Effects of Windthrows on Forest Cover, Tree Growth and Soil Characteristics in Drought-Prone Pine Plantations

Windstorms are forest disturbances which generate canopy gaps. However, their effects on Mediterranean forests understudied. To fill that research gap, changes in tree, cover, growth and soil features Pinus halepensis sylvestris plantations affected by windthrows were quantified. In each plantation, trees soils closed-canopy stands gaps created the windthrow sampled. Changes tree cover radial assessed using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) dendrochronology, respectively. Soil including texture, nutrients concentration microbial community structure also analyzed. Windthrows reduced enhanced growth, particularly P. site, was probably more severely impacted. characteristics altered this site: clay percentage increased gaps, whereas K Mg concentrations decreased. The biomass of Gram positive bacteria actinomycetes but negative fungi became less fertile dominated after site. We emphasize relevance considering post-disturbance time recovery disturbance intensity to assess resilience within a multi-scale approach.