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Should we use meshes or solid tube shelters when planting in Mediterranean semiarid environments?

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Abstract

Tree shelters in Mediterranean environments have a two-sided effect. They not only protect seedlings from browsing but also ameliorate microclimatic conditions, improving post-planting survival and growth. However, the ecophysiological basis of these effects are poorly understood. A factorial experiment combining light transmissivity and shelter type (solid tube vs. mesh wall) was carried out to assess the impact of contrasting microclimatic characteristics on seedling performance and physiological stress levels of shelters in two Mediterranean shrubland species (Quercus coccifera and Rhamnus lycioides) planted in a semiarid site. Even though seedlings in solid tube shelters experienced higher temperature and were slightly more photoinhibited, they had higher predawn water potential and, in general, better survival and growth than in mesh wall shelters. However, these effects were species-specific, with Rh. lycioides more favoured by solid wall shelters than Q. coccifera. However, root growth cannot explain these interactions between species and shelter type on seedling survival. Since light transmission had a marginal effect compared with wall type, we proposed that the observed effects and interaction with species are not dependent on light intensity or temperature but on other microclimatic differences like air velocity or light quality and distribution. Further studies should assess the importance of these factors on post-planting growth and physiological stress levels, which can be critical for matching the correct tree shelters type for each species in plantations in semiarid environments.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by TRACE-Project PET2008_0325 (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation) and co-financed by Respol Química S.A, WWF program to restore Spanish forests and by Marie Skodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) Program (SuFoRun #691149 Project). The comments of two anonymous reviewers substantially improved the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Sistemas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Juan A. Oliet & Raul Blasco

  2. Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 4860 Macul, Santiago, Chile

    Patricio Valenzuela

  3. World Wildlife Foundation-España, 28005, Madrid, Spain

    María Melero de Blas

  4. Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK

    Jaime Puértolas

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  1. Juan A. Oliet
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Correspondence to Juan A. Oliet.

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Oliet, J.A., Blasco, R., Valenzuela, P. et al. Should we use meshes or solid tube shelters when planting in Mediterranean semiarid environments?. New Forests 50, 267–282 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-018-9659-z

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