Vegetation changes after 15 yrs. along an elevational gradient in the Andes of central Chile

Abstract ID: 3.11682 | Not reviewed | Requested as: Talk | TBA | TBA

Lohengrin Cavieres (1)
Maritza, Mihoc (1,2); Graciela, Valencia (1,2)

(1) Universidad de Concepcion, Concepción, Chile
(2) Insituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad (IEB), Concepción, Chile

Categories: Biodiversity, Conservation, Monitoring
Keywords: plant invasion, elevational gradient, Andes

Categories: Biodiversity, Conservation, Monitoring
Keywords: plant invasion, elevational gradient, Andes

Abstract

Alpine habitats are those found above the upper limit of tree growth (treeline). Alpine habitats in the Andes of central Chile harbor a rich flora characterized by high endemism levels, and provide a series of contributions to people such as water-cycle regulation, stabilizing slopes, , etc. However, in recent years this zone has been affected by increases in temperatures and decreases in precipitation. In addition, several exotic plant species have been reported for this zone, but their effects on the native flora and their eventual synergies with climatic changes are unknown. In this study we analyze the changes in richness and cover of native and exotic plant species after 15 years of monitoring along an altitudinal gradient (from the treeline to the upper limit of the vegetation) in the Central Chile Andes (33°S). Additionally, we analyzed the functional characteristics of the species that had increased in abundance during this period (winners) vs those that had decreased (losers). We observed that after 15 years the main changes in species richness occurred in the lower part of the gradient where native species richness decreased whilst exotic species richness increased. Nonetheless, the most notable changes were observed in cover where many native species decreased while most of the exotic species increased. FONDECYT 1211197, ANILLO ACT 210038, FB 210006

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