarios than co-occurring natives. Our results suggest that C. arizonica can increase its dominance (relative presence within the forest area), which can enhance its invasive potential and range expansion. Thus, attention is needed to better control the invasive potential of this exotic species in Mediterranean forest ecosystems.https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/116634/download/pdf/
spellingShingle Silvia Medina-Villar
M. Esther Pérez-Corona
Asier Herrero
Verónica Cruz-Alonso
Noelia Carro-Martinez
Enrique Andivia
The alien conifer Cupressus arizonica can outcompete native pines in Mediterranean mixed forests under climate change
NeoBiota
title The alien conifer Cupressus arizonica can outcompete native pines in Mediterranean mixed forests under climate change
title_full The alien conifer Cupressus arizonica can outcompete native pines in Mediterranean mixed forests under climate change
title_fullStr The alien conifer Cupressus arizonica can outcompete native pines in Mediterranean mixed forests under climate change
title_full_unstemmed The alien conifer Cupressus arizonica can outcompete native pines in Mediterranean mixed forests under climate change
title_short The alien conifer Cupressus arizonica can outcompete native pines in Mediterranean mixed forests under climate change
title_sort alien conifer cupressus arizonica can outcompete native pines in mediterranean mixed forests under climate change
url https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/116634/download/pdf/
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