Land use and disturbance effects on the dynamics of natural ecosystems of the Monte Desert: Implications for their management

VILLAGRA, P. E.; DEFOSSÉ, G. E.; DEL VALLE, H. F.; TABENI S.; ROSTAGNO, M.; CESCA, E.; ABRAHAM, E.

JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS

ACADEMIC PRESS LTD-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Año: 2009 p. 202 - 211

0140-1963

The complex interactions between human activity and natural processes determine non-linear dynamicsin ecosystems that can difficult their management. Human settlements in arid lands contribute to themodification of disturbance regimes, including the introduction of new disturbances and the eliminationof others. In consequence, they can alter the functional mechanisms that allow systems to overcomelimiting factors, leading to desertification. In this revision, we evaluated the effects of the changes ondisturbance regimes produced by the different forms of land transformation on the structure andfunction of ecosystems of the Monte Biogeographical Province, in Argentinean arid west. Twoapproaches were used: the analysis of land use history and the analysis of the effects of the maindisturbances on the dynamics of different communities.We concluded that throughout the history of theMonte Desert, the joint action of natural and anthropic agents has resulted in complex dynamics thatlead most area of the Monte to a moderate to severe status of desertification. The modification of thedisturbance regime had strong consequences for several aspects of the dynamics of communities, such asspecies composition and diversity, water dynamics, soil conditions, trophic structure and productivity ofMonte Desert ecosystems. However, disturbance regimes could be managed to promote favorabletransitions in ecosystems and, therefore, could be a tool for optimizing productivity of agro-ecosystems,and recovering and conserving natural ecosystems.