Invasión de plantas no-nativas en senderos de la zona austral de Chile: rasgos funcionales y rol de la visitación.
Date
2025
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universidad de Concepción
Abstract
Las especies exóticas invasoras son uno de los principales factores que contribuyen a la pérdida de biodiversidad y servicios ecosistémicos, estas invasiones biológicas han alcanzado lugares remotos del mundo como los ecosistemas de alta montaña, debido a factores como cambio climático y/o presión antropogénica, los cuales han facilitado la dispersión y establecimiento de especies exóticas en zonas de difícil acceso, que poseen altos niveles de vegetación endémica adaptadas a climas adversos. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la relación entre la riqueza de plantas no-nativas y la visitación turística en senderos de la zona austral de Chile, e identificar los rasgos funcionales que facilitan su dispersión y establecimiento en ecosistemas extremos de alta montaña. Para analizar esto se seleccionaron cuatro senderos, ubicados en el extremo sur de Chile, dos en la ciudad de Coyhaique (zona Sur) y dos en Puerto Williams (zona Subantártica). Se utilizó el protocolo de muestreo MIREN, realizando 10 transectos a lo largo de los senderos, compuestos por tres subparcelas con forma de T, registrando datos de riqueza, abundancia y cobertura de plantas no-nativas y nativas. Los resultados indican que senderos con mayor visitación presentan mayor riqueza de plantas no-nativas, principalmente herbáceas anemócoras. Se observa que la masa de la semilla tiende a aumentar con la elevación. Se recomienda desarrollar estrategias para reducir impactos turísticos y conservar los ecosistemas de montaña en los Andes.
Invasive exotic species are one of the main factors contributing to the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services, these biological invasions have reached remote places in the world such as high mountain ecosystems, due to factors such as climate change and/or anthropogenic pressure, which have facilitated the dispersion and establishment of exotic species in areas of difficult access, which have high levels of endemic vegetation specialized to adverse climates. The objective of this work is to analyze the relationship between the richness of non- native plants and tourist visitation on trails in southern Chile, and to identify the functional traits that facilitate their dispersal and establishment in extreme high mountain ecosystems. To analyze this, four trails were selected, located in the extreme south of Chile, one in the city of Coyhaique (southern zone) and Puerto Williams (sub-Antarctic zone). The MIREN sampling protocol was used, carrying out 10 transects along the trails, composed of three T-shaped subplots, recording data on richness, abundance and cover of non-native and native plants. The results indicate that trails with higher visitation have a higher richness of non- native plants, mainly anemochorous herbaceous plants. It is observed that seed mass tends to increase with elevation. It is recommended to develop strategies to reduce tourism impacts and conserve mountain ecosystems in the Andes.
Invasive exotic species are one of the main factors contributing to the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services, these biological invasions have reached remote places in the world such as high mountain ecosystems, due to factors such as climate change and/or anthropogenic pressure, which have facilitated the dispersion and establishment of exotic species in areas of difficult access, which have high levels of endemic vegetation specialized to adverse climates. The objective of this work is to analyze the relationship between the richness of non- native plants and tourist visitation on trails in southern Chile, and to identify the functional traits that facilitate their dispersal and establishment in extreme high mountain ecosystems. To analyze this, four trails were selected, located in the extreme south of Chile, one in the city of Coyhaique (southern zone) and Puerto Williams (sub-Antarctic zone). The MIREN sampling protocol was used, carrying out 10 transects along the trails, composed of three T-shaped subplots, recording data on richness, abundance and cover of non-native and native plants. The results indicate that trails with higher visitation have a higher richness of non- native plants, mainly anemochorous herbaceous plants. It is observed that seed mass tends to increase with elevation. It is recommended to develop strategies to reduce tourism impacts and conserve mountain ecosystems in the Andes.
Description
Tesis presentada para optar al título de Ingeniera en Conservación de Recursos Naturales.
Keywords
Invasiones biológicas, Organismos introducidos, Diversidad de las plantas