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Landscape and Vegetation: Methodological Aspects

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A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (22 March 2024) | Viewed by 12361

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Eusebio Cano Carmona

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Guest Editor

Department of Animal and Plant Biology and Ecology, Section of Botany, University of Jaén, Campus Las Lagunillas s/n., 23071 Jaén, Spain
Interests: diversity; flora; vegetation; ecology; agriculture; conservation; bioclimatology; biogeography; methodologies; science teaching
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Currently, knowledge of the vegetation and landscape is essential for land use planning, be it forestry or agricultural. In addition, passage is an essential element of tourism development for many countries. It is clear that the study of all aspects of vegetation and landscape, including different methodologies, is important for furthering related knowledge.

Throughout history, human beings have been in contact with the landscape; however, since the industrial revolution of the 19th century, there is an increasing concentration of people in large cities that are separated them from their natural environment, which has been replaced by an artificial environment.

Beginning from the second half of the 20th century, and up to the present moment, humans are demanding to be integrated into natural and rural environments. For this reason, the knowledge of vegetation and landscape has acquired a new dimension in which it is not only necessary to know about and conserve vegetation and landscape in the face of anthropic actions and climate change, but also to value them as a natural resource. In light of these considerations, we make a call to researchers from different disciplines – Geography, Geobotany, Ecology, Agronomy, Forestry, etc. – to participate in this Special Issue by submitting papers and sharing insights from your latest research.

Dr. Eusebio Cano Carmona
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

landscape
vegetation
phytocenosis
plant dynamics
biomes
landscape
series
geoseries
anthropization
climate change
rural landscapes
methodology

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 5968 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Landscape and Vegetation Patterns Zoning Is a Methodological Tool for Management Costs Implications Due to Xylella fastidiosa Invasion

by Francesco Bozzo, Michel Frem, Vincenzo Fucilli, Gianluigi Cardone, Paolo Francesco Garofoli, Stefania Geronimo and Alessandro Petrontino

Land 2022, 11(7), 1105; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11071105 - 19 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2184

Abstract

Philaenus spumarius (Linnaeus 1758, hereafter Ps) is considered one of the main insect vectors responsible for the spread of an alien biota, Xylella fastidiosa (Wells 1987, hereafter Xf), in the Salento area, Apulia region (Southern Italy). Effective management of this biological invader depends on the continuous surveillance and monitoring of its insect vector. As such, this research elicits the invasion drivers (i.e., landscape and vegetation indicators) that influence the abundance and the dynamics of this vector and, consequently, the spatial spread of this bacterium in this Italian region. For this purpose, a spatial pattern clustering methodological approach is considered. The results reveal that spatial variation and territorial differentiation may differ from zone to zone in the same invaded area, for which effective management and monitoring planning should be addressed. Further, six agro-ecosystems zones have been identified with respect to five indicators: (i) vegetation index, (ii) intensity of cultivation, (iii) cultural diversity, (iv) density of agricultural landscape elements, and (v) altitude. This paper has public implications and contributes to an understanding of how zoning of an infected area, by an alien biota, into homogenous zones may impact its effective management costs. This approach could also be applied in other countries affected or potentially affected by the phenomenon of Xf invasion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscape and Vegetation: Methodological Aspects)

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31 pages, 1428 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ecological and Syntaxonomic Analysis of Pinus halepensis Mill. in the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands

by Eusebio Cano, Ana Cano-Ortiz, José Carlos Piñar Fuentes, Ricardo Quinto-Canas, Jehad Igbareyeh, Sara del Río and Carlos José Pinto Gomes

Land 2022, 11(3), 369; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11030369 - 02 Mar 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2206

Abstract

This work aims to review the natural communities of Pinus halepensis in Spain. The methodology consisted of subjecting 400 phytosociological relevés to georeferencing and statistical, biogeographical, and bioclimatic treatment. We analyse the communities of Pinus halepensis on the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands. Five syntaxa with association rank are described in several works and included in the alliances Rhamno-Quercion and Oleo-Ceratonion. Ephedro-Pinetum halepensis was initially proposed as a community by Torres et al. and subsequently raised to the rank of association by Rivas-Martínez et al. In this work, we have separated the plant communities dominated by Pinus halepensis, which was previously included in other syntaxa, and as a result, we propose four new associations and a new alliance for the Iberian Peninsula: ass. Bupleuro rigidi-Pinetum halepensis; ass. Ephedro nebrodensis-Pinetum halepensis; ass. Rhamno angustifoliae-Pinetum halepènsis; ass. Rhamno laderoi-Pinetum halepensis; all. Rhamno lycioidis-Pinion halepensis. In view of the fact that some of the communities have been published as edaphoxerophilous and climatophilous, we suggest separating the climatophilous from the edaphoxerophilous character in the diagnosis of the communities, and have therefore recently proposed the ombroedaphoxeric index I_oex (I_oex = P_p − e/T_p × CR), which considers positive precipitation P_p, positive temperature T_p, residual evapotranspiration (e), and water retention capacity CR (0.25, 0.50, 0.75). In conclusion, we propose the associations mentioned above, which will allow the implementation of a reforestation treatment in accordance with the natural environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscape and Vegetation: Methodological Aspects)

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16 pages, 2764 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Spatial Elements of Urban Landscape Forests on the Restoration Potential and Preference of Adolescents

by Linjia Wu, Qidi Dong, Shixian Luo, Wenyuan Jiang, Ming Hao and Qibing Chen

Land 2021, 10(12), 1349; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10121349 - 07 Dec 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3278

Abstract

City green space can promote people’s health and aesthetic satisfaction; however, most extant research focuses on suburban forests and urban parks. Urban landscape forests have important ecological and aesthetic value for urban environments. This study conducted a visual stimulation to examine the impact of four common spatial element combinations in urban landscape forests on teenagers’ recovery potential and preference. The results indicate that urban landscape forests had positive physiological and psychological effects on adolescents, including decreased blood pressure, improved heart rate, reduced anxiety, and improved recovery ability. Diastolic blood pressure relief performance was better among males than females. In addition, a stepwise linear regression analysis was performed to explore the quantitative relationship between spatial elements and recovery and preference values. The results demonstrate that water elements were a significant predictor in the quantitative relationship between spatial elements in landscape forests and restoration and preference values. Terrain, flower, and shrub elements did not have a significant effect on overall restoration and preference values. This study highlights the intervention value of urban landscape forests in promoting the health and well-being of adolescents, with implications for future planning and design of urban landscape forests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscape and Vegetation: Methodological Aspects)

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Review

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17 pages, 1463 KiB

Open AccessReview

Native or Exotic: A Bibliographical Review of the Debate on Ecological Science Methodologies: Valuable Lessons for Urban Green Space Design

by Catarina Archer de Carvalho, Mauro Raposo, Carlos Pinto-Gomes and Rute Matos

Land 2022, 11(8), 1201; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11081201 - 30 Jul 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3308

Abstract

Knowledge from ecological sciences is an important reference for landscape design as Urban Green Spaces (UGS) play a critical role in the ecological protection of cities. There is an ongoing debate among ecologists on the value of exotic vegetation to ecosystem resilience and integrity, with authors arguing that in order for ecosystems to survive in future climates, exotic species with similar conditions in their current range must be considered. Others deem biodiversity vital for ecosystem functions and services, stating that most biodiversity losses are man-induced and should be addressed through the enhancement of native communities. Through a literature review, we confronted the arguments used in this debate, with the aim of conducting a comprehensive analysis of the potential of exotic and native vegetation in different aspects of the vegetation’s performance. The outcomes are important for the assessment of vegetation assemblages within UGS projects. Despite the strong arguments regarding their performative and adaptive capacity, we conclude that exotics pose significant ecological risks and have multiple negative impacts on ecosystem processes. Natives not only present high adaptive capacity, but also provide additional benefits for biodiversity, ecosystem integrity, and for people. In a broader framework, the literature demonstrates a preference for the use of native species in most situations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscape and Vegetation: Methodological Aspects)

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