Vegetation heterogeneity in Monte Desert ecosystems: A multi-scale approach linking patterns and processes |
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| Authors: | AJ Bisigato PE Villagra JO Ares BE Rossi |
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| Institution: | 1. Centro Nacional Patagónico (CONICET), Blvd. Brown s/n, 9120 Puerto Madryn, Argentina;2. Departamento de Dendrocronología e Historia Ambiental, IANIGLA-CRICYT-CONICET, CC.330, 5500 Mendoza. Argentina;3. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Alte.Brown 500, Chacras de Coria, 5505 Mendoza, Argentina;4. Museo de Ciencias Naturales y Antropológicas Juan Cornelio Moyano, Parque General San Martín, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina;5. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas, CC.507, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina;1. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Estación Experimental Bariloche, San Carlos de Bariloche 8400, Río Negro, Argentina;2. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Estación Experimental Santa Cruz, Río Gallegos 9400, Santa Cruz, Argentina;3. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Estación Experimental Esquel, Esquel 9200, Chubut, Argentina;4. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Estación Experimental Chubut, Trelew 9100, Chubut, Argentina;5. Área de Biodiversidad y Conservación, Departamento de Biología y Geología, Escuela Superior de Ciencias Experimentales y Tecnología, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 28933 Móstoles, Spain;1. Atlantic filial of Río Negro National University, Don Bosco 526, 8500, Viedma, Argentina;2. Argentinean National Research Council (CONICET), Argentina;3. Center for Renewable Natural Resources of the Semi-arid Zone, CONICET, Camino La Carrindanga Km 7, 8000, Bahía Blanca, Argentina;1. Leibniz Universitaet Hannover, Institute of Biostatistics, Herrenhaeuserstr. 2, 30419, Hannover, Germany;2. University of Canterbury, School of Mathematics & Statistics, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand;1. Desert Community Ecology Research Team (Ecodes), IADIZA-CONICET, Casilla de Correo 507, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina;2. Desert Community Ecology Research Team (Ecodes), Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, FCEyN, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina;3. ICB, Instituto de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina;1. Centro Nacional Patagónico/CONICET, Blvd. Brown 2825, 9120 Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina;2. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Blvd. Brown 3700, 9120 Puerto Madryn, Argentina |
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| Abstract: | We review the current state of research on vegetation heterogeneity in the Monte Desert at scales varying from landscape to intra-patch. Different factors are related to vegetation heterogeneity at every scale. At a coarse scale (i.e. landscapes and communities) vegetation heterogeneity is commonly determined by abiotic factors, whereas biotic interactions usually influence fine scale (patch, intrapatch) heterogeneity. Communities are distributed at the landscape scale according to differences in precipitation, topography and soil attributes. On the other hand, there is evidence that the spatial pattern of plant patches within communities is determined by runon –runoff processes, although biotic influences such as grazing can induce changes in the spatial pattern of patches when plant cover is strongly reduced. In the same way, at patch and intrapatch scales, biotic interactions (i.e. plant –plant interactions, grazing) determine the size and the species composition of plant patches as well as the distribution of species inside plant patches. However, the mechanisms operating behind such biotic interactions at small scales are commonly related to plant-induced changes in the physical environment. We also found evidence of cross-scale interactions, feedbacks, and non-linear effects such as those induced by grazing disturbance. Our analysis showed some regional differences in patterns and processes related to vegetation heterogeneity along the Monte Desert which can be ascribed to climatic and taxonomic variation among areas. Although information about vegetation heterogeneity and its causes and consequences in the Monte Desert is abundant, some areas where knowledge is scarce are detailed. |
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