Ecohydrological conditions of wetlands along a precipitation gradient in Patagonia, Argentina
Wetlands are an important component of the Andean ecology because of their wealth of biodiversity and endemisms, and the many environmental services they offer. However, baseline knowledge of the types of wetlands and their ecohydrological functioning is currently lacking. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterize the types and the ecohydrological conditions of wetlands along a precipitation gradient in the Northern Patagonian Andes. This study took advantage of a strong precipitation gradient that occurs due to the rain shadow effect created by the Andes Mountains near the city of San Carlos de Bariloche. We selected five representative wetlands that are at similar elevations and latitudes, but under very different precipitation regimes. At each site, we sampled water and soil chemistry, water levels and floristic composition. We found that hydrological, chemical and vegetation parameters all varied with total precipitation. Sphagnum peatlands occurred in the wettest regions and had year round water saturated soils which formed a peat layer. Meadows were common in the driest regions. We sampled three distinct meadow communities: wet meadows with Juncus balticus, mesic meadows with Festuca pallescens and salt meadows with Distichlis spicata each with a distinct hydrological regime, water chemistry and floristic composition. Marsh/shrub wetlands occurred in the intermediate rainfall areas and had standing water, mineral soils and were vegetated by Nothofagus antarctica and Scirpus spp. Our results indicate the importance of precipitation on wetland structure and function and suggest that any change in precipitation regime will cause significant changes to these ecosystems.
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Asociación Argentina de Ecología
2011
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Chimner, Rodney A. Bonvissuto, Griselda L. Cremona, M. Victoria Gaitan, Juan J. López, Carlos R. |
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Chimner, Rodney A. Bonvissuto, Griselda L. Cremona, M. Victoria Gaitan, Juan J. López, Carlos R. Ecohydrological conditions of wetlands along a precipitation gradient in Patagonia, Argentina |
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Chimner, Rodney A. Bonvissuto, Griselda L. Cremona, M. Victoria Gaitan, Juan J. López, Carlos R. |
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Chimner, Rodney A. |
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Ecohydrological conditions of wetlands along a precipitation gradient in Patagonia, Argentina |
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Ecohydrological conditions of wetlands along a precipitation gradient in Patagonia, Argentina |
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Ecohydrological conditions of wetlands along a precipitation gradient in Patagonia, Argentina |
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Ecohydrological conditions of wetlands along a precipitation gradient in Patagonia, Argentina |
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Ecohydrological conditions of wetlands along a precipitation gradient in Patagonia, Argentina |
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ecohydrological conditions of wetlands along a precipitation gradient in patagonia, argentina |
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Wetlands are an important component of the Andean ecology because of their wealth of biodiversity and endemisms, and the many environmental services they offer. However, baseline knowledge of the types of wetlands and their ecohydrological functioning is currently lacking. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterize the types and the ecohydrological conditions of wetlands along a precipitation gradient in the Northern Patagonian Andes. This study took advantage of a strong precipitation gradient that occurs due to the rain shadow effect created by the Andes Mountains near the city of San Carlos de Bariloche. We selected five representative wetlands that are at similar elevations and latitudes, but under very different precipitation regimes. At each site, we sampled water and soil chemistry, water levels and floristic composition. We found that hydrological, chemical and vegetation parameters all varied with total precipitation. Sphagnum peatlands occurred in the wettest regions and had year round water saturated soils which formed a peat layer. Meadows were common in the driest regions. We sampled three distinct meadow communities: wet meadows with Juncus balticus, mesic meadows with Festuca pallescens and salt meadows with Distichlis spicata each with a distinct hydrological regime, water chemistry and floristic composition. Marsh/shrub wetlands occurred in the intermediate rainfall areas and had standing water, mineral soils and were vegetated by Nothofagus antarctica and Scirpus spp. Our results indicate the importance of precipitation on wetland structure and function and suggest that any change in precipitation regime will cause significant changes to these ecosystems. |
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Asociación Argentina de Ecología |
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2011 |
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https://ojs.ecologiaaustral.com.ar/index.php/Ecologia_Austral/article/view/1276 |
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rev-ecoaus-article-12762023-11-03T02:10:10Z Ecohydrological conditions of wetlands along a precipitation gradient in Patagonia, Argentina Condiciones ecohidrológicas de humedales a lo largo de un gradiente de precipitación en la Patagonia, Argentina Chimner, Rodney A. Bonvissuto, Griselda L. Cremona, M. Victoria Gaitan, Juan J. López, Carlos R. Andes meadows mountains peatlands Los Andes mallines cordillera turberas Wetlands are an important component of the Andean ecology because of their wealth of biodiversity and endemisms, and the many environmental services they offer. However, baseline knowledge of the types of wetlands and their ecohydrological functioning is currently lacking. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterize the types and the ecohydrological conditions of wetlands along a precipitation gradient in the Northern Patagonian Andes. This study took advantage of a strong precipitation gradient that occurs due to the rain shadow effect created by the Andes Mountains near the city of San Carlos de Bariloche. We selected five representative wetlands that are at similar elevations and latitudes, but under very different precipitation regimes. At each site, we sampled water and soil chemistry, water levels and floristic composition. We found that hydrological, chemical and vegetation parameters all varied with total precipitation. Sphagnum peatlands occurred in the wettest regions and had year round water saturated soils which formed a peat layer. Meadows were common in the driest regions. We sampled three distinct meadow communities: wet meadows with Juncus balticus, mesic meadows with Festuca pallescens and salt meadows with Distichlis spicata each with a distinct hydrological regime, water chemistry and floristic composition. Marsh/shrub wetlands occurred in the intermediate rainfall areas and had standing water, mineral soils and were vegetated by Nothofagus antarctica and Scirpus spp. Our results indicate the importance of precipitation on wetland structure and function and suggest that any change in precipitation regime will cause significant changes to these ecosystems. Los humedales representan un componente importante de los ecosistemas andinos debido a su biodiversidad y endemismos, y a los numerosos servicios ambientales que ofrecen. A pesar de esto, el conocimiento básico acerca de los tipos de humedales y su funcionamiento ecohidrológico es escaso. El objetivo de este trabajo fue caracterizar los tipos y condiciones ecohidrólogicas de humedales a lo largo de un gradiente de precipitación en el norte de Patagonia. Aprovechamos el gradiente de precipitación notable que existe como consecuencia de la barrera geográfica de la Cordillera de los Andes en las cercanías de la ciudad de San Carlos de Bariloche. Seleccionamos cinco humedales representativos a una altitud semejante, pero bajo regímenes de precipitación muy diferentes. En cada sitio realizamos análisis químicos de agua y suelo, y registramos los niveles freáticos y la composición florística. Todos los parámetros hidrológicos, químicos y de vegetación variaron con la precipitación. En las zonas más húmedas se encontraron las turberas de Sphagnum que durante todo el año presentaron el suelo saturado con un horizonte de turba. Los mallines se ubicaron en las zonas más secas. Muestreamos tres comunidades diferentes: mallines húmedos con Juncus balticus, mallines mésicos con Festuca pallescens y mallines salinos con Distichlis spicata, cada uno con un régimen hidrológico, química del agua y vegetación diferente. Encontramos pantanos en las zonas intermedias del gradiente, con agua en superficie y suelos minerales, vegetados con Nothofagus antarctica y Scirpus spp. Estos resultados indican la importancia de la precipitación en la estructura de los humedales y sugieren que cualquier modificación de los regímenes pluviométricos podría causar cambios significativos en estos ecosistemas. Asociación Argentina de Ecología 2011-12-01 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Articles Artículos application/pdf https://ojs.ecologiaaustral.com.ar/index.php/Ecologia_Austral/article/view/1276 Ecología Austral; Vol. 21 No. 3 (2011): December 2011, Pages 233-368; 329-337 Ecología Austral; Vol. 21 Núm. 3 (2011): December 2011, Pages 233-368; 329-337 1667-782X 0327-5477 eng https://ojs.ecologiaaustral.com.ar/index.php/Ecologia_Austral/article/view/1276/646 Derechos de autor 2011 Rodney A. Chimner, Griselda L. Bonvissuto, M. Victoria Cremona, Juan J. Gaitan, Carlos R. López https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |