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[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".

International audience; The second half of the 20th century has been characterised by the rural abandonment in several regions of the Mediterranean basin. The general collapse of traditional agriculture and livestock activities brought about an intensive migration movement from inland to coastal areas, which produced a massive forest cover increase in abandoned rural areas. This socioeconomic, spatial and environmental change has led to a situation unknown for centuries in the Mediterranean landscapes. As a consequence, large wildfires have increased enormously in importance in a society with a predominant urban vision over the rest of the territory. Indeed, public opinion considers wildfires as major natural disturbances related to climate change causing at the end deforestation, while its prerequisite, a substantial increase of forest cover due to rural collapse, is less known. This research aimed to deepen the knowledge about forest evolution and its implications after the land abandonment process that started in the second half of the 20th century. The substantive source of information was obtained from a photointerpretation by sampling, using five general land-cover and land-use types and four specific land-cover types over a period of 50 years (1957-2007) in the province of Castelló (Valencian Region, Spain). Results showed that the area dominated by dense forests (shrublands and woodlands) has increased from 17% to 28%, and the area dominated by their transitional land uses after farming abandonment has increased from 8% to 21%. Transition matrices enabled a precise identification of changes among dominant categories over the studied period. Random and systematic transitions between categories have been analysed and a map of forest evolution pathways could be drawn, in which a double alternative path was identified. In the general context of progressive evolution to dense forests in the Mediterranean region, we have also found different evolution rates which may depend on site conditions. Their specific soil and climatic factors should be further analysed in order to improve our understanding of future forest evolution in the Mediterranean region at a local scale. A robust knowledge of these processes will contribute to improve forest management and land-use planning while optimising resilience, carbon storage and the provision of environmental services.

Las peculiaridades hidrológicas del río Serpis, coincidentes con un carácter mediterráneo acentuado, unidas a la singularidad geomorfológica del territorio por el que discurre determinan la configuración potencial de su bosque de ribera. Sin embargo, las actividades humanas en las inmediaciones del espacio fluvial han dado lugar a un deterioro en su estado de conservación general y en la calidad de sus formaciones de ribera en particular, hecho que es identificado por una gran parte de la ciudadanía. El objetivo general de esta investigación fue caracterizar funcionalmente las riberas del río Serpis a lo largo de un gradiente longitudinal de unos 40 km, desde el embalse de Beniarrés (Beniarrés, el Comtat, Alicante) hasta la desembocadura del río en el mar Mediterráneo (Gandia, la Safor, Valencia). Para ello se realizaron visitas de campo a la zona de estudio y se recopilaron inventarios florísticos para documentar una decena de rasgos funcionales (morfológicos, foliares, de las semillas y ecológicos) de las especies presentes y calcular indicadores de diversidad vegetal y funcional. Además, se recopilaron datos sobre presiones e impactos, que fueron correlacionados con los datos de vegetación. Los resultados revelaron un empobrecimiento general de la vegetación, consistente en una reducción en la riqueza de especies total y de nativas, y un aumento en la riqueza de exóticas a lo largo del gradiente longitudinal. La segunda masa de agua, localizada en la zona conocida como Barranc de l’Infern o Racó del Duc (entre Lorcha y Villalonga), mostró la mayor riqueza y singularidad, en cambio, los tramos del curso bajo, aparte de ser más pobres en especies también mostraron ser menos uniformes, es decir, con unas pocas especies dominando en cobertura sobre el resto, y presentaron además una variedad inferior de rasgos. Tanto el patrón reflejado por los índices de diversidad como por los rasgos se correlacionó con el patrón de degradación del río, siendo menos diverso y funcional donde la presión humana se registró más intensa, en concreto, determinada por una mayor alteración hidromorfológica del cauce y de la ribera y por la presencia de usos urbanos y contaminación por residuos. Finalmente, se proponen recomendaciones para el desarrollo de proyectos de restauración fluvial en la zona, que supondrían una mejora ambiental del espacio fluvial, y repercutirían positivamente en los servicios ambientales que los ecosistemas de ribera pueden proporcionar a la ciudadanía y al territorio.

Human activities on floodplains have severely disrupted the regeneration of foundation species of the Salicaceae family - cottonwoods/poplars (Populus spp.) and willows (Salix spp.), which play a critical role throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Restoration ecologists initially tackled this problem from a terrestrial perspective that emphasized planting. More recently, floodplain restoration activities have embraced an aquatic perspective, inspired by the expanding practice of managing river flows to improve river health (environmental flows). However, as riparian Salicaceae species occupy floodplain and riparian areas, which lie at the interface of both terrestrial and aquàtic ecosystems, their regeneration depends on a complex interaction of hydrologic and geomorphic processes that have shaped key life-cycle biophysical requirements for seedling establishment. Ultimately, restoration needs to integrate these concepts to succeed. While regeneration of Salicaceae is now reasonably well-understood, the literature reporting restoration actions on Salicaceae regeneration is sparse, and a specific theoretical framework is still missing. Here, we summarize the results of a recently published paper where 105 peer-reviewed published experiences in restoration of Salicaceae forests were reviewed, including 91 projects in 10 world regions, to construct a decision tree to inform restoration planning. This decision tree explicitly links the well-studied biophysical requirements of Salicaceae regeneration, such as seed production and dispersal, seedling survival and early growth, with 17 specific restoration actions, the most popular being planting (in 55% of the projects), land contouring (30%), removal of competint vegetation (30%), site selection (26%), and irrigation (24%)., Las actividades humanas en las llanuras de inundación interfieren negativamente en la regeneración de especies de la familia Salicaceae - álamos/chopos (Populus spp.) y sauces (Salix spp.), que desempeñan un papel clave en los ecosistemas riparios del hemisferio norte. La restauración ecológica inicialmente abordó este problema desde una perspectiva terrestre, fundamentalmente mediante plantaciones. Más recientemente se ha adoptado una perspectiva hidrológica inspirada en los caudales ecológicos. Sin embargo, dado que los ecosistemas riparios ocupan el ecotono acuático-terrestre, su regeneración depende de una compleja interacción de procesos hidrológicos y geomorfológicos que define unos requisitos biofísicos específicos para su éxito. Cualquier iniciativa de restauración a este respecto, debe satisfacer dichos requisitos. Mientras que cada vez comprendemos mejor la regeneración de las salicáceas, la literatura que recoge actuaciones para su restauración es todavía escasa y dispersa, faltando un marco teórico para la toma de decisiones. En este trabajo, resumimos los resultados de un artículo recientemente publicado donde se revisaron 105 artículos que recogían experiencias exitosas de restauración de bosques de salicáceas, incluyendo 91 proyectos en 10 regiones del mundo, para construir un árbol de decisión en forma de clave dicotómica. Este árbol se basa en relacionar explícitamente cada requisito biofísico a lo largo del ciclo vital de la planta, desde la producción y dispersión de semillas a la supervivencia y crecimiento de las plántulas, con 17 medidas de restauración concretas, siendo las más populares: plantaciones (55% de los proyectos), perfilado de terreno (30%), eliminación de la vegetación competidora (30%), selección de la zona de restauración (26%) e irrigación (24%).

The Serpis River in la Safor region has historically been a source of resources for its inhabitants. However, currently, the disassociation of the population with the river, as well as the changes in the economic activity of the region, have led to a deterioration in its conservation status. The objective of this study was to investigate the social perception of the conservation status of the river and its specific problems, along with the actions that are considered as a priority for its rehabilitation. Personal interviews were conducted with different actors and a digital online survey was developed, which was disseminated via different media. In addition to analysing the data collected in the surveys, a prioritization matrix was developed to evaluate the most prioritized actions for the rehabilitation of the river, based on several decision factors. The most priority actions were environmental awareness, river’s cleanliness, control of illegal wells, control of sewage water and organic pollution, respect for the minimum ecological flow, the creation of a green filter and the control of invasive plant species. This study may serve as a guide to advance in a coordinated way towards the environmental improvement of the river and its associated riparian ecosystem., El río Serpis a su paso por la comarca de la Safor ha sido históricamente una fuente de recursos de diferente tipo para sus habitantes. Sin embargo, en la actualidad, la desvinculación de la población con el río, así como los cambios acaecidos en la actividad económica de la comarca, han dado lugar a un deterioro en su estado. El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer la percepción social sobre el estado de conservación del río y su problemática específica, así como las actuaciones que son consideradas prioritarias para su rehabilitación. Se realizaron entrevistas personales a los diferentes actores implicados y se elaboró una encuesta digital en línea, que se difundió a través de diferentes medios. Además de analizar los datos recogidos en las encuestas, se realizó una matriz de priorización para evaluar y ordenar las actuaciones más priorizadas para la rehabilitación del río en función de varios factores de decisión. Las actuaciones que resultaron más prioritarias fueron: la sensibilización ambiental, la limpieza del río, el control de pozos ilegales, vertidos y de la contaminación orgánica, el respeto del caudal mínimo ecológico, la creación de un filtro verde y el control de especies vegetales invasoras. Se espera que este estudio sirva como guía para avanzar de forma coordinada hacia la mejora ambiental del río y de su ecosistema de ribera asociado.

El río Serpis a su paso por los municipios de la comarca de la Safor ha sido históricamente una fuente de recursos naturales, patrimoniales, económicos y de recreo para sus habitantes. Sin embargo, en la actualidad, la desvinculación de la población con el río, así como los cambios acaecidos en la actividad económica de la comarca, han dado lugar a un deterioro en su estado. El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer la percepción social sobre el estado de conservación del río y su problemática específica, así como las actuaciones que son consideradas prioritarias para su rehabilitación. Para ello se realizaron entrevistas personales a los diferentes actores implicados y se elaboró una encuesta digital en línea, que se difundió a través de diferentes medios. Además de analizar los datos recogidos en las encuestas, se realizó una matriz de priorización para evaluar y ordenar las actuaciones consideradas como más importantes y/o factibles para la rehabilitación del río en función de varios factores de decisión, que incluyeron criterios técnicos de expertos, así como datos objetivos procedentes de las encuestas y de las entrevistas personales. Las actuaciones que resultaron más prioritarias fueron: la sensibilización ambiental, la limpieza del río, el control de pozos ilegales y vertidos, el control de la contaminación orgánica, el respeto del caudal mínimo ecológico, la creación de un filtro verde y el control de especies vegetales invasoras, con la posterior recuperación del bosque de ribera. Finalmente, dichas actuaciones son descritas, contextualizadas y se dan sugerencias para su implementación por los actores implicados. Se espera que este estudio sirva como guía o punto de partida para avanzar de forma coordinada hacia la mejora ambiental del río Serpis y de su ecosistema de ribera asociado en la comarca de la Safor.

International audience; The regeneration of riparian shrub and tree species in the Salicaceae family is frequently impaired by human activities. Salicaceae forest restoration has been traditionally approached from a terrestrial perspective that emphasized planting. More recently, floodplain restoration activities have embraced an aquatic perspective, inspired by the emerging philosophy of environmental flows for river management. However, riparian Salicaceae species occur at the interface of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems along watercourses, and their regeneration depends on a complex interaction of hydrologic and geomorphic processes that have shaped key life-cycle requirements for seedling establishment. Ultimately, restoration needs to integrate these concepts to succeed. However, the literature reporting restoration actions on Salicaceae regeneration is scattered, and a specific theoretical framework is still missing. We reviewed 105 published experiences in restoration of Salicaceae forests, including 91 projects in 10 world regions throughout their range across the Northern Hemisphere, to construct a decision tree to inform restoration planning through explicit links between the well-studied biophysical requirements of Salicaceae regeneration and 17 specific restoration actions. Planting (in 55% of the projects), land contouring (30%), competing vegetation removal (30%), site selection (26%), and irrigation (24%) were the most common restoration actions. Environmental flows, including induced large pulse flows (8%), managed recessions (13%), base flows (7%) and flow sequencing (11%) were effective restoration actions in less populated areas. With alternative, innovative and feasible approaches that also incorporate human needs, it could be possible to restore S alicaceae riparian forests to better fit their new hydrologic and fluvial geomorphic situation.

International audience; Black poplar (Populus nigra L.) pioneer trees are riparian ecosystem engineers which modify their fluvial habitat, e.g., by enhancing sediment accumulation. The engineer effect implies that young individuals are successful in establishment. However, the specific above- and below-ground responses of young poplars to hydrogeomorphological constraints that lead to establishment remain poorly understood. Based on the hypothesis of an eco-evolutionary feedback between woody riparian species and fluvial geomorphology, we performed a semi-controlled ex situ experiment to exhaustively quantify response traits of poplar cuttings to simulated hydrogeomorphological constraints. A completely randomized experimental design was employed with cuttings (n=128) and treatments (i.e., the simulated constraints: sediment burial, drag force exerted by floods, their combination, and control). Two partial harvests were performed to evaluate the development of the plants (especially, below ground). At the end of the first growing season, a final harvest was performed in which plants were divided into two groups of equal number (n=48 each). A whole-plant extraction was carried out for the first half of plants; an uprooting test was performed with the second half of plants. Above- and below-ground morphological traits were measured manually and from image analysis for both groups. Biomechanical and anatomical traits were also recorded to characterize the plasticity of this species and to dissociate the specific and more relevant responses to each type of constraint. The results from this research will improve our understanding of riparian ecosystem functioning and specifically of the role of this foundation woody pioneer species within active floodplain rivers.

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.

/ La stabilisation de berge est un enjeu important pour la protection des infrastructures routières et urbaines. Les approches alternatives au génie civil comme le génie végétal suscitent un intérêt grandissant. Bien que la capacité de bouturage de plusieurs espèces d'arbustes typiques de milieux riverains soit bien connue et exploitée en génie végétal, les connaissances restent fragmentaires quant à la résistance de ces espèces à certaines conditions extrêmes rencontrées en milieu naturel. Dans cette étude, les capacités de reprise de boutures de Salix eriocephala et Cornus stolonifera ont été évaluées dans différentes conditions d'humidité du sol. Quarante-huit boutures de chacune des espèces ont été plantées dans un substrat sableux soumis à quatre traitements durant six semaines, soit 1)à capacité au champ (disponibilité optimale d'eau), 2)en conditions de sécheresse (au point de flétrissement), 3)en conditions de sécheresse pour cinq semaines puis en capacité au champ pour une semaine et 4)en conditions de sécheresse pour cinq semaines puis en conditions de sol saturé en eau. Les premiers résultats indiquent que la production de biomasse aérienne ne varie pas entre les traitements. Aussi, le taux de reprise est plus grand pour l'espèce S.eriocephala (90%) que pour C.stolonifera (50%). Des résultats sur l'analyse des racines avec Winrhizo et sur leur biomasse sèche seront présentés. Cette étude servira à mettre en lumière la capacité de ces deux espèces à tolérer des conditions d'inondation ou de sécheresse du sol auxquelles font face régulièrement les boutures après installation des ouvrages en milieu riverain.

Riparian ecosystems are highly dynamic and are subject to hydrogeomorphological processes. In Europe, the lower Allier River (France) is one of the last remaining meandering rivers with laterally dynamic sections. For this study, we developed an original method to analyse the vegetation assemblages and succession processes. The analysis includes both spatial and temporal evolution in order to evaluate the shifting paradigm of habitat mosaic at the study site over a 60-year period. On the long-term, floods with low recurrence intervals tend to be important for small scale habitat changes, whereas major flood events lead to major habitat changes. Flood events did not change the overall habitat composition of the active tract but their spatial distribution. The lack of major hydrogeomorphological disturbance observed during the last two decades, however, led to a higher stability of floodplain ecotopes.

Riparian ecosystems are highly dynamic ecosystems subjected to hydrogeomorphological processes. Their geomorphological, sedimentological and hydrological heterogeneity makes them one of the richest ecosystems in terms of species diversity. In addition, riparian zones also provide numerous ecosystem functions and services to society. In the European context, the lower river Allier (France) is one of the last remaining rivers with laterally dynamic sections. Its historical evaluation has shown repeated river bed displacements during the last century. Spatio-temporal processes on a highly mobile river section of the lower river Allier have been studied analysing the mosaic of vegetation types and successional phases as well as physical habitat parameters. Understanding riparian ecosystem functioning and evolution in natural or nearly natural systems is essential for river restoration practices in highly degraded rivers. This understanding may lead to the establishment of better sustainable river rehabilitation targets that consider societal needs and natural processes., Les écosystèmes riverains sont des écosystèmes dynamiques soumis aux processus hydrogéomorphologiques avec une forte hétérogénéité géomorphologique, sédimentologique et hydrologique et de nombreux services écosystémiques rendus à la société. Ils font partie des écosystèmes les plus riches en termes de diversité des espèces. Dans le contexte européen, la rivière Allier aval est une des dernières rivières avec des sections à forte mobilité latérale. L'analyse historique a démontré cette forte mobilité latérale des chenaux durant le siècle dernier. Des processus spatio-temporels d'une section de rivière très mobile ont été étudiés à travers l'analyse de la mosaïque des types de végétation, les phases de succession, ainsi que les paramètres physiques des habitats. Comprendre le fonctionnement et l'évolution des écosystèmes riverains dans des systèmes naturels ou proche de l'état naturel est essentiel pour la restauration des cours d'eau très dégradées, afin de permettre la mise en place de stratégies de réhabilitions durables qui considèrent les besoins de la société et les processus naturels.

International audience; Populations of the riparian pioneer species Populus nigra L. which establish on alluvial bars within river channelsmodulate sediment dynamics and fluvial landforms. Dense cohorts of P. nigra have colonized gravel point bars along the channelizedRiver Garonne, France, during the last 20 years and have enhanced the vertical, lateral and longitudinal development of thebars. For this period, the geomorphic characteristics of two wooded point bars on this laterally stable river are closely linked tothe spatial distribution and intensity of establishment and resistance of different cohorts of P. nigra. Furthermore, P. nigra colonizationdynamics were controlled by engineer effects of this same species. This relationship is illustrated by a significant correlation betweenkey geomorphic and biological variables measured in situ and characterized with a set of four aerial photographs taken between2000 and 2010. The development of wooded point bars, which are discrete biogeomorphic units, over the studied period, appearto result from a specific biogeomorphic positive feedback of matter aggregation and vegetation establishment related to sedimenttrapping and stabilization by pioneer engineer plants.We propose a conceptual model of biogeomorphic unit construction for channelized,lateral stable rivers.We consider the resultant biogeomorphic units as functional from an ecological point of view because P.nigra enhances at the cohort scale (i) its own inherent capacity to resist hydrogeomorphic disturbances, and (ii) its resilience capacityas a result of successful colonization, especially downstream of mature poplar stands.

National audience

International audience; Based on the hypothesis of an eco-evolutionary feedback between woody riparian species and fluvial geomorphology, a semi-controlled ex situ experiment has been planned to quantify key response functional traits (morphological and biomechanical) of Populus nigra L. cuttings to simulated hydrogeomorphological constraints, as well as to dissociate the specific responses to them. The constraints tested are sediment burial and drag force exerted by floods. The characteristics of the experiment are presented as well as the experimental design. The hypothesis of a positive niche construction by P. nigra is tested to a certain degree. The results from this research will improve our understanding of riparian ecosystem functioning and specifically of the role of this key woody pioneer species within active floodplain rivers.; Basé sur l’hypothèse d’existence d'une rétroaction éco-évolutive entre les espèces végétales riveraines ligneuses et la géomorphologie fluviale, une expérimentation ex situ en conditions semi-contrôlées a été planifiée afin de quantifier les traits de réponses fonctionnels (morphologique et biomécanique) de boutures de Populus nigra L. soumises à des contraintes hydrogéomorphologiques simulées : l’enfouissement sédimentaire, la force de traînée, et la combinaison des deux contraintes. Les questions scientifiques et le protocole expérimental sont présentés ici. L’hypothèse d’une construction de niche positive de P. nigra est testée à un certain degré. Les résultats de cette recherche contribueront à améliorer notre compréhension du fonctionnement des écosystèmes riverains et plus particulièrement du rôle de cette espèce ligneuse pionnière clé au sein de la bande active des cours d’eau.

Aim Within fluvial and coastal ecosystems world-wide, flows of water, wind and sediment generate a shifting landscape mosaic composed of bare substrate and pioneer and mature vegetation successional stages. Pioneer plant species that colonize these ecosystems at the land–water interface have developed specific traits in response to environmental constraints (response traits) and are able to modify habitat conditions by modulating geomorphic processes (effect traits). Changes in the geomorphic environment under the control of engineer plants often feed back to organism traits (feedback traits), and thereby ecosystem functioning, leading to eco-evolutionary dynamics. Here we explain the joint foundations of fluvial and coastal ecosystems according to feedback between plants and the geomorphic environment.LocationDynamic fluvial and coastal ecosystems world-wide. Method Drawing from a pre-existing model of ‘fluvial biogeomorphic succession’, we propose a conceptual framework showing that fluvial and coastal ‘biogeomorphic ecosystems’ are functionally similar due to eco-evolutionary feedbacks between plants and geomorphology.ResultsThe relationships between plant traits and their geomorphic environments within different fluvial and coastal biogeomorphic ecosystems are identified and classified within a framework of biogeomorphic functional similarity according to three criteria: (1) pioneer plants develop specific responses to the geomorphic environment; (2) engineer plants modulate the geomorphic environment; (3) geomorphic changes under biotic control within biogeomorphic ecosystems feed back to organisms.Main conclusionsThe conceptual framework of functional similarity proposed here will improve our capacity to analyse, compare, manage and restore fluvial and coastal biogeomorphic ecosystems world-wide by using the same protocols based on the three criteria and four phases of the biogeomorphic succession model.

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, The authors would like to thank the Spanish Ministry of Environment and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness for their financial support through the research projects RIBERA (21.812-061/8511) and SCARCE (Consolider-Ingenio 2010 CSD2009-00065), respectively. In addition, the authors would like to thank the Hydrological Studies Centre (CEH-CEDEX), the Jucar River Basin Authority and the Spanish National Meteorological Agency (AEMET) for supplying the hydrological data, the aerial photographs and the meteorological data, respectively.

[EN] For a period of two years (November 2011 - November 2013), a monitoring of the Audouin¿s gull was performed at the Port of Gandia (Valencia), writing down all the plastic rings observed and aimed at determining the origin of the Audouin¿s gulls and knowing more about their peaks and migration patterns by age classes at local level. The observations were divided into periods of 15 days, from February 1st to April 30th for the prenuptial migration and from June 1st to October 31st for the postnuptial migration. The peak of the migration was obtained for each one of the following age classes: birds of the year (¿ 1 year), immature (2 years), first breeders (3 years), young breeders (4-5 years) and experienced breeders (¿ 6 years). A total of 226 rings from 12 different breeding colonies were recorded, being 80.5 % of the sightings from the Delta del Ebro colony. The peak of the experienced breeders during the prenuptial migration was obtained during the first fortnight of March. The other age classes had their maximum migration movements later in the season. The results for the postnuptial migration showed a peak for immature gulls during the first fortnight of June. The peak of the first and young breeders during the postnuptial migration was obtained during the end of June and the beginning of July. The experienced breeders had their maximum migration movements at the end of July. In addition, during the postnuptial migration, the age classes considered as breeders (>3 years) showed a second peak migration between the end of August and the beginning of September. This study may provide useful migration data at regional level for the management and conservation of this iconic species classified as vulnerable., [ES] Durante un período de 2 años (noviembre de 2011 - noviembre de 2013) se realizó en el puerto de Gandia (Valencia) el seguimiento de gaviotas de Audouin mediante la lectura de anillas a distancia, con el objetivo de determinar la procedencia de las mismas y conocer sus patrones y picos de migración por clases de edad a nivel local. Las observaciones se dividieron en períodos de 15 días, del 1 de febrero al 30 de abril para el paso prenupcial y del 1 de junio al 31 de octubre para el paso postnupcial. Se determinó el pico de migración para cada una de las siguientes clases de edad: aves del año (¿ 1 año), inmaduros (2 años), primeros reproductores (3 años), jóvenes reproductores (4-5 años) y reproductores experimentados (¿ 6 años). En total, se leyeron 226 anillas de 12 colonias de cría diferentes, procediendo el 80.5% de las lecturas del Delta del Ebro. En la migración prenupcial se obtuvo un pico de migración durante la primera quincena de marzo para los reproductores experimentados y un paso más tardío para las otras clases de edad. Para el paso postnupcial, los resultados indicaron un claro pico de migración para las aves inmaduras en la primera quincena de junio, en comparación con el resto de clases, cuyos picos de migración postnupcial fueron más tardíos. Los primeros reproductores y jóvenes reproductores tuvieron un primer pico de paso a finales de junio y principios de julio, mientras que los reproductores experimentados lo mostraron a finales de julio. Las tres clases de edad consideradas maduras (> 3 años), volvieron a mostrar un segundo pico migratorio postnupcial a finales de agosto y principios de septiembre. Con el presente estudio ha sido posible obtener información de los movimientos migratorios en el ámbito regional por clases de edad, los cuales podrían ser de utilidad para la gestión y conservación de esta especie catalogada como vulnerable., [Otros] Durant un període de 2 anys (novembre de 2011 - novembre de 2013) es va realitzar al Port de Gandia (València) el seguiment de gavines corses mitjançant la lectura d¿anelles a distància, amb el objectiu de determinar la procedència de les mateixes, i conèixer els seus patrons i pics de migració per classes d¿edat a nivell local. Les observacions es van dividir en períodes de 15 dies, des de l¿1 de febrer al 30 d¿abril per al pas prenupcial i des del l¿1 de juny al 31 d¿octubre per al pas postnupcial. Es va determinar el pic de migració per a cadas¬cuna de les següents classes d¿edat: aus de l¿any (¿ 1 any), immadurs (2 anys), primers reproductors (3 anys), joves reproductors (4-5 anys) i reproductors experimentats (¿ 6 anys). En total, es van llegir 226 anelles de 12 colònies de cria diferents, sent el 80.5% de les lectures del Delta de l¿Ebre. En la mi¬gració prenupcial es va obtenir un pic de mi¬gració durant la primera quinzena de març per als reproductors experimentats i un pas més tardà per a les altres classes d¿edat. Els resultats de la migració postnupcial van in¬dicar un pas clar d¿aus immadures entorn la primera quinzena de juny. La resta de clas¬ses d¿edat van presentar un pic de migració postnupcial més tardà. De la mateixa ma¬nera, els primers reproductors i joves re-productors van tenir un pic de pas a finals de juny i principis de juliol, mentre que els reproductors experimentats van presentar màxims a finals de juliol. Les tres classes de edat considerades madures (>3 anys), van mostrar un segon pic migratori postnupcial a finals d¿agost i principis de setembre. Així doncs, el present estudi vol aportar dades sobre els moviments migratòries en el àm¬bit regional per classes d¿edat, els quals po¬gueren ser útils per a la gestió i conservació d¿aquesta emblemàtica espècie catalogada com a vulnerable.

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., The Austrian team would like to thank the Lebensministerium (Austrian Ministry of Environment) and Professor Helmut Habersack and his group from the University of Natural Resources and Life Science Vienna for the supply of the hydrological data. The Portuguese team would like to thank Antonio Pinheiro for his supervision of the hydraulic modelling. The hydrological data were supplied by the Portuguese National Hydrologic Resource Information System (SNIRH) and aerial photographs by the Portuguese Geographic Institute (IGP) under the FIGIEE programme. Patricia M. Rodriguez-Gonzalez benefited from a postdoctoral grant from FCT (SFRH/BPD/47140/2008). Antonio Albuquerque was a valuable assistant in field work. The Spanish team would like to thank in addition the Hydrological Studies Centre (CEH-CEDEX), the Jucar River Basin Authority (CHJ) and the Spanish National Geographic Information Centre (CNIG) for supplying the hydrological data and the aerial photographs for the Spanish study site.

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., The authors are grateful to Paula De Lamo (who worked in an early version of this study), Carlos Gonzalez-Hidalgo (who gave us access to the MOPREDAS database) and Alicia Garcia-Arias and Oscar Belmar (for their support in the calculation of confusion matrices and in the flow regime analysis, respectively). We also thank Confederacion Hidrografica del Jucar (Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment) and the professors Juan Marco Segura and Javier Paredes for the hydrological data provided to develop this study. TECNOMA S. A. provided logistic support. Finally, we acknowledge the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia for the two grants of the Support Programme for Research and Development 'Programa de Apoyo a la Investigacion y Desarrollo' (PAID 00-10 and 00-11). This study was partially funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness with the projects 'Recent environmental changes in fluvial systems: morphological and sedimentological consequences' (CGL2009-14220-C02-02-BTE) and SCARCE (Consolider-Ingenio 2010 CSD2009-00065). The feedback of two anonymous reviewers has been very helpful and is greatly appreciated.

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., This study was partially funded by the Spanish Government (Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Rural y Marino, Confederacion Hidrografica del Jucar) and partly by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (POTECOL, CGL2007-66412). We especially thank Matias Peredo and Aina Hernandez for the co-operation in the field work and suggestions on data analysis; we also thank Rafa Casas, Marta Bargay, Pau Lucio, Merce Arenas and the students that cooperated in the field work. Thanks to Colin Custard for the academic review of English. We also acknowledge the comments and suggestions of the reviewers on this paper.

[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 hydrological alteration. This area, where there is geomorphological control, could be potentially reclassified into a different ecotype because regular monitoring could be using incorrect references for index scores, and naturally high scores could be confused with recovery from hydrological alteration or other pressures. The sites with the worst quality were near the river mouth and were characterised by an artificial and highly variable flow regime (related to large autumnal floods and frequent human-induced periods of zero flow). This artificial flow variability as well as the presence of lateral structures in the river channel and geomorphological characteristics were identified as the main factors driving the hydromorphological and floristic pattern in this regulated river., [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 fluvial. Los resultados sugieren que las limitaciones f ´ ´ısicas (presencia de un can˜on) han protegido a los tramos de impactos humanos severos, resultand ´ o en una buena calidad ecologica ´ a pesar de la alteracion hidrol ´ ogica. Esta zona podr ´ ´ıa potencialmente ser reclasificada en un ecotipo diferente, ya que un monitoreo regular podr´ıa estar usando referencias incorrectas para los ´ındices y sus altas puntuaciones naturales se podr´ıan estar confundiendo con una recuperacion de la alteraci ´ on hidrol ´ ogica o de otras presiones. Los puntos de muestreo con peor ´ calidad estuvieron cerca de la desembocadura y tuvieron un regimen de caudales alterado y muy variable. Esta variabilidad ´ artificial del caudal, junto con la presencia de estructuras laterales en el cauce y las caracter´ısticas geomorfologicas fueron ´ identificadas como los principales factores determinantes del patron hidromorfol ´ ogico y flor ´ ´ıstico en este r´ıo regulado., The authors would like to thank the reviewers for their comments and suggestions on an earlier version of this manuscript and the Jucar River Basin Authority (CHJ) for supplying public hydrological data. This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs (RIBERA Project) and the Ministry of Education and Science (projects TETIS-2, CGL2005-06219; POTECOL, CGL2007-66412; RIPFLOW, CGL2008-03076-E/BTE). We would also like to thank the CEIC Alfons El Vell (Gandia) for partially funding this research with a grant to Virginia Garofano G ´ omez. The translation of this paper was funded by the Universitat Politecnica de Val ` encia, Spain.

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 Beniarr'es 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 hydrological alteration. This area, where there is geomorphological control, could be potentially reclassified into a different ecotype because regular monitoring could be using incorrect references for index scores, and naturally high scores could be confused with recovery from hydrological alteration or other pressures. The sites with the worst quality were near the river mouth and were characterised by an artificial and highly variable flow regime (related to large autumnal floods and frequent human-induced periods of zero flow). This artificial flow variability as well as the presence of lateral structures in the river channel and geomorphological characteristics were identified as the main factors driving the hydromorphological and floristic pattern in this regulated river. Diversas metodologías han sido desarrolladas en el contexto europeo para evaluar el estado ecológico, y específicamente el estado hidromorfológico de las aguas superficiales. Aunque éstas han sido ampliamente utilizadas, pocos estudios se han centrado en masas de agua hidrológicamente alteradas y en los factores que condicionan su estado. En este estudio, el río Serpis fue dividido en 16 segmentos desde la presa de Beniarrés (a 40 km de la desembocadura) hasta el mar, todos ellos afectados por la regulación de caudales con distinta severidad. En cada segmento se realizó un inventario florístico y se aplicaron índices hidromorfológicos (QBR, Calidad del Bosque de Ribera, e IHF, Índice de Hábitat Fluvial). Los objetivos del estudio fueron (A) identificar relaciones entre la composición florística y los componentes del QBR, (B) entre las caracteríısticas del hábitat fluvial y los componentes del IHF, (C) determinar los principales factores que controlan la composición florística y la calidad del hábitat ripario (QBR), y las características del hábitat fluvial y su heterogeneidad (IHF). Un cluster permitió agrupar los puntos de muestreo según su composición florística y las características del hábitat fluvial, y un escalado multidimensional no-métrico (NMDS) fue usado para ordenar los puntos, obteniendo las variables bióticas y características del hábitat y los subindices del QBR e IHF, respectivamente, que explicaban mejor los patrones espaciales. Finalmente, un análisis de correspondencias canónicas (CCA) con variables predictoras (geográficas, hidrológicas, geomorfológicas y presiones humanas) indicó los principales factores que controlan los patrones espaciales de la composición florística, las características del hábitat fluvial, la calidad del hábitat ripario y la heterogeneidad del hábitat fluvial. Se identificó un gradiente de calidad del hábitat ripario y fluvial. Los resultados sugieren que las limitaciones físicas (presencia de un cañón) han protegido a los tramos de impactos humanos severos, resultando en una buena calidad ecológica a pesar de la alteración hidrológica. Esta zona podría potencialmente ser reclasificada en un ecotipo diferente, ya que un monitoreo regular podría estar usando referencias incorrectas para los índices y sus altas puntuaciones naturales se podrían estar confundiendo con una recuperación de la alteración hidrológica o de otras presiones. Los puntos de muestreo con peor calidad estuvieron cerca de la desembocadura y tuvieron un régimen de caudales alterado y muy variable. Esta variabilidad artificial del caudal, junto con la presencia de estructuras laterales en el cauce y las características geomorfológicas fueron identificadas como los principales factores determinantes del patrón hidromorfológico y florístico en este río regulado.

The relationship between flows and riparian vegetation has been described in the Mijares River, one of the most important rivers of the Júcar River basin (Eastern Spain). The three study sites have a flow regime which is regulated by a large dam and several hydropower plants. A hydraulic simulation was done in each site, and the time series of flow and water elevation were calculated for the period 1990-2007. The discharge-elevation curves were calculated in channel cross-sections, based on field data (low flows) and hydraulic simulation of large floods (50, 100 & 500 years intervals).

Riparian species and flow regime: ecological studies for application in environmental flow assessments and river restoration (Mijares river, Spain)

[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 detailed scale, the growth of forest vegetation canopy cover occurs mainly by internal densification, but also by external expansion on abandoned agricultural land, always from scrub and woodlands. These two structures not only show little relationship to each other, but also indicate a double track for silvogenesis. Scrub and woodland clearly behave as exclusive structures and show a similar expansion, maintaining their proportions on total forest cover or in transit via woodland with 50 years apart. This tendency to balance is shown at a county level (this level is represented by areas called "comarcas" in Spanish), where sub-regional influences of socioeconomic factors are also reflected. The dynamics analysis of these two colonizing forest structures and the determinants about this two-way silvogenesis provides the keys for predicting forest evolution, as a basis for forest planning at the provincial level. Different variables of each forest path at different scales have been studied. Paths linked to scrub, and even more to its extent, has shown generally a more restricted range of conditions compared to woodland extension, which has occurred over a very wide range of conditions. The influence ranking classification of different measured or available variables about the change tracks confirms as beyond the physical conditions, the prior existence of woodland has the greatest influence on the path followed by each plot., [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 coberturas forestales se ha producido principalmente hacia el litoral y se ha roto la simetría entre un interior mayoritariamente forestal y un litoral principalmente agrícola, en un claro proceso de homogeneización del paisaje agroforestal preexistente. A una escala de mayor detalle, el crecimiento de la fracción de cabida cubierta de la vegetación forestal se produce principalmente por densificación interna, pero también por expansión externa sobre terrenos agrícolas abandonados, siempre a partir de formaciones arboladas y de matorral. Estas dos formaciones no sólo demuestran pocas relaciones entre sí, sino que indican una doble vía para la silvogénesis. El matorral y el arbolado se comportan como formaciones claramente excluyentes y muestran una expansión similar, manteniendo sus proporciones sobre el total de las coberturas forestales o en tránsito a forestal con 50 años de diferencia. Esta tendencia al equilibrio se reproduce a nivel comarcal, donde también se reflejan las influencias subregionales de los factores socioeconómicos sobre la evolución de las coberturas y usos. El análisis de la dinámica de las dos formaciones forestales colonizadoras y de los factores condicionantes sobre esta doble vía de silvogénesis aporta las claves para la predicción de la evolución del bosque, como base para la planificación forestal a nivel provincial. Se han estudiado diversas variables características de cada trayectoria forestal a diferentes escalas. Las trayectorias ligadas al matorral, y más aún a su extensión, han tenido en general un rango de condiciones mucho más estrecho que la extensión del arbolado, que se ha producido sobre una amplísima diversidad de condiciones. La clasificación jerárquica de la influencia de las diferentes variables medidas o disponibles sobre las trayectorias de cambio confirma como, más allá de las condiciones físicas, la existencia previa de arbolado tiene la mayor influencia sobr, [CAT] 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 la simetria entre un interior majoritàriament forestal i un litoral principalment agrícola, en un clar procés d'homogeneïtzació del paisatge agroforestal preexistent. A una escala de major detall, el creixement de la densitat de recobriment de la vegetació forestal es produeix principalment per densificació interna, però també per expansió externa sobre terrenys agrícoles abandonats, sempre a partir de formacions arbrades i de matoll. Aquestes dues formacions no sols demostren poques relacions entre si, sinó que indiquen una doble via per a la silvogènesi. El matoll i l'arbrat es comporten com formacions clarament excloents i mostren una expansió similar, mantenint les seues proporcions sobre el total de les cobertures forestals o en trànsit a forestal amb 50 anys de diferència. Aquesta tendència a l'equilibri es reprodueix a nivell comarcal, on també es reflecteixen les influències subregionals dels factors socioeconòmics sobre l'evolució de les cobertures i usos. L'anàlisi de la dinàmica de les dues formacions forestals colonitzadores i dels factors condicionants sobre aquesta doble via de silvogènesi aporta les claus per a la predicció de l'evolució del bosc, com a base per a la planificació forestal a nivell provincial. S'han estudiat diverses variables característiques de cada trajectòria forestal a diferents escales. Les trajectòries lligades al matoll, i més encara a la seua extensió, han tingut en general un rang de condicions molt més estret que l'extensió de l'arbrat, que s'ha produït sobre una amplíssima diversitat de condicions. La classificació jeràrquica de la influència de les diferents variables mesures o disponibles sobre les trajectòries de canvi confirma com, més enllà de les condicions físiques, l'existència prèvia d'arbrat té la major influència sobre la trajectòria seguida en cada parcel·la., Delgado Artes, R. (2015). Análisis de los patrones de evolución de las coberturas forestales en la provincia de Castellón en los últimos 50 años [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. doi:10.4995/Thesis/10251/56823., TESIS