INVESTIGADORES
MARCO Diana Elizabeth
artículos
Título:
Seedling habitat structure in dry Chaco forest (Argentina)
Autor/es:
SERGIO PAEZ; DIANA MARCO
Revista:
Journal of Arid Environments
Referencias:
Año: 2000 vol. 46 p. 57 - 68
Resumen:
We hypothesized that seedlings of different dominant species in the dry
Chaco forests of CoH rdoba Province were restricted to patches with particular
microenvironmental conditions. To test this hypothesis, the seedling habitat
was characterized by measuring physical and biotic microhabitat variables such
as incident light, distance to the nearest neighbour, and herb, thallophyte, and
litter cover. Seedlings of the different dominant species established in
different patches representing a broad range of microhabitat conditions.
Open, arid microsites with high percentages of incident light were occupied byH rdoba Province were restricted to patches with particular
microenvironmental conditions. To test this hypothesis, the seedling habitat
was characterized by measuring physical and biotic microhabitat variables such
as incident light, distance to the nearest neighbour, and herb, thallophyte, and
litter cover. Seedlings of the different dominant species established in
different patches representing a broad range of microhabitat conditions.
Open, arid microsites with high percentages of incident light were occupied by
Cercidium praecox, Larrea divaricata and Prosopis spp. seedlings. These species
colonize open patches in the forest, taking advantage of the low competition
environment and establishing during the brief favourable period before the dry
season. In contrast, seedlings of Celtis pallida, Capparis atamisquea, Mimozyganthus
carinatus and Acacia furcatispina tend to establish in closed, canopied
microsites, with lower incident light and better moisture and nutrient conditions.
These species may benefit from the conditions underneath the canopies.
Distance to the nearest neighbour did not restrict seedling establishment when
the neighbours were herbs, but the nearest shrub exerted a strong influence,
depending on the seedling species as well as the shrub species. Facilitation
could be an important mechanism in the regeneration of species in the dry
Chaco forests., Larrea divaricata and Prosopis spp. seedlings. These species
colonize open patches in the forest, taking advantage of the low competition
environment and establishing during the brief favourable period before the dry
season. In contrast, seedlings of Celtis pallida, Capparis atamisquea, Mimozyganthus
carinatus and Acacia furcatispina tend to establish in closed, canopied
microsites, with lower incident light and better moisture and nutrient conditions.
These species may benefit from the conditions underneath the canopies.
Distance to the nearest neighbour did not restrict seedling establishment when
the neighbours were herbs, but the nearest shrub exerted a strong influence,
depending on the seedling species as well as the shrub species. Facilitation
could be an important mechanism in the regeneration of species in the dry
Chaco forests.Celtis pallida, Capparis atamisquea, Mimozyganthus
carinatus and Acacia furcatispina tend to establish in closed, canopied
microsites, with lower incident light and better moisture and nutrient conditions.
These species may benefit from the conditions underneath the canopies.
Distance to the nearest neighbour did not restrict seedling establishment when
the neighbours were herbs, but the nearest shrub exerted a strong influence,
depending on the seedling species as well as the shrub species. Facilitation
could be an important mechanism in the regeneration of species in the dry
Chaco forests.and Acacia furcatispina tend to establish in closed, canopied
microsites, with lower incident light and better moisture and nutrient conditions.
These species may benefit from the conditions underneath the canopies.
Distance to the nearest neighbour did not restrict seedling establishment when
the neighbours were herbs, but the nearest shrub exerted a strong influence,
depending on the seedling species as well as the shrub species. Facilitation
could be an important mechanism in the regeneration of species in the dry
Chaco forests.