recorded variables

<p>Data from reproduction study.</p

Soil physicochemical factors as environmental filters for spontaneous plant colonization of abandoned tailing dumps

Abandoned tailing dumps (ATDs) offer an opportunity to identify the main physicochemical filters that determine colonization of vegetation in solid mine wastes. The current study determined the soil physicochemical factors that explain the compositional variation of pioneer vegetal species on ATDs from surrounding areas in semiarid Mediterranean-climate type ecosystems of north-central Chile (Coquimbo Region). Geobotanical surveys—including physicochemical parameters of substrates (0–20 cm depth), plant richness, and coverage of plant species—were performed on 73 ATDs and surrounding areas. A total of 112 plant species were identified from which endemic/native species (67%) were more abundant than exotic species (33%) on ATDs. The distribution of sampling sites and plant species in canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) ordination diagrams indicated a gradual and progressive variation in species composition and abundance from surrounding areas to ATDs because of variations in total Cu concentration (1.3%) and the percentage of soil particle

Importance of water quality on plant abundance and diversity in high-alpine meadows of the Yerba Loca Natural Sanctuary at the Andes of north-central Chile Importancia de la calidad del agua sobre la abundancia y diversidad vegetal en vegas altoandinas del Santuario Natural Yerba Loca en los Andes de Chile centro-norte

Porphyry Cu-Mo deposits have influenced surface water quality in high-Andes of north-central Chile since the Miocene. Water anomalies may reduce species abundance and diversity in alpine meadows as acidic and metal-rich waters are highly toxic to plants The study assessed the importance of surface water quality on plant abundance and diversity in high-alpine meadows at the Yerba Loca Natural Santuary (YLNS), central Chile (33°15' S, 70°18' W). Hydrochemical and plant prospecting were carried out on Piedra Carvajal, Chorrillos del Plomo and La Lata meadows the growing seasons of 2006 and 2007. Direct gradient analysis was performed through canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) to look for relationships among water chemistry and plant factors. High variability in water chemistry was found inside and among meadows, particularly for pH, sulphate, electric conductivity, hardness, and total dissolved Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and Fe. Data on species abundance and water chemical factors suggests that pH and total dissolved Cu are very important factor determining changes in plant abundance and diversity in study meadows. For instance, Festuca purpurascens, Colobanthus quitensis, and Arenaria rivularis are abundant in habitals with Cu-rich waters while Festuca magellanica, Patosia clandestina, Plantago barbata, Werneria pygmea, and Erigeron andícola are abundant in habitals with dilute waters.Los megadepósitos de pórfidos de Cu-Mo han influido sobre la calidad de las aguas superficiales en las zonas altoandinas del centro-norte de Chile desde el Mioceno. Estas alteraciones en la calidad de las aguas podrían afectar negativamente a la vegetación presente en las vegas altoandinas, ya que las aguas acidas y ricas en metales son altamente tóxicas para las plantas. En este estudio se evaluó el efecto de la calidad de las aguas en la abundancia y diversidad florística de las vegas altoandinas del Santuario de la Naturaleza Yerba Loca (SNYL), en Chile central (33° 15' S, 70° 18' O). Se realizaron prospecciones hidroquímicas y botánicas en las vegas de Piedra Carvajal, Chorrillos del Plomo y La Lata, durante las estaciones de crecimiento de 2006 y 2007. Se realizó un análisis directo de gradiente a través del Análisis de Correspondencia Canónica (CCA) para buscar relaciones entre los parámetros químicos del agua y los parámetros botánicos. Se encontró una alta variabilidad química del agua tanto dentro como entre las vegas, particularmente en cuanto a pH, sulfatos, conductividad eléctrica, dureza y contenidos totales disueltos de Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb y Fe. Los datos de abundancias específicas y los parámetros químicos del agua sugieren que el pH y el contenido de Cu total disuelto son factores importantes en determinar los cambios en la abundancia y la diversidad de las especies vegetales en las vegas estudiadas. Por ejemplo, Festuca purpurascens, Colobanthus quitensis y Arenaria rivularis son abundantes en ambientes de aguas con altos contenidos de Cu, mientras que Festuca magellanica, Patosia clandestina, Plantago barbata, Werneria pygmea y Erigeron andícola son abundantes en lugares de aguas con bajos contenidos de Cu

Importance of water quality on plant abundance and diversity in high-alpine meadows of the Yerba Loca Natural Sanctuary at the Andes of north-central Chile

Porphyry Cu-Mo deposits have influenced surface water quality in high-Andes of north-central Chile since the Miocene. Water anomalies may reduce species abundance and diversity in alpine meadows as acidic and metalrich waters are highly toxic to plants The study assessed the importance of surface water quality on plant abundance and diversity in high-alpine meadows at the Yerba Loca Natural Santuary (YLNS), central Chile (33° 15' S, 70°18' W). Hydrochemical and plant prospecting were carried out on Piedra Carvajal, Chorrillos del Plomo and La Lata meadows the growing seasons of 2006 and 2007. Direct gradient analysis was performed through canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) to look for relationships among water chemistry and plant factors. High variability in water chemistry was found inside and among meadows, particularly for pH, sulphate, electric conductivity, hardness, and total dissolved Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and Fe. Data on species abundance and water chemical factors suggests tha