Avaliação da contribuição dos serviços de pastoreio para a mitigação das alterações climáticas ao longo de três gradientes Atlântico-Mediterrânicos.

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Publications

Quantification and characterization of surface fuel material in different stands in the north-east of Portugal

Publication . Souza, Júlio Henrique Germano de; Alves, Leonardo Kipper; Castro, Marina

The aim of this study was to characterize the surface fuel material, based on its quantification and classification of hazardousness in four forest stands (Pinheiro manso, Castinçal,Sobreiral and Carvalhal) in the northeast of Portugal. The fuel material was classified according to its diameter, in dangerous (<1cm), semi-ha-zardous (>1cm) and green, moisture was assessed with drying in greenhouse. The Chestnut stand presented the largest quantity of fuel material (30.54 ton/ha; 16.40 ton/ha). Carvalhal had the lowest moisture content for summer (6.87%) and Pinheiro, the highest average value for winter (149.65%). The cork oak pre-sented the greatest risk, due to the high quantity of fuel material coupled with low humidity in the summer. f

2023Journal article

Open access

Quantificação do carbono do solo em diferentes povoamentos de carvalho no nordeste de Portugal

Publication . Souza, Júlio Henrique Germano de; Podsclan, Caroline; Castro, Marina

O objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar o teor de carbono orgânico presente no solo em florestas de Quercus e sua variação em profundidade na região nordeste de Portugal. O estudo foi realizado em bosques de Quercus (Quercus suber L., Quercus rotundifolia Lam. e Quercus pyrenaica Willd.) no NE de Portugal, no qual foram analisados os teores de matéria orgânica (MO) do solo nos primeiros 25 cm de profunidade, e estimada a concentração de carbono orgânico do solo. Aferiram-se as propriedades do solo no âmbito do carbono orgânico do solo em diferentes locais e profundidades. Os resultados evidenciaram um padrão distinto entre os tipos de bosques. A dinâmica de armazenamento altera-se com a profundidade, apresentando na camada inicial (0-5cm) maior concentração, independentemente da espécie ou local. Os povoamentos Quercus pyrenaica L. apresentam maiores concentrações de carbono orgânico com 55,60 g kg-¹, seguido do Quercus rotundifolia Lam. com 34,02 g kg-¹ e Quercus suber Willd. 27,72 g kg-¹. A presença de biomassa no sub-bosque favorece o acúmulo e manutenção da matéria orgânica e do carbono no solo.

2024Journal article

Open access

The impact of goats grazing on understory vegetation of cork oak woodlands

Publication . Germano de Souza, Júlio Henrique; Mosquera-Losada, Maria Rosa; Castro, Marina

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of high grazing pressure for short, intermittent periods (1-2 h per day) on fuel load management in cork oak (Quercus suber L.) forests in the north-eastern region of Portugal. This evaluation aims to understand the effectiveness of targeted grazing as a forest management tool, specifically in reducing fuel load accumulation and thereby potentially reducing wildfire risk. In addition, this study extends its analysis to examine the time required for vegetation recovery in the absence of grazing, with the aim of determining the optimal grazing interval. Changes in herbaceous and shrub cover, herbaceous biomass and phytovolume were compared between grazed and ungrazed plots over a period of thirty-four months. Using a stocking rate of 400 goats per hectare for 21 cumulative hours over 12 days resulted in a 93.43% reduction in shrub phytovolume and a 76.2% reduction in shrub cover. Herbaceous biomass also decreased from 53.80 +/- 7.82 g m-2 to 17.76 +/- 6.29 g m-2 in the grazed areas. Twenty-two months after cessation of grazing, no significant differences in plant and shrub cover or herbaceous biomass were observed. The results highlight the effectiveness of targeted grazing in managing fuel loads in cork oak woodlands, with pronounced short-term benefits. However, the rapid recovery of vegetation in the absence of grazing highlights the need for a strategic and continuous management approach to maintain the benefits of fuel reduction.

2025Journal article

Embargoed access