Biogeographic Regions of Central Argentina Based On Snakes Distributions: Evaluating Two Different Methodological Approaches

NORI, JAVIER; DÍAZ GÓMEZ, JUAN MANUEL;; LEYNAUD, GERARDO

JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY

TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

Lugar: Londres, UK; Año: 2010

0022-2933

Regionalization studies attempt to divide an area into regions by studying the distribution of its biota. Here we used snake distribution in central Argentina, to recognize distribution patterns, and then compared two methods (Cluster Analysis and Endemism Analysis) and the patterns found with previously defined regions. Both analisys recovered Chaco and within Chaco, the subregion Chaco Serrano, in addition all the snake species that are threatended or range-restricted occurring only in the Chaco region, which has been severely deforested in the last decades. The Espinal region was not recovered by cluster analysis or NDM, and may be considered an `impoverished` Chaco or a transition zone. The Pampas was only be recovered by cluster analisys. NDM appears to be more robust than cluster analysis, while the latter seems to be very sensitive to sampling problems, sometimes identifying spurious areas or areas characterized by having no exclusive species.