Spontaneous primary succession and vascular plant recovery in the Iberian gypsum quarries: insights for ecological restoration in an EU priority habitat
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Mota Poveda, Juan Francisco; Martínez Hernández, Fabián; Salmerón Sánchez, Esteban; Mendoza-Fernández, Antonio Jesús; Pérez García, Francisco Javier; [et al.]Fecha
2023-03-03Resumen
Gypsum covers a vast area of the Iberian Peninsula, making Spain a leader in its production. Gypsum is a fundamental raw material for modern societies. However, gypsum quarries have an obvious impact on the landscape and biodiversity. Gypsum outcrops host a high percentage of endemic plants and unique vegetation, considered a priority by the EU. Restoring gypsum areas after mining is a key strategy to prevent biodiversity loss. For the implementation of restoration approaches, understanding vegetation’s successional processes can be of invaluable help. To fully document the spontaneous succession in gypsum quarries and to evaluate its interest for restoration, 10 permanent plots of 20 × 50 m were proposed, with nested subplots, in which vegetation change was recorded for 13 years in Almeria (Spain). Through Species-Area Relationships (SARs), these plots’ floristic changes were monitored and compared to others in which an active restoration was carried out, as well as others with natura...
Palabra/s clave
gypsophil
passive restoration
gypsum mining
permanent plots
Species-Area Relationships (SAR)
successional chronosequence