Litterfall as a measure of primary production in Mediterranean holm-oak forest

  • Chapter
Quercus ilex L. ecosystems: function, dynamics and management

Part of the book series: Advances in vegetation science ((AIVS,volume 13))

  • 146 Accesses

Abstract

In this paper we discuss the use of litterfall as a method to measure primary production and its between year relation to climatic fluctuation. Seven years of study in a mediterranean holm-oak forest showed a moderate inter-annual variability of litterfall (C.V. 11%), while the annual variability of the actual evapotranspiration was three times higher (C.V. 30%). Furthermore, the inter- and intra-annual variability of nutrient content in the various fractions are presented in relation to water availability. Monthly and seasonal variability was higher than the annual variability for all analyzed elements.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (Canada)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 259.00
Price excludes VAT (Canada)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (Canada)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free ship** worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (Canada)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free ship** worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bray, R. & Gorham, E. 1964. Litter production in forest of the world. Adv. Ecol. Res. 2: 101–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Comin, P., Escarré, A., Gracia, C., Lledo, M. J., Rabella, R., Savé, R. & Terradas, J. 1987. Water used by Quercus ilex in forests near Barcelona, Spain. In: J. D. Tenhunen (Ed.) Plant response to stress, pp. 259–266. Nato ASI series vol. 15. Springer Verlag, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapin III, F. & Kedrowski, R. 1983. Seasonal changes in nitrogen and phosphorus fractions and autumn retranslocation in evergreen and deciduous Taiga trees. Ecology 64 (2): 376–391.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Escarré, A., Gracia, C., Roda, F. & Terradas, J. 1984. Ecologia del bosque esclerofilo mediterràneo. Investigaci6n y Ciencia 95: 68–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrés, LI. 1984. Biomasa, production y mineralomasa del encinar de la Castanya (Montseny). Tesis doctoral. Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallardo, J. F., Santa Regina I. & San Miguel, C. 1989. Ci-clos biogeoquimicos en bosques de la Sierra de Bejar (Salamanca, Espana). 1. Production de hojarasca. Rev. Ecol. Biol. Sol. 26 (1): 35–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gill, H. S., Abrol, I. P. & Samra, J. S., 1987. Nutrient Recycling Through Litter Production in Young Plantations of Acacia nilotica and Eucalyptus tereticornis in a Highly Alkaline Soil. Forest Ecology and Management 22: 57–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gomez Gutierrez, J. M., Calabuig, E. L. & Escudero Beriàn, A. 1980. Materiales aportados al suelo por la encina en la zona de dehesa salmantina. I. Sustancia seca. Studia Oecologica. II: 181–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gracia, C. 1983. La clorofila en los encinares del Montseny. Tesis doctoral. Universidad de Barcelona.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harley, P. C., Tenhunen, J., Beyschlag, W. & Lange, O., 1987. Seasonal changes in net photosynthesis rates and photosynthetic capacity in leaves of Cistus salvifolius, a European Mediterranean semi-deciduous shrub. Oecologia (Berlin) 74: 380–388.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leonardi, S. & Rapp, M. 1981. Retour au sol d’éléments minéraux et d’azote par l’intermediaire des litières dans un

    Google Scholar 

  • ecosystème à Quercus ilex L. du Monte Minardo (Etna). Flora 171: 329–337.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lieth, H. 1975. Modeling the primary productivity of the world. In: H. Lieth and R. H. Whitaker (Eds.) Primary Productivity of the biosphere. pp 237–263. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Lossaint, P. & Rapp, M. 1978. La foret méditerranéenne des chênes verts. In: M. Lamotte and F. Bourlière (Eds). Problèmes d’Ecologie, Ecosystèmes Terrestres: pp. 129–185. Ed. Masson, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowman, M. 1988. Litterfall and leaf decay in three Australian rainforest formations. Journal of Ecology 76: 451–465.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lledo, M. J. 1990. Compartimentos y flujos biogeoquimicos en una cuenca de encinar del Monte Poblet. Tesis doctoral. Universidad de Alicante.

    Google Scholar 

  • Margalef, R. 1981. Ecologia. Ed. Omega, Barcelona.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rapp, M. 1969. Production de litière et apport au sol d’éléments minéraux dans deux écosystèmes méditerranéens: la forêt de Quercus ilex et la garrigue de Q. coccifera. Oecol. Plant. 4 (4): 377–410.

    Google Scholar 

  • Santa Regina, I., Gallardo, J. & San Miguel, C. 1989. Ciclos biogeoqulmicos en bosques de la Sierra de Bejar (Salamanca, Espana): 2. Retorno potencial de bioelementos por medio de la hojarasca. Rev. Ecol. Biol. Sol. 26 (2): 155–170.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Specht, R. 1982. General characteristics of mediterraneantype ecosystems. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-58. Berkeley, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tenhunen, J., Harley, P. C., Beyschlag, W. & Lange, O. L. 1987. A model of net photosynthesis for leaves of the sclerophyll Quercus coccifera. In: J. D. Tenhunen. (Ed.) Plant response to stress, pp. 339–354. Nato ASI series vol. 15. Springer Verlag, Berlin.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Terradas, J., Prat, N., Escarré, A. & Margalef, R. 1989. Historia Natural dels Països Catalans. 14. Sistemes Naturals. 500 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verdi’, M. C. 1984. Circulacio de nutrients en tres ecosistemes forestals del Montseny: caiguda de virosta i descomposicio de la fullaraca. Tesis doctoral. Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vitousek, P. M. 1982. Nutrient cycling and nutrient use efficiency. The American Naturalist. 119 (4): 553–572.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weber, M. 1987. Decomposition, litter fall & forest floor nutrient dynamics in relation to fire in eastern Ontario jack pine ecosystems. Can. J. For. Res. 17: 1496–1506.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

F. Romane J. Terradas

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1992 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bellot, J., Sánchez, J.R., Lledó, M.J., Martínez, P., Escarré, A. (1992). Litterfall as a measure of primary production in Mediterranean holm-oak forest. In: Romane, F., Terradas, J. (eds) Quercus ilex L. ecosystems: function, dynamics and management. Advances in vegetation science, vol 13. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-2836-2_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-2836-2_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-4162-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-2836-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Navigation