lenga - grassland interaction (1)

Lenga - grassland ecotone:Lenga - grassland ecotone:

(I) Introduction and Methodology(I) Introduction and Methodology

Laura Sánchez JardónBiologist, PhD candidate in Ecology

Dpto. Ecología, Fac. Biología, Univ. Complutense de Madrid (Spain)

Ph # +34 91 394 50 56, e-mail: [email protected]

Tree-grass interactionsTree-grass interactions

Lenga-grassland ecotone: (I) Introduction & Methodology –by Laura Sánchez Jardón, July 2009 (1/20)

Savanna-like ecosystemsSavanna-like ecosystems

Trees in agriculture: Trees in agriculture: AGROFORESTRYAGROFORESTRY Forest farming & croppingForest farming & cropping WindbreaksWindbreaks Ripparian buffer stripsRipparian buffer strips Silvopastures: seminatural grasslandsSilvopastures: seminatural grasslands

Scholes & Archer (1997) Scholes & Archer (1997) Ann. Rev. Ec. SystemAnn. Rev. Ec. System. .

PatagoniaPatagonia

Argentina Argentina vs.vs. Chile Chile

GeologyGeology: Andes: Andes SubductionSubduction Volcanic soilsVolcanic soils

ClimateClimate: : ENSO, SAM, PDOENSO, SAM, PDO Precipitation W – EPrecipitation W – E Winds,…Winds,…

VegetationVegetation: : steppe, forestssteppe, forests


Western Patagonia (Chile)Western Patagonia (Chile)

XI Aysén (44 - 47º S), XII Magallanes (47 - 56º S)XI Aysén (44 - 47º S), XII Magallanes (47 - 56º S)

Precipitation gradient W – EPrecipitation gradient W – E 3 bioclimates3 bioclimates::


WesternWestern: : HumidHumid (evergreen forests) (evergreen forests)

TransitionalTransitional: : Cold-temperateCold-temperate (shrublands, temp. forests) (shrublands, temp. forests)

EasternEastern: : Cold-semiaridCold-semiarid (steppe) (steppe)

IREN-CORFO 1979; Quintanilla 1989; Amigo & Ramírez 1998IREN-CORFO 1979; Quintanilla 1989; Amigo & Ramírez 1998

Western Patagonia (Chile): Western Patagonia (Chile):

Evergreen forestsEvergreen forests(humid)(humid)

Camino a Puerto Aysén, Comuna de Aysén


Western Patagonia (Chile):Western Patagonia (Chile):

Temperate forests and Temperate forests and shrublands shrublands (cold-temperate)(cold-temperate)

Ñirehuao, Comuna de Coyhaique

Calafate (Berberis buxifolia Lam.)



Steppe Steppe (cold-semiard)(cold-semiard)

Coirón (Festuca gracillina)

Entrada a Chile desde Argentina, por Balmaceda


Reserva Nacional Cerro Castillo, Comuna de Cerro Castillo

Fires in Western PatagoniaFires in Western Patagonia

Extensive areas of primary forests have been Extensive areas of primary forests have been transformed into grasslands in the early 1900stransformed into grasslands in the early 1900s

XI Aysén: 1.9 to 3 M ha were burnt (1936-1956)XI Aysén: 1.9 to 3 M ha were burnt (1936-1956)

Temperate forests in transitional zone: severely affectedTemperate forests in transitional zone: severely affected

Loss of natural resources: soil, water, landscapeLoss of natural resources: soil, water, landscape


Western Patagonia (Chile):Western Patagonia (Chile): Temperate Temperate forestsforests

Nothofagus pumilioNothofagus pumilio(Poepp. & Endl.) Krasser –“lenga”(Poepp. & Endl.) Krasser –“lenga”

Most diverse climate & soil conditions (35º to 56º S)Most diverse climate & soil conditions (35º to 56º S) Most abundant in PatagoniaMost abundant in Patagonia

Pure stands at lower altitudes in the trasitional zonePure stands at lower altitudes in the trasitional zone Pure stands at the treelinePure stands at the treeline

Veblen & Schlegel 1982; Donoso 1993; Arroyo Veblen & Schlegel 1982; Donoso 1993; Arroyo et al. et al. 1996; Wardle 19981996; Wardle 1998


Nothofagus pumilio “lenga”Nothofagus pumilio “lenga”

Fam. Fam. NothofagaceaeNothofagaceae DeciduousDeciduous Wind pollinated, dispersedWind pollinated, dispersed Mast fruiting 6-8 yearsMast fruiting 6-8 years Gaps: seedling bankGaps: seedling bank Low undercanopy vegetationLow undercanopy vegetation

Schmidt & Urzua, 1982; Arroyo, 1995; Cuevas 2000Schmidt & Urzua, 1982; Arroyo, 1995; Cuevas 2000



Socio-economic frameSocio-economic frame

Farming and Forestry Farming and Forestry AntagonismAntagonism

Extotic tree plantationsExtotic tree plantations Actual silvopastoralismActual silvopastoralism TraditionsTraditions



Actual silvopastoralismActual silvopastoralism



Trees in agricultureTrees in agriculture

Exotic species (widbreaks, Exotic species (widbreaks, agroforestry)agroforestry) Pinus Pinus spp.spp. PopulusPopulus spp. spp. SalixSalix spp. spp.

Native species (agroforestry)Native species (agroforestry) Ñirre Ñirre ((Nothofagus antacticaNothofagus antactica))

Lenga?Lenga?


ObjectivesObjectives

Tree-grass interactions between remnant lenga Tree-grass interactions between remnant lenga forests and seminatural grasslands [forests and seminatural grasslands [ScientificScientific]] Edge effectsEdge effects Energy & matter flowEnergy & matter flow

Silvopastoral management system [Silvopastoral management system [ApplicationApplication]] Concealing Farming & ForestryConcealing Farming & Forestry Development & Conservation goalsDevelopment & Conservation goals



Measures outlineMeasures outline

Tree cover effects on physical env. & herb. biomassTree cover effects on physical env. & herb. biomassI.I. Grassland productivity & qualityGrassland productivity & quality

II.II. Grassland diversityGrassland diversity

III.III. Seed bankSeed bank

Side measuresSide measuresIV.IV. Forest structureForest structure

V.V. Tree regenerationTree regeneration

……New projectsNew projects

MethodologyMethodology

What? – What? – Aboveground herbaceous biomassAboveground herbaceous biomass(productivity, species composition, diversity)(productivity, species composition, diversity)

Where? Where? – experimental field INIA Tamel Aike– experimental field INIA Tamel Aike When? – When? – Growing seasons 2006-07, 2007-08Growing seasons 2006-07, 2007-08

How? – How? – Environmental gradientsEnvironmental gradientsa)a) Tree cover gradientTree cover gradientb)b) Distance to the forest gradientDistance to the forest gradient

… … and controlled stocking rateand controlled stocking rate


Experimental field INIA Experimental field INIA Tamel AikeTamel Aike

Valle Simpson, Coyhaique CountyValle Simpson, Coyhaique County Transitional bioclimatic zoneTransitional bioclimatic zone

Elevation: 590 m.a.s.l.Elevation: 590 m.a.s.l. Average temperature: 8º CAverage temperature: 8º C Annual precipitation: 994 mmAnnual precipitation: 994 mm


Tree cover gradientTree cover gradient

(a) 15 plots ranging in tree cover

0% 1-30% 30-70% 70-85% >85%

20 m

20 m

Beneath and beyond tree crowns


Distance to the forestDistance to the forest

Permanent exclusion (d)Permanent exclusion (d) Fertilized (s)Fertilized (s) Control (n)Control (n)

(b) 4 blocks across the forest edge

- 40

- 30

- 20

- 10

0

10

20

30

40

ns d40m

40m

30m


AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Spain Spain Complutense University of Madrid Complutense University of Madrid Fundación BiodiversidadFundación Biodiversidad

Chile Chile Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA)Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA)

Universidad de Talca Universidad de Talca Centro Investigación de los Ecosistemas de la Centro Investigación de los Ecosistemas de la

Patagonia (CIEP)Patagonia (CIEP)


lenga - grassland interaction (1)

Career

lenga grassland ecotone

introduction methodology

aysn lengagrassland

krasser lenga

remnant lenga forests

nothofagus pumilio lenga

patagonia argentinavs

chile geology