Estructura de bosques con palo santo (Gonopterodendron sarmientoi): Evaluación regional para su manejo y conservación en la Argentina

LOTO, DANTE; KEES, SEBASTIÁN; AZCONA, MAXIMILIANO; DE TELLERÍA, SANTIAGO; MANGHI, EDUARDO; GAITÁN, JUAN; SPAGARINO, CARLOS; GASPARRI, IGNACIO; PERI, PABLO

ECOLOGÍA AUSTRAL

ASOCIACIÓN ARGENTINA DE ECOLOGÍA

Año: 2021 vol. 31 p. 558 - 574

0327-5477

Gonopterodendron sarmientoi is a threatened native tree of the Dry Chaco region in South America, adapted to semiarid conditions. However, the relationships among climatic and edaphic conditions and its forest structure have not been defined yet. Up to date, in Argentina, the study of palo santo forest management and conservation is scarce and still depends on basic information. The objectives of this study were 1) to classify forest groups based on forest stand attributes and species composition, 2) to analyze relationships between dasometric parameters of palo santo with climatic and edaphic variables at the regional level and forest types, and 3) to compare total aboveground biomass between forest types as a tool for managing and conserving this species. We compiled forest inventories carried out during the years 2004-2019, containing dasometric data of palo santo for the northern part of the Argentine Dry Chaco region. In the study area, we extracted climatic and edaphic conditions from global data base and national maps. We obtained three forest groups: Palosantal, forests with low presence of palo santo and forests with high presence of palo santo. Temperature, precipitation, evapotranspiration and soil textures had significant effects on the forest structure of palo santo at the regional level and on forest types. The total density of individuals of G. sarmientoi has a different effect on the total biomass depending on the type of forest, which allows for different management and conservation practices. Consolidating a national forest plan for palo santo could address more viable proposals to manage and conserve the species in the region.