PEBANPA Network: biodiversity and ecological long-term plots in southern Patagonia

PERI, PABLO LUIS; LENCINAS, MARIA VANESSA; BOUSSON, JEFFREY; LASAGNO, ROMINA; SOLER, ROSINA MATILDE; BAHAMONDE, HECTOR; MARTÍNEZ PASTUR, GUILLERMO

JOURNAL FOR NATURE CONSERVATION

ELSEVIER GMBH

Año: 2016 vol. 34 p. 51 - 64

1617-1381

tHistorically, interactions and trends between biodiversity, ecosystem function (EF) and land use practicesin southern Patagonia (Argentina) have been largely undocumented and poorly understood. Since 2002,1214 permanent and semi-permanent plots within the PEBANPA Network have enabled researchers tomonitor and assess functions and trends among vegetation parameters, biodiversity, forest dynamics, soilphysicochemical characteristics, and land use management. The objectives of this manuscript are to com-municate the role and rationale of the PEBANPA Network, summarize examples of the main results foundwithin the network and provide guidance to decision makers with respect to advancing sustainable landmanagement in southern Patagonia. As examples, rangeland health indices, seedling and sapling regener-ation under different timber managed forests, litterfall and seeds production under silvopastoral use, andsoil carbon content impacted by livestock grazing have all been assessed. Vegetation and environmentalvariables including soil respiration, soil water infiltration, soil water retention capacity, soil erosion, andlitter cover were measured under different grazing intensities. Livestock and forestry production havecaused changes in the original floristic patterns, with several areas experiencing desertification. Heavystocking rates have caused the greatest impacts on grassland soil carbon (C) loss as a consequence ofsoil erosion. We were able to conclude that low − medium grazing intensities yield the most positiveimpacts for biodiversity and soil physicochemical characteristics. Studies regarding levels of seedlingand sapling regeneration post-harvest of timber further supported the importance of long-term moni-toring due to the strongest evidence of interactions occurring 20 to 30 years after harvest. Distributionpatterns of vascular plants and epigaeic coleopterons diversity revealed statistically significant differ-ences among geographical zones and dominant vegetation types. The PEBANPA Network helps southernPatagonia address the challenges of unsustainable land management and climate change through mon-itoring ecosystem function and services. Long-term monitoring of biodiversity and ecosystem functionhelp decision makers better understand the impacts of land use practices, develop well-informed policiesand secure present and future human well-being.