Skip to main content

Magellanic Wetlands: More than Moor

Folia Geobotanica volume 48, pages 163–188 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Magellanic wetlands in the Patagonian steppe are unique habitats from the point of view of conservation and agriculture. Little is known about their environmental characteristics and plant communities. Our aim was to describe vegetation variability to improve current classifications and reveal environmental factors correlated with vegetation variability in the meadow wetlands (vegas) of southern Chilean Patagonia and Chilean Tierra del Fuego. Five vegetation types resulted from TWINSPAN classification and subsequent interpretation, based on which four new associations were delimited: Magellanic acidic marshes – the Scirpo cernui-Calthetum sagittatae, Magellanic alkaline wet grasslands – the Samolo spathulatae-Azorelletum trifurcatae, Magellanic tall sedge marshes – the Carici maclovianae-Agrostietum stoloniferae, and Magellanic pastures – the Hordeo lechleri-Trifolietum repentis. The fifth vegetation type, saline wetlands, is the rarest and so far the least known community. Magellanic wetland vegetation forms a gradient from short saline marshes to tall graminoid-dominated communities. They reflect a major soil gradient of pH and organic matter content, along with the content of major elements (N, P, K, Fe, Al). Other important factors are ground water regime and grazing intensity.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

References

  • Adler P, Milchunas DG, Sala OE, Burke IC, Lauenroth WK (2005) Plant traits and ecosystem grazing effects: Comparison of U.S. sagebrush steppe and Patagonian steppe. Ecol Appl 15:774–792

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen-Diaz BH (1991) Water table and plant species relationships in Sierra Nevada meadows. Amer Midl Naturalist 126:30–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Banks MS, Sarno RJ, Franklin WL (2003) Spatial distribution of guanaco mating sites in southern Chile: conservation implication. Biol Conservation 112:427–434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blanco DE, de la Balze VM (eds) (2004) Los turbales de la Patagonia. Bases para su inventario y la conservación de su biodiversidad. Publicación No. 19, Wetlands International, Buenos Aires

    Google Scholar 

  • Brinson MM, Malvárez AI (2002) Temperate freshwater wetlands: types, status and threats. Environm Conservation 29:115–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Buono G, Oesterheld M, Nakamatsu V, Paruelo JM (2010) Spatial and temporal variation of primary production of Patagonian wet meadows. J Arid Environm 74:1257–1261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cingolani AM, Anchorena J, Collantes MB (1998) Landscape heterogeneity and long-term animal production in Tierra del Fuego. J Range Managem 51:79–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clausen JC, Ortega IM, Glaude CM, Relyea RA, Garray G, Guineo O (2006) Classification of wetlands in a Patagonian National Park, Chile. Wetlands 26:217–229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clayton WD, Harman KT, Williamson H (2002–onwards) World grass species: descriptions, identification, and information retrieval. Available at: http://www.kew.org/data/grasses-db.html (Last accessed on 20 February 2012)

  • Clayton WD, Harman KT, Williamson H (2006–onwards) GrassBase – The online world grass flora. Available at: http://www.kew.org/data/grasses-db.html (Last accessed on 20 February 2012)

  • Codignotto JO, Malumián N (1981) Geología de la región al norte del paralelo 54° Sur de la Isla Grande de la Tierra del Fuego. Revista Asoc Geol Argentina 36(1):44–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Collantes MB, Faggi AM (1999) Los humedales del sur de Sudamérica. In Malvárez AI (ed) Tópicos sobre humedales subtropicales y templados de Sudamérica. UNESCO, Montevideo, pp 14–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Collantes MB, Anchorena J, Cingolani AM (1999) The steppes of Tierra del Fuego: floristic and growth form patterns controlled by soil fertility and moisture. Pl Ecol 140:61–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collantes MB, Anchorena J, Stoffella S, Escartín C, Rauber R (2009) Wetlands of the Magellanic Steppe (Tierra del Fuego, Argentina). Folia Geobot 44:227–245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Covacevich N, Ruz E (1996) Praderas en la zona austral: XII Región (Magallanes). In Ruiz I (ed) Praderas para Chile. Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA), Santiago, pp 639–655

    Google Scholar 

  • Darwin C (1989) The voyage of the Beagle. Penguin Classics, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Fajardo A, González ME (2009) Replacement patterns and species coexistence in an Andean Araucaria-Nothofagus forest. J Veg Sci 20:1176–1190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Filipová L, Hédl R, Covacevich NC (2010) Variability of soil types in wetland meadows in the south of the Chilean Patagonia. Chilean J Agric Res 70:255–277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galán de Mera A, Vicente Orellana JA (2006) Aproximación al esquema sintaxonómico de la vegetación de la región del Caribe y América del Sur. Anales Biol 28:3–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Gandullo R, Faggi AM (2005) Interpretación sintaxonómica de los humedales del noroeste de la Provincia de Neuquén, Argentina. Darwiniana 43:10–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Golluscio RA, Deregibus VA, Paruelo JM (1998) Sustainability and range management in the Patagonian steppes. Ecol Austral 8:265–284

    Google Scholar 

  • Hájková P, Wolf P, Hájek M (2004) Environmental factors and Carpathian spring fen vegetation: the importance of scale and temporal variation. Ann Bot Fennici 41:249–262

    Google Scholar 

  • Hájek M, Horsák M, Hájková P, Dítě D (2006) Habitat diversity of central European fens in relation to environmental gradients and en effort to standardise fen terminology in ecological studies. Perspect Pl Ecol Evol Syst 8:97–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hertel D, Therburg A, Villalba R (2008) Above- and below-ground response by Nothofagus pumilio to climatic conditions at the transition from the steppe-forest boundary to the alpine treeline in southern Patagonia, Argentina. Pl Ecol Divers 1:21–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill MO (1979) TWINSPAN. A Fortran program for arranging multivariate data in an ordered two-way table by classification of the individuals and attributes. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

    Google Scholar 

  • IUSS (2006) World reference base for soil resources 2006. Ed. 2. World Soil Resources Reports Nº 103, FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Jongman RHG, ter Braak CJF, van Tongeren OFR (1995) Data analysis in community and landscape ecology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kerr AJ, McAdam JH (2008) Characteristics of patches of short grasses and herbs in the Falkland islands and their management for sheep grazing. Anales Inst Patagonia 36:5–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleinebecker T, Hölzer N, Vogel A (2007) Gradients of continentality and moisture in South Patagonian peatland vegetation. Folia Geobot 42:363–382

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kleinebecker T, Hölzer N, Vogel A (2008) South Patagonian ombotrophic bog vegetation reflects biogeochemical gradients at the landscape level. J Veg Sci 19:151–160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kleinebecker T, Hölzer N, Vogel A (2010) Patterns and gradients of diversity in South Patagonian ombrotrophic peat bogs. Austral Ecol 35:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • León RJC, Bran D, Collantes MB, Paruelo J, Soriano A (1998) Grandes unidades de vegetación de la Patagonia extra andina. Ecol Austral 8:125–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Markgraf V, Huber UM (2010) Late and postglacial vegetation and fire history in Southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. Paleogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 297:351–366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milchunas DG, Lauenroth WK, Chapman PL, Kazempour MK (1989) Effects of grazing, topography and precipitation on the structure of a semiarid grassland. Vegetatio 80:11–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore DM (1983) Flora of Tierra del Fuego. Anthony Nelson England, Missouri Botanical Garden, St Louis

    Google Scholar 

  • Nekola JC (2004) Vascular plant compositional gradients within and between Iowa fens. J Veg Sci 15:771–780

    Google Scholar 

  • Oksanen J et al. (2011) Vegan: community ecology package. Version 1.17-9. Available at: http://CRAN.R-project.org/package=vegan (accessed on 21 May 2011)

  • Paruelo JM, Sala OE, Beltrán AB (2000) Long-term dynamics of water and carbon in semi-arid ecosystems: a gradient analysis in the Patagonian steppe. Pl Ecol 150:133–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peel MC, Finlayson BL, McMahon TA (2007) Updated world map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 11:1633–1644

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez C, Covacevich N, Lira R (2006) Sistemas de pastoreo en cuatro regiones ecológicas de la región patagónica de Chile (1993). In Strauch O, Covacevich N, Cárdenas A (eds) El manejo sustentable de las praderas naturales de Magallanes. SOCHIPA en Magallanes. 30 años. Serie Actas INIA N° 35, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA), Punta Arenas, p 16

  • Pisano EV (1971) Comunidades vegetales del area del Fiordo Parry. Tierra del Fuego (Parque nacional Alberto M. de Agostini). Anales Inst Patagonia 2:93–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Pisano EV (1972) Comunidades vegetales del area de Bahía Morris, Isla Capitán Aracena, Tierra del Fuego (Parque Nacional Hernando de Magallanes). Anales Inst Patagonia 3:103–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Pisano EV (1973) Fitogeografía de la península Brunswick, Magallanes. I. Comunidades meso-higromorficase hidromorficas. Anales Inst Patagonia 4:141–206

    Google Scholar 

  • Pisano EV (1977) Fitogeografía de Fuego-Patagonia chilena I. Comunidades vegetales entre las latitudes 52 y 56°S. Anales Inst Patagonia 8:121–250

    Google Scholar 

  • Pisano EV (1985) La estepa patagónica como recurso pastoril en Aysen y Magallanes. Amb Desarr 1:45–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Posse G, Anchorena J, Collantes MB (2000) Spatial micro-patterns in the steppe of Tierra del Fuego induced by sheep grazing. J Veg Sci 11:43–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roig FA, Anchorena J, Dollenz O, Faggi AM, Méndez E (1985) Las comunidades vegetales de la transecta botánica de la Patagonia Austral. In Boelcke O, Moore DM, Roig FA (eds) Transecta Botánica de la Patagonia Austral. CONICET, Instituto de la Patagonia y Royal Society London, Buenos Aires, pp 350–519

    Google Scholar 

  • Roleček J, Tichý L, Zelený D, Chytrý M (2009) Modified TWINSPAN classification in which the hierarchy respects cluster. J Veg Sci 20:596–602

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sáez C (1994) Caracterización de la fertilidad de los suelos de la Región de Magallanes. Informe Final. Proyecto Fundación fondo investigaciones agropecuarias. Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas

    Google Scholar 

  • SAG (2004) El pastizal de Magallanes. Guía de uso, condición actual y propuesta de seguimiento para determinación de tendencia. Gobierno regional de Magallanes y Antártica Chilena, Ministerio de agricultura, servicio agrícola y ganadero (SAG) y Departamento de protección de los recursos naturales renovables, Punta Arenas

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider C, Glaser M, Kilian R, Santana A, Butorovic N, Casassa G (2003) Weather observations across the southern Andes at 53° S. Phys Geogr 24:97–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • StatSoft, Inc. (2011) STATISTICA (data analysis software system), version 10. Available at: http://www.statsoft.com

  • Strauch O, Covacevich N, Cárdenas A (eds) (2006) El manejo sustentable de las praderas naturales de Magallanes. SOCHIPA en Magallanes. 30 años. Serie Actas INIA N° 35. Instituto de investigaciones agropecuarias (INIA), Punta Arenas

  • ter Braak CJF, Šmilauer P (2002) Canoco for Windows. Version 4.5. Centre for Biometry Wageningen, CPRO-DLO, Wageningen

  • Tahvanainen T, Sallantaus T, Heikkilä R, Tolonen K (2002) Spatial variation of mire surface water chemistry and vegetation in north-eastern Finland. Ann Bot Fennici 39:235–251

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tichý L (2002) JUICE, software for vegetation classification. J Veg Sci 13:451–453

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tuhkanen S (1992) The climate of Tierra del Fuego from a vegetation geographical point of view and its ecoclimatic counterparts elsewhere. Acta Bot Fennici 145:1–64

    Google Scholar 

  • van der Maarel E (1979) Transformation of cover-abundance values in phytosociology and its effect on community similarity. Vegetatio 39:97–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weber HE, Moravec J, Theurillat J-P (2000) International code of phytosociological nomenclature. Ed. 3. J Veg Sci 11:739–768

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wheeler BD, Proctor CF (2000) Ecological gradients, subdivisions and terminology of north west European mires. J Ecol 88:187–203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wille M, Schaebitz F (2009) Late-glacial and Holocene climate dynamics at the steppe/forest ecotone in southernmost Patagonia, Argentina: the pollen record from a fen near Brazo Sur, Lago Argentino. Veg Hist Archaeobot 18:225–234

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by INIA CRI Kampenaike, by the Mobility Fund of the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic and by the internal grant of the Faculty of Environment, UJEP, Ústí nad Labem. Radim Hédl was supported by long-term research project RVO 67985939 from the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic and grant 206/08/0389 of the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic. Martin Dančák was supported by Palacký University grant IGA Prf-2010. We thank Laco Mucina for his valuable comments, Markéta Chudomelová for the computation of NMDS and Péter Szabó for improving our English.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Environment, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, Králova Výšina 3132/7, CZ-400 96, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic

    Ladislava Filipová

  2. Department of Vegetation Ecology, Institute of Botany of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Lidická 25/27, CZ-602 00, Brno, Czech Republic

    Radim Hédl

  3. Faculty of Science, Department of Ecology & Environmental Sciences, Palacký University, tř. Svobody 26, CZ-771 46, Olomouc, Czech Republic

    Martin Dančák

Authors
  1. Ladislava Filipová
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Radim Hédl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Martin Dančák
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Radim Hédl.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

(XLS 109 kb)

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

Table 5 List of sampled sites
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Filipová, L., Hédl, R. & Dančák, M. Magellanic Wetlands: More than Moor. Folia Geobot 48, 163–188 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12224-012-9143-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12224-012-9143-z

Keywords

  • Acidity gradient
  • Classification
  • Patagonia
  • Soil chemistry
  • Tierra del Fuego
  • Wetland vegetation