Human impact and vegetation change in Mt. Catedral (Río Negro, Argentina)
Skiing started around 65 years ago on the northern sector of the eastern slope of Mt. Catedral (41°10’S, 71°30’W, 2,388 m), and currently the mountain hosts the most important winter sports center in South America. Current and potential vegetation types were compared, based on historical vegetation...
| Published in: | Bosque (Valdivia) |
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| Main Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | Spanish |
| Published: |
Universidad Austral de Chile, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Recursos Naturales.
2004
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://revistas.uach.cl/index.php/bosque/article/view/5637 https://doi.org/10.4067/s0717-92002004000300007 |
| Summary: | Skiing started around 65 years ago on the northern sector of the eastern slope of Mt. Catedral (41°10’S, 71°30’W, 2,388 m), and currently the mountain hosts the most important winter sports center in South America. Current and potential vegetation types were compared, based on historical vegetation maps and photographs, topographic and climatic maps, recent aerial photographs and the forest structure. The modern vegetation is made up of: i) meadows (10.7% of the study area); ii) Austrocedrus chilensis forests (2.2%); iii) Nothofagus antarctica and Chusquea culeou shrublands (29.7%); iv) Nothofagus pumilio forests and shrublands (26.7%); and v) alpine vegetation (19.5%). Although large-scale disturbances occurred before 1937, the expansion of the ski center caused extensive clear-felling for construction of ski runs, slopes, roads, means of transport, and amenities. Around 9% of the originally forested land was completely replaced by secondary, anthropogenic areas (i.e., urban and non-wooded).The current stand structure reflects different disturbance regimes and forest recovery. The deforestation of this fragile ecosystem has resulted in landscape, soil, and biota degradation. En el sector septentrional de la ladera Este del cerro Catedral (41°10’S, 71°30’O, 2.388 m) la práctica del esquí comenzó hace alrededor de 65 años y en la actualidad se desarrolla el centro de deportes invernales más importante de Sudamérica. Se compararon los tipos de vegetación actual y potencial a partir de mapas y fotografías históricas, fotografías aéreas actuales, mapas climáticos y topográficos y la estructura del bosque. La vegetación actual está representada por i) la pradera (10,7% del área de estudio), ii) el bosque de Austrocedrus chilensis (2,2%), iii) el matorral de Nothofagus antarctica y Chusquea culeou (29,7%), iv), el bosque y matorral de Nothofagus pumilio (26,7%) y v) la vegetación altoandina (19,5%). Aunque antes de 1937 ocurrieron disturbios masivos de gran escala, el desarrollo del centro de deportes implicó talas ... |
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