Browsing by Author "Rodrigues, Abel"
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- Eight years of continuous carbon fluxes measurements in a portuguese eucalypt stand under two main events: drought and fellingPublication . Rodrigues, Abel; Pita, Gabriel; Mateus, João; Kurz-Besson, Cathy; Casquilho, Miguel; Cerasoli, Sofia; Gomes, Alberto; Pereira, João SantosThis paper reports on results from eddy covariance measurements of carbon uptake and evapotranspiration in the eucalypt site of Espirra in Southern Portugal (38◦38 N, 8◦36 W). This site was included in the “Carboeurope” European network and is part of a 300 ha eucalypt forest, with about 1100 trees ha−1, intensively managed as a coppice for pulp production and characterized by a 12-month annual growing period. The climate is of Mediterranean type with a long term (1961–1990) annual average precipitation of 709mm and an annual average air temperature of 15.90 ◦C. During the measurement period (2002–2009) two main events took place, which changed the annual sink pattern of the forest: a drought period of two years (2004–2005) and a tree felling (October and November 2006). We analyzed the daily, seasonal and inter-annual variation of carbon uptake and evapotranspiration, and their relationships with the events and the variability of the main meteorological variables. Before the felling, annual net ecosystem exchange (NEE) increased from −865.56gCm−2 in 2002 to −356.64gCm−2 in 2005 together with a deep decrease in rainfall from 748mm in 2002 to 378.58mm and 396.64mm in 2004 and 2005, respectively. For the same period, seasonal patterns of carbon uptake showed maximum values in April and decreased in July–August. The eucalypt stand recovered its carbon sink ability since June 2007 and had a NEE of −209.01gCm−2 in 2009. After the felling, the carbon uptake occurred from mid-February to mid-October, following an almost opposite pattern than that of the trees in the term of their productive cycle. A quantitative approach using generalized estimating equations (GEEs) was made for the period before the felling to relate monthly NEE and GPP with accumulated photosynthetic active radiation, water vapour pressure and precipitation. In conclusion, our study showed the relevant effects of water stress and anthropogenic interventions in the daily, seasonal and annual patterns of carbon uptake, under a context of good environmental conditions for carbon sequestration.
- GIS-Based Assessment of the Chestnut Expansion Potential: A Case-Study on the Marvão Productive Area, PortugalPublication . Rodrigues, Abel; Gonçalves, Alexandre B.; Costa, Rita Lourenço; Gomes, Alberto AzevedoSweet chestnut is a relevant species in Europe for the production of timber and fruit, alongside environmental effects such as biodiversity of protection against soil erosion. In Portugal, chestnut is cultivated mainly for fruit production, in two areas, in the North and the South of the country, with moderate water deficit and low slope and at altitudes higher than 500 m. The current area (845 ha) of the southern so-called Marvão Protected Designation of Origin, of a fortyfold lower order of magnitude by comparison with the Northern productive area, has a significant expansion potential, given its similarity with contiguous areas in the same region. In this context, the main objective of the present work was the evaluation through geographic information analysis of that expansive potential, by comparison of physiographic profiling of the current production area with contiguous areas. A GIS-based characterization of current and potential chestnut areas in Marvão is presented. The methodology involved (i) digital profiling of the main classes/values of the geographical spatial ecological fingerprint considering topography, soil and microclimate variables in the areas currently occupied with sweet chestnut stands and (ii) the evaluation of the distribution of that environmental fingerprint in the whole Marvão productive area, for extending the cultivation to contiguous areas with a similar ecological fingerprint. An enlarged 9889 ha chestnut area was proposed, allocated for high forest stands aiming at agroforestry fruit production and coppiced stands for timber production and environmental protection, corresponding to 4590 ha and 5299 ha, respectively. Fruit production was proposed to field slopes of 0–4% and 4–8%, and altitudes between 400 m and 500 m. Presumable high-quality sites allocated to temporary dry/irrigated cultivations were also proposed for fruit production, in the same slope classes and altitudes higher than 500 m. Timber production and environmental protection were proposed for slopes within 812% and >12% ranges. This selection took into account the logistical feasibility facilitated in lower slopes for intensive mechanized management operations. This methodology permits a future field evaluation of site indexes, productivity, and correlations between environmental variables and stand biometry
- Microsite Drivers of Natural Seed Regeneration of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. in Burnt PlantationsPublication . Águas, Ana; Matias, Hugo; Rodrigues, Abel; Bailey, Tanya; Silva, Joaquim; Rego, Francisco CastroFire regimes are changing in several regions of the world. In those regions, some exotic species may be better adapted to new regimes than the native species. This study focused on identifying the microsite characteristics associated with the occurrence of post-fire Eucalyptus globulus regeneration from seeds, outside the species native-range. This information is important in helping to assess the naturalization status of the species, to understand its invasion risk, and to manage wildlings in plantations. To characterize the establishment niche, pairs of microsites (sapling presence/ absence) were sampled in four salvage-logged plantations of E. globulus two years after fire (20 pairs/plantation). Microsites of wildlings from three size classes and control microsites were established in one of these plantations (20 quartets) in order to characterize the recruitment niche and to assess ontogenic niche shifts. Two post-fire wildling cohorts were identified. The first emerged just after fire and was abundant. The second emerged after logging and was scarce, probably due to seed limitation. First-cohort wildlings were observed in microsites characterized by a high incidence of fire-related variables (charcoal, ash, increased soil pH and K). The aggregated distribution of these wildlings and their association with other species may indicate the existence of facilitative relationships and/or the exploitation of resource-rich patches. All these factors were relevant for first-cohort persistence and likely also for its establishment and recruitment. Second-cohort wildlings occurred in microsites where salvage-logging disturbance was evident, showing the importance of this disturbance for its emergence. Wildling size diversity was explained by the two recruitment events and by the asymmetrical competition between wildlings and adults. No niche shifts were detected. The high densities of E. globulus wildlings found established in burnt plantations indicated naturalization was in progress. The timing of major recruitment events and the phenology of the species should be considered for monitoring this regeneration and scheduling control interventions, if required