Differential response of natural regeneration to silvopastoral use intensity in mixed forests of northern Patagonia, Argentina

Silvopastoral use (combined livestock and forestry) is widely distributed in South America’s native forests. Without medium to long-term planning, this activity may affect the population dynamics of the dominant canopy tree species, resulting in forest degradation. The early stages of tree life cycl...

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Main Authors: Arpigiani, Daniela F., Chillo, María Verónica, Soler Esteban, Rosina Matilde, Amoroso, Mariano M.
Format: Artículo
Language:Inglés
Published: Elsevier 2022
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/12619
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378112722004029
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120408
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author Arpigiani, Daniela F.
Chillo, María Verónica
Soler Esteban, Rosina Matilde
Amoroso, Mariano M.
author_browse Amoroso, Mariano M.
Arpigiani, Daniela F.
Chillo, María Verónica
Soler Esteban, Rosina Matilde
author_facet Arpigiani, Daniela F.
Chillo, María Verónica
Soler Esteban, Rosina Matilde
Amoroso, Mariano M.
author_sort Arpigiani, Daniela F.
collection INTA Digital
description Silvopastoral use (combined livestock and forestry) is widely distributed in South America’s native forests. Without medium to long-term planning, this activity may affect the population dynamics of the dominant canopy tree species, resulting in forest degradation. The early stages of tree life cycles are usually the most vulnerable, so the successful establishment and development of seedlings and saplings is a key indicator of the potential forcontinuity of the tree layer over time. This study evaluated the effect of silvopastoral use intensity (SUI) upon the density and development of dominant tree species - Austrocedrus chilensis and Nothofagus dombeyi - along a gradient generated by spatially and temporally heterogeneous livestock activity and forest harvesting in mixed forests of northwestern Patagonia, Argentina. We monitored the survival and growth of 740 seedlings and saplings over two years (2018–2020) in three medium-sized estates SUI gradients and upland migration of livestock during the summer season. We also evaluated changes in biophysical variables that influence the tree regeneration process: light input, soil moisture, and understory vegetation structure. We found that higher SUI modifies the biophysical environment, increasing light input and horizontal understory cover. The response of saplings and seedlings to SUI was not homogenous; N. dombeyi showed significant changes in its regeneration dynamics, denoted by a decrease in the density of seedlings and an increase in the density and height growth of the saplings along the SUI gradient. Meanwhile, A. chilensis only showed tendencies to deformation by browsing (height: diameter ratio). Thus, in medium-size estates with low stocking rates and which are free of herbivory during summers; fast-growing species (e.g. N. dombeyi) could be favored by the slight canopy openings, compensating for the negative impact of browsing. However, it is necessary to monitor and potentially individually protect A. chilensis saplings until browsing height is exceeded.
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spelling INTA126192022-08-18T11:34:25Z Differential response of natural regeneration to silvopastoral use intensity in mixed forests of northern Patagonia, Argentina Arpigiani, Daniela F. Chillo, María Verónica Soler Esteban, Rosina Matilde Amoroso, Mariano M. Bosques Bosque Templado Nothofagus Nothofagus dombeyi Forests Temperate Forests Austrocedrus chilensis Región Patagónica Silvopastoral use (combined livestock and forestry) is widely distributed in South America’s native forests. Without medium to long-term planning, this activity may affect the population dynamics of the dominant canopy tree species, resulting in forest degradation. The early stages of tree life cycles are usually the most vulnerable, so the successful establishment and development of seedlings and saplings is a key indicator of the potential forcontinuity of the tree layer over time. This study evaluated the effect of silvopastoral use intensity (SUI) upon the density and development of dominant tree species - Austrocedrus chilensis and Nothofagus dombeyi - along a gradient generated by spatially and temporally heterogeneous livestock activity and forest harvesting in mixed forests of northwestern Patagonia, Argentina. We monitored the survival and growth of 740 seedlings and saplings over two years (2018–2020) in three medium-sized estates SUI gradients and upland migration of livestock during the summer season. We also evaluated changes in biophysical variables that influence the tree regeneration process: light input, soil moisture, and understory vegetation structure. We found that higher SUI modifies the biophysical environment, increasing light input and horizontal understory cover. The response of saplings and seedlings to SUI was not homogenous; N. dombeyi showed significant changes in its regeneration dynamics, denoted by a decrease in the density of seedlings and an increase in the density and height growth of the saplings along the SUI gradient. Meanwhile, A. chilensis only showed tendencies to deformation by browsing (height: diameter ratio). Thus, in medium-size estates with low stocking rates and which are free of herbivory during summers; fast-growing species (e.g. N. dombeyi) could be favored by the slight canopy openings, compensating for the negative impact of browsing. However, it is necessary to monitor and potentially individually protect A. chilensis saplings until browsing height is exceeded. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche Fil: Arpigiani, Daniela. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro. Instituto de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales, Agroecología y Desarrollo Rural; Argentina Fil: Chillo, María Verónica. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria (INTA). Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Agencia de Extension Rural El Bolson; Argentina Fil: Chillo, María Verónica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche; Argentina Fil: Soler, Rosina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina Fil: Amoroso, Mariano. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro. Instituto de Investigaciones en Recursos Naturales, Agroecología y Desarrollo Rural; Argentina 2022-08-18T11:23:22Z 2022-08-18T11:23:22Z 2022-07-07 info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/12619 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378112722004029 0378-1127 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120408 eng info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess application/pdf Elsevier Forest Ecology and Management 520 : Art. 120408 (Septiembre 2022)
spellingShingle Bosques
Bosque Templado
Nothofagus
Nothofagus dombeyi
Forests
Temperate Forests
Austrocedrus chilensis
Región Patagónica
Arpigiani, Daniela F.
Chillo, María Verónica
Soler Esteban, Rosina Matilde
Amoroso, Mariano M.
Differential response of natural regeneration to silvopastoral use intensity in mixed forests of northern Patagonia, Argentina
title Differential response of natural regeneration to silvopastoral use intensity in mixed forests of northern Patagonia, Argentina
title_full Differential response of natural regeneration to silvopastoral use intensity in mixed forests of northern Patagonia, Argentina
title_fullStr Differential response of natural regeneration to silvopastoral use intensity in mixed forests of northern Patagonia, Argentina
title_full_unstemmed Differential response of natural regeneration to silvopastoral use intensity in mixed forests of northern Patagonia, Argentina
title_short Differential response of natural regeneration to silvopastoral use intensity in mixed forests of northern Patagonia, Argentina
title_sort differential response of natural regeneration to silvopastoral use intensity in mixed forests of northern patagonia argentina
topic Bosques
Bosque Templado
Nothofagus
Nothofagus dombeyi
Forests
Temperate Forests
Austrocedrus chilensis
Región Patagónica
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/12619
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378112722004029
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120408
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