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Decline and dieback of cork oak (Quercus suber L.) forests in the Mediterranean basin: a case study of Kroumirie, Northwest Tunisia

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Abstract

Assessing the vulnerability of forest ecosystems in the climate change context is a challenging task as the mechanisms that determine this vulnerability cannot be directly observed. Based on the ecological interrelationships between forests and climate, the present review focused on providing current information about vulnerability assessments of cork oak (Quercus suber L.) forests in the Mediterranean basin, especially, in the Kroumirie region (northwest Tunisia), currently under historic extreme drought conditions. From comparing recent findings in this region, we synthesized data on cork oak decline and mortality collected during the historic drought years 1988–1995 period. Climate change impacts cork forest decline, with special interest shown in elevated temperatures and drought; cork oak forest regeneration, and the adaptation of the Kroumirie forest to climate change, are reviewed herein. The studied region has been influenced largely by frequent prolonged drought periods, especially from 1988 to 1995. Droughts were found to consistently have a more detrimental impact on the growth and mortality rates of cork oak populations. Cork oak mortality was recorded for up to 63,622 trees. In the future, more research studies and observational data will be needed, which could represent an important key to understand ecosystem processes, and to facilitate the development of better models that project climate change impacts and vulnerability. The study is useful for researchers and forestry decision makers to develop the appropriate strategies to restore and protect ecosystems, and to help anticipate potential future droughts and climate change.

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Fig. 1

Source: the EUFORGEN database http://www.euforgen.org/species/quercus-suber

Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Adapted from Allen et al. (2010, 2015)

Fig. 5

Adapted from the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), and the World Agroforestry Centre and USAID (2009)

Fig. 6

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Acknowledgements

Thanks to all authors of the original studies included in this analysis. Also we thank the journal referees for providing constructive comments resulting in the improvement of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The National Research Institute of Rural Engineering, Water, and Forestry, INRGREF, Laboratory of Management and Valorization of Forest Resources, University of Carthage, BP 10, 2080, Ariana, Tunisia

    Issam Touhami, H. Aouinti, A. El Khorchani, M. T. Elaieb, A. Khaldi & Z. Nasr

  2. Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Lay University Eloy Alfaro de Manabí, Ciudadela Universitaria, av. Circunvalación vía San Mateo s/n, Manta, Manabí, Ecuador

    E. Chirino

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  1. Issam Touhami
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  2. E. Chirino
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  3. H. Aouinti
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  4. A. El Khorchani
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  5. M. T. Elaieb
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  6. A. Khaldi
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Correspondence to Issam Touhami.

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Project funding: This work was funded by the National Research Institute for Rural Engineering, Waters, and Forestry, Tunisia.

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Corresponding editor: Chai Ruihai.

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Touhami, I., Chirino, E., Aouinti, H. et al. Decline and dieback of cork oak (Quercus suber L.) forests in the Mediterranean basin: a case study of Kroumirie, Northwest Tunisia. J. For. Res. 31, 1461–1477 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-019-00974-1

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