Table 4.
Mean values of environmental and silvicultural parameters considered for the selection of the study zones (m.a.s.l.: meters above sea level). Average values for the period 1969–2000, taken from the Andalusia Environmental Information Network - REDIAM; Consejería de Medio Ambiente, Junta de Andalucía (http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/medioambiente/site/rediam/portada/). The average tree cover, the dominant tree age and the prevalent class of dehesa were determined as the trend of all the visited plots for each zone, following the criteria of Costa Pérez et al.104. *Low = N < 50 tree ha−1; Medium = 50 < N < 80 tree ha−1; High = N > 80 tree ha−1. **Young trees = 50–90 years/20–40 cm Ø; Mature trees = 110–210 years/50–80 cm Ø; Old trees = 210–250 years/90–110 cm Ø; Very old = > 250 years/Ø > 110 cm.
| Andevalo | Aracena | Sierra Morena & S. Norte | Pedroches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Precipitation (mm) | 675.7 | 829.2 | 712.1 | 572 |
| Mean Annual temperature (°C) | 17.4 | 16.2 | 16.1 | 15.8 |
| Mean Evapotranspiration (mm) | 1445 | 1396 | 1458 | 1443 |
| Max elevation (masl) | 293 | 1046 | 936 | 943 |
| Mean elevation (masl) | 191 | 434 | 429 | 570 |
| Average cover* | Low | Medium | High | Low |
| Dominant tree age** | Young to Mature | Mature | Young | Old to very old |
| Class of dehesa | Cultivated dehesa | Normal tree cover with shrubs and pasture | High tree cover with shrubs and pasture | Pastures |