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In the transition between Mediterranean forest and the arid subtropical shrublands of the southeastern Iberian Peninsula, humans have transformed habitat since ancient times. Understanding the role of the original mosaic landscapes in wildlife species and the effects of the current changes as pine forest plantations, performed even outside the forest ecological boundaries, are important conservation issues. We studied variation in the density of the endangered spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) in three areas that include the four most common land types within the species’ range (pine forests, natural shrubs, dryland crop fields, and abandoned crop fields). Tortoise densities were estimated using a two-stage modeling approach with line transect distance sampling. Densities in dryland crop fields, abandoned crop fields and natural shrubs were higher (>6 individuals/ha) than in pine forests (1.25 individuals/ha). We also found large variation in density in the pine forests. Recent pine plantations showed higher densities than mature pine forests where shrub and herbaceous cover was taller and thicker. We hypothesize that mature pine forest might constrain tortoise activity by acting as partial barriers to movements. This issue is relevant for management purposes given that large areas in the tortoise’s range have recently been converted to pine plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Forests cover almost 30% of the Mediterranean region today, yet forest management activities have influenced structure and composition of both natural and planted forests. To date no study has been conducted to evaluate the impact of forest management on saproxylic beetle assemblages, although it is known that the Mediterranean is a biodiversity hotspot with a long-lasting human pressure on natural habitats. We provide an overview of saproxylic beetle assemblages of three forest types (mature Pinus halepensis forests, mature Pinus brutia forests, young Quercus calliprinos forests) in the East Mediterranean region using a one-year sample from 12 forest plots located in the north of Israel. The studied forest types differed in forest structure, but we found no significant difference in saproxylic beetle species richness. Aleppo pine forests showed the largest number of saproxylic beetle species. Forests dominated by P. brutia, a non-native tree species in Israel, show the lowest species number of all three forest types. Species composition differs substantially between oak and pine forests. A third of the species found either in P. halepensis or in Q. calliprinos forests being unique to these habitats, while a smaller proportion of unique beetle species is found in P. brutia forests. Several beetle species that were found both in oak and pine plots in our study develop exclusively on broadleaved shrubs or trees. This may be explained by the small distances between the studied pine trees and oaks in their proximity. Biodiversity in pine forests can be increased when these are mixed with broad-leaved trees, e.g. oaks in the understorey layer, as can be observed the natural regrowth in most of the planted pine stands in our research area. There is some evidence from other studies that older successional stages of oak forests are likely to host more species overall than the mature pine forests studied here. In order to enhance structural diversity foresters should allow for aging of single trees or stands, regardless of the tree species. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]