| Publication Type | J |
| Authors | Baumberger, T., L. Affre, T. Croze and F. Mesleard |
| Title | Habitat requirements and population structure of the rare endangered Limonium girardianum in Mediterranean salt marshes |
| Source | Flora |
| Author Keywords | Conservation Flooding regime Granulometry Human-driven ecosystem alterations Population renewal Restoration plant zonation seed-germination physical factors rapd markers salinity plumbaginaceae soil competition halophytes water |
| Abstract | The sea lavender Limonium girardianum (Cuss.) Fourr. is endemic to the Mediterranean salt marshes of the French and Spanish coasts. Most of the salt marshes where L girardianum occurs are exposed to human disturbance, in particular due to industrial expansion. To determine the ecological conditions favorable to the development of L girardianum, we used a set of permanent plots distributed along a topographical gradient in eleven French salt marshes. We monitored intensity of flooding, water table depth, soil moisture, soil salinity and granulometry. We investigated (i) the abiotic and biotic requirements for L girardianum and (ii) the effects of environmental conditions on the population structure of L girardianum. We found a unimodal response of L girardianum species to flooding, salt and soil moisture gradients. Soil texture modulated the effects of flooding and drought on the presence of the species. Furthermore, flooding induced population renewal, i.e. the highest seedling emergence and adult mortality. We recorded low seedling emergence in higher topographical positions. Proportions of seedlings were lowest on saltier soils and highest in flooded areas and on coarse sand. Prolonged flooding is likely to induce population renewal as long as remaining individuals are capable of reconstituting viable populations. To suggest efficient intermediate and long-term conservation strategies for L girardianum, it will be necessary to consider the role of human-driven changes in salt marshes with regard to hydrology and control of the vegetation. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier GmbH. |
| Author Address | [Baumberger, Teddy; Affre, Laurence; Croze, Thomas] Paul Cezanne Univ, Mediterranean Inst Ecol & Paleoecol, CNRS, UMR 6116, F-13397 Marseille 20, France. [Baumberger, Teddy; Mesleard, Francois] Tour du Valat Res Ctr, FR-13200 Arles, France. [Mesleard, Francois] Avignon Univ, Mediterranean Inst Ecol & Paleoecol, CNRS, UMR 6116,IUT, Avignon, France. Baumberger, T (reprint author), Paul Cezanne Univ, Mediterranean Inst Ecol & Paleoecol, CNRS, UMR 6116, Ave Escadrille Normandie Niemen,Case 421, F-13397 Marseille 20, France teddy.baumberger@univ-cezanne.fr; laurence.affre@univ-cezanne.fr; thomascroze@laposte.net; mesleard@tourduvalat.org |
| ISSN | 0367-2530 |
| ISBN | 0367-2530 |
| 29-Character Source Abbreviation | Flora |
| Year Published | 2012 |
| Volume | 207 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Beginning Page | 283-293 |
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | 10.1016/j.flora.2011.11.008 |
| Unique Article Identifier | WOS:000304898500006 |
