Plant communities and phytogeographical position of a large depression in the Great Chaco, Argentina

LEWIS, J.P.; E.F. PIRE; D.E. PRADO; STOFELLA, S.L.; FRANCESCHI, E.A.; CARNEVALE, N.J.

PLANT ECOLOGY

Kluwer Academic Publishers

Lugar: Bruselas; Año: 1990 vol. 86 p. 25 - 38

1385-0237

A survey is presented of the vegetation of the central region of the Santafesinian Chaco (Argentina), a scarcely populated fiat area of 20 000 km 2, with seasonal flooding. Soils have a strong halo-hydromorphic character and vegetation is basically halophilous. Trees are scarce and most communities are savannas, grasslands or swampy vegetation. Twenty-three communities are described, some of them with several variants. The most widespread communities are Spartina argentinensis grasslands, Elyonurus muticus savannas and a complex of hygrophilous communities. The most important communities are distributed in relation to a topographical gradient, and their structure is shaped by recurrent flooding and fire disturbance. Most of the area is virgin land with very little human interference. The phytogeographical position of the area is discussed.Spartina argentinensis grasslands, Elyonurus muticus savannas and a complex of hygrophilous communities. The most important communities are distributed in relation to a topographical gradient, and their structure is shaped by recurrent flooding and fire disturbance. Most of the area is virgin land with very little human interference. The phytogeographical position of the area is discussed.