Los pastos con sabina rastrera en la montaña de Teruel. Estructura y condiciones ecológicas

Abstract

The pasture composition and the main ecological factors which condition its productivity in the area of Juniperus sabina, are studied, The creeping savin gives character to the vegetal formations stablished in the higher altitudes of Teruel Iberian System. This species is also found in Palencia-León mountains, while it only appears in very localized points in the Pyrenees. The species is characteristic of the..as. Junípero sabinae-Pinetum silvestris Rivas Goday y Borja 1961, in the domain of the pine forest (phanerophyte oromediterranean level) and over, calcareus substratum. Pastures with creeping savin are found in sites with extreme environmental conditons, high «páramos» and secondary hills, with strong explotation due to periglacial phenomena, where degraded stony soils are predominant and where heaving has selected plants specialized in producing under these stresses. They are mainly constituted by chamaephyte and hemicryptophyte biotypes, and may be included within the alliances Mesobromion and Festuco-Poion ligulatae. These pastures are appreciated very much by the country people of the area because of their quality. In the study of the Teruel pastures, creeping savin was found in 32 localities belonging to five different types of communities. Each of these is analyzed as a function of the main species that integrate them and taking into account edaphic, geomorphologic and climatic factors. The importance of its correct use is pointed out with regard to the agropastoral equilibrium in mediterranean orophitic environments, due to the stabilizing role of the production at lower zones.