The Balearic archipelago is located in the western Mediterranean Sea, just off the east coast of ... more The Balearic archipelago is located in the western Mediterranean Sea, just off the east coast of the Iberian Peninsula. The archipelago comprises four principal islands and some minor islands and islets, 10 of which are larger than 25 ha. These islands have a Mediterranean climate, mainly thermo-Mediterranean, although we can find meso- and supra-Mediterranean climates in the mountains of Majorca. Ombroclimates are present from humid to semi-arid, although sub-humid and dry are the most common. The lack of connections with the European continent since the Pliocene-Pleistocene periods and the inter-island isolation has resulted in the separation of two biotic sub-archipelagos: the Gymnesics (Majorca, Minorca and Cabrera) and the Pityusics (Ibiza and Formentera). The predominant forest vegetation consists of the evergreen forests, woodlands and sclerophyllous shrublands dominated by Quercus ilex, Pinus halepensis, Olea europaea, Pistacia lentiscus and Juniperus turbinata. In Majorca, broadleaved forests of Acer granatense and shrublands of Balearic boxwood (Buxus balearica) are also present. In the Gymnesics, some riverside forests exist (principally of Fraxinus angustifolia), and in the coastal areas, Tamarix forests are common. Scrub and grasslands constitute the most important substitution vegetation. Among the former, endemic Gymnesic cushion-like formations (xeroacanthic thickets) are common as well as the thermophilous garrigue (especially remarkable in the Pityusics). Grasslands are more diverse; the most important ones are dry perennial grasslands (of Brachypodium retusum and of Allium chamaemoly), pseudo-steppic grasslands of Ampelodesmos mauritanica (related to wildfires) and Hyparrhenia, annual grasslands on carbonate-containing substrata, annual grasslands on non-calcareous soils with Xolantha guttata (in parts of the North of Minorca), annual grasslands on skeletal soils rich in succulents, and annual grasslands on sandy soils and dunes. Endemic grasslands related to trampled soils of old cattle paths are unique and very scarce. The length and diversity of the archipelago’s coast and the importance of sea wind, especially in Minorca and some parts of Majorca, determine the importance of salt-marsh vegetation, dunes and coastal cliffs, which are also very unique. The existence of pronounced relief, especially steep in Majorca, favors the diffusion of different types of rupicolous vegetation in which numerous endemic species can be found. On the other hand, long, intense human pressure (agriculture, touristic and urban) has emphasized the importance of synanthropic vegetation.
Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology, 2017
Abstract Plants of nine Euphorbia pithyusa subsp. pithyusa populations growing in Mallorca (Balea... more Abstract Plants of nine Euphorbia pithyusa subsp. pithyusa populations growing in Mallorca (Balearic Islands) under distinct bioclimatic conditions were chosen for the study, from coastal, with a semi-arid thermo-Mediterranean bioclimate, to mountain (1250 m), with both meso-Mediterranean and supra-Mediterranean bioclimate. The cyathia and fruits differed significantly in size between the populations, with the coastal populations producing smaller cyathia and fruits. Flowering and fruiting were prolonged and extended through different orders of the dichasia. However, the third-order dichasia produced, independently of the environmental conditions, the highest number of fruits of all the populations. Although seeds of all the populations showed comparable germination capacity at 20 °C, seeds from the highland populations were slower to germinate and exhibited prolonged dormancy, suggesting a direct relationship between the degree of dormancy and rainfall. These differences were significant (p ≤ 0.05) and independent of the yearly climatic variations for each of the populations studied. The reproductive strategies permitting E. pithyusa to have success in the colonization of zones with different bioclimates are based on possessing: a generalist pollination system and the capacity to adapt the length and intensity of the flowering and fruiting periods to climatic conditions and to vary the size and dormancy levels of seeds.
Delphinium pentagynum subsp. formenteranum is an endemic species restricted to the island of Form... more Delphinium pentagynum subsp. formenteranum is an endemic species restricted to the island of Formentera (Balearic Islands), where it is considered an endangered species. Ecological traits such as pollination and pollinator-plant interaction, and seed germination are key processes required for conservation efforts but remain poorly characterized. Floral traits were evaluated analysing total alkaloid content for vegetative plant, floral, nectar and pollen, and volatile emitted by flowers. Flowering phenology was assessed in the field in three different years (1998, 2008, 2018) and under cultivated conditions for D. pentagynum subsp. formenteranum and cohabiting species. Germination trials were conducted both at different constant and alternate temperatures, and seed lots conserved at room temperature were germinated across 7 years to assess seed viability with seed age. Micromorphological seed traits were assessed with scanning electron microscopy. Results show intraspecific flowering...
Small islands play a critical role in the study of plant ecology and evolution. Here, we reveal t... more Small islands play a critical role in the study of plant ecology and evolution. Here, we reveal the ecology of Euphorbia margalidiana, an endemic plant that thrives in a micro-island environment in the Western Mediterranean region. Through a detailed characterization of the habitat, including plant communities, microclimate, soil properties, and germination assays, we examine the effects of biotic and abiotic factors on the distribution of this endangered species. We also analyze its pollination biology, evaluate the success of vegetative propagation, and discuss its potential use in conservation strategies. Our results show that E. margalidiana is a characteristic species of the shrub ornitocoprophilous insular vegetation of the Western Mediterranean. The seeds have a very low dispersion capacity outside the islet and that seed-derived plants have higher survival rates under drought conditions than those vegetatively propagated. The main volatile compound emitted from the pseudanth...
El estudio de la biología reproductiva de poblaciones naturales de Helianthemum apenninum y H. ca... more El estudio de la biología reproductiva de poblaciones naturales de Helianthemum apenninum y H. caput-felis en Mallorca ha demostrado que son básicamente entomófilos, aunque también producen numerosos frutos por auto-polinización. Las flores de H. caput-felis duran cuatro dias, mientras que las de H. apettninum duran uno, como suele ocurrir en otras especies del género. En la población de H. apenninum, la predación por ungulados afecta al 50% de los individuos. Los test de germinación mostraron una temperatura óptima de germinación de 16°C para H. apenninum y de 23°C para H. caput-felis. H. caput-felis muestra una importante variabilidad interanual en su comportamiento germinativo. En las poblaciones naturales de H. caput-felis, se ha observado atelecoria, y en relación con ésta, las semillas germinan dentro de la cápsula.
Introduction – Edaphic factors influence the structure and composition of plant communities. The ... more Introduction – Edaphic factors influence the structure and composition of plant communities. The main objective is to identify soil properties associated with the presence of different Limonium species. Methods – We conducted a systematic phytocoenological and edaphic survey over 37 locations across the Balearic archipelago. Canonical Correspondence Analysis was applied to the physicochemical characteristics of soils in which 29 species of Limonium grow. Results – The distribution of Limonium species has a high correlation to specific edaphic factors. The species can be clustered into four major groups. The first group represents species with a high edaphic selectivity – soils characterized by having a high proportion of sand, SO42- and Ca2+. The second group is composed of species with high levels of SAR, OM and SO42- /Cl- ratio. The third group includes species present in soils with a loamy texture, low Ca2+ /Mg2+ ratio and high levels of CO32- and Mg2+. The fourth group includes ...
The Balearic archipelago is located in the western Mediterranean Sea, just off the east coast of ... more The Balearic archipelago is located in the western Mediterranean Sea, just off the east coast of the Iberian Peninsula. The archipelago comprises four principal islands and some minor islands and islets, 10 of which are larger than 25 ha. These islands have a Mediterranean climate, mainly thermo-Mediterranean, although we can find meso- and supra-Mediterranean climates in the mountains of Majorca. Ombroclimates are present from humid to semi-arid, although sub-humid and dry are the most common. The lack of connections with the European continent since the Pliocene-Pleistocene periods and the inter-island isolation has resulted in the separation of two biotic sub-archipelagos: the Gymnesics (Majorca, Minorca and Cabrera) and the Pityusics (Ibiza and Formentera). The predominant forest vegetation consists of the evergreen forests, woodlands and sclerophyllous shrublands dominated by Quercus ilex, Pinus halepensis, Olea europaea, Pistacia lentiscus and Juniperus turbinata. In Majorca, broadleaved forests of Acer granatense and shrublands of Balearic boxwood (Buxus balearica) are also present. In the Gymnesics, some riverside forests exist (principally of Fraxinus angustifolia), and in the coastal areas, Tamarix forests are common. Scrub and grasslands constitute the most important substitution vegetation. Among the former, endemic Gymnesic cushion-like formations (xeroacanthic thickets) are common as well as the thermophilous garrigue (especially remarkable in the Pityusics). Grasslands are more diverse; the most important ones are dry perennial grasslands (of Brachypodium retusum and of Allium chamaemoly), pseudo-steppic grasslands of Ampelodesmos mauritanica (related to wildfires) and Hyparrhenia, annual grasslands on carbonate-containing substrata, annual grasslands on non-calcareous soils with Xolantha guttata (in parts of the North of Minorca), annual grasslands on skeletal soils rich in succulents, and annual grasslands on sandy soils and dunes. Endemic grasslands related to trampled soils of old cattle paths are unique and very scarce. The length and diversity of the archipelago’s coast and the importance of sea wind, especially in Minorca and some parts of Majorca, determine the importance of salt-marsh vegetation, dunes and coastal cliffs, which are also very unique. The existence of pronounced relief, especially steep in Majorca, favors the diffusion of different types of rupicolous vegetation in which numerous endemic species can be found. On the other hand, long, intense human pressure (agriculture, touristic and urban) has emphasized the importance of synanthropic vegetation.
Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all Aspects of Plant Biology, 2017
Abstract Plants of nine Euphorbia pithyusa subsp. pithyusa populations growing in Mallorca (Balea... more Abstract Plants of nine Euphorbia pithyusa subsp. pithyusa populations growing in Mallorca (Balearic Islands) under distinct bioclimatic conditions were chosen for the study, from coastal, with a semi-arid thermo-Mediterranean bioclimate, to mountain (1250 m), with both meso-Mediterranean and supra-Mediterranean bioclimate. The cyathia and fruits differed significantly in size between the populations, with the coastal populations producing smaller cyathia and fruits. Flowering and fruiting were prolonged and extended through different orders of the dichasia. However, the third-order dichasia produced, independently of the environmental conditions, the highest number of fruits of all the populations. Although seeds of all the populations showed comparable germination capacity at 20 °C, seeds from the highland populations were slower to germinate and exhibited prolonged dormancy, suggesting a direct relationship between the degree of dormancy and rainfall. These differences were significant (p ≤ 0.05) and independent of the yearly climatic variations for each of the populations studied. The reproductive strategies permitting E. pithyusa to have success in the colonization of zones with different bioclimates are based on possessing: a generalist pollination system and the capacity to adapt the length and intensity of the flowering and fruiting periods to climatic conditions and to vary the size and dormancy levels of seeds.
Delphinium pentagynum subsp. formenteranum is an endemic species restricted to the island of Form... more Delphinium pentagynum subsp. formenteranum is an endemic species restricted to the island of Formentera (Balearic Islands), where it is considered an endangered species. Ecological traits such as pollination and pollinator-plant interaction, and seed germination are key processes required for conservation efforts but remain poorly characterized. Floral traits were evaluated analysing total alkaloid content for vegetative plant, floral, nectar and pollen, and volatile emitted by flowers. Flowering phenology was assessed in the field in three different years (1998, 2008, 2018) and under cultivated conditions for D. pentagynum subsp. formenteranum and cohabiting species. Germination trials were conducted both at different constant and alternate temperatures, and seed lots conserved at room temperature were germinated across 7 years to assess seed viability with seed age. Micromorphological seed traits were assessed with scanning electron microscopy. Results show intraspecific flowering...
Small islands play a critical role in the study of plant ecology and evolution. Here, we reveal t... more Small islands play a critical role in the study of plant ecology and evolution. Here, we reveal the ecology of Euphorbia margalidiana, an endemic plant that thrives in a micro-island environment in the Western Mediterranean region. Through a detailed characterization of the habitat, including plant communities, microclimate, soil properties, and germination assays, we examine the effects of biotic and abiotic factors on the distribution of this endangered species. We also analyze its pollination biology, evaluate the success of vegetative propagation, and discuss its potential use in conservation strategies. Our results show that E. margalidiana is a characteristic species of the shrub ornitocoprophilous insular vegetation of the Western Mediterranean. The seeds have a very low dispersion capacity outside the islet and that seed-derived plants have higher survival rates under drought conditions than those vegetatively propagated. The main volatile compound emitted from the pseudanth...
El estudio de la biología reproductiva de poblaciones naturales de Helianthemum apenninum y H. ca... more El estudio de la biología reproductiva de poblaciones naturales de Helianthemum apenninum y H. caput-felis en Mallorca ha demostrado que son básicamente entomófilos, aunque también producen numerosos frutos por auto-polinización. Las flores de H. caput-felis duran cuatro dias, mientras que las de H. apettninum duran uno, como suele ocurrir en otras especies del género. En la población de H. apenninum, la predación por ungulados afecta al 50% de los individuos. Los test de germinación mostraron una temperatura óptima de germinación de 16°C para H. apenninum y de 23°C para H. caput-felis. H. caput-felis muestra una importante variabilidad interanual en su comportamiento germinativo. En las poblaciones naturales de H. caput-felis, se ha observado atelecoria, y en relación con ésta, las semillas germinan dentro de la cápsula.
Introduction – Edaphic factors influence the structure and composition of plant communities. The ... more Introduction – Edaphic factors influence the structure and composition of plant communities. The main objective is to identify soil properties associated with the presence of different Limonium species. Methods – We conducted a systematic phytocoenological and edaphic survey over 37 locations across the Balearic archipelago. Canonical Correspondence Analysis was applied to the physicochemical characteristics of soils in which 29 species of Limonium grow. Results – The distribution of Limonium species has a high correlation to specific edaphic factors. The species can be clustered into four major groups. The first group represents species with a high edaphic selectivity – soils characterized by having a high proportion of sand, SO42- and Ca2+. The second group is composed of species with high levels of SAR, OM and SO42- /Cl- ratio. The third group includes species present in soils with a loamy texture, low Ca2+ /Mg2+ ratio and high levels of CO32- and Mg2+. The fourth group includes ...
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Papers by Leonardo Llorens