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Adaptive forest management (AFM) is an urgent need because of the uncertainty regarding how changes in the climate will affect the structure, composition and function of forests during the next decades. Current research initiatives for the long-term monitoring of impacts of silviculture are scattered and not integrated into research networks, with the consequent losses of opportunities and capacity for action. To increase the scientific and practical impacts of these experiences, it is necessary to establish logical frameworks that harmonize the information and help us to define the most appropriate treatments. In this context, a number of research groups in Spain have produced research achievements and know-how during the last decades that can allow for the improvement in AFM. These groups address the issue of AFM from different fields, such as ecophysiology, ecohydrology and forest ecology, thus resulting in valuable but dispersed expertise. The main objective of this work is to introduce a comprehensive strategy aimed to study the implementation of AFM in Spain. As a first step, a network of 34 experimental sites managed by 14 different research groups is proposed and justified. As a second step, the most important AFM impacts on Mediterranean pines, as one of the most extended natural and planted forest types in Spain, are presented. Finally, open questions dealing with key aspects when attempting to implement an AFM framework are discussed. This study is expected to contribute to better outlining the procedures and steps needed to implement regional frameworks for AFM.

In the present study, we examined the effects of different drying conditions on the composition, structure and function of benthic invertebrate assemblages. We approached this objective by comparing invertebrate assemblages in perennial and intermittent sites along two intermittent Mediterranean streams with contrasting predictability, duration, and spatial patterns of drying: Fuirosos (high predictability, short duration, downstream drying pattern) and Rogativa (low predictability, long duration, patchy drying pattern). Specifically, we quantified the contribution of individual taxa to those differences, the degree of nestedness, and shifts in the composition, structure and function of benthic invertebrate assemblages along flow intermittence gradients. We observed greater effects of drying on the benthic invertebrate composition in Fuirosos than in Rogativa, resulting in a higher dissimilarity of assemblages between perennial and intermittent sites, as well as a lower degree of nestedness. Furthermore, a higher number of biotic metrics related to richness, abundance and biological traits were significantly different between perennial and intermittent sites in Fuirosos, despite a shorter dry period compared to Rogativa. At the same time, slightly different responses were detected during post-drying (autumn) than pre-drying (spring) conditions in this stream. In Rogativa, shifts in benthic invertebrate assemblages along increasing gradients of flow intermittence were found for three metrics (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) and Odonata, Coleoptera and Heteroptera (OCH) abundances and aerial active dispersal. Furthermore, we demonstrated that combined gradients of dry period duration and distance to nearest perennial reach can generate complex, and different, responses of benthic invertebrate assemblages, depending on the flow intermittence metric. Our study advances the notion that special attention should be paid to the predictability, duration and s

The estimation of soil values by means of spatial modeling techniques, based on environmental processes and variables, is used in this work to analyze the effect of these variables on soil organic matter (SOM). Discussing is extremely interesting conclusions can be extracted from the different implications on ecological patterns in the distribution and spatial variability. A database of 1,126 samples of organic matter in the arable layer from the Murcia Region (SE Spain) has been utilized to estimate the SOM contents at the regional scale (more than 10,000 km2), by using 21 environmental variables as predictors. Among the most influential variables are those related to relief (i.e. the slope and terrain curvature), flow accumulation linked to drainage networks, rainfall, solar radiation, and certain specific indices obtained using remote sensing techniques, such as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) or Clay Minerals Index (CMI)., La estimación de valores edáficos mediante el empleo de técnicas de modelización espacial, basada en procesos y variables ambientales, es utilizada en este trabajo para analizar el efecto que tienen estas variables sobre la materia orgánica del suelo (MOS). La discusión es enormemente interesante por las conclusiones que se pueden extraer de las distintas implicaciones que ejercen los patrones ecológicos en su distribución y variabilidad espacial. En este estudio se ha utilizado una base de datos de 1126 muestras de materia orgánica en capa arable del suelo en la Región de Murcia (SE de España), con el fin de estimar el contenido de la MOS a escala regional (más de 10000 km2 ) mediante el uso de 21 variables ambientales como predictores. Entre las variables más influyentes destacan las asociadas al relieve (i.e. la pendiente, las curvaturas del terreno), la acumulación de flujo vinculada a las redes de drenaje, la precipitación, la radicación solar y ciertos índices específicos obtenidos mediante técnicas de teledetección, como el NDVI o el Índice Mineralógico de Arcillas CMI.

Estimating soil values by using spatial modeling techniques based on processes and environmental variables can resolve the scarcity of data concerning from soil properties in studies applied to large areas. In this paper we have used values of soil water potential, on levels for Field Capacity (pF 2.5) and Wilting Point (pF 4.2), obtained from 307 profiles (LUCDEME Project) distributed in the region de Murcia (over 10000 km2), for the purpose of provide an estimate of the moisture content of soil pF mentioned levels by 21 environmental variables used as predictors. The supplied results show distinct differences in the variables that compose each of the models, which suggest that the processes that determine the values of pF 2.5and pF 4.2 in soil can be different. Among the most influential variables include those associated with topography (digital elevation model, curvatures), flow accumulation linked to drainage networks, and values obtained by remote sensing techniques, such as NDVI., La estimación de valores edáficos mediante el empleo de técnicas de modelización espacial, basada en procesos y variables ambientales, puede ser una solución válida para solventar la escasez de datos relativos a la información de las propiedades del suelo en estudios aplicados a grandes áreas de trabajo. Para este trabajo se han empleado valores del potencial de succión a niveles de Capacidad de Campo (pF 2,5) y Punto de Marchitez (pF 4,2) obtenidos a partir de datos de 307 perfiles (Proyecto LUCDEME) distribuidos en la Región de Murcia (más de 10000 km2), con el fin de proporcionar una estimación del contenido de humedad del suelo a los niveles de pF mencionados mediante 21 variables ambientales utilizadas como predictores. Los resultados aportados muestran claras diferencias en las variables que componen cada uno de los modelos, lo que sugiere que los procesos que determinan los valores de pF 2,5 y pF 4,2 en el suelo pueden ser distintos. Entre las variables más influyentes destacan las asociadas al relieve (i.e. modelo digital de elevaciones, curvaturas), la acumulación de flujo vinculada a las redes de drenaje, y los valores obtenidos mediante técnicas de teledetección, como el NDVI.

In 2011, the European Council stressed the significance of water quality for sustainable development in Europe and emphasized the need for better integration of the water policy objectives into the Common Agriculture Policy reform in rural areas. Since 2000, the Water Framework Directive (WFD) has required the EU Member States to target good ecological status for their water bodies. However, the implementation of the Directive for the numerous Mediterranean temporary streams has been delayed indicating the need for elaboration of the tools and methods that address the special characteristics of such water bodies. This requirement has been addressed by the recently completed MIRAGE project. In the context of the recent publication of the European Commission’s Blueprint to Safeguard Europe’s Waters, the MIRAGE-proposed framework for the characterization of the ecohydrological dynamics and the systematic description of the measured impact for temporary rivers could bring considerable added value to the EU revision of all relevant water policies. The project recommends additions to WFD articles including an explicit definition of temporary rivers, adaptation of environmental objectives to their peculiarities and establishment of a proper method to determine the initial status and specific actions in River Basin Management Plans.