Authors |
Martinez-Lopez, J; Carreno, MF; Martinez-Fernandez, J; Esteve, MA |
Author Full Name |
Martinez-Lopez, J.; Carreno, M. F.; Martinez-Fernandez, J.; Esteve, M. A. |
Title |
Wetland and landscape indices for assessing the condition of semiarid Mediterranean saline wetlands under agricultural hydrological pressures |
Source |
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS |
Language |
English |
Document Type |
Article |
Author Keywords |
Semiarid wetlands; Remote sensing; Irrigated agricultural areas; Plant taxa; Watershed hydrological condition; Wetland condition |
Keywords Plus |
LAGOON SE SPAIN; LAND-COVER; ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY; PHRAGMITES-AUSTRALIS; PLANT-COMMUNITIES; INDICATORS; DISTANCE; TM |
Abstract |
During last decades semiarid Mediterranean saline wetlands have undergone several hydrological and biological changes as a consequence of increased water inputs from agricultural areas. Specific indices are needed in order to assess the condition of these unique ecosystems in relation to major hydrological disturbances at watershed level. Through the long-term study of selected plant taxa in a set of representative wetlands in Murcia province (SE Spain), together with the characterization of their watershed agricultural land uses, plant indicators of wetland condition were sought and then combined into a wetland condition index. Percentages of land cover classes of interest were weighted taking into account land cover arrangement and receiving wetland size. Characteristic perennial plant taxa were sampled in 1989 and 2008 and significant taxa frequency changes at each wetland site were determined. Regression analysis was used to relate wetland plant taxa frequency and watershed condition during the study period. Limonium spp., Arthrocnemum glaucum, Phragmites australis, Tamarix canariensis and Atriplex halimus showed significant relationships with watershed condition. Indicator taxa were thus identified and their frequencies were combined into an integrated index of wetland condition, which showed a robust relationship with watershed hydrological condition. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
Author Address |
[Martinez-Lopez, J.; Carreno, M. F.; Martinez-Fernandez, J.; Esteve, M. A.] Fac Biol, Ecol & Hydrol Dept, E-30100 Murcia, Spain |
Reprint Address |
Martinez-Lopez, J (reprint author), Fac Biol, Ecol & Hydrol Dept, Campus Espinardo, E-30100 Murcia, Spain. |
E-mail Address |
javier.martinez@um.es; mariafra@um.es; juliamf@um.es; maesteve@um.es |
ResearcherID Number |
Martinez-Lopez, Javier/K-4306-2015; Carreno, M.Francisca/C-6844-2009; Martinez-Fernandez, Julia/J-9681-2012; Martinez-Lopez, Javier/C-7069-2009 |
ORCID Number |
Martinez-Lopez, Javier/0000-0002-0825-7252; Carreno, M.Francisca/0000-0003-2536-2852; Martinez-Fernandez, Julia/0000-0001-8675-947X; Martinez-Lopez, Javier/0000-0002-0825-7252 |
Funding Agency and Grant Number |
project |
Funding Text |
Financial support was provided by the project |
Times Cited |
11 |
Total Times Cited Count (WoS, BCI, and CSCD) |
12 |
Publisher |
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV |
Publisher City |
AMSTERDAM |
Publisher Address |
PO BOX 211, 1000 AE AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS |
ISSN |
1470-160X |
29-Character Source Abbreviation |
ECOL INDIC |
ISO Source Abbreviation |
Ecol. Indic. |
Publication Date |
JAN |
Year Published |
2014 |
Volume |
36 |
Beginning Page |
400 |
Ending Page |
408 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) |
10.1016/j.ecolind.2013.08.007 |
Page Count |
9 |
Web of Science Category |
Biodiversity Conservation; Environmental Sciences |
Subject Category |
Biodiversity & Conservation; Environmental Sciences & Ecology |
Document Delivery Number |
281DV |
Unique Article Identifier |
WOS:000329081100043
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Plants associated with this reference |
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