Unprecedented herbivory threatens rear-edge populations of Betula in southwestern Eurasia.
Quercus
Sphagnum
Sporormiella
Holocene
Iberian Peninsula
Mediterranean ecosystems
disturbance ecology
fire ecology
herbivory
land-use history
paleoecology
Journal
Ecology
ISSN: 1939-9170
Titre abrégé: Ecology
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 0043541
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
11 2019
11 2019
Historique:
received:
13
09
2018
revised:
08
06
2019
accepted:
24
06
2019
pubmed:
20
7
2019
medline:
18
12
2019
entrez:
20
7
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Mediterranean rear-edge populations of Betula, located at the southwestern Eurasian margin of the distribution range, represent unique reservoirs of genetic diversity. However, increasing densities of wild ungulates, enhanced dryness, and wildfires threaten their future persistence. A historical perspective on the past responses of these relict populations to changing herbivory, fire occurrence and climatic conditions may contribute to assessing their future responses under comparable scenarios. We have reconstructed vegetation and disturbance (grazing, fire) history in the Cabañeros National Park (central-southern Spain) using the paleoecological records of two small mires. We particularly focused on the historical range of variation in disturbance regimes, and the dynamics of rear-edge Betula populations and herbivore densities. Changes in water availability, probably related to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index, and land-use history have played a crucial role in vegetation shifts. Our data suggest that heathlands (mainly Erica arborea and E. scoparia) and Quercus woodlands dominated during dry phases while Sphagnum bogs and Betula stands expanded during wet periods. Betula populations survived past moderately dry periods but were unable to cope with enhanced land use, particularly increasing livestock raising since ~1,100-900 cal. yr BP (850-1,050 CE), and eventually underwent local extinction. High herbivore densities not only contributed to the Betula demise but also caused the retreat of Sphagnum bogs. Ungulate densities further rose at ~200-100 cal. yr BP (1750-1850 CE) associated with the historically documented intensification of land use around the Ecclesiastical Confiscation. However, herbivory reached truly unprecedented values only during the last decades, following rural depopulation and subsequent promotion of big game hunting. For the first time in temperate and Mediterranean Europe, we have used the abundances of fossil dung fungal spores to assess quantitatively that current high herbivore densities exceed the historical range of variation. In contrast, present fire activity lies within the range of variation of the last millennia, with fires (mainly human-set) mostly occurring during dry periods. Our paleodata highlight the need of controlling the densities of wild ungulates to preserve ecosystem composition and functioning. We also urge to restore Betula populations in suitable habitats where they mostly disappeared because of excessive human activities.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
e02833Subventions
Organisme : Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad
ID : CGL-BOS-2012-34717
Pays : International
Organisme : Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad
ID : CGL-BOS 2015-68604
Pays : International
Organisme : Fundación Séneca
ID : 19434/PI/14
Pays : International
Informations de copyright
© 2019 by the Ecological Society of America.
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