Age structure and dynamics of Patagonian beech forests in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

This study documents the stem size and age-structure in forests dominated by different species of Nothofagus in Torres del Paine National Park (51° S), in the Chilean Patagonian region. We also explored the relationship between the various types of Nothofagus forest and postglacial succession. Pione...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Vegetatio
Main Authors: Armesto, Juan J., Casassa, I., Dollenz, O.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Kluwer Academic Publishers 1992
Subjects:
Colonization of moraines
Disturbance
Flooding
Forest succession
Nothofagus
Primary succession
Tree regeneration
Paine
Antarc*
Antarctica
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00031633
https://repositorio.uchile.cl/handle/2250/157055
Description
Summary:This study documents the stem size and age-structure in forests dominated by different species of Nothofagus in Torres del Paine National Park (51° S), in the Chilean Patagonian region. We also explored the relationship between the various types of Nothofagus forest and postglacial succession. Pioneer stands on moraine fields 1-2 km of the glacier front are dominated by Nothofagus betuloides and Nothofagus antarctica. Moraines appear to be first colonized by the evergreen N. betuloides, followed within 5-7 years by deciduous N. antarctica. Nothofagus antarctica may replace the former species and develop monospecific stands on glacial valleys. Most trees in the N. antarctica stand studied were older than 40 years and floods may cause a significant mortality of young trees. Recruitment from seed seems to be infrequent. Old-growth stands dominated by deciduous Nothofagus pumilio occupy more stable substrates, and probably represent the last stage of postglacial succession. This long-lived

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