Generally, after the pine tree clearing, juniper performance was better,
increasing their growth and cone and seed production, and it may continue to
improve in the near future. However, the density of pollen in the air may still be
very low. This, along with low pollen viability, may be responsible for a high
proportion of empty or unviable seeds (approximately 90 %, Muñoz-Reinoso,
unpublished).
Lack of establishment of species from the coastal dune plant community
(H. picardii, A. pungens, T. carnosus) shows their absence in the seed bank,
probably because of a long period of sand stabilization. On the other hand, under
the pine canopy there is a thick layer of pine tree needles preventing the establishment of new seedlings (junipers or shrubs) that it seems necessary to remove.
It is also necessary to remove the rest of the biomass from the pine trees to avoid
soil eutrophication and stabilization.
Synergistic factors, such as pine trees shading, low pollen density, small cone
and seed production, seem to prevent the natural regeneration of junipers inside
Enebrales de Punta Umbría Natural Landscape. Nevertheless, there seems to be
additional factors controlling the natural regeneration of junipers on a landscape
scale. Fragmentation may be responsible for a high seed predation and a lack of
seed-dispersing animals (Muñoz-Reinoso unpublished).
Successful restorers of maritime juniper woodlands need to consider the ecosystem (beach/dunes/inland) as a whole and understand the biology and the ecology
of the species involved. Coastal pine plantations modify environmental conditions
and affect the reproductive biology of junipers; therefore, they must be cleared
properly to mimic the open communities that develop on Mediterranean dunes.
References
Allen GA, Antos JA (1993) Sex ratio variation in the dioecious shrub Oemleria cerasiformis. Am
Nat 141:537–553
Anon (1992) Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild
fauna and flora. Off J Eur Community 35(L 206):7–50
Arista M, Ortiz PL, Talavera S (2001) Reproductive cycles of two allopatric subspecies of
Juniperus oxycedrus (Cupressaceae). Flora 196:114–120
Brown AC, McLachlan A (1990) Ecology of sandy shores. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Crawford RMM (1989) Studies in plant survival. Ecological case histories of plant adaptation to
adversity. Blackwell, Oxford
Clifton SJ, Ward LK, Ranner DS (1997) The status of juniper Juniperus communis L. in NorthEast England. Biol Conserv 79:67–77
Géhu JM, Costa M, Biondi E (1990) Les Junipereta macrocarpae sur sable. Acta Botánica
Malacitana 15:303–309
Goldstein G, Drake DR, Alpha C, Melcher P, Heraux J, Azocar A (1996) Growth and
photosynthetic responses of Scaveola sericea, a Hawaiian costal shrub, to substrate salinity
and salt spray. Int J Plant Sci 157:171–179
Granados M, Ojeda JF (1994) Intervenciones públicas en el Litoral Atlántico Andaluz. Efectos
territoriales. Agencia de Medio Ambiente, Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla
Grime JP (1979) Plant strategies and vegetation processes. Wiley, New York 222 p
9 Restoration of Andalusian Coastal Juniper Woodlands
157
increasing their growth and cone and seed production, and it may continue to
improve in the near future. However, the density of pollen in the air may still be
very low. This, along with low pollen viability, may be responsible for a high
proportion of empty or unviable seeds (approximately 90 %, Muñoz-Reinoso,
unpublished).
Lack of establishment of species from the coastal dune plant community
(H. picardii, A. pungens, T. carnosus) shows their absence in the seed bank,
probably because of a long period of sand stabilization. On the other hand, under
the pine canopy there is a thick layer of pine tree needles preventing the establishment of new seedlings (junipers or shrubs) that it seems necessary to remove.
It is also necessary to remove the rest of the biomass from the pine trees to avoid
soil eutrophication and stabilization.
Synergistic factors, such as pine trees shading, low pollen density, small cone
and seed production, seem to prevent the natural regeneration of junipers inside
Enebrales de Punta Umbría Natural Landscape. Nevertheless, there seems to be
additional factors controlling the natural regeneration of junipers on a landscape
scale. Fragmentation may be responsible for a high seed predation and a lack of
seed-dispersing animals (Muñoz-Reinoso unpublished).
Successful restorers of maritime juniper woodlands need to consider the ecosystem (beach/dunes/inland) as a whole and understand the biology and the ecology
of the species involved. Coastal pine plantations modify environmental conditions
and affect the reproductive biology of junipers; therefore, they must be cleared
properly to mimic the open communities that develop on Mediterranean dunes.
References
Allen GA, Antos JA (1993) Sex ratio variation in the dioecious shrub Oemleria cerasiformis. Am
Nat 141:537–553
Anon (1992) Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild
fauna and flora. Off J Eur Community 35(L 206):7–50
Arista M, Ortiz PL, Talavera S (2001) Reproductive cycles of two allopatric subspecies of
Juniperus oxycedrus (Cupressaceae). Flora 196:114–120
Brown AC, McLachlan A (1990) Ecology of sandy shores. Elsevier, Amsterdam
Crawford RMM (1989) Studies in plant survival. Ecological case histories of plant adaptation to
adversity. Blackwell, Oxford
Clifton SJ, Ward LK, Ranner DS (1997) The status of juniper Juniperus communis L. in NorthEast England. Biol Conserv 79:67–77
Géhu JM, Costa M, Biondi E (1990) Les Junipereta macrocarpae sur sable. Acta Botánica
Malacitana 15:303–309
Goldstein G, Drake DR, Alpha C, Melcher P, Heraux J, Azocar A (1996) Growth and
photosynthetic responses of Scaveola sericea, a Hawaiian costal shrub, to substrate salinity
and salt spray. Int J Plant Sci 157:171–179
Granados M, Ojeda JF (1994) Intervenciones públicas en el Litoral Atlántico Andaluz. Efectos
territoriales. Agencia de Medio Ambiente, Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla
Grime JP (1979) Plant strategies and vegetation processes. Wiley, New York 222 p
9 Restoration of Andalusian Coastal Juniper Woodlands
157