Phytoclimatic suitability of Scots pine plantations (Pinus sylvestris L.) at Sierra de los Filabres (Almería)

Abstract

Fernández Cancio, A., Navarro Cerrillo, R.M., Sánchez Salguero, R., Fernández Fernández, R., Manrique Menéndez, E. (2011). Phytoclimatic suitability of Scots pine plantations (Pinus sylvestris L.) at Sierra de los Filabres (Almería). Ecosistemas 20 (1):124-144

The current climate variability is characterized by causing abrupt changes in phytoclimatic patterns, which is triggering mortality processes in forest species. The aim of this work was to analyze the phytoclimatic suitability of artificial stands of Pinus sylvestris L. in the Sierra de los Filabres (Almería), for which 35 phytoclimate variables most determining the climatic stability of the species were taken to be analyzed. The study of the interannual values of the climate variables indicated that between 1970 and 1980 an extensive climatic perturbation began, modifying the seasonality of rainfall and temperatures. The most significant features were the increase in temperatures, especially the maximum ones, the increase in thermal oscillation and in daily extremes, the overall decrease in the rainfall, the serious increase in spring aridity and the deterioration of the ombric variables. A study of the stands with repopulated forest cover of Scots pines in eastern Andalusia indicates that the stands are outside the cloud of points of the Scots pine stands established in Spain. The Scots pine forests in the Sierra de Filabres are notably outside in all their phytoclimatic characteristics and may progressively or abruptly disappear especially if a climate change sets in.