Fotografía hemisférica del dosel forestal para estimar el índice de área foliar

Las fotografías hemisféricas tomadas desde el interior del bosque se utilizan para estimar la estructura del dosel y el régimen de radiación solar. Mediante esta técnica se mide directamente la fracción de claros, de la que puede derivarse en índice de área foliar (IAF). Éste índice es el cociente entre la mitad de la superficie total de los tejidos fotosintéticos de un área determinada de vegetación y la superficie proyectada en el plano horizontal que ésta cubre. Nuestro objetivo es explicar, desde un punto de vista teórico, como utilizar fotografías hemisféricas de doseles forestales para medir indirectamente el IAF.Fil: Díaz, Gastón Mauro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Lencinas, José Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; Argentin

Fotografía hemisférica del dosel forestal para estimar el índice de área foliar

Las fotografías hemisféricas tomadas desde el interior del bosque se utilizan para estimar la estructura del dosel y el régimen de radiación solar. Mediante esta técnica se mide directamente la fracción de claros, de la que puede derivarse en índice de área foliar (IAF). Éste índice es el cociente entre la mitad de la superficie total de los tejidos fotosintéticos de un área determinada de vegetación y la superficie proyectada en el plano horizontal que ésta cubre. Nuestro objetivo es explicar, desde un punto de vista teórico, como utilizar fotografías hemisféricas de doseles forestales para medir indirectamente el IAF.Fil: Díaz, Gastón Mauro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Lencinas, José Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; Argentin

Development and construction of an unmanned aerial vehicle for wildfire management

Los incendios forestales en Patagonia son el factor principal de pérdida de superficies boscosas. Es fundamental optimizar y mejorar el actual sistema de manejo del fuego desde su prevención, sistemas de alerta temprana, y el combate propiamente dicho. En este marco, el Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico (CIEFAP), en un entorno público privado, desarrolló un vehículo aéreo no tripulado, denominado Fénix 3d, como herramienta complementaria dentro del sistema de manejo del fuego.Forest fires in Patagonia are the main factor of loss of forest areas. It is essential to optimize and improve the current system of fire management from prevention, early warning systems, combat itself. In this framework the Patagonian Andes Research and Extension Center (CIEFAP), in a private and public environment, developed an unmanned aerial vehicle, called Fénix 3d, as complementary tool within a fire management system.Fil: Lencinas, José Daniel. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; ArgentinaFil: Parodi, Ezequiel. Life Style Media; ArgentinaFil: Van Den Heede, Brigitte Clara. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Heitzmann, Luciana. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; Argentin

Landscape and stand characteristics influence on the bird assemblage in Nothofagus antarctica Forests of Tierra del Fuego

Different variables operate simultaneously at different spatial scales, influencing community composition and species distribution. This knowledge could improve management and conservation practices in managed menaced forests. The objective of this work was to determine the influence of landscape and stand variables on the bird assemblage of the managed Nothofagus antarctica forest of Tierra del Fuego (Argentina). We used data from bird point counts (three or four censuses during middle summer of two consecutive years) located at 48 sites distributed at four ranches. At each site, we extracted landscape variables with Fragstat software from the forest patches, the cover classes, and the whole landscape. We also evaluated local stand characteristics, such as forest structure, ground cover, and food availability, including understory plant cover usually consumed by birds and available arthropods. Data were evaluated by detrended and canonical correspondence analyses. We found that landscape configuration (e.g., forest patch shape) and local stand variables (e.g., canopy cover) influenced bird assemblage more than landscape composition. Moreover, bird functional groups responded differently to different spatial scale variables (e.g., forest specialist species were associated with forest structure, but species that use low strata to nest and feed were associated with landscape configuration variables), demonstrating the importance of using multiple spatial scales to better understand bird species requirements. The combination of practices that promote some local characteristics (e.g., high canopy cover) and more complex landscape configurations could simultaneously favor different bird species groups and improve the effectiveness of management and conservation strategies.Laboratorio de Investigación de Sistemas Ecológicos y Ambientale

Exemplary Knowledge Transfer Between Germany and Patagonia as Contribution to the Regional Achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030

Concerted efforts are required to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. In our study, we intend to outline how valuable synergy effects can be obtained from bilateral cooperation between Germany and Patagonia in order to protect temperate forest ecosystems and to ensure long-term and sustainable use of terrestrial natural resources. The additional benefit of this transcontinental and transhemispherical cooperation is that there are analogies between the Northern and Southern hemispheres, but also distinct differences that complement each other perfectly. We show in an exemplary way, how the challenges of Global Warming and the associated increased vulnerability to forest fires and other natural risks can be tackled. Knowledge transfer and common strategies will provide sound solutions for SDG 13 (urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts), SDG 15 (sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably managed forests, combating desertification, and halting and reversing land degradation and halting biodiversity loss) and SDG 17 (strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development).Fil: Walentowski, H.. University of Applied Sciences and Arts; AlemaniaFil: Hohnwald, S.. University of Applied Sciences and Arts; AlemaniaFil: Thren, M.. University of Applied Sciences and Arts; AlemaniaFil: Kappas, M.. Universität Göttingen; AlemaniaFil: Leuschner, C.. Universität Göttingen; AlemaniaFil: Lencinas, José Daniel. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; Argentina. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Bava, J.. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Loguercio, Gabriel Angel. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; Argentina. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Urretavizcaya, María Florencia. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; Argentina. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Barrotaeveña, C.. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Martínez Pastur, Guillermo José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Zerbe, S.. Free University of Bozen ; Itali

Environmental variables influencing regeneration of Nothofagus pumilio in a system with combined aggregated and dispersed retention

The current silvicultural prescriptions for Nothofagus are designed to stimulate natural regeneration by opening the canopy. One of these methods is variable retention, which can include either or both aggregated and dispersed retention. Different degrees of retention may modify microclimatic variables differently and consequently offer dissimilar microenvironmental conditions for regeneration. Retained canopy influences both biotic and abiotic factors. The objective was to evaluate Nothofagus pumilio regeneration along edge-related gradients within aggregated retention, and in the different microenvironments within the harvested areas. The remnant canopy cover after harvesting greatly influenced regeneration mainly by decreasing radiation transmittance and soil moisture availability. Aspect (direction to the azimuth) and distance from edge of aggregates influenced regeneration density, height and growth. In dispersed retention, microenvironments generated by different types of understory plant cover, debris, and proximity of remnant trees also influenced regeneration. High levels of understory cover (up 50%) and medium levels of harvesting debris cover (25–50%) had a positive impact, while close proximity to remnant trees had a negative impact on regeneration. These findings can be used to improve silvicultural and harvesting prescriptions to ensure successful establishment of regeneration and maximize potential growth.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Antropic fires promotes the increase of alien species cover in the understory of Nothofagus antarctica (Forster f.) Oersted forests under management

Se analizó la respuesta temprana del sotobosque de Nothofagus antarctica (ñire) luego de un incendio, particularmente, la potencialidad de invasión por parte de especies exóticas. Se establecieron transectas permanentes (n=6 por sitio) de 10 m de longitud antes (2008) y después del fuego (2009 a 2014) en bosques maduros con manejo silvopastoril. Se evaluó la riqueza y cobertura de especies con el método de intersección puntual y se analizaron los datos mediante ANOVAs de medidas repetidas. La composición del sotobosque de N. antarctica se modificó debido a: (a) el aumento de la cobertura de hierbas y pastos exóticos, (b) el ingreso de especies exóticas nuevas ausentes en la situación pre-incendio, (c) la menor cobertura de algunas especies de hierbas nativas, d) el ingreso de especies nativas de Tierra del Fuego, pero no propias del bosque y que estaban ausentes en la situación pre-incendio.We examined the early response of Nothofagus antarctica (ñire) understory after a fire, including the potential for invasion by exotic species. Permanent transects (n =6 per site) 10m length were surveyed before (2008) and after fire (2009 to 2014). In each transect, vegetation (species richness and cover) was recorded at by the point-intercept method. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVAs. The composition of N. antarctica understory was significantly modified from: (a) increasing the coverage of alien species of herbs and grasses, (b) the income of new alien species that were absent in the pre-fire situation, (c) the lowest coverage of some native species of herbs, (d) the income of native species of Tierra del Fuego, which are typical from other habitat types (e.g., grasslands), and which were absent in the pre-fire situation.Laboratorio de Investigación de Sistemas Ecológicos y Ambientale

Knowledge arising from long-term research of variable retention harvesting in Tierra del Fuego: where do we go from here?

Nothofagus pumilio forests in Tierra del Fuego are the southernmost forests in the world, where extreme climate conditions represent a challenge to attain sustainable forest management. Retention forestry was proposed as an alternative to increase the species conservation in managed stands. Here, we synthetized results related to the implementation of a variable retention harvesting based on a combination of aggregate patches and dispersed retention during the last 18 years comparing with other silviculture proposals (e.g., shelterwood cuts) and control treatments (primary unmanaged forests). We summarized the results for (i) sawmill operations, (ii) timber yield, (iii) overstory stability, (iv) forest structure, (v) microclimate and natural cycles, (vi) natural regeneration dynamics (flowering, seeding, foraging, recruitment, growth, and mortality), and (vii) biodiversity (mammals, understory plants, mistletoes, birds, arthropods, mosses, lichens, and fungi). In general, aggregate patches maintained forest structure and micro-environmental variables, and slightly increased biodiversity and forest reproduction variables compared to unmanaged primary forests. On the contrary, dispersed retention decreased forest structure variables and greatly increased biodiversity (richness and abundance) when it was compared to unmanaged primary forests. Ecological conditions are influenced by variable retention harvesting, but direction and magnitude of the effect depend and differ according to retention types. Besides this, biodiversity taxa greatly differed among groups depending on retention types. In general, the species assemblages in aggregate patches were similar to those found in primary unmanaged forests, while they were significantly modified in the dispersed retention. This occurred due to (i) local extinction of some original species, (ii) the introduction of native species from the surrounding environments, or (iii) the invasion of exotic species. This silvicultural method has been a useful tool to conserve biodiversity and ecosystem functions, approaching to the balance between economy, ecology, and social requirements in the managed areas.EEA Santa CruzFil: Martínez Pastur, Guillermo José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas. Laboratorio de Recursos Agroforestales; ArgentinaFil: Rosas, Yamina Micaela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas. Laboratorio de Recursos Agroforestales; ArgentinaFil: Toro Manríquez, Mónica D.R. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas. Laboratorio de Recursos Agroforestales; ArgentinaFil: Huertas Herrera, Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas. Laboratorio de Recursos Agroforestales; ArgentinaFil: Miller, Juan A. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas. Laboratorio de Recursos Agroforestales; ArgentinaFil: Cellini, Juan Manuel. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Maderas; ArgentinaFil: Barrera, Marcelo Daniel. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Maderas; ArgentinaFil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Lencinas, María Vanessa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas. Laboratorio de Recursos Agroforestales; Argentin

Canopy structure analysis for estimating forest regeneration dynamics and growth in <i>Nothofagus pumilio</i> forests

Introduction: Silviculture systems applied in Nothofagus pumilio forests are based on opening the canopy to stimulate natural regeneration by modifying light and soil moisture. The objective is to evaluate regeneration dynamics of N. pumilio along different forest canopy and solar radiation gradients. Materials and methods: Regeneration data and seed production were obtained in 98 permanent plots established in old-growth and harvested stands along a crown cover gradient (19–93%). Volumetric soil water content and basal area were also measured, while crown cover and solar radiation transmission were estimated using hemispherical photographs. Sapling height was modeled using plant age, crown cover, and solar radiation transmission of the stands as explanatory variables. Results: Natural regeneration dynamics were closely related to crown cover values, which determined seed production and the successful establishment and subsequent regeneration growth. Height growth was found to be related to crown cover and solar radiation transmission, where N. pumilio regeneration is optimized at intermediate crown cover levels (45% crown cover, 0.5 effective leaf area index, 26 W m² global radiation, and 65% percentage of global radiation). Conclusion: These findings can be used to develop new silvicultural methods or to adjust the current practices to ensure regeneration establishment and maximize height growth at the stand level.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y ForestalesLaboratorio de Investigación de Sistemas Ecológicos y Ambientale

Influencia de factores bióticos y abióticos en el crecimiento de la regeneración pre- y post-cosecha en un bosque de Nothofagus pumilio

Para definir nuevas prácticas silvícolas es necesario conocer los procesos ecosistémicos involucrados y los impactos que generan. Las propuestas implementadas generaron diversos interrogantes relacionados al dosel remanente, el banco de plántulas, la producción de semillas, la dinámica de la regeneración, y la influencia de daños bióticos y abióticos. El objetivo fue determinar la influencia de factores bióticos (estructura forestal, banco de plántulas, producción de semillas y ramoneo por Lama guanicoe) y abióticos (daños por heladas y desecamientos) en el crecimiento de la regeneración pre- y post-cosecha en un rodal de Nothofagus pumilio intervenido mediante una corta de protección luego de 20 años. Se realizaron monitoreos de estructura forestal y la dinámica de la regeneración en 10 parcelas permanentes. Los resultados determinaron que el dosel remanente disminuyó paulatinamente su área basal después de la cosecha (22,3 a 10,7 m2 ha-1), variando su relación cobertura/área basal (1,1 a 6,5) indicando una recuperación. También surgió que: (i) el establecimiento, supervivencia y crecimiento de la regeneración pre- y post-cosecha fue el resultado de la interacción de varios factores, e.g. banco de plántulas pre-existentes, producción de semillas post-cosecha, y los daños bióticos y abióticos, siendo más sensibles durante los primeros cuatro años; (ii) las plantas pre- y post-cosecha son las responsables de generar el bosque futuro; y (iii) los daños abióticos (heladas y desecamientos) produjeron mayor pérdida de crecimiento que los bióticos (ramoneo). En este sentido, las parcelas permanentes de monitoreo a largo plazo permitieron identificar factores de riesgo en las propuestas silvícolas implementadas.To propose new silvicultural practices, it is necessary to understand the involved ecosystem processes and the impact that they produce. The proposed practices generated several questions related to remnant tree stability, the seedling bank, seed production, regeneration dynamic and the influence of biotic and abiotic damages. The objective was to determine the influence of biotic (forest structure, seedling bank, seed production and browsing by Lama guanicoe) and abiotic factors (damages by freezing or drought) in the growth of pre- and post-harvest regeneration in a Nothofagus pumilio stand under shelterwood cutting over 20 years. Monitoring surveys of forest structure and regeneration dynamics were conducted in ten permanent plots. Results showed that the remaining overstory trees reduce their basal area after harvesting (22.3 to 10.7 m2 ha-1), varying their crown cover/basal area ratio (1.1 to 6.5). Also, this study suggest that: (i) recruitment, survival and growth of pre- and post-harvest regeneration is a result of the interaction of several factors, e.g. pre-existing seedling bank, post-harvest seeding production, and the biotic and abiotic damages, being more sensitive during the first four years; (ii) pre- and post-harvest plants are the responsible for generating the future forests; and (iii) abiotic factors (freezing or drought) produce higher growth loss than that produced by biotic ones (browsing). In this sense, permanent plots for long-term monitoring allow identifying the risk factors of the proposed silvicultural practices.EEA Santa CruzFil: Martínez Pastur, Guillermo José. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Cientificas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Cellini, Juan Manuel. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Laboratorio de Investigacion en Sistemas Ecologicos y Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Barrera, Marcelo Daniel. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Laboratorio de Investigacion en Sistemas Ecologicos y Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Lencinas, María Vanessa. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Cientificas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Soler Esteban, Rosina Matilde. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Cientificas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin