PHENOLOGICAL ORGANIZATION OF MEDITERRANEAN PASTURES IN DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS STUDIED THROUGH DIVERSITY PARAMETERS

Authors

  • M. Ortega
  • C. Levassor
  • M. A. Casado
  • B. Peco
Keywords: altitudinal gradient, diversity, entropy, geomorphology, grazing, information theory, pastures, phenology

Abstract

The phenology of Mediterranean pastures was studied along an altitudinal gradient in relation to geomorphology and consumption of plants by large and medium-size herbivores. Diversity parameters were used to analyze the percentage of species in four phenological states (vegetative growth, flowering, fmiting and decay or dormancy) throughout an annual cycle. The distribution of phenological states in time varied from the most heterogeneous situations in low altitude pastures -in which different phenological states predominated at different times-. to more uniform situations at higher altitudes with a predominante of vegetative growth. The altitudinal rise was also accompanied by a shortening and delay in the reproductive phenophases. These trends also appeared when comparing upper and lower slope zones or unfenced and fenced plots. Phenological organization seemed to be related to the proportion of perennial and annual species as well as species richness.

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Author Biographies

M. Ortega

Universidad Autónoma

C. Levassor

Universidad Autónoma

M. A. Casado

Universidad Complutense

B. Peco

Universidad Autónoma
How to Cite
Ortega, M., Levassor, C., Casado, M. A., & Peco, B. (1993). PHENOLOGICAL ORGANIZATION OF MEDITERRANEAN PASTURES IN DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS STUDIED THROUGH DIVERSITY PARAMETERS. Anales de Biología, (19), 105–120. Retrieved from https://revistas.um.es/analesbio/article/view/32391
Issue
Section
Biología ambiental