Forest Dynamics in the Argentinean Patagonian Andes: Lessons Learned from Dendroecology

ANA M. SRUR; MARIANO M. AMOROSO; IGNACIO MUNDO; MARIANO S. MORALES; MILAGROS RODRÍGUEZ-CATÓN; VALERIA ASCHERO; RICARDO VILLALBA

Latin American Dendroecology

Springer

Año: 2020; p. 171 - 201

The study of forest dynamics over large temporal and spatial scales haswidely benefited from dendrochronological techniques. Patagonia is home to severallong-lived tree species (Austrocedrus chilensis, Araucaria araucana, Fitzroyacupressoides, Nothofagus dombeyi and N. pumilio) with well-defined tree rings suitablefor reconstructing tree establishment, mortality, spatio-temporal growth patternsand disturbance regimes with annual resolution. The first dendrochronologicalstudies in the region date back to the 1950s and had a strong emphasis on hydroclimatology.It was not until the last few decades that studies using dendroecologicaltechniques began to emerge. In this chapter, we review the experience gained by thetree-ring lab at IANIGLA (CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina) and colleagues fromother institutions over the past 30 years applying dendroecological techniques to understand the role of climate and disturbances (insect outbreaks, snow avalanches,windblows, fires and decline) on forest dynamics. For each case, we summarizedthe process, and the dendrocronological methods used. In this way, it was possibleto detect those gaps of knowledge that still can be explored using dendroecologicalmethods in the Patagonian forests of Argentina.