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Forests
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Fragmentation and Connectivity of Forests in the Agricultural Environment
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Fragmentation and Connectivity of Forests in the Agricultural Environment

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Ecology and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2022) | Viewed by 8310

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Pablo J. Hidalgo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Integrative Sciences, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain
Interests: sustainable forests certification; ecological niche modelling; habitat fragmentation and connectivity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Habitat loss and fragmentation are considered some of the main threats to biodiversity. This is especially evident in the agricultural environment, where original forests are now relegated to unconnected patches called island forests. These residual forests could play a relevant role in the context of a recent discipline called landscape ecology. They could play a role as ecological corridors, could serve as genetic reservoirs of wild endangered flora and fauna, and act as sources of biodiversity in highly managed environments. These areas are submitted to an intense border effect, and survival of the residual forests is not always guaranteed. How could agriculture affect these island forests? Are there any types of crop that are more beneficial in terms of preventing this border effect? Is there any benefit to agriculture due to the presence of these patches of forests? Could these natural areas in the frame of agricultural exploitations become a source of pathogens? Is the creation of an ecological corridor with these island forests realistic or only a mere statement of intents? These are only some of the many questions that need to be tackled in this field of research.

For this Special Issue, we are soliciting full research papers, spatial models, and short communications presenting new findings. Studies about the interaction between forests and agriculture at any level are also welcome. Compiled bibliographic reviews are invited.

Dr. Pablo J. Hidalgo
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. Forests 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

  • island forests
  • ecological corridors
  • biodiversity
  • habitat loss
  • land use change

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 3855 KiB  
Article
Incidence of Large Wood Borers in the Conservation of dehesa Islands Forests in Southwestern Spain
by Luis Domínguez, Gloria López-Pantoja, David Cremades, Antonia Paramio, Pablo J. Hidalgo and Israel Sánchez-Osorio
Forests 2022, 13(3), 413; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13030413 - 4 Mar 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2055
Abstract
The dehesa is a traditional agrosilvopastoral ecosystem characterized by a savanna-like structure. It has been in decline since the middle of the last century, in particular in agricultural environments where it has been relegated to isolated forests. This paper presents a study into [...] Read more.
The dehesa is a traditional agrosilvopastoral ecosystem characterized by a savanna-like structure. It has been in decline since the middle of the last century, in particular in agricultural environments where it has been relegated to isolated forests. This paper presents a study into the reduction over the past 50 years. One of the main causes of this decline has been identified as xylophagous insects, specifically the wood borer Cerambyx welensii Kuster (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Based on estimations in both the population size, using Jolly Seber models, and the level of tree injury, using a single-index model, the study investigates the role the insect has played in the decline of the dehesa. Surface area loss was found to be greater than 50%, while canopy cover has diminished linearly over the period studied, with the risk of disappearance of the woodland increasing in the same magnitude as borer population density. The highest wood borer population densities observed corresponded to stands with an average canopy cover loss of 1.68% a year, indicating a risk of completely losing the forest cover in the short term (10–30 years). The proposed tree injury index was successful in categorizing the size of the insect population, and seems to be a useful indicator for describing the relationship between the two variables. According to this indicator, woodlands with more than 10% of trees with severe or very severe injuries are at risk. Follow-up work should be undertaken to investigate long-term demographic changes in wood borer populations, and management practices should be developed to reduce the population size, minimize forest loss and preserve these relict oak trees in unconnected landscapes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fragmentation and Connectivity of Forests in the Agricultural Environment)
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21 pages, 8794 KiB  
Article
Fragmentation and Connectivity of Island Forests in Agricultural Mediterranean Environments: A Comparative Study between the Guadalquivir Valley (Spain) and the Apulia Region (Italy)
by Pablo J. Hidalgo, Helena Hernández, Antonio J. Sánchez-Almendro, Javier López-Tirado, Federico Vessella and Rafael Porras
Forests 2021, 12(9), 1201; https://doi.org/10.3390/f12091201 - 3 Sep 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2811
Abstract
Habitat loss and fragmentation are considered some the main threats to biodiversity. Original forests have suffered an accentuated fragmentation and agricultural homogenization, leaving only some areas of natural vegetation, relegated to strongly anthropized disconnected patches (island forests, IFs) in a hostile matrix. These [...] Read more.
Habitat loss and fragmentation are considered some the main threats to biodiversity. Original forests have suffered an accentuated fragmentation and agricultural homogenization, leaving only some areas of natural vegetation, relegated to strongly anthropized disconnected patches (island forests, IFs) in a hostile matrix. These patches of original vegetation could be the key for the design and management of ecological corridors to promote species migration, an essential strategy for meeting the consequences of Global Change. This study proposes a comparative analysis of the fragmentation and connectivity of IFs of Quercus in two typically Mediterranean areas of predominantly agricultural use: the Guadalquivir valley (Spain) and the Apulia region (Italy). A retrospective comparison is also carried out in the Guadalquivir valley. The aim is to develop an objective new methodology to locate the patches of most interest using quantitative and qualitative data. Reference cartography of current island forests of Quercus species was developed from several digital sources and validated with orthoimages and field observations. Fragmentation analysis was based on graph structures using the software Conefor 2.6, a reliable tool for assessment of the role of patches in the landscape. Area and distance were used as node and connector values. Dispersion distance was established as 500 m, based on the maximum dispersion of acorns. Results indicate that the Guadalquivir valley has suffered an intensive fragmentation in recent decades. Both the Guadalquivir and Apulia regions host some IFs with the relevant potential to contribute as core habitats in the creation of connections to other natural protected sites. Many residual IFs in the landscape could contribute as stepping stones in the design and management of ecological corridors. Our methodology highlights the value of IFs to develop assessment strategies using homogenized available digital cartography and common criteria for the dispersion distances in graph theory analysis. The application of this new methodology could help in the management of protected sites using highly fragmented areas to allow the species movement through inhospitable landscapes in a unique opportunity to connect the different protected areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fragmentation and Connectivity of Forests in the Agricultural Environment)
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13 pages, 3173 KiB  
Article
Traditional Villages in Forest Areas: Exploring the Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Land Use and Landscape Patterns in Enshi Prefecture, China
by Luqi Wang and Chen Wen
Forests 2021, 12(1), 65; https://doi.org/10.3390/f12010065 - 8 Jan 2021
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 2700
Abstract
In the context of the implementation of rural revitalization strategies in China, limited attention has been paid to the landscape patterns of traditional villages that are located in vulnerable environments. This study explores the land-use dynamics and landscape patterns of traditional villages in [...] Read more.
In the context of the implementation of rural revitalization strategies in China, limited attention has been paid to the landscape patterns of traditional villages that are located in vulnerable environments. This study explores the land-use dynamics and landscape patterns of traditional villages in Enshi Prefecture, China. Based on a spatiotemporal analysis of land use and landscape metrics, we analyzed the prefecture and the environment surrounding 73 traditional villages. The results show that, from 2000 to 2020, most villages have had an increased share of forest, a decreased share of cultivated land and grassland, and a decreased level of landscape diversity and fragmentation. Additionally, villages at a higher elevation or with a steeper slope are associated with a lower level of landscape diversity, a lower proportion of cultivated land and grassland, and a higher proportion of forest. Overall, although the environment around the villages does not show dramatic changes in landscape patterns, land-use change at the prefecture level shows an increasing rate of urban growth from 2010 to 2020. For remote traditional villages in ecologically vulnerable and less-developed areas, caution is needed in the tradeoff between environmental conservation and economic development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fragmentation and Connectivity of Forests in the Agricultural Environment)
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