Title
Does habitat structure matter? Spatially explicit population modelling of an Iberian gypsum endemic
Abbreviated Journal Title
Popul. Ecol.
Keywords
Autocorrelation; Cellular automata; Demography; Grazing; Helianthemum; squamatum; Microhabitat heterogeneity; SEMIARID CENTRAL SPAIN; SEED BANK; HELIANTHEMUM-SQUAMATUM; PLANT-COMMUNITIES; MEDITERRANEAN ECOSYSTEM; DESERT PLANTS; SOIL CRUSTS; DYNAMICS; PATTERNS; SHRUB; Ecology
Abstract
Habitat heterogeneity may influence plant demography because conditions for survival, growth, and reproduction vary within a species' range. We assessed the role of microhabitat spatial structure on the demography of Helianthemum squamatum, a shrubby gypsum specialist endemic to the Iberian Peninsula. We evaluated the demographic effect of microhabitat spatial variation using an approach that combined cellular automata with matrix population models, and included environmental and demographic stochasticty. We collected data on seed bank (2003-2005), seedling emergence (2003-2006), and adult survivorship (2004-2007) for H. squamatum in two independent blocks with different grazing intensity in BelinchA(3)n (Cuenca, Spain). We built spatial scenarios for each block based on field data of cover and spatial pattern of four microhabitats: lichenic crust, litter, H. squamatum, and shrub. Seedling survivorship was affected by year, block, and microhabitat, with individuals emerging under conspecifics having the highest survival rate and on litter the lowest in both blocks, whereas the effect of crust and other shrubs differed across blocks. Our models indicated population increase in the block with low grazing, but population decline in the block with intense grazing. We hypothesize that higher pressure of livestock grazing and trampling leads to a shift in relative microhabitat suitability for crust and shrub. This potential effect of grazing on spatial demographic variation opens interesting questions for future research. We emphasize the importance of considering microhabitat spatial structure when evaluating management and conservation strategies.
Journal Title
Population Ecology
Volume
51
Issue/Number
2
Publication Date
1-1-2009
Document Type
Article
Language
English
First Page
317
Last Page
328
WOS Identifier
ISSN
1438-3896
Recommended Citation
"Does habitat structure matter? Spatially explicit population modelling of an Iberian gypsum endemic" (2009). Faculty Bibliography 2000s. 2028.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/facultybib2000/2028