A survey of cacti richness in a biodiversity hotspot of Western Argentina

SAINT ESTEVEN, ALEJANDRO; BENEDICTTO M; GAROLLA, FRANCO; PADRÓ, JULIÁN; SOTO, IGNACIO M

BRADLEYA

BRITISH CACTUS & SUCCULENT SOC

Año: 2021 vol. 39 p. 5 - 15

0265-086X

The Multiple Use Reserve of Valle Fértil (San Juan province, Argentina) is a protected areawith particular climatic features that includes a large segment of xeric environments. It harborsnumerous endemic and protected species. Despite the conspicuous presence of a cacti and succulent community in the area, a formal survey of species richness had been lacking. Moreover, as this region has been declared at risk of degradation due to soil erosion driven by high deforestation ratesthe importance of carrying out biodiversity surveys with interest on conservation raises. Duringthe last decade, and product of several field trips to the Reserve, seven genera of Cactaceae wereobserved. Thus, we present the first formal list of cacti and succulent species in the Multiple UseReserve of Valle Fértil gathering relevant information for scientific and conservational purposes