Diversity in forest tree species: a change in the scale

Abstract

Diversity in forest tree species: a change in the scale. The case study of cork oak. The strategies for conservation of biodiversity have  a  major  lack  in  widespread  tree  species.  While  the  rule  in  herbaceous/shrublike  taxa  is  ensure  the  maintenance  of  interspecific diversity, the changing ability of tree species relies on intraspecific diversity. Cork oak is an example of long-lived, widespread species not considered as threatened. However, cork oak inhabits several sites, with different population histories and ecological constraints frequently unknown.  Thus,  menaces  are  more  cryptic,  allowing  cork  oak’s  regional  or  local  extinction.  Conservation  strategies  should  focus  in maintaining cork oak’s intraspecific diversity and the processes that generate it, as it is the introgression with other Quercus species.