Effects of silvopastoral management on the structure and dynamics of mixed cordilleran cypress (Austrocedrus chilensis) and coihue (Nothofagus dombeyi) forests

Abstract

Amoroso, M. M., Chillo, V., Alcalá, V. M., Rezzano, C. A., Arpigiani, D., Villacide, E. 2018. How does the silvopastoral use modify the structure and population dynamics of mixed cypress and coihue forests? Ecosistemas 27(3):33-40. Doi.: 10.7818/ECOS.1502

The mixed cypress (Austrocedrus chilensis) and coihue (Nothofagus dombeyi) forests of northwestern Patagonia are influenced by strong anthropic pressures such as silvopastoral, where sustainable management were not applied. The effects of this activity are diverse and can result in negative impacts through changes in the composition and dynamics of the plant community. The objective was to characterize the structure and composition of the canopy and understory vegetation of mixed cypress and coihue forests, under different intensities of silvopastoral use, to infer the impact of this activity on the population dynamics. We worked in three farms with livestock activity with forests under two use intensity levels (high and low) in a paired sampling design. The understory community was affected by the intensity of use, showing greater heterogeneity and complexity of the vegetationin areas of high intensity use and a modification in the architecture of the seedlings of the main canopy species due to the greater browsing severity. The changes found in the understory have the potential to cause changes in the developmental patterns of regeneration. However, the useintensity did not have a significant effect on the demographic structure of the populations of the major species indicating the studied farms and the different intensities of silvopastoral use that result, would not affect in a differential way the dynamics of the canopy community.