Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
4.3. Changes at local scale in three study cases: Shrub encroachment, agricultural
abandonment and urban development
As we had mentioned above three areas have been selected for a more detailed analyse
(1:12,500 scale). The results obtained are showed below:
4.3.1. Cerceda: Open woodland and shrub encroachment
In Cerceda (Figure 7), there was no difference in R (u) so the number and type of land uses
are the same along time. However, there had been some changes in the land use's relative
abundance as showed diversity H´(u) and evenness E(u) values (Table 5). The changes in
land uses over time have transformed the territory. One of them is dominant, the increase of
understory density (Figure 8). These changes in surface are associated to pastures
abandonment and the decrease of sheep and goat livestock. Woodland encroachment
generated a mixed forest of
Juniperus
,
Quercus
and
Cistus
, with different densities: high
density (1975: 15%; 2009: 30%) and medium density (1975: 25%; 2009: 40%). In particular the
increase of open woodland areas is associated to intensification with beef cattle or bucking
bulls. This intensification is determinant in the phytostructure of medium understory
density in open woodland (30%, 1975 / 50%, 2009).
Figure 7.
Juniperus oxycedrus subsp.
oxycedrus
and
Quercus ilex
subsp
ballota
open woodlands and farms
in Cerceda.
Cerceda
Fuencarral
Torrelodones
1975
2009
1975
2009
1975
2009
R(u)
10
10
13
13
12
10
H'(u)
2.38
2.25
2.05
2.97
2.81
2.49
E(u)
0.72
0.68
0.55
0.80
0.78
0.75
Table 6.
Values of Richness R(u), Diversity H'(u) and Evenness E(u) of land uses in Cerceda, Fuencarral
and Torrelodones
