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Patagonian Peatlands (Argentina and Chile)

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The Wetland Book

Abstract

Peatlands are present in humid areas of Patagonia, reaching a latitudinal distribution along 2000 km, from the Chiloe Island to the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. Deglaciation and postglacial processes that occurred after the Last Glacial Maximum favoured the conditions for peatlands development. In addition, the strong negative west-east humidity gradient that the Andes mountain range induces is a substantial factor for peatland distribution, determining the location of the more extensive peatland complexes at the west of the Andes and in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. However, peatlands are also present as small minerogenic units in the oriental Andean foothill and occasionally in the driest extra-Andean Patagonia.Climatic and latitudinal gradients, in addition to the local drainage conditions gave rise to the conformation of several peatland complex types and subtypes that show differences on their dominant flora and morphological patterns. Particular regional names as “tepual”, “pomponal”, “mallín”, “vega”, etc., are utilized by the local people to identify different peatlands types.

Main Patagonian peatland complexes,favoured by their isolated situation,remain in an almost pristine state, but peat mining is an increasing activity in both Argentina and Chile, affecting peatlands accessible by roads. Numerous minerogenic peatlands of the extra-Andean Patagonia present degradation signs produced by overgrazing and drainage to favouring cattle raising.

The Patagonian peatlands provide significant environmental functions. They constitute the main carbon sink and carbon storage in the extratropical Southern Hemisphere, so they contribute to climate change mitigation. In addition, they give support to the biodiversity, offer a tourist attraction as components of the landscape, contribute to the hydrological regulation and provide freshwater. The wise use of these wetlands is a challenge for the peatlands management in Patagonia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego, Los Cauquenes 1308, 9410, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

    Rodolfo Iturraspe

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  1. Rodolfo Iturraspe
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Correspondence to Rodolfo Iturraspe .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Ecology and Biodiversity, Charles Sturt University Inst. for Land, Water and Society, Albury, New South Wales, Australia

    C. Max Finlayson

  2. Dept. of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources, Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada

    G. Randy Milton

  3. Nature Management Services, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia

    R. Crawford Prentice

  4. Charles Sturt University, Albury, New South Wales, Australia

    Nick C. Davidson

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© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Iturraspe, R. (2016). Patagonian Peatlands (Argentina and Chile). In: Finlayson, C., Milton, G., Prentice, R., Davidson, N. (eds) The Wetland Book. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6173-5_230-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6173-5_230-1

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  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-6173-5

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