Disturbances in the desert and threats to conservation.

BORGHI, C. E.; CAMPOS, C. M.; ANDINO, N.; REUS, L.; GIANNONI, S. M.

San Juan

Congreso; Second Joint Meeting of the Biology Societies from Argentina; 2011

The desert is a system of low species richness at the local level. However, because of the ecological characteristics, high environmental heterogeneity and great climate severity of this system, species of low density and endemism at genus levels are frequently found. Because of these features, biodiversity of arid zones becomes highly sensitive to disturbances. Although these characteristics would place those species in a high threat category, few works have evaluated the impact of different disturbances on diversity of arid zones in Argentina. Among the disturbances affecting biological diversity that have traditionally received most attention are overgrazing, deforestation, agricultural frontier expansion, and petroleum and mineral exploitation, A number of anthropogenic activities that have been poorly studied in South America include road construction, urban expansion, tourism development, and the use and contamination of rivers and streams. These activities, which have increased as a consequence of the improvement in economic situation, disturb our deserts. Hence, the high vulnerability of desert systems is stressed. Tópico Temático: Ecología (EB) Palabras claves: arid environments, biodiversity, endemic species, perturbations