Biblioteca Digital de VanguardiaEffect of Prosopis flexuosa on understory species and its importance to pastoral management in woodlands of the Central Monte Desert
In the Monte Biogeographic Province, located in the arid region of Argentina, the presence of Prosopis flexuosa DC. produces spatial heterogeneity through edaphic modifications and microclimate changes. This results in vegetation patches differing in species composition and abundance. However, this...
| Autores principales: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Formato: | Artículo |
| Lenguaje: | Español |
| Publicado: |
Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias
2012
|
| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | http://bdigital.uncu.edu.ar/4758 |
| _version_ | 1782341079352213504 |
|---|---|
| author | Cesca, Erica M. Villagra, Pablo Passera, Carlos B. Álvarez, Juan |
| author_facet | Cesca, Erica M. Villagra, Pablo Passera, Carlos B. Álvarez, Juan |
| author_sort | Cesca, Erica M. |
| collection | Repositorio |
| description | In the Monte Biogeographic Province, located
in the arid region of Argentina, the presence
of Prosopis flexuosa DC. produces spatial
heterogeneity through edaphic modifications and
microclimate changes. This results in vegetation
patches differing in species composition and
abundance. However, this interaction can be
modified by the occurrence of gradients of biotic
stress or disturbance intensity. In particular,
grazing has been observed to enhance or reduce
vegetation heterogeneity. Such complex of
interactions could determine forage availability for
cattle in one of the driest areas of the Monte Desert.
We assessed the effect of Prosopis on understory
species and analyzed whether the outcomes of this
interaction differed with distance to watering points,
as a proxy of grazing intensity, in the Northeast of
Mendoza Province, Argentina. We used a two-way
factorial design including the following factors:
1) microsite (under the cover of P. flexuosa trees
and in intercanopy microsites) and 2) distance
to watering points ("near the watering point",
500-700 m away, and "far from the watering
point", 3-4 km away). Cover of each species,
total cover, bare soil, and litter were recorded,
and plant diversity, richness, and evenness were
estimated with the modified Point Quadrat method.
Results showed that P. flexuosa cover, distance
from watering points, and the interaction between
them determined species composition, abundance
and spatial distribution of understory species, and
were, consequently, a determining factor for forage
availability. The presence of P. flexuosa enhances
carrying capacity by supporting higher abundance
of grasses under its canopy. Near watering
points, high grazing intensity appears to disrupt
the patches formed under P. flexuosa canopies,
reducing the differences between microsites. |
| format | Artículo |
| id | uncu-4758 |
| institution | Biblioteca Digital - UNCUYO |
| language | Español |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| publisher | Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias
|
| record_format | ojs |
| spelling | uncu-47582013-02-21T12:33:41Z Effect of Prosopis flexuosa on understory species and its importance to pastoral management in woodlands of the Central Monte Desert Efecto de Prosopis flexuosa sobre las especies del sotobosque y su importancia para el manejo pastoril de los algarrobales del desierto del Monte Central Cesca, Erica M. Villagra, Pablo Passera, Carlos B. Álvarez, Juan Mendoza (Argentina) Forrajes Prosopis Zonas áridas Datos estadísticos Heterogeneidad especial Parches Distancia a la aguada Disponibilidad de forraje Prosopis flexuosa Algarrobales Spatial heterogeneity Patchiness Facilitation Distance from watering points Forage availability In the Monte Biogeographic Province, located in the arid region of Argentina, the presence of Prosopis flexuosa DC. produces spatial heterogeneity through edaphic modifications and microclimate changes. This results in vegetation patches differing in species composition and abundance. However, this interaction can be modified by the occurrence of gradients of biotic stress or disturbance intensity. In particular, grazing has been observed to enhance or reduce vegetation heterogeneity. Such complex of interactions could determine forage availability for cattle in one of the driest areas of the Monte Desert. We assessed the effect of Prosopis on understory species and analyzed whether the outcomes of this interaction differed with distance to watering points, as a proxy of grazing intensity, in the Northeast of Mendoza Province, Argentina. We used a two-way factorial design including the following factors: 1) microsite (under the cover of P. flexuosa trees and in intercanopy microsites) and 2) distance to watering points ("near the watering point", 500-700 m away, and "far from the watering point", 3-4 km away). Cover of each species, total cover, bare soil, and litter were recorded, and plant diversity, richness, and evenness were estimated with the modified Point Quadrat method. Results showed that P. flexuosa cover, distance from watering points, and the interaction between them determined species composition, abundance and spatial distribution of understory species, and were, consequently, a determining factor for forage availability. The presence of P. flexuosa enhances carrying capacity by supporting higher abundance of grasses under its canopy. Near watering points, high grazing intensity appears to disrupt the patches formed under P. flexuosa canopies, reducing the differences between microsites. En la Provincia Biogeográfica del Monte, ubicada en la zona árida de Argentina, la presencia de Prosopis flexuosa DC. genera heterogeneidad espacial a través de modificaciones edáficas y cambios microclimáticos, lo que genera parches de vegetación con distinta composición florística y abundancia de especies. Sin embargo, esta interacción puede ser modificada por la presencia de gradientes de estrés biótico o de intensidad de disturbio. En particular, se ha observado que el pastoreo puede incrementar o disminuir la heterogeneidad espacial. Este complejo de interacciones puede determinar la disponibilidad de forraje en una de las zonas más áridas del Monte. Este estudio analiza la influencia de P. flexuosa sobre el patrón espacial del resto de las especies de la comunidad y cómo esta interacción es modificada según la distancia a la aguada, tomada como un indicador de la intensidad de pastoreo, en el Noreste de la Provincia de Mendoza, Argentina. Fue realizado un diseño bifactorial, incluyendo los siguientes factores: 1) micrositio ("bajo la cobertura de P. flexuosa" y "áreas expuestas") y 2) distancia a la aguada ("cerca de la aguada", desde 500 hasta 700 m, y "lejos de la aguada", entre 3 y 4 km). Se registró la cobertura de cada especie, cobertura total, suelo desnudo y mantillo, y se estimó la diversidad, riqueza y equitatividad a través del método de Point Quadrat modificado. Los resultados muestran que la cobertura de P. flexuosa, la distancia a la aguada y la interacción entre ambas determinan la composición, abundancia y distribución espacial de las especies en la comunidad y, consecuentemente, la disponibilidad de forraje. La presencia de P. flexuosa aumenta la capacidad de carga incrementando la abundancia de pastos bajo su dosel, aportando por lo tanto a la cobertura forrajera. Cerca de la aguada, la alta intensidad ganadera disminuye el efecto de P. flexuosa al disminuir la diferencia entre los micrositios. Fil: Cesca, Erica M.. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales Fil: Villagra, Pablo. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias Fil: Passera, Carlos B.. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de las Zonas Áridas <IADIZA> Fil: Álvarez, Juan. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias 78 Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias Vol. 44, no. 2 Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Vol. 44, no. 2 2012-11-01 spa Español http://bdigital.uncu.edu.ar/4743 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ar/ article info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion application/pdf Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias http://bdigital.uncu.edu.ar/4758 |
| spellingShingle | Mendoza (Argentina) Forrajes Prosopis Zonas áridas Datos estadísticos Heterogeneidad especial Parches Distancia a la aguada Disponibilidad de forraje Prosopis flexuosa Algarrobales Spatial heterogeneity Patchiness Facilitation Distance from watering points Forage availability Cesca, Erica M. Villagra, Pablo Passera, Carlos B. Álvarez, Juan Effect of Prosopis flexuosa on understory species and its importance to pastoral management in woodlands of the Central Monte Desert |
| title | Effect of Prosopis flexuosa on understory species and its importance to pastoral management in woodlands of the Central Monte Desert
|
| title_full | Effect of Prosopis flexuosa on understory species and its importance to pastoral management in woodlands of the Central Monte Desert
|
| title_fullStr | Effect of Prosopis flexuosa on understory species and its importance to pastoral management in woodlands of the Central Monte Desert
|
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Prosopis flexuosa on understory species and its importance to pastoral management in woodlands of the Central Monte Desert
|
| title_short | Effect of Prosopis flexuosa on understory species and its importance to pastoral management in woodlands of the Central Monte Desert
|
| title_sort | effect of prosopis flexuosa on understory species and its importance to pastoral management in woodlands of the central monte desert |
| topic | Mendoza (Argentina) Forrajes Prosopis Zonas áridas Datos estadísticos Heterogeneidad especial Parches Distancia a la aguada Disponibilidad de forraje Prosopis flexuosa Algarrobales Spatial heterogeneity Patchiness Facilitation Distance from watering points Forage availability |
| url | http://bdigital.uncu.edu.ar/4758 |