The effect of small-scale land use on vegetation in the Valdivian Coastal Range (Chile)

K. Seis; S. Gärtner; P.J. Donoso; A. Reif

doi:10.1556/comec.13.2014.2.8

Jump to Content

Community Ecology

Volume/Issue:: Volume 15: Issue 2

The effect of small-scale land use on vegetation in the Valdivian Coastal Range (Chile)

Authors:

K. Seis

K. Seis University of Freiburg Chair of Site Classification and Vegetation Science, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources D-79085 Freiburg Germany

Search for other papers by K. Seis in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

S. Gärtner

S. Gärtner University of Freiburg Chair of Site Classification and Vegetation Science, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources D-79085 Freiburg Germany

Search for other papers by S. Gärtner in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

P.J. Donoso

P.J. Donoso Universidad Austral de Chile Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Recursos Naturales, Instituto de Silvicultura Valdivia Chile

Search for other papers by P.J. Donoso in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

, and

A. Reif

A. Reif University of Freiburg Chair of Site Classification and Vegetation Science, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources D-79085 Freiburg Germany

Search for other papers by A. Reif in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

View More View Less

Pages:: 194–204

Online Publication Date:: 17 Nov 2014

Publication Date:: 01 Dec 2014

Article Category:: Research Article

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1556/comec.13.2014.2.8

Keywords:: Degradation; Floristic composition; Native forest species; Small-scale anthropogenic disturbance; Succession; Valdivian evergreen rainforest; Vegetation mosaic

Restricted access

Today, native vegetation in the Valdivian Coastal Range (VCR) is restricted to areas where small-scale land use dominates resulting in a vegetation mosaic. This study (1) provides a description of the vegetation types (VT) within the vegetation mosaic, (2) identifies land use drivers that lead to either degradation or recovery processes and, (3) attempts to provide an explanation for the vegetation mosaic with a conceptual model. In two regions of the VCR we sampled 102 plots for composition of vegetation and indicators of livestock browsing, timber cutting and coppice forestry. We classified the vegetation using a flexible beta method and Bray-Curtis distance. Diagnostic species were identified by an extended indicator species analysis. The clustering results were visualized in NMDS and recursive partitioning was used to explain variations in the VTs as a function of the land use variables. Differentiating effects were tested using PERMANOVA and a conceptual model for the vegetation dynamics was developed from the results. Four VTs such as (1) extensively grazed non-native grasslands (EGN); (2), closed and semi-closed grazed Ugni and Berberis shrublands; (3) severely impacted evergreen forests; and (4) sparsely disturbed evergreen forests were recognized. The browsing indicators were important for differentiating the VTs. The EGN grasslands were differentiated by having more than 0.075 dung piles/m². Areas with fewer dung piles but direct browsing effects had the greatest impact on vegetation. Forests were preserved when the mean browsing index was equal to or lower than 0.5. The cutting frequency was significant in determining overall floristic composition. We showed that shrublands and evergreen forests within the vegetation mosaic and the result of small-scale farming led to high native forest species richness. This makes the vegetation mosaic especially valuable in a landscape dominated by exotic tree monocultures.

Supplementary Materials

Save
Cite
Email this content

Share Link

Copy this link, or click below to email it to a friend
Email this content
or copy the link directly:

https://akjournals.com/abstract/journals/168/15/2/article-p194.xml
The link was not copied. Your current browser may not support copying via this button.

Link copied successfully

Collapse
Expand

Community Ecology An Interdisciplinary Journal Reporting Progress in Community and Population Studies

Print ISSN:: 1585-8553

Online ISSN:: 1588-2756

To see the editorial board, please visit the website of Springer Nature.

Manuscript Submission: HERE

For subscription options, please visit the website of Springer Nature.

Community Ecology
Language	English
Size	A4
Year of Foundation	2000
Volumes per Year	1
Issues per Year	3
Founder	Akadémiai Kiadó
Founder's Address	H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245
Publisher	Akadémiai Kiadó Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Publisher's Address	H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245. CH-6330 Cham, Switzerland Gewerbestrasse 11.
Responsible Publisher	Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN	1585-8553 (Print)
ISSN	1588-2756 (Online)