MACNBR   00242
MUSEO ARGENTINO DE CIENCIAS NATURALES "BERNARDINO RIVADAVIA"
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Comparative phytolith analysis of Festuca (Pooideae: Poaceae) native species to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
Autor/es:
FERNÁNDEZ PEPI M.G.; ZUCOL A.F.; ARRIAGA, M.O.
Revista:
BOTANY
Editorial:
NATL RESEARCH COUNCIL CANADA-N R C RESEARCH PRESS
Referencias:
Lugar: Otawa; Año: 2012 vol. 90 p. 1113 - 1124
ISSN:
1916-2790
Resumen:
Festuca L. is one of the most representative native grasses of Tierra del Fuego, in thesouthernmost area of South America. In several patches, however, domestic cattle haveovergrazed causing loss or replacement by exotic and adventitious species. We havecarried out a comparative phytolith analysis of Patagonian Fescue present in theProvince of Tierra del Fuego. Fescue leaves are characterized by the presence of truncated cones, crescent and sinuate trapezoid elements, predominantly short ones. Fan-shaped, small elongated prismatic and point-shaped phytoliths were observed less frequently, as well as articulated phytoliths originated in vascular and epidermal tissues. The most common articulated elements in leaf ashes are long cells and a combination of sinuate trapezoid and long cells or crescents. In inflorescence ash assemblages, long cells with undulate borders in association with crescent or emerging hooks are predominant. We have analyzed the diagnostic and differential characteristics of each species of phytolith assemblages to provide information for further studies on thepresence of this species in different past soil samples.