Peat bog wetlands of Aisen Region (Chilean Patagonia): Classification and ordination of flora and vegetation
Ramirez, Carlos
Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
San Martin, Cristina
Universidad Austral de Chile
Amigo, Javier
Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
Alvarez, Miguel
University of Bonn
Perez, Yessica
Universidad Austral de Chile
Toledo, Gisela
Corp Nacl Forestal
Journal
Bosque
ISSN
0717-9200
Open Access
gold
Volume
42
Start page
187
End page
204
The peat bogs of Capitan Prat Province in Aisen Region in Chilean Patagonia were studied, raising 204 vegetation samples with plant sociological methodology, with which an initial table with 106 species of flora in its first column was built. With traditional methodology, this table was ordered using differential species and with multivariate classification and ordination statistics, all the possible ecological information contained in it was extracted. Four plant communities of the peat bog formation were determined: Gaultherio-Sphagnetum magellanici (Sphagnum peat bog), Schoeno andinus- Lepidothamnetum fonkii (cipres enano peat bog), Cortaderio egmontianae-Schoenetum andinus (gramineous peat bog) and Drosero uniflorae-Donatietum fascicularis (pulvinate peat bog). The third Cortaderio egmontianae-Schoenetum andinus is proposed as a new plant association. The floristic similarity among them was high, even though they can be easily physiognomically differentiated. Multivariate ordination suggests that waterlogging and temperature, conditioned by relief and altitude, are important factors in the differentiation of peat bog communities. It is concluded that of these four associations, two-the Sphagnum peat bog and Lepidothamnus fonkii peat bog- correspond to the region of the evergreen Magellanic Forest, while the other two are northern outposts of the Magellanic Tundra Region, typical of the Southern Hemisphere, especially in Chile and New Zealand.
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