The Puna Vegetation of Moquegua, South Peru: Chasmophytes, grasslands and Puya raimondii stands

The phytosociology and ecology of puna vegetation in twelve localities at an altitude of 3750–4500 m in northern Moquegua (south Peru) have been studied. The study area has a pluviseasonal climate with summer rainfall. Using TWINSPAN, Detrended Correspondence Analysis and Farthest Neighbor Clustering, 157 phytosociological relevés were analyzed. For each community, the syntaxonomy, floristic diversity and relation with environmental variables are discussed. 210 vascular plant species belonging to 131 genera and 52 families were recorded. Three main vegetation types were distinguished: 1. chasmophyte vegetation composed of a great diversity of shrubs, dwarf shrubs, ferns and annuals, 2. Puya raimondii stands characterized by considerable species richness in shrubs, grasses and herbs, and 3. extensive puna grasslands influenced by grazing. The zonal vegetation of the supratropical and orotropical bioclimatic belts was represented by two phytosociological classes: Argyrochosmetea niveae (chasmophytes) and Calamagrostietea vicunarum (Puya raimondii and puna grasslands). Within the Argyrochosmetea niveae and Salpichroetalia glandulosae, the new alliances Argyrochosmo niveae-Neowerdermannion peruvianae and Hypochaerido mucidae-Loricarion graveolentis were distinguished, including six associations consisting of steep rock and crevice shrublands on lithosols. Within the Azorello compactae-Festucion orthophyllae (Calamagrostietea vicunarum) two associations with four subassociations and two communities were distinguished comprising grasslands and Puya raimondii stands. One association was described in the Calamagrostion minimae. The puna vegetation of Moquegua hosts rare, endangered and/or protected plant species in Peru. The vulnerability of the flora and vegetation in the mountains of Moquegua is briefly discussed

Species composition and phytosociology of xerophytic plant communitiesSouth Peru after extreme rainfall in South Peru

Abstract: We present a phytosociological overview of the arid and semi-arid montane vegetation of the province<br/>of Arequipa in southern Peru. The xerophytic vegetation was studied after extreme rainfall had promoted<br/>exceptionally lush vegetation and a high aboveground floristic diversity. We used TWINSPAN for classification<br/>and Detrended Correspondence Analysis for gradient analysis of our relevés. PC-ORD was used to show<br/>the hierarchical similarity structure of the syntaxa, and to compare them with related communities in Peru and<br/>surrounding countries from literature. We present a synoptic table, and describe the physiognomy, floristic<br/>composition, ecology and spatial distribution of the plant communities. In total, we recorded 187 plant species,<br/>including 50 endemics, in 196 phytosociological relevés distributed over 2030 km² at an elevation between 2020<br/>and 3260 m a.s.l. The relevés were assigned to three alliances in the class Opuntietea sphaericae. The vegetation<br/>consists mainly of native species of trees, shrubs, grasses, succulents, annual herbs, and ferns. The most diverse<br/>families were Asteraceae, Cactaceae, Solanaceae, Malvaceae, Boraginaceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, Amaranthaceae<br/>and Pteridaceae. Within the class Opuntietea sphaericae, three alliances have been distinguished of which two<br/>are new. The Ambrosio artemisioidis-Weberbauerocerion weberbaueri comprising six associations was recorded<br/>on barren hillsides between 2000 and 2900 m a.s.l. in the Arequipa city boundary zones. The Corryocaction<br/>brevistyli defines xerophytic scrub between 2700 and 3200 m a.s.l. in semi-dry regions bordering the puna<br/>grasslands. It contains the Balbisio weberbaueri-Ambrosietum artemisioidis and the Aloysio spathulatae-Corryocactetum<br/>brevistyli, all in need of further investigation as they lack diagnostic species. A unit clearly distinguished<br/>by Weberbauerocereus rauhii and Neoraimondia arequipensis is here described as a new alliance,<br/>Neoraimondio arequipensis-Weberbauerocerion rauhii. It grows in inter-Andean valleys in dry regions (1100–<br/>2200 m a.s.l.), with abundant cacti accompanied by few xerophytes.<br/>Keywords: Andes; Arequipa province; Cactaceae; climate event; Opuntietea sphaericae; Peru; syntaxonomyWe present a phytosociological overview of the arid and semi-arid montane vegetation of the province of Arequipa in southern Peru. The xerophytic vegetation was studied after extreme rainfall had promoted exceptionally lush vegetation and a high aboveground floristic diversity. We used TWINSPAN for classification and Detrended Correspondence Analysis for gradient analysis of our relevés. PC-ORD was used to show the hierarchical similarity structure of the syntaxa, and to compare them with related communities in Peru and surrounding countries from literature. We present a synoptic table, and describe the physiognomy, floristic composition, ecology and spatial distribution of the plant communities. In total, we recorded 187 plant species, including 50 endemics, in 196 phytosociological relevés distributed over 2030 km2 at an elevation between 2020 and 3260 m a. s. l. The relevés were assigned to three alliances in the class Opuntietea sphaericae. The vegetation consists mainly of native species of trees, shrubs, grasses, succulents, annual herbs, and ferns. The most diverse families were Asteraceae, Cactaceae, Solanaceae, Malvaceae, Boraginaceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, Amaranthaceae and Pteridaceae. Within the class Opuntietea sphaericae, three alliances have been distinguished of which two are new. The Ambrosio artemisioidis-Weberbauerocerion weberbaueri comprising six associations was recorded on barren hillsides between 2000 and 2900 m a. s. l. in the Arequipa city boundary zones. The Corryocaction brevistyli defines xerophytic scrub between 2700 and 3200 m a. s. l. in semi-dry regions bordering the puna grasslands. It contains the Balbisio weberbaueri-Ambrosietum artemisioidis and the Aloysio spathulatae-Corryocactetum brevistyli, all in need of further investigation as they lack diagnostic species. A unit clearly distinguished by Weberbauerocereus rauhii and Neoraimondia arequipensis is here described as a new alliance, Neoraimondio arequipensis-Weberbauerocerion rauhii. It grows in inter-Andean valleys in dry regions (1100– 2200 m a. s. l.), with abundant cacti accompanied by few xerophytes

Development of lichen-rich communities

The pioneer vegetation of inland dunes is known for its lichen diversity. The development of lichen-rich vegetation may take several decades after the first pioneer stage with Corynephorus canescens and Polytrichum piliferum. The neophytic moss Campylopus introflexus and atmospheric nitrogen deposition form serious threats to lichen vegetation

Is livestock grazing a key factor for changing vegetation patterns in lime rich coastal dunes in the Netherlands?

In 1990, livestock grazing was introduced in Meijendel, a 1800 ha lime-rich coastal dune area, at a density of 0.06–0.07 LLU.ha-1.year−1 (1:12–18 ha) to counteract encroachment of tall grasses and shrubland on dune grassland and increase the bare sand area. Monitoring was based on four digital orthophotos (1975–1990–2001-2009) with a high spatial resolution (pixel size 25 × 25 cm). The changes were tested using Generalized Estimating Equations. Habitat changes occurred, but contradicting our hypothesis, there was no significant impact from the grazing on bare sand, grassland or shrubland within 11 and 19 years post livestock introduction. (1) After several decennia of decreasing bare sand, there was a significant increase between 2001 and 2009, irrespective of livestock presence. (2) The changes in grasslands and shrublands are independent of the livestock, but dependent on distance to the coast. (3) Bare sand and shrub cover determine the space left for the dune grasslands. It appears other factors than livestock grazing must have induced the changes. Changes in climate conditions and nitrogen load might have stimulated bare sand. An interaction with the end of Marram planting in 1990 cannot be concluded from available data. The disease-led reduction of rabbit grazing from the mid-1950s led to an expansion of the dominant shrub Hippophae rhamnoides. However, Hippophae shrubland typically regresses to grasslands on its collapse after 25–40 years. Tree species like Crataegus, Betula and Quercus will gradually dominate the landscape for far longer. Active removal of these indigenous species is necessary to prevent future loss of dune grasslands

Forest gaps, edge, and interior support different ant communities in a tropical peat-swamp forest in Borneo

Southeast Asia’s tropical peat-swamp forests (TPSF) are globally important for carbon storage and biodiversity conservation, but are at risk from multiple threats and urgently require improved management. Ants are often used as ecological indicators in monitoring programmes to guide adaptive management, but data on TPSF ants are scarce. We conducted a twelve-month study on ants in the Sabangau TPSF in Indonesian Borneo using baited traps, to compare community composition across three disturbance categories (forest gaps, forest edge and relatively undisturbed interior forest) and between dry and wet season. The three disturbance categories supported distinct ant communities across seasons. Differences in canopy cover likely underlie these changes in ant community composition. Surveying was more effective in the dry season, because ant capture rates were higher and more indicator taxa were identified than in the wet season, but overall ant community composition did not differ significantly between seasons. These findings suggest a potentially useful role of ants as ecological indicators in TPSF. Further surveys should be conducted in Sabangau and other TPSFs to test the transferability of our findings