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Riparian zones are the paragon of transitional ecosystems, providing critical habitat and ecosystem services that are especially threatened by global change. Following consultation with experts, 10 key challenges were identified to be addressed for riparian vegetation science and management improvement: (1) Create a distinct scientific community by establishing stronger bridges between disciplines; (2) Make riparian vegetation more visible and appreciated in society and policies; (3) Improve knowledge regarding biodiversity—ecosystem functioning links; (4) Manage spatial scale and context-based issues; (5) Improve knowledge on social dimensions of riparian vegetation; (6) Anticipate responses to emergent issues and future trajectories; (7) Enhance tools to quantify and prioritize ecosystem services; (8) Improve numerical modeling and simulation tools; (9) Calibrate methods and increase data availability for better indicators and monitoring practices and transferability; and (10) Undertake scientific validation of best management practices. These challenges are discussed and critiqued here, to guide future research into riparian vegetation.

Riparian zones are the paragon of transitional ecosystems, providing critical habitat and ecosystem services that are especially threatened by global change. Following consultation with experts, 10 key challenges were identified to be addressed for riparian vegetation science and management improvement: (1) Create a distinct scientific community by establishing stronger bridges between disciplines; (2) Make riparian vegetation more visible and appreciated in society and policies; (3) Improve knowledge regarding biodiversity—ecosystem functioning links; (4) Manage spatial scale and context-based issues; (5) Improve knowledge on social dimensions of riparian vegetation; (6) Anticipate responses to emergent issues and future trajectories; (7) Enhance tools to quantify and prioritize ecosystem services; (8) Improve numerical modeling and simulation tools; (9) Calibrate methods and increase data availability for better indicators and monitoring practices and transferability; and (10) Undertake scientific validation of best management practices. These challenges are discussed and critiqued here, to guide future research into riparian vegetation.

1. Riparian zones are vital areas of interaction between land and rivers and are often degraded by several pressures such as urbanisation, intensive agriculture and river engineering works. 2. This policy brief provides five key policy messages and recommendations to be considered by policy-makers, scientists, managers, and stakeholders to enhance riparian zone management. 3. Adopting an integrated socio-economic and environmentally dynamic view will ensure the sustainable management of riparian zones. 4. In light of climate change, it is critically important to conserve and/or restore the ecological integrity of riparian zones. 5. European Union Directives and national-scale legislation and regulations need updating to ensure coordinated implementation of riparian zone-related policies. 6. Stakeholder knowledge exchange, policy co-creation and adaptive management are key to enhancing riparian zone functions.

Riparian zones are the paragon of transitional ecosystems, providing critical habitat and ecosystem services that are especially threatened by global change. Following consultation with experts, 10 key challenges were identified to be addressed for riparian vegetation science and management improvement: (1) Create a distinct scientific community by establishing stronger bridges between disciplines; (2) Make riparian vegetation more visible and appreciated in society and policies; (3) Improve knowledge regarding biodiversity—ecosystem functioning links; (4) Manage spatial scale and context-based issues; (5) Improve knowledge on social dimensions of riparian vegetation; (6) Anticipate responses to emergent issues and future trajectories; (7) Enhance tools to quantify and prioritize ecosystem services; (8) Improve numerical modeling and simulation tools; (9) Calibrate methods and increase data availability for better indicators and monitoring practices and transferability; and (10) Undertake scientific validation of best management practices. These challenges are discussed and critiqued here, to guide future research into riparian vegetation.

Riparian zones are the paragon of transitional ecosystems, providing critical habitat and ecosystem services that are especially threatened by global change. Following consultation with experts, 10 key challenges were identified to be addressed for riparian vegetation science and management improvement: (1) Create a distinct scientific community by establishing stronger bridges between disciplines; (2) Make riparian vegetation more visible and appreciated in society and policies; (3) Improve knowledge regarding biodiversity—ecosystem functioning links; (4) Manage spatial scale and context-based issues; (5) Improve knowledge on social dimensions of riparian vegetation; (6) Anticipate responses to emergent issues and future trajectories; (7) Enhance tools to quantify and prioritize ecosystem services; (8) Improve numerical modeling and simulation tools; (9) Calibrate methods and increase data availability for better indicators and monitoring practices and transferability; and (10) Undertake scientific validation of best management practices. These challenges are discussed and critiqued here, to guide future research into riparian vegetation.

Riparian zones are the paragon of transitional ecosystems, providing critical habitat and ecosystem services that are especially threatened by global change. Following consultation with experts, 10 key challenges were identified to be addressed for riparian vegetation science and management improvement: (1) Create a distinct scientific community by establishing stronger bridges between disciplines; (2) Make riparian vegetation more visible and appreciated in society and policies; (3) Improve knowledge regarding biodiversity—ecosystem functioning links; (4) Manage spatial scale and context-based issues; (5) Improve knowledge on social dimensions of riparian vegetation; (6) Anticipate responses to emergent issues and future trajectories; (7) Enhance tools to quantify and prioritize ecosystem services; (8) Improve numerical modeling and simulation tools; (9) Calibrate methods and increase data availability for better indicators and monitoring practices and transferability; and (10) Undertake scientific validation of best management practices. These challenges are discussed and critiqued here, to guide future research into riparian vegetation.

Riparian zones are the paragon of transitional ecosystems, providing critical habitat and ecosystem services that are especially threatened by global change. Following consultation with experts, 10 key challenges were identified to be addressed for riparian vegetation science and management improvement: (1) Create a distinct scientific community by establishing stronger bridges between disciplines; (2) Make riparian vegetation more visible and appreciated in society and policies; (3) Improve knowledge regarding biodiversity—ecosystem functioning links; (4) Manage spatial scale and context-based issues; (5) Improve knowledge on social dimensions of riparian vegetation; (6) Anticipate responses to emergent issues and future trajectories; (7) Enhance tools to quantify and prioritize ecosystem services; (8) Improve numerical modeling and simulation tools; (9) Calibrate methods and increase data availability for better indicators and monitoring practices and transferability; and (10) Undertake scientific validation of best management practices. These challenges are discussed and critiqued here, to guide future research into riparian vegetation. This article is categorized under: Water and Life > Nature of Freshwater Ecosystems Water and Life > Stresses and Pressures on Ecosystems Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness

1. Riparian zones are vital areas of interaction between land and rivers and are often degraded by several pressures such as urbanisation, intensive agriculture and river engineering works. 2. This policy brief provides five key policy messages and recommendations to be considered by policy-makers, scientists, managers, and stakeholders to enhance riparian zone management. 3. Adopting an integrated socio-economic and environmentally dynamic view will ensure the sustainable management of riparian zones. 4. In light of climate change, it is critically important to conserve and/or restore the ecological integrity of riparian zones. 5. European Union Directives and national-scale legislation and regulations need updating to ensure coordinated implementation of riparian zone-related policies. 6. Stakeholder knowledge exchange, policy co-creation and adaptive management are key to enhancing riparian zone functions.

1. Riparian zones are vital areas of interaction between land and rivers and are often degraded by several pressures such as urbanisation, intensive agriculture and river engineering works. 2. This policy brief provides five key policy messages and recommendations to be considered by policy-makers, scientists, managers, and stakeholders to enhance riparian zone management. 3. Adopting an integrated socio-economic and environmentally dynamic view will ensure the sustainable management of riparian zones. 4. In light of climate change, it is critically important to conserve and/or restore the ecological integrity of riparian zones. 5. European Union Directives and national-scale legislation and regulations need updating to ensure coordinated implementation of riparian zone-related policies. 6. Stakeholder knowledge exchange, policy co-creation and adaptive management are key to enhancing riparian zone functions.

[EN] The REDAPTA project, "Spaces of Governance for the Adaptation to Global Change in Mediterranean Rivers", developed its activities simultaneously in the Tordera (Catalonia) and Serpis (Valencia Region) river basins. The project worked in collaboration with two "spaces of governance" in the two basins: the "Taula del Delta i de la Baixa Tordera" and the "Plataforma Ciutadana per a la Defensa del Riu Serpis". The methodology used aimed at fostering knowledge exchange and deliberation, delivering an adaptation strategy for the basins including ten measures co-produced with stakeholders. The second result of the REDAPTA project is a handbook describing the concepts and approach used, the main methodological steps of the co-design process and the lessons learned during its implementation. To raise awareness and showcase the importance of public engagement in river monitoring, field visits were organised in the Tordera and the Serpis rivers, including capacity building activities. The participants were able to get to know a river stretch and, by using digital tools developed by the project teams, they could record some observations and indicators for a basic characterisation. Finally, aiming to promote this innovative approach, the project encouraged the exchange of experiences between different organisations in a specific seminar and explored their interest in creating an "Iberian Network of Spaces of Governance for Water Management"., [ES] El proyecto REDAPTA, "Espacios de Gobernanza para la Adaptación al Cambio Global en Ríos Mediterráneos", desarrolló sus actividades de forma simultánea en las cuencas de los ríos Tordera (Cataluña) y Serpis (Comunidad Valenciana). El proyecto trabajó en colaboración con dos "espacios de gobernanza": la "Taula del Delta i de la Baixa Tordera" y la "Plataforma Ciutadana per a la Defensa del Riu Serpis". Se siguió una metodología para el proceso de co-diseño, con el objetivo de intercambiar conocimientos y fomentar la deliberación, y el resultado fue un documento estratégico de adaptación, para cada cuenca, que incluye diez medidas concretas de adaptación co-producidas con los actores. El segundo resultado del REDAPTA fue un manual que describe los conceptos y el enfoque aplicados, las principales etapas metodológicas del proceso de co-diseño y las lecciones aprendidas durante su aplicación. Con el objetivo de concienciar a la ciudadanía y visibilizar la importancia del seguimiento participativo de actuaciones de mejora fluvial, se realizó una actividad en campo en ambos ríos, con una primera parte de capacitación y una segunda de toma de información. Los participantes pudieron conocer un tramo del río y, utilizando las herramientas digitales desarrolladas por el proyecto, pudieron registrar diferentes observaciones e indicadores para su caracterización básica. Por último, con el fin de promover el enfoque innovador del proyecto, se llevó a cabo una jornada de intercambio de experiencias entre diferentes organizaciones, explorando su interés en crear una "Red Ibérica de Espacios de Gobernanza para la Gestión del Agua".

[EN] The REDAPTA project, "Spaces of Governance for the Adaptation to Global Change in Mediterranean Rivers", developed its activities simultaneously in the Tordera (Catalonia) and Serpis (Valencia Region) river basins. The project worked in collaboration with two "spaces of governance" in the two basins: the "Taula del Delta i de la Baixa Tordera" and the "Plataforma Ciutadana per a la Defensa del Riu Serpis". The methodology used aimed at fostering knowledge exchange and deliberation, delivering an adaptation strategy for the basins including ten measures co-produced with stakeholders. The second result of the REDAPTA project is a handbook describing the concepts and approach used, the main methodological steps of the co-design process and the lessons learned during its implementation. To raise awareness and showcase the importance of public engagement in river monitoring, field visits were organised in the Tordera and the Serpis rivers, including capacity building activities. The participants were able to get to know a river stretch and, by using digital tools developed by the project teams, they could record some observations and indicators for a basic characterisation. Finally, aiming to promote this innovative approach, the project encouraged the exchange of experiences between different organisations in a specific seminar and explored their interest in creating an "Iberian Network of Spaces of Governance for Water Management"., [ES] El proyecto REDAPTA, "Espacios de Gobernanza para la Adaptación al Cambio Global en Ríos Mediterráneos", desarrolló sus actividades de forma simultánea en las cuencas de los ríos Tordera (Cataluña) y Serpis (Comunidad Valenciana). El proyecto trabajó en colaboración con dos "espacios de gobernanza": la "Taula del Delta i de la Baixa Tordera" y la "Plataforma Ciutadana per a la Defensa del Riu Serpis". Se siguió una metodología para el proceso de co-diseño, con el objetivo de intercambiar conocimientos y fomentar la deliberación, y el resultado fue un documento estratégico de adaptación, para cada cuenca, que incluye diez medidas concretas de adaptación co-producidas con los actores. El segundo resultado del REDAPTA fue un manual que describe los conceptos y el enfoque aplicados, las principales etapas metodológicas del proceso de co-diseño y las lecciones aprendidas durante su aplicación. Con el objetivo de concienciar a la ciudadanía y visibilizar la importancia del seguimiento participativo de actuaciones de mejora fluvial, se realizó una actividad en campo en ambos ríos, con una primera parte de capacitación y una segunda de toma de información. Los participantes pudieron conocer un tramo del río y, utilizando las herramientas digitales desarrolladas por el proyecto, pudieron registrar diferentes observaciones e indicadores para su caracterización básica. Por último, con el fin de promover el enfoque innovador del proyecto, se llevó a cabo una jornada de intercambio de experiencias entre diferentes organizaciones, explorando su interés en crear una "Red Ibérica de Espacios de Gobernanza para la Gestión del Agua".

River hydromorphology has long been subjected to huge anthropogenic pressures with severe negative impacts on related ecosystems’ functioning and water quality. Therefore, improving river hydromorphological conditions represents a priority task in sustainable river management and requires proper assessment tools. It is well known that riparian vegetation plays a crucial role in sustaining river hydromorphological conditions. However, it has been nearly neglected in most hydromorphological assessment protocols, including the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). This paper reviews and synthesizes the relevance of riparian vegetation for river hydromorphology, focusing on its contribution to streamflow and sediment regime conditions. We also examine how riparian vegetation is considered in the WFD and how it is included in national hydromorphological protocols currently in use. Our findings point to a temporal mismatch between the date when the WFD came into force and the emergence of scientific and technologic advances in riparian vegetation dynamism and bio-geomorphic modeling. To overcome this misalignment, we present promising approaches for the characterization and assessment of riparian vegetation, which include the identification of vegetation units and indicators at multiple scales to support management and restoration measures. We discuss the complexity of riparian vegetation assessment, particularly with respect to the establishment of river-type-based reference conditions and the monitoring and management targets, and propose some attributes that can serve as novel indicators of the naturalness vs. artificiality of riparian vegetation. We argue that the hydromorphological context of the WFD should be revisited and offer guidance to integrate riparian vegetation in river hydromorphological monitoring and assessment.

En el llibre es fa un diagnóstic ecològic de les riberes, s'analitzen l'evolució històrica dels cabals circulants i la influència d'aquestos sobre les comunitats vegetals de ribera, i s'apunten una sèrie d'actuacions per a la gestió de l'aigua i l'establiment d'un régim ambiental de cabals per a conservar i regenerar la vegetació ripària. El treball suposa una profunda investigació de camp i un minuciós recorregut per les riberes del Serpis per tal d'estudiar el seu estat ecològic, que ens permet acompanyar els autors en un recorregut per aquest meravellós territori.

En el llibre es fa un diagnóstic ecològic de les riberes, s'analitzen l'evolució històrica dels cabals circulants i la influència d'aquestos sobre les comunitats vegetals de ribera, i s'apunten una sèrie d'actuacions per a la gestió de l'aigua i l'establiment d'un régim ambiental de cabals per a conservar i regenerar la vegetació ripària. El treball suposa una profunda investigació de camp i un minuciós recorregut per les riberes del Serpis per tal d'estudiar el seu estat ecològic, que ens permet acompanyar els autors en un recorregut per aquest meravellós territori.

En el llibre es fa un diagnóstic ecològic de les riberes, s'analitzen l'evolució històrica dels cabals circulants i la influència d'aquestos sobre les comunitats vegetals de ribera, i s'apunten una sèrie d'actuacions per a la gestió de l'aigua i l'establiment d'un régim ambiental de cabals per a conservar i regenerar la vegetació ripària. El treball suposa una profunda investigació de camp i un minuciós recorregut per les riberes del Serpis per tal d'estudiar el seu estat ecològic, que ens permet acompanyar els autors en un recorregut per aquest meravellós territori.

"This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Muñoz-Mas, R., V. Garófano-Gómez, I. Andrés-Doménech, D. Corenblit, G. Egger, F. Francés, M.T. Ferreira, et al. 2017. ¿Exploring the Key Drivers of Riparian Woodland Successional Pathways across Three European River Reaches.¿ Ecohydrology 10 (8). Wiley: e1888. doi:10.1002/eco.1888, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.1888. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.", [EN] Climate change and river regulation are negatively impacting riparian vegetation. To evaluate these impacts, process-based models are preferred over data-driven approaches. However, they require extensive knowledge about ecohydrological processes. To facilitate the implementation of such process-based models, the key drivers of riparian woodland successional pathways across three river reaches, in Austria, Portugal, and Spain, were explored, employing two complementary approaches. The principal component analyses highlighted the importance of the physical gradients determining the placement of the succession phases within the riparian and floodplain zones. The generalized additive models revealed that the initial and pioneer succession phases, characteristic of the colonization stage, appeared in areas highly morphodynamic, close in height and distance to the water table, and with coarse substrate, whereas elder phases within the transitional and mature stages showed incremental differences, occupying less dynamic areas with finer substrate. The Austrian site fitted well the current successional theory (elder phases appearing sequentially further up and distant), but at the Portuguese site, the tolerance of the riparian species to drought and flash flood events governed their placement. Finally, at the Spanish site, the patchy distribution of the elder phases was the remnants of formative events that reshaped the river channel. These results highlight the complex relationships between flow regime, channel morphology, and riparian vegetation. The use of succession phases, which rely on the sequential evolution of riparian vegetation as a response to different drivers, may be potentially better reproducible, within numerical process-based models, and transferable to other geographical regions.

"This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Muñoz-Mas, R., V. Garófano-Gómez, I. Andrés-Doménech, D. Corenblit, G. Egger, F. Francés, M.T. Ferreira, et al. 2017. ¿Exploring the Key Drivers of Riparian Woodland Successional Pathways across Three European River Reaches.¿ Ecohydrology 10 (8). Wiley: e1888. doi:10.1002/eco.1888, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.1888. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.", [EN] Climate change and river regulation are negatively impacting riparian vegetation. To evaluate these impacts, process-based models are preferred over data-driven approaches. However, they require extensive knowledge about ecohydrological processes. To facilitate the implementation of such process-based models, the key drivers of riparian woodland successional pathways across three river reaches, in Austria, Portugal, and Spain, were explored, employing two complementary approaches. The principal component analyses highlighted the importance of the physical gradients determining the placement of the succession phases within the riparian and floodplain zones. The generalized additive models revealed that the initial and pioneer succession phases, characteristic of the colonization stage, appeared in areas highly morphodynamic, close in height and distance to the water table, and with coarse substrate, whereas elder phases within the transitional and mature stages showed incremental differences, occupying less dynamic areas with finer substrate. The Austrian site fitted well the current successional theory (elder phases appearing sequentially further up and distant), but at the Portuguese site, the tolerance of the riparian species to drought and flash flood events governed their placement. Finally, at the Spanish site, the patchy distribution of the elder phases was the remnants of formative events that reshaped the river channel. These results highlight the complex relationships between flow regime, channel morphology, and riparian vegetation. The use of succession phases, which rely on the sequential evolution of riparian vegetation as a response to different drivers, may be potentially better reproducible, within numerical process-based models, and transferable to other geographical regions.

"This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Muñoz-Mas, R., V. Garófano-Gómez, I. Andrés-Doménech, D. Corenblit, G. Egger, F. Francés, M.T. Ferreira, et al. 2017. ¿Exploring the Key Drivers of Riparian Woodland Successional Pathways across Three European River Reaches.¿ Ecohydrology 10 (8). Wiley: e1888. doi:10.1002/eco.1888, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.1888. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.", [EN] Climate change and river regulation are negatively impacting riparian vegetation. To evaluate these impacts, process-based models are preferred over data-driven approaches. However, they require extensive knowledge about ecohydrological processes. To facilitate the implementation of such process-based models, the key drivers of riparian woodland successional pathways across three river reaches, in Austria, Portugal, and Spain, were explored, employing two complementary approaches. The principal component analyses highlighted the importance of the physical gradients determining the placement of the succession phases within the riparian and floodplain zones. The generalized additive models revealed that the initial and pioneer succession phases, characteristic of the colonization stage, appeared in areas highly morphodynamic, close in height and distance to the water table, and with coarse substrate, whereas elder phases within the transitional and mature stages showed incremental differences, occupying less dynamic areas with finer substrate. The Austrian site fitted well the current successional theory (elder phases appearing sequentially further up and distant), but at the Portuguese site, the tolerance of the riparian species to drought and flash flood events governed their placement. Finally, at the Spanish site, the patchy distribution of the elder phases was the remnants of formative events that reshaped the river channel. These results highlight the complex relationships between flow regime, channel morphology, and riparian vegetation. The use of succession phases, which rely on the sequential evolution of riparian vegetation as a response to different drivers, may be potentially better reproducible, within numerical process-based models, and transferable to other geographical regions.

Habitat suitability models (HSM) are concerned with the abundance or distribution of species as a consequence of interactions with the physical environment. Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) were used to model brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) density as a function of environmental variables at the scale of river reach and hydromorphological units (HMU) in the Jucar River Basin (Eastern Spain). After 4years of observations (2003-2006) the data representing trout density were split into two categories, young (<2years) and adult (2years), for modelling independently. The environmental descriptors at reach-scale described the geographical position, hydrological conditions, proportions and diversity of habitats. At the scale of HMUs (pool, glide, riffle or rapid), habitat descriptors representing dimensions, substrate, cover and velocity were used. The best and parsimonious GAM for each category was selected after a comprehensive trial of all possible combinations of input variables. The models explained 61% (adult) and 75% (young) of the variability of the data (R(2)adj). The results demonstrated the relevance of mean width, mean depth, cover index, mean velocity and slope for adult brown trout. Young trout densities were mainly related to maximum depths, cover index, mean velocity, elevation, average distance between rapids and number of slow water HMUs. This article shows the relevance of considering geographical and habitat-related requirements at different scales to describe the patterns of trout density. Furthermore, the importance of considering non-linear relationships with habitat variables was demonstrated. The results are useful for environmental managers to design effective and science-based restoration measures, and result in a more efficient management of brown trout populations.

Habitat suitability models (HSM) are concerned with the abundance or distribution of species as a consequence of interactions with the physical environment. Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) were used to model brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) density as a function of environmental variables at the scale of river reach and hydromorphological units (HMU) in the Jucar River Basin (Eastern Spain). After 4years of observations (2003-2006) the data representing trout density were split into two categories, young (<2years) and adult (2years), for modelling independently. The environmental descriptors at reach-scale described the geographical position, hydrological conditions, proportions and diversity of habitats. At the scale of HMUs (pool, glide, riffle or rapid), habitat descriptors representing dimensions, substrate, cover and velocity were used. The best and parsimonious GAM for each category was selected after a comprehensive trial of all possible combinations of input variables. The models explained 61% (adult) and 75% (young) of the variability of the data (R(2)adj). The results demonstrated the relevance of mean width, mean depth, cover index, mean velocity and slope for adult brown trout. Young trout densities were mainly related to maximum depths, cover index, mean velocity, elevation, average distance between rapids and number of slow water HMUs. This article shows the relevance of considering geographical and habitat-related requirements at different scales to describe the patterns of trout density. Furthermore, the importance of considering non-linear relationships with habitat variables was demonstrated. The results are useful for environmental managers to design effective and science-based restoration measures, and result in a more efficient management of brown trout populations.

[EN] The general breaking point of rural society and traditional ways of land use that happened in the second half of the twentieth century, especially since 1960, poses a new scenario where forest cover has experienced an unprecedented growth. Castellon's province represents a paradigm of depopulation processes and therefore, a representative territory in the Mediterranean Basin, while the 50 years that separate the 1957 American flight and 2007 aerial images of the Plan Nacional de Ortofotografía Aérea (PNOA), allow research in an adequate time scale. To study such a vast territory it has been necessary to develop a methodology through a systematic sampling photo interpretation that has been developed over 1% of the territory in plots of 1 ha. Two elements are evaluated in those two different temporal moments: canopy cover and non-forestry uses, in two different interpretation levels. On the basis of those generated data, evolution is globally analyzed and in the case of forest cover, silvogenesis models are studied. Results confirm how both persistence and growth of forest canopy cover are generally very significant and how transitional systematic trends are identified between different uses and coverages, allowing future predictions. The evolution of agricultural and urban uses responds to very dynamic socioeconomic factors and their changes are very fast. Because of the crises of different forestry and agricultural uses, the huge accumulation of abandoned agricultural land indicates a long future path for forest growth, but much slower. Meanwhile, the urbanization of large areas is a phenomenon with little territorial relevance at a global level, but really worrying in areas in which it has been concentrated. The forest cover extent has been mainly developed towards the coast and that fact has broken the symmetry between a mainly forest hinterland and a mainly agricultural coast, in a clear homogenization process of existing agroforestry landscape. At a more de, [ES] El punto de ruptura general de la sociedad rural y de las formas tradicionales de aprovechamiento del territorio producido en la segunda mitad del siglo XX, en especial desde 1960, plantea un escenario nuevo ante el cual las coberturas forestales han experimentado un crecimiento sin precedentes. La provincia de Castellón es un paradigma de los procesos de despoblación y, por lo tanto, un territorio representativo en el arco mediterráneo, mientras que los 50 años que separan el vuelo americano de 1957 y la imagen aérea de 2007 del Plan Nacional de Ortofotografía Aérea (PNOA) posibilitan la investigación con una escala temporal adecuada. Para el estudio de un territorio tan extenso ha sido necesario el desarrollo de una metodología de fotointerpretación por muestreo sistemático, desarrollado sobre el 1% del territorio en parcelas de 1 ha. Se valoran la fracción de cabida cubierta de cada cobertura y la superficie de cada uso no forestal en los dos momentos, en dos niveles de interpretación. A partir de los datos obtenidos se analiza globalmente la evolución y, en el caso de las coberturas forestales, se estudian los modelos de silvogénesis. Los resultados constatan cómo la persistencia y el crecimiento de la fracción de cabida cubierta forestal son en general muy importantes y se identifican tendencias sistemáticas de paso entre los diversos usos y coberturas, que permiten hacer una predicción de futuro. En este sentido, la evolución de los usos agrícolas y urbanos responden a factores socioeconómicos muy dinámicos y sus cambios son muy veloces, por lo que a causa de las crisis de los diferentes aprovechamientos y usos agrarios, la gran acumulación de terreno agrícola abandonado hace prever un largo recorrido futuro al crecimiento forestal, mucho más lento. Por su parte, la urbanización de amplias superficies es un fenómeno con poca relevancia territorial a nivel global, pero realmente preocupante en los espacios en que se ha concentrado. La extensión de las cobe, [CA] El punt de ruptura general de la societat rural i de les formes tradicionals d'aprofitament del territori produït en la segona meitat del segle XX, especialment des de 1960, planteja un escenari nou davant el qual les cobertures forestals han experimentat un creixement sense precedents. La província de Castelló és un paradigma dels processos de despoblació i, per tant, un territori representatiu en l'arc mediterrani, mentre que els 50 anys que separen el vol americà de 1957 i la imatge aèria de 2007 del Plan Nacional de Ortofotografía Aérea (PNOA) possibiliten la investigació amb una escala temporal adequada. Per a l'estudi d'un territori tan extens ha estat necessari el desenvolupament d'una metodologia de fotointerpretació per mostreig sistemàtic, desenvolupat sobre l'1% del territori en parcel·les d'1 ha. Es valoren la densitat de recobriment de cada cobertura i la superfície de cada ús no forestal en els dos moments, amb dues escales d'apreciació. A partir de les dades obtingudes s'analitza globalment l'evolució i, en el cas de les cobertures forestals, s'estudien els models de silvogènesi. Els resultats constaten com la persistència i el creixement de la densitat de recobriment forestal són en general molt importants i s'identifiquen tendències sistemàtiques de pas entre els diversos usos i cobertures, que permeten fer una predicció de futur. En aquest sentit, l'evolució dels usos agrícoles i urbans responen a factors socioeconòmics molt dinàmics i els seus canvis són molt veloços, de manera que a causa de les crisis dels diferents aprofitaments i usos agraris, la gran acumulació de terreny agrícola abandonat fa preveure un llarg recorregut futur al creixement forestal, molt més lent. Per la seva banda, la urbanització d'àmplies superfícies és un fenomen amb poca rellevància territorial a nivell global, però realment preocupant en els espais on s'ha concentrat. L'extensió de les cobertures forestals s'ha produït principalment cap al litoral i s'ha trencat

[EN] The general breaking point of rural society and traditional ways of land use that happened in the second half of the twentieth century, especially since 1960, poses a new scenario where forest cover has experienced an unprecedented growth. Castellon's province represents a paradigm of depopulation processes and therefore, a representative territory in the Mediterranean Basin, while the 50 years that separate the 1957 American flight and 2007 aerial images of the Plan Nacional de Ortofotografía Aérea (PNOA), allow research in an adequate time scale. To study such a vast territory it has been necessary to develop a methodology through a systematic sampling photo interpretation that has been developed over 1% of the territory in plots of 1 ha. Two elements are evaluated in those two different temporal moments: canopy cover and non-forestry uses, in two different interpretation levels. On the basis of those generated data, evolution is globally analyzed and in the case of forest cover, silvogenesis models are studied. Results confirm how both persistence and growth of forest canopy cover are generally very significant and how transitional systematic trends are identified between different uses and coverages, allowing future predictions. The evolution of agricultural and urban uses responds to very dynamic socioeconomic factors and their changes are very fast. Because of the crises of different forestry and agricultural uses, the huge accumulation of abandoned agricultural land indicates a long future path for forest growth, but much slower. Meanwhile, the urbanization of large areas is a phenomenon with little territorial relevance at a global level, but really worrying in areas in which it has been concentrated. The forest cover extent has been mainly developed towards the coast and that fact has broken the symmetry between a mainly forest hinterland and a mainly agricultural coast, in a clear homogenization process of existing agroforestry landscape. At a more de, [ES] El punto de ruptura general de la sociedad rural y de las formas tradicionales de aprovechamiento del territorio producido en la segunda mitad del siglo XX, en especial desde 1960, plantea un escenario nuevo ante el cual las coberturas forestales han experimentado un crecimiento sin precedentes. La provincia de Castellón es un paradigma de los procesos de despoblación y, por lo tanto, un territorio representativo en el arco mediterráneo, mientras que los 50 años que separan el vuelo americano de 1957 y la imagen aérea de 2007 del Plan Nacional de Ortofotografía Aérea (PNOA) posibilitan la investigación con una escala temporal adecuada. Para el estudio de un territorio tan extenso ha sido necesario el desarrollo de una metodología de fotointerpretación por muestreo sistemático, desarrollado sobre el 1% del territorio en parcelas de 1 ha. Se valoran la fracción de cabida cubierta de cada cobertura y la superficie de cada uso no forestal en los dos momentos, en dos niveles de interpretación. A partir de los datos obtenidos se analiza globalmente la evolución y, en el caso de las coberturas forestales, se estudian los modelos de silvogénesis. Los resultados constatan cómo la persistencia y el crecimiento de la fracción de cabida cubierta forestal son en general muy importantes y se identifican tendencias sistemáticas de paso entre los diversos usos y coberturas, que permiten hacer una predicción de futuro. En este sentido, la evolución de los usos agrícolas y urbanos responden a factores socioeconómicos muy dinámicos y sus cambios son muy veloces, por lo que a causa de las crisis de los diferentes aprovechamientos y usos agrarios, la gran acumulación de terreno agrícola abandonado hace prever un largo recorrido futuro al crecimiento forestal, mucho más lento. Por su parte, la urbanización de amplias superficies es un fenómeno con poca relevancia territorial a nivel global, pero realmente preocupante en los espacios en que se ha concentrado. La extensión de las cobe, [CA] El punt de ruptura general de la societat rural i de les formes tradicionals d'aprofitament del territori produït en la segona meitat del segle XX, especialment des de 1960, planteja un escenari nou davant el qual les cobertures forestals han experimentat un creixement sense precedents. La província de Castelló és un paradigma dels processos de despoblació i, per tant, un territori representatiu en l'arc mediterrani, mentre que els 50 anys que separen el vol americà de 1957 i la imatge aèria de 2007 del Plan Nacional de Ortofotografía Aérea (PNOA) possibiliten la investigació amb una escala temporal adequada. Per a l'estudi d'un territori tan extens ha estat necessari el desenvolupament d'una metodologia de fotointerpretació per mostreig sistemàtic, desenvolupat sobre l'1% del territori en parcel·les d'1 ha. Es valoren la densitat de recobriment de cada cobertura i la superfície de cada ús no forestal en els dos moments, amb dues escales d'apreciació. A partir de les dades obtingudes s'analitza globalment l'evolució i, en el cas de les cobertures forestals, s'estudien els models de silvogènesi. Els resultats constaten com la persistència i el creixement de la densitat de recobriment forestal són en general molt importants i s'identifiquen tendències sistemàtiques de pas entre els diversos usos i cobertures, que permeten fer una predicció de futur. En aquest sentit, l'evolució dels usos agrícoles i urbans responen a factors socioeconòmics molt dinàmics i els seus canvis són molt veloços, de manera que a causa de les crisis dels diferents aprofitaments i usos agraris, la gran acumulació de terreny agrícola abandonat fa preveure un llarg recorregut futur al creixement forestal, molt més lent. Per la seva banda, la urbanització d'àmplies superfícies és un fenomen amb poca rellevància territorial a nivell global, però realment preocupant en els espais on s'ha concentrat. L'extensió de les cobertures forestals s'ha produït principalment cap al litoral i s'ha trencat

[EN] The general breaking point of rural society and traditional ways of land use that happened in the second half of the twentieth century, especially since 1960, poses a new scenario where forest cover has experienced an unprecedented growth. Castellon's province represents a paradigm of depopulation processes and therefore, a representative territory in the Mediterranean Basin, while the 50 years that separate the 1957 American flight and 2007 aerial images of the Plan Nacional de Ortofotografía Aérea (PNOA), allow research in an adequate time scale. To study such a vast territory it has been necessary to develop a methodology through a systematic sampling photo interpretation that has been developed over 1% of the territory in plots of 1 ha. Two elements are evaluated in those two different temporal moments: canopy cover and non-forestry uses, in two different interpretation levels. On the basis of those generated data, evolution is globally analyzed and in the case of forest cover, silvogenesis models are studied. Results confirm how both persistence and growth of forest canopy cover are generally very significant and how transitional systematic trends are identified between different uses and coverages, allowing future predictions. The evolution of agricultural and urban uses responds to very dynamic socioeconomic factors and their changes are very fast. Because of the crises of different forestry and agricultural uses, the huge accumulation of abandoned agricultural land indicates a long future path for forest growth, but much slower. Meanwhile, the urbanization of large areas is a phenomenon with little territorial relevance at a global level, but really worrying in areas in which it has been concentrated. The forest cover extent has been mainly developed towards the coast and that fact has broken the symmetry between a mainly forest hinterland and a mainly agricultural coast, in a clear homogenization process of existing agroforestry landscape. At a more de, [ES] El punto de ruptura general de la sociedad rural y de las formas tradicionales de aprovechamiento del territorio producido en la segunda mitad del siglo XX, en especial desde 1960, plantea un escenario nuevo ante el cual las coberturas forestales han experimentado un crecimiento sin precedentes. La provincia de Castellón es un paradigma de los procesos de despoblación y, por lo tanto, un territorio representativo en el arco mediterráneo, mientras que los 50 años que separan el vuelo americano de 1957 y la imagen aérea de 2007 del Plan Nacional de Ortofotografía Aérea (PNOA) posibilitan la investigación con una escala temporal adecuada. Para el estudio de un territorio tan extenso ha sido necesario el desarrollo de una metodología de fotointerpretación por muestreo sistemático, desarrollado sobre el 1% del territorio en parcelas de 1 ha. Se valoran la fracción de cabida cubierta de cada cobertura y la superficie de cada uso no forestal en los dos momentos, en dos niveles de interpretación. A partir de los datos obtenidos se analiza globalmente la evolución y, en el caso de las coberturas forestales, se estudian los modelos de silvogénesis. Los resultados constatan cómo la persistencia y el crecimiento de la fracción de cabida cubierta forestal son en general muy importantes y se identifican tendencias sistemáticas de paso entre los diversos usos y coberturas, que permiten hacer una predicción de futuro. En este sentido, la evolución de los usos agrícolas y urbanos responden a factores socioeconómicos muy dinámicos y sus cambios son muy veloces, por lo que a causa de las crisis de los diferentes aprovechamientos y usos agrarios, la gran acumulación de terreno agrícola abandonado hace prever un largo recorrido futuro al crecimiento forestal, mucho más lento. Por su parte, la urbanización de amplias superficies es un fenómeno con poca relevancia territorial a nivel global, pero realmente preocupante en los espacios en que se ha concentrado. La extensión de las cobe, [CA] El punt de ruptura general de la societat rural i de les formes tradicionals d'aprofitament del territori produït en la segona meitat del segle XX, especialment des de 1960, planteja un escenari nou davant el qual les cobertures forestals han experimentat un creixement sense precedents. La província de Castelló és un paradigma dels processos de despoblació i, per tant, un territori representatiu en l'arc mediterrani, mentre que els 50 anys que separen el vol americà de 1957 i la imatge aèria de 2007 del Plan Nacional de Ortofotografía Aérea (PNOA) possibiliten la investigació amb una escala temporal adequada. Per a l'estudi d'un territori tan extens ha estat necessari el desenvolupament d'una metodologia de fotointerpretació per mostreig sistemàtic, desenvolupat sobre l'1% del territori en parcel·les d'1 ha. Es valoren la densitat de recobriment de cada cobertura i la superfície de cada ús no forestal en els dos moments, amb dues escales d'apreciació. A partir de les dades obtingudes s'analitza globalment l'evolució i, en el cas de les cobertures forestals, s'estudien els models de silvogènesi. Els resultats constaten com la persistència i el creixement de la densitat de recobriment forestal són en general molt importants i s'identifiquen tendències sistemàtiques de pas entre els diversos usos i cobertures, que permeten fer una predicció de futur. En aquest sentit, l'evolució dels usos agrícoles i urbans responen a factors socioeconòmics molt dinàmics i els seus canvis són molt veloços, de manera que a causa de les crisis dels diferents aprofitaments i usos agraris, la gran acumulació de terreny agrícola abandonat fa preveure un llarg recorregut futur al creixement forestal, molt més lent. Per la seva banda, la urbanització d'àmplies superfícies és un fenomen amb poca rellevància territorial a nivell global, però realment preocupant en els espais on s'ha concentrat. L'extensió de les cobertures forestals s'ha produït principalment cap al litoral i s'ha trencat

Probabilistic Neural Networks (PNN) have been tested for the first time in microhabitat suitability modelling for adult brown trout (Salmo trutta L.). The impact of data prevalence on PNN was studied. The PNN were evaluated in an independent river and the applicability of PNN to assess the environmental flow was analysed. Prevalence did not affect significantly the results. However PNN presented some limitations regarding the output range. Our results agreed previous studies because trout preferred deep microhabitats with medium-to-coarse substrate whereas velocity showed a wider suitable range. The 0.5 prevalence PNN showed similar classificatory capability than the 0.06 prevalence counterpart and the outputs covered the whole feasible range (from 0 to 1), but the 0.06 prevalence PNN showed higher generalisation because it performed better in the evaluation and it allowed a better modulation of the environmental flow. PNN has demonstrated to be a tool to be into consideration.

Biotic and abiotic interactions between the riparian zone and the river determine relevant hydrological processes and exert control over riparian and bordering upland vegetation types. Vegetation growth and development are mainly controlled by water availability on semi-arid regions, where a moisture gradient determines the transition between the densely vegetated riparian zone and the semi-arid upland. To reproduce this spatial distribution, a mathematical model named RibAV is presented. Its conceptualization is based on the main ecohydrological modelling approaches and field expertise. The implementation of RibAV that is proposed in this paper allows the simulation of the distribution of three plant functional types [herbaceous riparian vegetation (HRV), woody riparian vegetation (WRV) and terrestrial vegetation (TV)] within the riparian zone. An evapotranspiration index (Eidx) obtained through RibAV is used as a criterion for plant absence/presence prediction. Two permanent river reaches of semi-arid Mediterranean basins, the Terde reach (Mijares River, Spain) and the Lorcha reach (Serpis River, Spain), have been selected as case studies for the calibration and validation of the model, respectively. Several criteria based on the confusion matrix were used to analyse the efficiency of RibAV on the prediction of plant distribution. The satisfactory performance of the model establishing the distribution of the riparian vegetation types and the limit between this zone and the bordering upland are demonstrated in this paper; the strength of the Eidx to classify plant functional types in riparian semi-arid environments is additionally proven

Biotic and abiotic interactions between the riparian zone and the river determine relevant hydrological processes and exert control over riparian and bordering upland vegetation types. Vegetation growth and development are mainly controlled by water availability on semi-arid regions, where a moisture gradient determines the transition between the densely vegetated riparian zone and the semi-arid upland. To reproduce this spatial distribution, a mathematical model named RibAV is presented. Its conceptualization is based on the main ecohydrological modelling approaches and field expertise. The implementation of RibAV that is proposed in this paper allows the simulation of the distribution of three plant functional types [herbaceous riparian vegetation (HRV), woody riparian vegetation (WRV) and terrestrial vegetation (TV)] within the riparian zone. An evapotranspiration index (Eidx) obtained through RibAV is used as a criterion for plant absence/presence prediction. Two permanent river reaches of semi-arid Mediterranean basins, the Terde reach (Mijares River, Spain) and the Lorcha reach (Serpis River, Spain), have been selected as case studies for the calibration and validation of the model, respectively. Several criteria based on the confusion matrix were used to analyse the efficiency of RibAV on the prediction of plant distribution. The satisfactory performance of the model establishing the distribution of the riparian vegetation types and the limit between this zone and the bordering upland are demonstrated in this paper; the strength of the Eidx to classify plant functional types in riparian semi-arid environments is additionally proven

Probabilistic Neural Networks (PNN) have been tested for the first time in microhabitat suitability modelling for adult brown trout (Salmo trutta L.). The impact of data prevalence on PNN was studied. The PNN were evaluated in an independent river and the applicability of PNN to assess the environmental flow was analysed. Prevalence did not affect significantly the results. However PNN presented some limitations regarding the output range. Our results agreed previous studies because trout preferred deep microhabitats with medium-to-coarse substrate whereas velocity showed a wider suitable range. The 0.5 prevalence PNN showed similar classificatory capability than the 0.06 prevalence counterpart and the outputs covered the whole feasible range (from 0 to 1), but the 0.06 prevalence PNN showed higher generalisation because it performed better in the evaluation and it allowed a better modulation of the environmental flow. PNN has demonstrated to be a tool to be into consideration.

Flash floods represent one of the most common natural hazards in mountain catchments, and are frequent in Mediterranean environments. As a result of the widespread lack of reliable data on past events, the understanding of their spatio-temporal occurrence and their climatic triggers remains rather limited. Here, we present a dendrogeomorphic reconstruction of past flash flood activity in the Arroyo de los Puentes stream (Sierra de Guadarrama, Spanish Central System). We analyze a total of 287 increment cores from 178 disturbed Scots pine trees (Pinus sylvestris L.) which yielded indications on 212 growth disturbances related to past flash flood impact. In combination with local archives, meteorological data, annual forest management records and highly-resolved terrestrial data (i.e., LiDAR data and aerial imagery), the dendrogeomorphic time series allowed dating 25 flash floods over the last three centuries, with a major event leaving an intense geomorphic footprint throughout the catchment in 1936. The analysis of meteorological records suggests that the rainfall thresholds of flash floods vary with the seasonality of events. Dated flash floods in the 20th century were primarily related with synoptic troughs owing to the arrival of air masses from north and west on the Iberian Peninsula during negative indices of the North Atlantic Oscillation. The results of this study contribute considerably to a better understanding of hazards related with hydrogeomorphic processes in central Spain in general and in the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park in particular.

Riparian ecosystems are required to be preserved to achieve a good ecological status. The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) specifically supports the assessment of new management tools that allow the European Member States to achieve good ecological status of river-related ecosystems. Within several approaches, a dynamic riparian vegetation distributed model (CASiMiR-vegetation), with a time step of 1 year, has been selected as a useful first-step tool to achieve the Water Framework Directive requirements. The model has been implemented into three river reaches with different climatic and hydrologic settings, located in three European countries. Common bases were established in the model setup. The model was calibrated independently in the Kleblach reach (Drau River, Austria), the Ribeira reach (Odelouca River, Portugal), and the Terde reach (Mijares River, Spain) with simulation periods of 8, 11 and 41 years, respectively. The parameter values and the results were comparable between the different countries. The calibration performance achieved high correctly classified instances (60%). Additionally, weighted kappa values ranged from 0·52 to 0·66 in distinguishing riparian succession phases. The model behaved similarly in the validation, even offering better results in most cases. This work demonstrates the applicability of this model in the simulation of the riparian vegetation dynamic distribution over a wide range of environments. As it performs in a robust manner and with good results in reaches with different hydrological characteristics, the model could be also applied to analyse different hydrological scenarios or to predict changes after restoration measures within a reach. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Los corredores riparios en ambientes semiáridos mediterráneos son ecosistemas de gran biodiversidad y complejidad. En ellos confluyen una gran variedad de perturbaciones naturales capaces de crear un mosaico espacial y temporal con pocos paralelos en otros ecosistemas. Sin embargo, a pesar de su valor, los ecosistemas riparios están amenazados debido a los altos niveles de intervención humana. La construcción de presas (y la consecuente manipulación del caudal) está considerada como la perturbación humana más importante que se cierne sobre ellos. Esta tesis ha tenido como objetivo analizar el ecosistema ripario, abarcando diferentes escalas espaciales y temporales, y centrándose en los factores que influyen en la distribución, estructura, composición, calidad y dinámica de su vegetación, tanto en tramos naturales como hidrológicamente alterados de ríos mediterráneos, concretamente de la Demarcación Hidrográfica del Júcar (Este de España). Para lograr este objetivo, se han hecho los siguientes aportes a la investigación: A) Determinar los patrones de distribución de especies leñosas riparias en el gradiente transversal de la ribera y definir grupos de especies con respuesta similar a las condiciones físicas del hábitat; B) Comparar la respuesta de dichas especies en tramos naturales y alterados hidrológicamente; C) Definir curvas de respuesta y gremios hidrológicos de especies en tramos con régimen natural; D) Establecer los principales factores que determinan la calidad del hábitat ripario y fluvial y los patrones longitudinales de la composición florística, así como de las características del hábitat fluvial en un segmento hidrológicamente alterado; E) Describir los cambios espacio-temporales en la estructura y complejidad de la vegetación, y los cambios temporales en el régimen de caudales del corredor ripario de un tramo hidrológicamente alterado. Los objetivos anteriores fueron abordados con diferentes metodologías que implicaron la combinación de diversas fuent

[EN] This report describes an international summer course, "Tree Rings, Climate, Natural Resources, and Human Interaction", held in Valsain, Spain, in summer of 2012. The course, with 14 participants from three countries (Spain, Algeria, and Russia), included basic training in dendrochronology skills as well as applied projects in dendroclimatology, dendroecology and dendrogeomorphology.

Los corredores riparios en ambientes semiáridos mediterráneos son ecosistemas de gran biodiversidad y complejidad. En ellos confluyen una gran variedad de perturbaciones naturales capaces de crear un mosaico espacial y temporal con pocos paralelos en otros ecosistemas. Sin embargo, a pesar de su valor, los ecosistemas riparios están amenazados debido a los altos niveles de intervención humana. La construcción de presas (y la consecuente manipulación del caudal) está considerada como la perturbación humana más importante que se cierne sobre ellos. Esta tesis ha tenido como objetivo analizar el ecosistema ripario, abarcando diferentes escalas espaciales y temporales, y centrándose en los factores que influyen en la distribución, estructura, composición, calidad y dinámica de su vegetación, tanto en tramos naturales como hidrológicamente alterados de ríos mediterráneos, concretamente de la Demarcación Hidrográfica del Júcar (Este de España). Para lograr este objetivo, se han hecho los siguientes aportes a la investigación: A) Determinar los patrones de distribución de especies leñosas riparias en el gradiente transversal de la ribera y definir grupos de especies con respuesta similar a las condiciones físicas del hábitat; B) Comparar la respuesta de dichas especies en tramos naturales y alterados hidrológicamente; C) Definir curvas de respuesta y gremios hidrológicos de especies en tramos con régimen natural; D) Establecer los principales factores que determinan la calidad del hábitat ripario y fluvial y los patrones longitudinales de la composición florística, así como de las características del hábitat fluvial en un segmento hidrológicamente alterado; E) Describir los cambios espacio-temporales en la estructura y complejidad de la vegetación, y los cambios temporales en el régimen de caudales del corredor ripario de un tramo hidrológicamente alterado. Los objetivos anteriores fueron abordados con diferentes metodologías que implicaron la combinación de diversas fuent

Riparian ecosystems are required to be preserved to achieve a good ecological status. The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) specifically supports the assessment of new management tools that allow the European Member States to achieve good ecological status of river-related ecosystems. Within several approaches, a dynamic riparian vegetation distributed model (CASiMiR-vegetation), with a time step of 1 year, has been selected as a useful first-step tool to achieve the Water Framework Directive requirements. The model has been implemented into three river reaches with different climatic and hydrologic settings, located in three European countries. Common bases were established in the model setup. The model was calibrated independently in the Kleblach reach (Drau River, Austria), the Ribeira reach (Odelouca River, Portugal), and the Terde reach (Mijares River, Spain) with simulation periods of 8, 11 and 41 years, respectively. The parameter values and the results were comparable between the different countries. The calibration performance achieved high correctly classified instances (60%). Additionally, weighted kappa values ranged from 0·52 to 0·66 in distinguishing riparian succession phases. The model behaved similarly in the validation, even offering better results in most cases. This work demonstrates the applicability of this model in the simulation of the riparian vegetation dynamic distribution over a wide range of environments. As it performs in a robust manner and with good results in reaches with different hydrological characteristics, the model could be also applied to analyse different hydrological scenarios or to predict changes after restoration measures within a reach. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

[EN] This report describes an international summer course, "Tree Rings, Climate, Natural Resources, and Human Interaction", held in Valsain, Spain, in summer of 2012. The course, with 14 participants from three countries (Spain, Algeria, and Russia), included basic training in dendrochronology skills as well as applied projects in dendroclimatology, dendroecology and dendrogeomorphology.

Habitat degradation has reduced the complexity of the Mediterranean streams in Spain and contributed to decreasing the historical range of the endangered Júcar nase, Parachondrostoma arrigonis. This species is endemic to the Júcar River Basin (Spain), and most of its populations live in the Cabriel River, which is divided into two segments by the large Contreras Dam. The main objective of this study was to develop a multivariate habitat suitability model (HSM) for this species that can be used to evaluate environmental flows and water management scenarios for the Cabriel River. We first assessed the fish densities (from 2006 to 2008) and compared the habitat characteristics and variability among eight study sites based on the physical characteristics of hydromorphological units (HMUs) or mesohabitats. The abundance of the Júcar nase then was related to the HMU type, and generalized additive models of fish abundance were developed for the sites for both small and large fish. Both models showed acceptable or good performance (adjusted R 2 of 69.4 for small fish and 72.4 for large fish), and fish abundance was used as an indicator of potential habitat quality ['potential nase habitat' (PNH)] for the Júcar nase. The final step was to apply the HSM to evaluate environmentally friendly flow regimens. Hydraulic simulations were used to estimate the PNH under two flow regimen scenarios and in the actual flow regimen for the regulated study site located below the large dam. This article supports the need for new management actions in the Cabriel River, such as implementation of an environmental flow regimen, and illustrates a procedure for the practical application of habitat selection models at the mesohabitat scale.

Riparian corridors in semi-arid Mediterranean environments are ecosystems of high biodiversity and complexity. However, they are threatened because of high levels of human intervention. River damming and related flow manipulation is considered as one of the most prominent human impacts on riparian corridors. This study combines historical time series information on river flows and their human manipulation, historical aerial images depicting changes in riparian land cover and ground observations of the species - age composition and morphology of the riparian corridor of a Mediterranean river (the Mijares River, Eastern Spain) over the last 60years. In this sense, we explored how to integrate information from a wide variety of data sources, and we extracted a variety of indices and undertook analyses that identified and summarized spatio-temporal changes in riparian structure and in the driving flow processes. Results revealed an increase in the cover and density of woody vegetation and a decrease in bare sediment areas (essential for recruitment of riparian pioneer species), with a synchronous reduction in the complexity of the riparian corridor of the middle reaches of the Mijares River. These vegetation changes have accompanied a decrease in the magnitude and variability of river flows over the last six decades, with higher severity since dam closure. This study illustrates the effectiveness of combining disparate historical data sources and the effectiveness of processing these sources to extract informative metrics that can improve the understanding and management of riparian systems. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Habitat degradation has reduced the complexity of the Mediterranean streams in Spain and contributed to decreasing the historical range of the endangered Júcar nase, Parachondrostoma arrigonis. This species is endemic to the Júcar River Basin (Spain), and most of its populations live in the Cabriel River, which is divided into two segments by the large Contreras Dam. The main objective of this study was to develop a multivariate habitat suitability model (HSM) for this species that can be used to evaluate environmental flows and water management scenarios for the Cabriel River. We first assessed the fish densities (from 2006 to 2008) and compared the habitat characteristics and variability among eight study sites based on the physical characteristics of hydromorphological units (HMUs) or mesohabitats. The abundance of the Júcar nase then was related to the HMU type, and generalized additive models of fish abundance were developed for the sites for both small and large fish. Both models showed acceptable or good performance (adjusted R 2 of 69.4 for small fish and 72.4 for large fish), and fish abundance was used as an indicator of potential habitat quality ['potential nase habitat' (PNH)] for the Júcar nase. The final step was to apply the HSM to evaluate environmentally friendly flow regimens. Hydraulic simulations were used to estimate the PNH under two flow regimen scenarios and in the actual flow regimen for the regulated study site located below the large dam. This article supports the need for new management actions in the Cabriel River, such as implementation of an environmental flow regimen, and illustrates a procedure for the practical application of habitat selection models at the mesohabitat scale.

Riparian corridors in semi-arid Mediterranean environments are ecosystems of high biodiversity and complexity. However, they are threatened because of high levels of human intervention. River damming and related flow manipulation is considered as one of the most prominent human impacts on riparian corridors. This study combines historical time series information on river flows and their human manipulation, historical aerial images depicting changes in riparian land cover and ground observations of the species - age composition and morphology of the riparian corridor of a Mediterranean river (the Mijares River, Eastern Spain) over the last 60years. In this sense, we explored how to integrate information from a wide variety of data sources, and we extracted a variety of indices and undertook analyses that identified and summarized spatio-temporal changes in riparian structure and in the driving flow processes. Results revealed an increase in the cover and density of woody vegetation and a decrease in bare sediment areas (essential for recruitment of riparian pioneer species), with a synchronous reduction in the complexity of the riparian corridor of the middle reaches of the Mijares River. These vegetation changes have accompanied a decrease in the magnitude and variability of river flows over the last six decades, with higher severity since dam closure. This study illustrates the effectiveness of combining disparate historical data sources and the effectiveness of processing these sources to extract informative metrics that can improve the understanding and management of riparian systems. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

[EN] In the European context, several methodologies have been developed to assess the ecological status and, specifically, the hydromorphological status of running surface waters. Although these methodologies have been widely used, few studies have focused on hydrologically altered water bodies and the factors that may determine their status. In this study, the Serpis River was divided into 16 segments from the Beniarrés dam (40 km from the river mouth) to the sea, all of which are affected by flow regulation, but with different severity. In each segment, an inventory of the flora was conducted, and hydromorphological indices (QBR, Riparian Habitat Quality Index; and IHF, River Habitat Index) were applied. The objectives of the study were (A) to identify relationships between floristic composition and QBR components and (B) between instream habitat characteristics and IHF components as well as (C) to determine the main factors controlling the floristic composition and riparian habitat quality (QBR) and the factors controlling instream habitat characteristics and heterogeneity (IHF). A cluster analysis allowed grouping sites according to their floristic composition and instream habitat characteristics, and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was used to ordinate the sites, obtaining the biotic and instream habitat characteristics, as well as the QBR and IHF subindices, which better explained the spatial patterns. Finally, a canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) with predictor variables (geographical, hydrological, geomorphological and human pressures) indicated the main factors controlling the spatial patterns of the floristic composition, instreamhabitat characteristics, riparian habitat quality and instream habitat heterogeneity. A gradient of riparian and instream habitat quality was identified. Our results suggest that physical constraints (presence of a gorge) have protected sites from severe human impacts, resulting in good ecological quality, despite, [ES] Diversas metodolog´ıas han sido desarrolladas en el contexto europeo para evaluar el estado ecologico, y espec ´ ´ıficamente el estado hidromorfologico de las aguas superficiales. Aunque ´ estas han sido ampliamente utilizadas, pocos estudios se han centrado en masas de agua hidrologicamente alteradas y en los factores que condicionan su estado. En este ´ estudio, el r´ıo Serpis fue dividido en 16 segmentos desde la presa de Beniarres (a 40 km de la desembocadura) hasta el mar, todos ´ ellos afectados por la regulacion de caudales con distinta severidad. En cada segmento se realiz ´ o un inventario flor ´ ´ıstico y se aplicaron ´ındices hidromorfologicos (QBR, Calidad del Bosque de Ribera, e IHF, ´ ´Indice de Habitat Fluvial). Los ´ objetivos del estudio fueron (A) identificar relaciones entre la composicion flor ´ ´ıstica y los componentes del QBR, (B) entre las caracter´ısticas del habitat fluvial y los componentes del IHF, (C) determinar los principales fa ´ ctores que controlan la composicion flor ´ ´ıstica y la calidad del habitat ripario (QBR), y las caracter ´ ´ısticas del habitat fluvial y su heterogeneidad ´ (IHF). Un cluster permitio agrupar los puntos de muestreo seg ´ un su composici ´ on flor ´ ´ıstica y las caracter´ısticas del habitat fluvial, y un escalado multidimensional no-m ´ etrico (NMDS) fue usado para ordenar los puntos, obteniendo las ´ variables bioticas y caracter ´ ´ısticas del habitat y los subindices del QBR e IHF, respectivamente, que explicaban m ´ ejor los patrones espaciales. Finalmente, un analisis de correspondencias can ´ onicas (CCA) con variables predictoras (geogr ´ aficas, ´ hidrologicas, geomorfol ´ ogicas y presiones humanas) indic ´ o los principales factores que controlan los patrones espaciales de ´ la composicion flor ´ ´ıstica, las caracter´ısticas del habitat fluvial, la calidad del h ´ abitat ripario y la heterogeneidad del h ´ abitat ´ fluvial. Se identifico un gradiente de calidad del h ´ abitat ripario y fluvi

[EN] In the European context, several methodologies have been developed to assess the ecological status and, specifically, the hydromorphological status of running surface waters. Although these methodologies have been widely used, few studies have focused on hydrologically altered water bodies and the factors that may determine their status. In this study, the Serpis River was divided into 16 segments from the Beniarrés dam (40 km from the river mouth) to the sea, all of which are affected by flow regulation, but with different severity. In each segment, an inventory of the flora was conducted, and hydromorphological indices (QBR, Riparian Habitat Quality Index; and IHF, River Habitat Index) were applied. The objectives of the study were (A) to identify relationships between floristic composition and QBR components and (B) between instream habitat characteristics and IHF components as well as (C) to determine the main factors controlling the floristic composition and riparian habitat quality (QBR) and the factors controlling instream habitat characteristics and heterogeneity (IHF). A cluster analysis allowed grouping sites according to their floristic composition and instream habitat characteristics, and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was used to ordinate the sites, obtaining the biotic and instream habitat characteristics, as well as the QBR and IHF subindices, which better explained the spatial patterns. Finally, a canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) with predictor variables (geographical, hydrological, geomorphological and human pressures) indicated the main factors controlling the spatial patterns of the floristic composition, instreamhabitat characteristics, riparian habitat quality and instream habitat heterogeneity. A gradient of riparian and instream habitat quality was identified. Our results suggest that physical constraints (presence of a gorge) have protected sites from severe human impacts, resulting in good ecological quality, despite, [ES] Diversas metodolog´ıas han sido desarrolladas en el contexto europeo para evaluar el estado ecologico, y espec ´ ´ıficamente el estado hidromorfologico de las aguas superficiales. Aunque ´ estas han sido ampliamente utilizadas, pocos estudios se han centrado en masas de agua hidrologicamente alteradas y en los factores que condicionan su estado. En este ´ estudio, el r´ıo Serpis fue dividido en 16 segmentos desde la presa de Beniarres (a 40 km de la desembocadura) hasta el mar, todos ´ ellos afectados por la regulacion de caudales con distinta severidad. En cada segmento se realiz ´ o un inventario flor ´ ´ıstico y se aplicaron ´ındices hidromorfologicos (QBR, Calidad del Bosque de Ribera, e IHF, ´ ´Indice de Habitat Fluvial). Los ´ objetivos del estudio fueron (A) identificar relaciones entre la composicion flor ´ ´ıstica y los componentes del QBR, (B) entre las caracter´ısticas del habitat fluvial y los componentes del IHF, (C) determinar los principales fa ´ ctores que controlan la composicion flor ´ ´ıstica y la calidad del habitat ripario (QBR), y las caracter ´ ´ısticas del habitat fluvial y su heterogeneidad ´ (IHF). Un cluster permitio agrupar los puntos de muestreo seg ´ un su composici ´ on flor ´ ´ıstica y las caracter´ısticas del habitat fluvial, y un escalado multidimensional no-m ´ etrico (NMDS) fue usado para ordenar los puntos, obteniendo las ´ variables bioticas y caracter ´ ´ısticas del habitat y los subindices del QBR e IHF, respectivamente, que explicaban m ´ ejor los patrones espaciales. Finalmente, un analisis de correspondencias can ´ onicas (CCA) con variables predictoras (geogr ´ aficas, ´ hidrologicas, geomorfol ´ ogicas y presiones humanas) indic ´ o los principales factores que controlan los patrones espaciales de ´ la composicion flor ´ ´ıstica, las caracter´ısticas del habitat fluvial, la calidad del h ´ abitat ripario y la heterogeneidad del h ´ abitat ´ fluvial. Se identifico un gradiente de calidad del h ´ abitat ripario y fluvi