The Role of Snow-Related Environmental Variables in Plant Conservation Plans in the Mediterranean Mountains
This study aims to analyze the effects that snow cover may have on the survival of one-year-old seedlings from 15 different taxa in the Mediterranean high mountains (Sierra Nevada National Park, SE Spain) in order to have clearer criteria for the planning and management of restoration efforts in the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/6/783 |
| _version_ | 1797239597092044800 |
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| author | Jose A. Algarra Paloma Cariñanos María M. Ramos-Lorente |
| author_facet | Jose A. Algarra Paloma Cariñanos María M. Ramos-Lorente |
| author_sort | Jose A. Algarra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study aims to analyze the effects that snow cover may have on the survival of one-year-old seedlings from 15 different taxa in the Mediterranean high mountains (Sierra Nevada National Park, SE Spain) in order to have clearer criteria for the planning and management of restoration efforts in these environments. Additionally, the influence of variables that have been scarcely explored up to now is also revised. We use the survival rates of the seedlings observed from the ecological restoration trial as reference values. The survival data analyzed are based on six variables to evaluate their effects. The results confirm that the permanence of snow is a favorable factor for seedlings, independent of the plant community. Contrastingly, a specific type of foundation (stones and rocks) stands out for being clearly unfavorable, regardless of other variables. For both altitude and solar radiation, a worsening of the survival ratio has been observed as they increase. The species’ geographic ranges are all shown to be unfavorable for taxa of a boreo-alpine distribution. Finally, the plant community does not have a significant influence on the survival of seedlings. These results provide novel indications to improve the results of the first stages of restoration work in the Mediterranean high mountains. They are also valuable for the management and cataloging of threatened flora, as well as having direct applications in recovery plans and protection lists. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:54:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b090aeff8f22489c94052796ac0ce37f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:54:04Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-b090aeff8f22489c94052796ac0ce37f2024-03-27T14:00:38ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472024-03-0113678310.3390/plants13060783The Role of Snow-Related Environmental Variables in Plant Conservation Plans in the Mediterranean MountainsJose A. Algarra0Paloma Cariñanos1María M. Ramos-Lorente2Department of Botany, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, SpainBotanic Garden Hoya de Pedraza (Sierra Nevada), The Environment and Water Agency of Andalusia, 18014 Granada, SpainDepartment of Sociology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, SpainThis study aims to analyze the effects that snow cover may have on the survival of one-year-old seedlings from 15 different taxa in the Mediterranean high mountains (Sierra Nevada National Park, SE Spain) in order to have clearer criteria for the planning and management of restoration efforts in these environments. Additionally, the influence of variables that have been scarcely explored up to now is also revised. We use the survival rates of the seedlings observed from the ecological restoration trial as reference values. The survival data analyzed are based on six variables to evaluate their effects. The results confirm that the permanence of snow is a favorable factor for seedlings, independent of the plant community. Contrastingly, a specific type of foundation (stones and rocks) stands out for being clearly unfavorable, regardless of other variables. For both altitude and solar radiation, a worsening of the survival ratio has been observed as they increase. The species’ geographic ranges are all shown to be unfavorable for taxa of a boreo-alpine distribution. Finally, the plant community does not have a significant influence on the survival of seedlings. These results provide novel indications to improve the results of the first stages of restoration work in the Mediterranean high mountains. They are also valuable for the management and cataloging of threatened flora, as well as having direct applications in recovery plans and protection lists.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/6/783Mediterranean high summitssnowpacksSierra Nevada National Parkadaptive managementseedlingsPlant Restocking Project |
| spellingShingle | Jose A. Algarra Paloma Cariñanos María M. Ramos-Lorente The Role of Snow-Related Environmental Variables in Plant Conservation Plans in the Mediterranean Mountains Plants Mediterranean high summits snowpacks Sierra Nevada National Park adaptive management seedlings Plant Restocking Project |
| title | The Role of Snow-Related Environmental Variables in Plant Conservation Plans in the Mediterranean Mountains |
| title_full | The Role of Snow-Related Environmental Variables in Plant Conservation Plans in the Mediterranean Mountains |
| title_fullStr | The Role of Snow-Related Environmental Variables in Plant Conservation Plans in the Mediterranean Mountains |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Snow-Related Environmental Variables in Plant Conservation Plans in the Mediterranean Mountains |
| title_short | The Role of Snow-Related Environmental Variables in Plant Conservation Plans in the Mediterranean Mountains |
| title_sort | role of snow related environmental variables in plant conservation plans in the mediterranean mountains |
| topic | Mediterranean high summits snowpacks Sierra Nevada National Park adaptive management seedlings Plant Restocking Project |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/6/783 |
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