Facilitating the afforestation of Mediterranean polluted soils by nurse shrubs

Canopy vs. soil effects of shrubs facilitating tree seedlings in Mediterranean montane ecosystems

Question: Is the facilitative effect of nurse shrubs on early recruitment of trees mediated by a ‘canopy effect’ (microclimate amelioration and protection from herbivores), a ‘soil effect’ (modification of soil properties), or both? Location: Two successional montane shrublands at the Sierra Nevada Protected Area, SE Spain. Method: Seedlings of Quercus and Pinus species were planted in four exp...

Use of Shrubs as Nurse Plants: A New Technique for Reforestation in Mediterranean Mountains

Common techniques currently used for afforestation in the Mediterranean basin consider the pre-existing vegetation (mainly shrubs) as a source of competition for trees, and consequently it is generally eliminated before planting. Nevertheless, it has been demonstrated that woody plants can facilitate the establishment of understory seedlings in environments that, like the Mediterranean area, ar...

Benefits of using shrubs as nurse plants for reforestation in Mediterranean mountains: a 4-year study

Phytostabilization of amended soils polluted with trace elements using the Mediterranean shrub: Rosmarinus officinalis.

We evaluate the mid-term effects of two amendments and the establishment of R. officinalis on chemical and biochemical properties in a trace element contaminated soil by a mine spill and the possible use of this plant for stabilization purposes. The experiment was carried out using containers filled with trace element polluted soil, where four treatments were established: organic treatment (bio...

Bioremediation of Phenanthrene Polluted Soils

The best metabolic conditions for the biodegradation of hydrocarbons by a selected microbial consortium from a natural soil were investigated in order to improve the efficiency of bioremediation processes for cleaning of polluted waters and soils. Phenanthrene is one of the most recalcitrant pollutants to microbial decomposition and most difficult to remove. A microbial consortium was selected ...