Niche Characterization of Shrub Functional Groups along an Atlantic-Mediterranean Gradient

The identification of the factors controlling understory species distribution and abundance is essential to understand ecology dynamics natural forests their management response. We assess relationships between environmental gradients shrub functional groups patterns niche characteristics in a transitional area Eurosiberian Mediterranean biogeographic regions Northern Spain. Here, 772 plots from 3rd Spanish National Forest Inventory were used. Shrub respond same complex as trees, i.e., north-south climatic gradient slope gradient. Unimodal response curves families dominate along both gradients, providing evidence successful turnover. Similar tree species, location functionally related shrubs close. Functional occupying environments with sharp contrast or have broadest niches, whereas those specialized localized habitats showed narrowest niches. knowledge distributions will improve our ability discuss potential conservation goals threats due land-use changes future climate change.