Soil texture and altitude, respectively, largely determine the floristic gradient of the most diverse fog oasis in the Peruvian desert
Publikation: Beiträge in Zeitschriften › Zeitschriftenaufsätze › Forschung › begutachtet
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Soil texture and altitude, respectively, largely determine the floristic gradient of the most diverse fog oasis in the Peruvian desert. / Muenchow, Jannes; Hauenstein, Simon; Bräuning, Achim et al.
in: Journal of Tropical Ecology, Jahrgang 29, Nr. 5, 01.09.2013, S. 427-438.Publikation: Beiträge in Zeitschriften › Zeitschriftenaufsätze › Forschung › begutachtet
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Soil texture and altitude, respectively, largely determine the floristic gradient of the most diverse fog oasis in the Peruvian desert
AU - Muenchow, Jannes
AU - Hauenstein, Simon
AU - Bräuning, Achim
AU - Bäumler, Rupert
AU - Rodríguez, Eric Frank
AU - von Wehrden, Henrik
PY - 2013/9/1
Y1 - 2013/9/1
N2 - Studying species turnover along gradients is a key topic in tropical ecology. Crucial drivers, among others, are fog deposition and soil properties. In northern Peru, a fog-dependent vegetation formation develops on mountains along the hyper-arid coast. Despite their uniqueness, these fog oases are largely uninvestigated. This study addresses the influence of environmental factors on the vegetation of these unique fog oases. Accordingly, vegetation and soil properties were recorded on 66 4 × 4-m plots along an altitudinal gradient ranging from 200 to 950 m asl. Ordination and modelling techniques were used to study altitudinal vegetation belts and floristic composition. Four vegetation belts were identified: a low-elevation Tillandsia belt, a herbaceous belt, a bromeliad belt showing highest species richness and an uppermost succulent belt. Different altitudinal levels might reflect water availability, which is highest below the temperature inversion at around 700 m asl. Altitude alone explained 96% of the floristic composition. Soil texture and salinity accounted for 88%. This is in contrast with more humid tropical ecosystems where soil nutrients appear to be more important. Concluding, this study advances the understanding of tropical gradients in fog-dependent and ENSO-affected ecosystems.
AB - Studying species turnover along gradients is a key topic in tropical ecology. Crucial drivers, among others, are fog deposition and soil properties. In northern Peru, a fog-dependent vegetation formation develops on mountains along the hyper-arid coast. Despite their uniqueness, these fog oases are largely uninvestigated. This study addresses the influence of environmental factors on the vegetation of these unique fog oases. Accordingly, vegetation and soil properties were recorded on 66 4 × 4-m plots along an altitudinal gradient ranging from 200 to 950 m asl. Ordination and modelling techniques were used to study altitudinal vegetation belts and floristic composition. Four vegetation belts were identified: a low-elevation Tillandsia belt, a herbaceous belt, a bromeliad belt showing highest species richness and an uppermost succulent belt. Different altitudinal levels might reflect water availability, which is highest below the temperature inversion at around 700 m asl. Altitude alone explained 96% of the floristic composition. Soil texture and salinity accounted for 88%. This is in contrast with more humid tropical ecosystems where soil nutrients appear to be more important. Concluding, this study advances the understanding of tropical gradients in fog-dependent and ENSO-affected ecosystems.
KW - Biology
KW - Ecosystems Research
KW - altitudinal zonation
KW - diversity gradients
KW - dry tropics
KW - edaphic gradient
KW - ENSO
KW - floristic modelling
KW - La Niña
KW - South America
KW - spatial analysis
KW - species richness
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84884537232&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S0266467413000436
DO - 10.1017/S0266467413000436
M3 - Journal articles
AN - SCOPUS:84884537232
VL - 29
SP - 427
EP - 438
JO - Journal of Tropical Ecology
JF - Journal of Tropical Ecology
SN - 0266-4674
IS - 5
ER -