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Mediterranean shrub communities harbor a high genetic and functional diversity (greater than that of some forests), and fulfill ecological functions such as soil protection, regulation of biogeochemical cycles and carbon dioxide storage. They are also relevant to the sustainability of agricultural resources, such as hunting, extensive livestock farming and beekeeping. According to the entity, the increase in frequency and duration of extreme drought events are the causes of the accelerated loss of biodiversity and degradation of the functioning of many ecosystems, having described both an increase in the scrubbing of American prairies and, conversely, a proliferation of invasive herbaceous plants.

However, according to the Centre de Ciència i Tecnologia Forestal de Catalunya, the effects on Mediterranean shrub formations are less well known, and in recent years a significant decline of some woody species has been observed. This may result in a loss of biodiversity, proliferation of some herbaceous species and increased fire risk.

The general objective of the project has been to establish a system for the detection, prediction and monitoring of the effects of intense and recurrent droughts on the structure and biodiversity of Mediterranean shrub communities in the eastern peninsular.

The specific objectives are:

• Inventory the plant composition and structure and physiography of the monitoring plots.
• Predicting the effects of a drought episode on the water balance of shrub communities.
• Establish a warning system for the effects of intense drought episodes on the plant composition and structure of the monitoring plots.
• Lay the groundwork for long-term monitoring of plot composition and structure.
• To disseminate the interest of the project for the conservation of Mediterranean scrublands in a context of climate and land use change.

• Location of monitoring plots in the protected areas of the Natura 2000 Network.
• Inventory and characterization of shrub species in the plots.
• Inventory of the herbaceous and cameophytic vascular flora (camelephyte; woody plants) of the plots.
• Soil characterization of the monitoring plots.
• Parameterization of the water balance model with the Medfate forestry simulation model.
• Water content sampling of woody species in monitoring plots.
• Validation of the simulation model (Medfate).
• Development of a drought alert display showing the water stress of the vegetation in the monitoring plots.

Within the framework of this project, 24 plots of scrubland on limestone substrate have been selected and characterized in different areas; 7 in Aragon, 4 in Valencia and 13 in Catalonia. The areas form a permanent network for the detection, prediction and monitoring of the effects of drought on the structure and composition of this type of shrub communities.

Through an exhaustive inventory of each of the plots, data on structure, soil and species have been collected, both on foot and by aerial photography. In addition, complete databases and characterization sheets have been obtained for each of the plots, which can be very useful for management purposes. This information is available in a public repository.

On the other hand, after the application of the Medfate simulation model (a model that helps simulate the functioning and dynamics of plant species and their interactions with respect to water use), the daily water balance of the plots can be displayed in the application’s viewer Sitedrought on the entity’s website.

Although it is noted that improvements should be applied, once they are implemented in the model parameterization, this viewer can be a tool of high interest to establish forest fire risk maps. It also highlights its usefulness for detecting changes in vegetation due to extreme droughts, and for improving decision making for the management of these areas.