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Leaf litterfall patterns of perennial plant species in the arid Patagonian Monte, Argentina

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the variation in leaf litterfall patterns of desert plant species in relation to the intra- and interannual variation of precipitation. We collected the leaf litterfall of 12 representative species of the dominant life forms in the arid Patagonian Monte (evergreen shrubs, deciduous shrubs, and perennial grasses) at monthly intervals during three consecutive years. All shrub species showed a marked seasonality in the pattern of leaf litterfall, but the date of the peak of leaf litterfall differed among them. The peak of leaf litterfall in three deciduous and three evergreen shrubs occurred in summer months while in one deciduous shrub and in two other evergreen shrubs the peak of leaf litterfall was in autumn and winter, respectively. In contrast, the leaf litterfall of perennial grasses occurred through the year without a seasonal pattern. In most shrub species, increasing annual precipitation was related to increasing leaf litterfall and the peak of leaf litterfall was positively related to precipitation events occurred some months before, during winter. Moreover, the magnitude of responses in terms of variation in leaf litterfall in relation to interannual variation of precipitation was not the same for all species. Evergreen shrubs showed lower responses than deciduous species. These differences in leaf litterfall patterns were consistent with differences in leaf traits. In conclusion, we found new evidence of species-specific responses of leaf litterfall patterns to precipitation, suggesting that other factors than precipitation may control leaf litterfall in desert plants.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by PICT-02 08-11131 and PICT 08-20454 BID 1201/OC-AR -1728/OC-AR, National Agency for Scientific and Technological Promotion. MV Campanella fellowship was supported by FONCYT and CONICET (National Research Council of Argentina). Recognition is also given to Mr. Fermín Sarasa who allowed the access to the study area in Estancia “San Luis.”

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro Nacional Patagónico (CENPAT—CONICET), Boulevard Brown 2915, 9120, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina

    María Victoria Campanella & Mónica Beatriz Bertiller

  2. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina

    Mónica Beatriz Bertiller

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  1. María Victoria Campanella
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  2. Mónica Beatriz Bertiller
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Correspondence to María Victoria Campanella.

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Campanella, M.V., Bertiller, M.B. Leaf litterfall patterns of perennial plant species in the arid Patagonian Monte, Argentina. Plant Ecol 210, 43–52 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-010-9736-7

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