ISSN:
1573-5052
Keywords:
Altitudinal ranges
;
Andes
;
Chamaephytes
;
Chile
;
Phanerophytes
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract Considerable changes in the vegetation can be observed in the altitudinal and latitudinal gradients in central Chile, from 400 to 3400 m above sea level and from arid to subhumid regions (31°–34° S). The composition of the vegetation, the relative proportions of life forms, and seasonal activities of the species, help to define bioclimatic areas where climatic data are scanty. The presence or absence of certain species is also useful in the evaluation of human impacts on mountain ecosystems. Woody species decrease in number and size toward higher elevations, where they tend to have more restricted distributions. Cold adapted deciduous forms predominate at high altitudes. The replacement of species is generally gradual; abrupt changes observed at certain elevations might be related to the duration of the snow cover. At the northern latitudinal limit the vegetation is mostly formed by small drought adapted deciduous shrubs. The number of species increases towards the South, where several cold adapted deciduous trees are found. Human impact is especially conspicuous on the foothills of the mountains. Nevertheless, though no real timberline exists in this area, evidence suggest that small forests did once exist, at least in some sites at higher elevations.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00726885
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