INVESTIGADORES
JOBBAGY GAMPEL Esteban Gabriel
artículos
Título:
Spatial distribution and environmental controls of dams (small impoundments) in the Arid Chaco Distribución espacial y controles ambientales de las represas (tajamares) en el Chaco Árido
Autor/es:
NIBORSKI, MARCOS J.; MURRAY, FRANCISCO; JOBBAGY, ESTEBAN G.; NOSETTO, MARCELO D.; FERNANDEZ, PEDRO D.; CASTELLANOS, GEORGE; MAGLIANO, PATRICIO N.
Revista:
ECOLOGÍA AUSTRAL
Editorial:
ASOCIACIÓN ARGENTINA DE ECOLOGÍA
Referencias:
Año: 2022 vol. 32 p. 158 - 173
ISSN:
0327-5477
Resumen:
Arid regions are characterized by water shortage throughout the year, which constrains both the vegetation growth and the supply of water for livestock consumption. The Arid Chaco (~10 Mha) hosts extensive and low-investment livestock systems based on rainwater harvesting stored in dams (small impoundments) as the main source of water supply. In this study, we characterized the spatial distribution of dams in the Arid Chaco and analyzed their relationship with biophysical variables (e.g. rainfall, vegetation, roads). For these purposes, we used satellite images, vector information and performed multivariate analysis on a spatial grid of 135 cells of 0.25°x0.25°. In total, 7920 dams were identified (1 dam every 1230 ha), with maximum densities of 1 dam every 185 ha but also cells without dams associated with the presence of mountains, salt flats and dunes. Dam density was higher in cells with higher densities of livestock establishments, roads and cattle stock (r=0.63, r=0.56 and r=0.51, respectively; P