Ecogeomorphological consequences of land abandonment in semiarid Mediterranean areas: Integrated assessment of physical evolution and biodiversity

摘要: Abstract This paper is based on an integrated assessment of abandoned farmland in the Iberian Southeast, a representative area rich-biodiversity landscapes subject to strong physical stress and highly sensitive environmental change. It framed within concept natural reforestation seeks integration biodiversity features relevant for management. In pilot areas different lithology (marly, limestone, metamorphic) abandonment age ( 20 years), several (soil characteristics, evidences erosion) (flora birds) indicators have been assessed. concluded that these two sets often follow divergent or contrasting trajectories, particularly less coherent substrates where soil degradation erosion concur with steppic physiognomy high ornithological value. Lithology conditions compositional structural development woody vegetation, but local landscape can also reduce pool potential colonizers. Ecosystem be described as interplay positive negative forces acting evolution Abandonment per se not widely applicable management option many instances it naturally improve vegetation conditions. more resistant lithologies, succession could lead homogenization, although recovery usually slow eventually arrested stages dominated by few species. Although our results are generalizable all semiarid land abandonment, they provide framework selecting measures setting scale intensity their application.