Invasiones vegetales en ecosistemas mediterráneos: interacción con los cambios de uso del suelo, mecanismos de invasión e impactos sobre la diversidad

Biological invasions by alien and native species are a component of global change of major concern for the conservation of natural areas because they threat biodiversity and change the ecosystems function. In this project we will study some of the most relevant aspects related to plant invasions in Mediterranean ecosystems. The main objectives are: 1) to investigate the impact of invasions on plant species diversity and some basic functions of the ecosystem, 2) to determine the relationship between changes in land use and disturbance regime, 3) to analyze the importance of plant competition and herbivory as mechanisms of biotic resistance to invasion, and finally 4) to apply models based on the characteristics of the life cycle to simulate invasion scenarios according to various distrubance regimes. The selected study sites are Catalan natural areas where plant invasions are posing a threat to the conservation of biodiversity: Reserva Narural del Delta del Llobregat (Cortaderia selloana, Aster squamatus), Parc Natural del Garraf(Ampelodesmos mauritanica) and Parc Natural del Cap de Creus (Carpobrotus spp., Opuntia spp.)