INVESTIGADORES
BORGHI Carlos Eduardo
artículos
Título:
Effect of Herbivory and Disturbances by Tuco-Tucos (Ctenomys mendocinus) on a Plant Community in the Southern Puna Desert
Autor/es:
N LARA; P. L. SASSI; C. E. BORGHI
Revista:
ARCTIC, ANTARCTIC, AND ALPINE RESEARCH
Referencias:
Año: 2007 vol. 39 p. 110 - 116
ISSN:
1523-0430
Resumen:
We studied the differences between areas undisturbed and disturbed by Ctenomys
in the structure, diversity, and composition of a Puna desert plant
community. We also studied differences in nutrient distribution in the
soil produced by the activity of tuco-tucos. Within the plant
community, plant and soil samples were taken from different sites, and
at each site, both disturbed and undisturbed areas were sampled. We
hypothesized that the activity of this rodent affected plant community
structure, specific composition, diversity, and nutrient distribution
(N, K, and P). Results at the plant population and community level and
for soil nutrient concentration suggest that Ctenomys mendocinus
could be a keystone species, capable of orienting the dynamics of the
plant community studied in this ecosystem. Nevertheless, further
manipulative experiments are necessary to confirm that the differences
found between disturbed and undisturbed areas are indeed caused by the
activity of Ctenomys.