PROPOSAL FOR THE STUDY OF THE CONSERVATION STATE AND THE
VIABILITY OF COASTAL JUNIPER (JUNIPERUS OXYCEDRUS SUPSP.
MACROCARPA) IN THE SOUTH-WEAST SPAIN COAST.
CONTENT:
1. INTRODUCTION
2. AREA OF STUDY AND DEGREE OF THREAT
3. BIOLOGY OF THE SPECIES
4. THREATS
5. OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES
6. PROGRAM OF ACTIONS BY OBJECTIVES
7. CONCLUSIONS
8. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
9. REFERENCES
1. INTRODUCTION
The document is a collection synthesis of the most meaningful works over the Coastal
Juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. macrocarpa), as well as other studies with other
goals of which they have been possible to extract useful information for the objective of
this essay: the present and future conservation of Juniperus oxycedrus subsp.
macrocarpa.
This taxon inhabits coasts of deposition, dominated by systems of dunes and coastal
sandy grounds. Their biological and distinctive characteristics and its autoecology are
consequence of their evolutionary adaptation to the extreme conditions of the specific
habitat in which it lives.
Around 80 years ago, the area of distribution of this species extended from the Gibraltar
Strait to Huelva city only interrupted by the marsh systems. Since then the populations
of Coastal Juniper have gone in regression: firstly by the massive repopulations of Pinus
pinea during the years 60 and 70, for which, first it was eliminated the natural vegetation;
and at the moment by the building development and the tourist pressure that this coast
experiments.
Nowadays, in the coast of Huelva there are two relatively well conserved and separated
subpopulations by approximately 20 km of distance, there are Dunes From Punta
Umbria (inside the Punta Umbria municipal district), and Dunes of the Asperillo (into the
Natural Park of Dońana). Inside the rest of the potential area of distribution there are
only found small groups and isolated feet (or individuals).
The sum of all these circumstances and factors suggest the convenience of making a
study on the state of present conservation of this species, as well as, the definition of the
measures to adopt for the viability of taxon in the future
1. AREA OF STUDY AND DEGREE OF THREAT
This species, catalogued in threat of extinction, is present solely in the seaboard
ecosystems on stabilized dunes of the Andalusia Atlantic coast; an extensive coastal arc
of approximately 250 km that is extended from Portugal to the Strait of Giblraltar.
(CONSEJERIA DE MEDIO AMBIENTE DE ANDALUCIA, 2002. Project Juniper).
The study area is characterized for being the contact between the Earth and the sea,
circumstance which causes that they were very dynamics and specifics environment.
The main factors of dynamism are: the processes of the marine dynamical, the
continental processes, characteristics of the climate and the biological influences,
(NONN, 1987).
Biogeographycally, the study area constitutes an individual set characterized like
chorological province (Gaditano-Onubo-Algarbiense province) by its fisiographyc,
bioclimatics and floristicals peculiarities (CEBALLOS and MARTIN BOLANOS, 1930;
ASENSI IVORY and TEN GARRETAS, 1987).
3. BIOLOGY OF THE SPECIES
The habitat of the coastal juniper, is reserved for plants specialized and adapted to
survive under its hard conditions: high temperatures and summer isolation, poor in
nutrients, little stable sandy ground and with low availability of water and discharge
exhibition to the loaded marine wind of salt.
The specialization of the juniper and its adaptations to this atmosphere are shown in
some distinguishing characteristics: chroriaceas leaves to avoid the loss of moisture and
the attack del loaded wind of salt and sand, fast growth of extensive roots, that allow him
to survive to the movement of sands and to accede to the water of the deepest layers of
the subsoil.
Other particularities of this species are their slow growth, and a capacity of partly limited
regeneration, by their dependency of small carnivores for the dispersion and germination
of their seeds.
In addition, the process of production of fruits occupies a long period of time (two years)
since the fertilization is made by pollen that it is transported by the wind from the
masculine feet that produces it.
4. THREATS
The agents who threaten the survival of this taxon can be ordered within two main
factors:
4.1. Autoecology of the species:
- Slow growth.
- Limited regeneration.
- Important dependency of the local fauna for the dispersion of its seeds.
- Long period (2 years) of maturation of the fruit.
- Habitat of extreme climatic and edafic conditions.
4.2. High transformation of its habitat:
- Disordered and untenable town-planning Development.
- Forest management directed to economic interests so far
of conservation interests. Case of the Pinus pinea.
- Fragmentation of the distribution area.
- Genetic isolation of the metapopulations.
- Introduction of exotic invasive species. Case of the Carpobrotus edulis.
- Excessive cattle pressure and public use too in area with presence of coastal juniper.
-Some of the individuals are developed on private propierties that makes difficult its
manegement.
All these characteristics have given this species to a situation of clear regression and a
diminution of the capacity of regeneration of their populations.
5. OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES
5.1. Protection in situ. To establish and to apply effectively measures of direct protection
on the natural populations and their habitat.
5.2. Conservation of the present genetic biodiversity.
5.3. To reinforce the populations in natural environment until obtaining viable
populations.
5.4. To promote and to develop lines of investigation, (potential habitat, autoecology,
factors of competition, etc.), that allow to improve the strategies of conservation of the
species.
5.5. Monitorization of the populations to know its evolution and the effectiveness of the
management measures.
5.6. To make aware and citizen collaboration
6. PROGRAM OF ACTIONS BY OBJECTIVES
6.1. To establish a treatment for the vegetation that competes with the juniper: tasks of
cleared of
the coastal pine that cohabits with the juniper and the elimination of the
invading plant Carpobrotus edulis.
The protected area will be extended by the figure of Places of Communitarian Interest
(LIC´s) of those valuable zones located outside the Network of Protected Natural
Spaces.
Measures of control of the public use would be established. For example the
construction of infrastructures that canalize the high transit of users of the coast:
footbridges of access to the beach, protections of track-bike, structures that prevent the
entrance of vehicles to the dune cord, etc, as well as the accomplishment of
interpretative signals.
6.2. It will make a sufficient harvesting of seeds of each natural population. One part of
these seeds will serve for the creation of a genetic bank of seeds of the species within
the Andalusia Vegetal Seed Bank (conservation ex- situ). The other part will be used for
production of plants in breeding grounds that then will serve for investigation, the
reinforcement and the extension of the natural populations.
6.3. It will make repopulations, densification of populations and connective spaces. They
were carried out with feet of coastal juniper produced in breeding grounds from native
seeds of the local populations. So, It will try to reinforce the natural populations of the
species very fragmented and with increasing problems of isolation among them.
6.4. It is fundamental to have information and knowledge of the factors that condition the
survival of the species. In this sense the accomplishment of studies is contemplated on:
the paper of the vertebrate fauna in its dispersion and germination or the answer of the
junipers to the cleared of the pine groves with which they coexist.
6.5. Inventory: it will register the characteristics of each population, degree of threat and
state of conservation.
Monitoring: With the objective to update the diagnosis of the state of the present
populations as well as to determine the effect of the management above its evolution
and development.
Information and analysis of the data: All the information produced by the diverse fronts
of action of the Plan will be compiled, studied and stored so that it can be used later.
Genetic studies: It will be made studies of genetic variability population inter and intra
and of the variation of the rate of fertility between populations.
6.6. For the success of this conservation strategy, we considers very important the
accomplishment of educative actions about the species and its problematical. These
programs will go directed specially: to the students, the temporary visitors and the
sectors of the population more affected by the forecasts of the Plan. In this sense, it will
be helpful the introduction of the Project within the Andalusia Plan Of Environmental
Voluntary and to establish agreements with institutions, public and private companies
and particular for the conservation and recovery of individuals located in lands of private
property.
7. CONCLUSIONS
During the elaboration of this essay it has not found recent works of investigation
centred in the species, that gather with numerical data the present problematica of this
taxon. Also, the slow grow may be a handicap for the investigation. So that, we think that
the propose activities of investigation in this essay are necessary and should be started
as soon as it is possible.
This study also suggest the important roll of the juniper within its habitat as much by its
adaptations to the environment like by the narrow fenologic relations with to other native
plants, vertebrate and invertebrate animals. We are sure that if we protect the juniper
and its habitat, throw the above measures, we will be helping also to another threated
species as Linx pardinus (endemic), Chamaeleo chamaeleon, Linaria tursica (endemic),
and Corema album, so it will be protecting the biodiversity.
The exploration of the area of distribution before and during this work, has shown that in
many cases is not fulfilled legislation that protect the juniper and its habitat. Therefore
throw of this essay we demand the strict fulfillment of the present legal measures as well
as which are proposed in this work. Also important is the fulfillment in the agreements
with publish and private organizations. If this later point is not made, the efforts of many
cientifics, teachers, and particulars finally have not reward.
8. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Some people in to appeared during development of it:
Yoli, for believe more than i myself who i could do it.
Igüazel, for your good advice and your computer.
Vojta, for your action in a concret situation, when it was not left any possibility.
All them have put your sand grain to conserv the biodiversity.
9. REFERENCES
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invasoras. Historia Natural 5: 32-41.
JONATHAN L. GELBARD and JAYNE BELNAP, 2003. Roads as conduits for exotic
plant invasions in a semiarid Landscape. Conservation Biology 17, 420-432.
PARQUE NACIONAL DE DONANA, (2002). Informe sobre la eliminacion de
espececies exoticas introducidas en el Parque Nacional de Donana.
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On Praha: 2006/05/09