Regeneration of Subalpine Nothofagus Pumilio in Northwestern Patagonia Argentina
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University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 2000 Regeneration of subalpine Nothofagus pumilio in northwestern Patagonia Argentina Christopher A. Wall The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Wall, Christopher A., "Regeneration of subalpine Nothofagus pumilio in northwestern Patagonia Argentina" (2000). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 6805. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/6805 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Maureen and Mike MANSFIELD LIBRARY The University of JV IO N T A N A Permission is granted by the author to reproduce this material in its entirety, provided that this material is used for scholarly purposes and is properly cited in published works and reports. ** Please check "Yes" or and provide signature ** Yes, I grant permission k No, I do not grant permission Author’s Signature Date S - P ^ 6 O O Any copying for commercial purposes or financial gain may be undertaken only with the author’s explicit consent. Regeneration of SubalpineNothofagus pumilio in Northwestern Patagonia, Argentina By Christopher A. Wall B.A. Vassar College, 1991 Presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science The University of Montana 2000 Approved By Committee Co-Chairs Dean of the Graduate School S'^Zo ' Date UMI Number: EP37606 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI OiMëfWionPubliahmg UMI EP37606 Published by ProQuest LLC (2013). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code uesf ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 - 1346 Wall, Christopher A., M.S. 2000 Environmental Studies Regeneration of Subalpine Nothofagus pumilio in Northwestern Patagonia, Argentina (60 pp.) Directors: Carol A. Brewer, Ph.D. and Paul Alaback, Ph.D. r I report on seedling regeneration in a forest ofNothofagus pumilio in northwestern Patagonia, Argentina. The forest was located in the Chall-Huaco Valley in Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi (41°8’ S, 71°19* W). Drier sub-alpine forests in this region tend to be monotypic deciduous, broad-leafed stands of Nothofagus pumilio. Canopies in these forests are relatively closed. The ground is snow-covered for most winter months, followed by a thick mantel of largely herbaceous understory vegetation in the spring and summer. Regeneration of Nothofagus pumilio under these conditions is poor. In this study, we evaluated the relationship of successfully regenerating Nothofagus pumilio seedlings to five decay classes of coarse woody debris (CWD) in six 0.25 hectare plots along an elevational gradient ranging from 1000 - 1500 m. Seedlings were not evenly distributed among the CWD decay classes and bare ground. Successfully regenerating seedlings were located predominantly in the presence of well- decayed coarse woody debris, with 34.2% of seedlings found in Class 4 (2"^ most decayed), and 36.3% were found in Class 5 (most decayed). Our results suggest that there is a trend between CWD and successful regeneration of Nothofagus pumilio. More research is needed to clarify the effect of complex environmental factors such as microclimatic conditions, soils, and herbivory that may be further limiting regeneration of Nothofagus pumilio to ensure conservation of the species Acknowledgements Thank you Carol for all the support you have given me over the past years. You remained flexible with my crazy schedule and were cheery when I was feeling in over my head. Paul, I appreciate the help squaring away my research and the vital feedback you have given. Len, thank you for supporting my extended tour through the EVST department and being willing to work around my other commitments. My sincerest thanks to C. Excurra for identifying all of the plant species and for assistance in the field. M. Aizen assisted with field collections and along with C. Excurra P. Feinsinger, K. Heinemann, G. Inglesias, T. Kitzberger, and A. Premoli, provided valuable information on local natural history and climatic patterns. I am very grateful to Administracion de Parques Nacionales in Argentina for permitting me to work in protected areas in Nahuel Huapi National Park. I have special thanks to offer to Sarah R. Hyman who stood with me while I stumbled and bumped around my graduate school experience, put up with my moods, shook her head at my outbursts and yet remains a marvelous friend. Por fin llegamos al fin, gracias Sarah. To Mom, Dad, and Tim - 1 love you very much. I appreciate the support of the Turner Foundation in partially funding my research overseas. Ill Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................iii Table of Contents ................... iv List of Tables ................................................................................................................... v List of Figures................................................................................................................ vi Chapter 1:..........................................................................................................................1 Methods and Materials........................................................................................6 Results.................................................................................................................10 Discussion...........................................................................................................13 Basal Area.................... 13 Height Characteristics...........................................................................15 Diameter................................................................. 16 Ground Cover ........................................................................................20 Coarse Woody Debris ...........................................................................21 Seedling Distribution ............................................................................23 Conclusion......................................................................................................... 27 Literature Cited..................................................................................................29 Chapter 2:........................................................................................................................50 IV List of Tables Table 1. Classification of Coarse Woody Debris into Five Categories Ranging From I (freshly fallen) to V (well-rotted) (Sollins 1982; Busse 1994)................................................................ ,............... 32 Table 2. Total'Number of Trees, Basal Area, Volume of Coarse Woody Debris, and Percent Cover of Understory Vegetation Across Elevation in N. pumilio Stands......................................................................... 33 Table 3. Volume of Coarse Woody Debris for Each Half Hectare Plot ....................34 Table 4. Percent Cover of Understory Species in Measured Quadrats for Each Stand.................................................................................................................35 Table 5. Average Number of N. Pumilio Seedlings in Each Stand........................... 36 Table 6. Average umber of N. pumilio Seedlings in Each Decay Class and the Percent of the Total Number of Seedlings ...................................................... 37 List of Figures Figure 1. Study Site .......................................................................................................38 Figure 2. Percent of Total Basal Area Derived from Stems < 40cm dbh Averaged Across Both Plots at Each Elevation ...........................................................39 Figure 3. Percent of CWD in each Decay Class, Composing 100% of Total CWD at each Elevation.................................................. 40 Figure 4. Average Tree Heights (meters) Across Elevation. ................................41 Figure 5. Average Tree Height in Three Height Classes Across Elevation ..............42 Figure 6. Average Canopy Depth (meters) from Canopy Top toLowest Branch... 43 Figure 7. Average Basal Area for Each Elevation .....................................................44 Figure 8. Percent of Total Basal Area Derived from Stems >30cm dbh Averaged Across Both Plots at Each Elevation ...........................................................45 Figure 9. Number of Trees in each Height Class Across Elevation ..........................46 Figure 10. Number of Trees