Mediterranean Oak Woodland Working Landscapes Dehesas of Spain and Ranchlands of California

About this book

The oak tree was a boon companion as humans expanded their presence across much of the globe. While oak woodlands (Quercus spp.) come today in stunningly diverse forms, the stately dehesas of Spain and the dramatic oak-dominated ranchlands of California are working landscapes where cultivation and manipulation for a couple of millennia have shaped Mediterranean-type ecosystems into a profoundly modified yet productive environment that is sought-after by every manner of species.

The grazing of wildlife and livestock in oak woodlands yields a remarkable plant and animal biodiversity, creating a mosaic of habitats and visually pleasing savannas. Added products unique to Spain such as Iberian pigs and cork, and in California multiple landowner benefits, include valued ecosystem services that allow owners, visitors, and conservation supporters to experience the benefits of woodland life. With its 15 chapters a decade in the making, this handsomely illustrated book covers key topics in oak woodland policy, ecology, and management in Spain and California, presenting new research results and reviewing an existing expert literature.
 

Contents

Foreword. Jose Manuel Naredo

PART I - SETTING
1. Working Landscapes of the Spanish Dehesa and the California Oak Woodlands: An Introduction. Lynn Huntsinger, Pablo Campos, Paul F. Starrs, Jose L. Oviedo, Mario Diaz, Rick B. Standiford, Gregorio Montero
2. History and Recent Trends. Peter S. Alagona, Antonio Linares, Pablo Campos, Lynn Huntsinger

PART II - VEGETATION
3. Climatic Influence on Oak Landscape Distributions. Sonia Roig, Rand R. Evett, Guillermo Gea-Izquierdo, Isabel Canellas, Otilio Sanchez Palomares
4. Soil and Water Dynamics. Susanne Schnabel, Randy A. Dahlgren, Gerardo Moreno-Marcos
5. Oak Regeneration: Ecological Dynamics and Restoration Techniques. Fernando Pulido, Doug McCreary, Isabel Canellas, Mitchell McClaran, Tobias Plienninger
6. Overstory-Understory Relationships. Gerardo Moreno, James W. Bartolome, Guillermo Gea-Izquierdo, Isabel Canellas
7. Acorn Production Patterns. Walter D. Koenig, Mario Diaz, Fernando Pulido, Reyes Alejano, Elena Beamonte, Johannes M. H. Knops

PART III - MANAGEMENT, USES, AND ECOSYSTEM RESPONSE
8. Effects of Management On Biological Diversity and Endangered Species. Mario Diaz, William D. Tietje, Reginald H. Barrett
9. Models of Oak Woodland Silvopastoral Management. Richard B. Standiford, Paola Ovando, Pablo Campos, Gregorio Montero
10. Raising Livestock in Oak Woodlands. Juan de Dios Vargas, Lynn Huntsinger, Paul F. Starrs
11. Hunting in Managed Oak Woodlands: Contrasts among Similarities. Luke T. Macaulay, Paul F. Starrs, Juan Carranza

PART IV - ECONOMICS
12. Economics of Ecosystem Services. Alejandro Caparros, Lynn Huntsinger, Jose L. Oviedo, Tobias Plieninger, Pablo Campos
13. The Private Economy of Dehesas and Ranches: Case Studies. Jose L. Oviedo, Paola Ovando, Larry Forero, Lynn Huntsinger, Alejandro Alvarez, Bruno Mesa, Pablo Campos

PART V - LANDSCAPE
14. Recent Oak Woodlands Dynamics: A Comparative Ecological Study at the Landscape Scale. Ramon Elena-Rossello, Maggi Kelly, Sergio Gonzalez-Avila, Alexandra Martin, David Sanchez de Ron, Jose M. Garcia del Barrio
15. Whither Working Oak Woodlands? Paul F. Starrs, Lynn Huntsinger, Pablo Campos, Jose L. Oviedo, Mario Diaz, Richard B. Standiford, Gregorio Montero

Index

Customer Reviews