Seasonal Variation In A Small-Mammal Assemblage In A Priority Site For Conservation In South-Central Chile

Zúñiga, A. H., Muñoz-Pedreros, A., Quintana, V. (2021): Seasonal Variation In A Small-Mammal Assemblage In A Priority Site For Conservation In South-Central Chile. Zoodiversity 55 (5): 395-404, DOI: 10.15407/zoo2021.05.395, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.15407/zoo2021.05.39

Nest boxes in Pinus radiata woodlands in southern Chile: A tool to mitigate negative environmental impacts?

Biodiversity is affected by forest monoculturing of exotic species, along with wild habitat loss, appear as the principal causes of the conservation problems affecting wild Chilean bird species. Many of these species do not inhabit Pinus radiata due to its homogeneity and the scarcity of habitable havens. To assess the acceptance (habitableness and nesting) of nest boxes in stands of P. radiata in southern Chile, 116 artificial nests, with lures designed to attract insectivores, were installed. Bird houses were highly accepted in the two study areas (98.4% in Temuco and 66.6% in Valdivia). An increase in acceptance was noted, starting in October (1992), reaching practically 100% occupation by February (1993). The percentage of operable houses was maintained high throughout the study. Troglodytes aedon (house wren) occupied almost all of the houses, with only one house occupied by Passer domesticus (house sparrow). T. aedon constructed cup-shaped nests with a base of branches of Ulex europaeus, P. radiata, Rubus ulmifolius, leaves of Eucaliptus, globulus and, in the upper part, animal material such as feathers. The needles of P. radiata were the preferred construction material. The use of bird house to attract birds is successful, and ii we improve the habitat for the bird, it is possible to attract them to the exotic forests of P. radiata. The nests we built are of low cost, and, combined with management techniques such as perches, footpaths and agroforestry, could have benefits on the preservation of biodiversity and the biological control of forest plagues, which in turn could imply a mitigation of negative environmental impacts of the monoculture plantations and similar stands of P. radiata

Variation of the perception of the landscape resource in Southern Chile

The landscape is the stage of human activity, in which any artificial action rebounds immediately on the perception. Various authors defend the idea of the universality of aesthetic preferences, an idea that is refuted by those who consider cultural and idiosyncratic features as determinant of peoples appreciation of landscapes. It seems that an intermediate position is, for the time being, the most attractive. The objectives of this investigation is to establish the variability derived from the evaluator and to propose techniques that are effective in controling this source of variation. We selected three panels, one characterized as 'demanding' in the evaluation of a landscape, the second as 'transformers' and a third one as a control. One hundred and forty-four(144) landscapes were evaluated from synchronized investigations, mainly with native forest, cattle, agricultural and forest activities, and lake environments. A survey was set up with the information organized as matrix arrangements according to the nature of the analysis from where it came. The statistical techniques considered descriptive resources (graphics as well as numeric), test of multivariance analysis, and particularly principal components analysis. Intragroup variability of the observers was established, with the detect on of significant differences in some the subgroups that compose them. With reference to intergroup variability of the observers, a high internal coherence in the three groups was found, which varied according to the macrounits of the landscape. Criteria for the constitution of a panel that diminishes the subjectivity to evaluate landscapes of the Southern chilean region are recommended

Flora and vegetation of Lejía lagoon, a desert ecosystem of the high Puna in northern Chile

ABSTRACT The puna is an ecosystem located in the desert plateau above 3500 m elevation in the Andes Range that covers parts of north- eastern Chile, north-western Argentina, south-eastern Peru and mid-western Bolivia between 15° and 28° S latitude. Laguna Lejía is a shallow lake set in an endorheic basin, with high altitude steppe climate type, low temperatures and wide diurnal variation. Precipitation is concentrated in the summer; evaporation is very high and the relative humidity of the environment very low. The object of this study was to characterise the flora and plant associations present in this high, arid ecosystem. Intensive collecting and surveying was carried out in 2008, with the following products: (a) a catalogue of flora, including phytogeographic origin, life form, endemism and conservation state; (b) a phytosociological catalogue, and the characterization of the plant communities with their alpha and beta diversity. Thirty species of vascular plants were recorded, all native. Two plant associations were identified: Pappostipa-Deyeuxia (high Andean scrub) and Puccinellia-Calandrinia, corresponding respectively to the sub-desert steppe of the Atacama puna and the azonal vegetation associated with the Laguna Lejía wetland. The results justify the designation of the area as a priority conservation site for biodiversity by the government.RESUMEN La puna es un ecosistema ubicado en la meseta del desierto por encima de 3.500 msnm en la Cordillera de los Andes que cubre partes del noreste de Chile, el noroeste de Argentina, el sureste de Perú y el medio oeste de Bolivia, entre los 15 ° y 28 ° sur. Laguna Lejía es un lago poco profundo situado en una cuenca endorreica, con un clima de gran altura de estepa, con grandes variaciones de temperaturas. Las precipitaciones se concentran en el verano; la evaporación es muy alta y la humedad relativa del medio ambiente es muy baja. El objetivo de este estudio fue caracterizar la flora y las asociaciones vegetacionales presentes en este ecosistema árido. Se realizó una recolección intensiva en 2008, con los siguientes productos: (a) un catálogo de flora, de origen fitogeográfico, formas de vida, endemismo y estado de conservación; (b) un catálogo fitosociológico, y la caracterización de las comunidades de plantas con su diversidad alfa y beta. Se registraron treinta especies de plantas vasculares, todas nativas. Se identificaron dos asociaciones vegetales: Pappostipa-Deyeuxia (matorral alto andino) y Puccinellia-Calandrinia; que corresponden respectivamente a la estepa subdesértico de la puna de Atacama; y la vegetación azonal está asociada con el humedal Laguna Lejía. Los resultados justifican la designación del área como un sitio prioritario para la conservación de la biodiversidad