Informative Guide Flora & Fauna of Central Chile Cascada de las Ánimas Nature Sanctuary Editorial This informative guide is a summary of the flora and fauna one can find within the Cascada de las Animas Nature Content: Sanctuary. It can, however, be used for Kendra Ivelic A. the entire higher Mediterranean Andes Biologist Universidad Catolica de Chile region. Coordinator of the Cascada Animal Refuge Design, photography, illustration: It has been created with the intention to Alonso Fuentes C. contribute to the environmental www.affc.cl education of all who visit the sanctuary. Photography of Eduardo Astorga and Eugenia Moreno: We invite you to enjoy and share this Ricardo Astorga M. book. Cover and BackCover Photography : Diego Astorga C. First Edition, January 2016 Photography of the Chuncho: Chagual Orrego A. All the pictures have been taken within the Nature Sanctuary of Cascada de las Animas. Translation: Martijn de Gruijter History During the age of conquest a lot Nature Sanctuary of Cascada de las of land was given to Rodrigo de Animas, thus providing the land Quiroga and Ines de Suarez. with the highest category of The old books indicate that the protection accessible for private extent of their lands reached until lands at the time. ‘El Cruce de las Animas,’ within Cajon del Maipo’. Over time these In conjunction with the development lands were inherited through of this sanctuary, the Cascada de las financial deals until Don Eduardo Animas Touristic Center also grew. Astorga Barriga acquired these Its aim is bringing people closer to lands and conserved its name as a nature and encouraging them to legacy. protect it, simultaneously realizing that sustainable ecotourism is one For many years the land was used of the best tools for environmental for agricultural and lumber education and the conservation of production. Its natural beauty, different ecosystems. however, conquered the hearts of the owners of the place – the Currently the center is also used Astorga Family- and that is how, in for different scientific investigations 1980, the initiative to create a related to climate change and the touristic center was born. In 1996, flora and fauna of this area. These at the request of the owners, the help us improve the conservation board of national monuments of the threatened ecosystems. Eduardo Astorga Barriga and Eugenia declared a large part of the territory Moreno de Astorga (roughly 3.600 Hectares) as the Glossary: Symbology: Native: Species originating in a geographic region. 1)Distribution Map: 2)Origin: Endemic: The distribution of a species is restricted to a limited geographical area and does not exist naturally anywhere else in the N E world. Native Endemic Sexual dimorphism: The existence of physical differences between male and female of the same animal species. Distribution of the 3)Number of offspring: species in Chile. Number Oviparous reproduction: Animals that reproduce laying eggs in the 8-10 of offspring environment. Viviparous reproduction: Animals that reproduce keeping the 4)Sexual dimorphism: embryo in the body of the female until birth. Presence of dimorphism in the species Annual Life Cycle: Organisms that are born, grow, reproduce and die in a year. 5)Conservation status according to IUCN (International Union Perennial Life Cycle: Plants that have a life cycle of more than a year for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) or by the Chilean and produce seeds more than once. Government Evergreen Foliage: Plants that keep their foliage throughout the year. Deciduous Foliage: Plants bounce sheet for part of the year. They lose their leaves in dry or cold weather. The flora and many of the animals in the guide have not been classified by the IUCN. Some of them that are in fact under threat Herbaceous perennials: Herbaceous plants that live part of the year as bulbous or thickened roots underground. are indicated by an Ecosystem Espinal ecosystem As it is surrounded by natural barriers that prevent direct contact with other areas, Continental Chile is considered a bio-geographical island. To the north we find the giant and arid Atacama Desert, in the east the great Andean mountain range, to the west the Pacific Ocean and south we find vast, impenetrable ice fields. This has generated a high level of endemic characterized by very distinct seasons: Continued global change has species, which means that Chile has Mild, rainy winters, with an average generated large ecosystem changes in many plant and animal species that do rainfall of 300 mm per year and very this area, with an emphasis on water not naturally occur anywhere else in the dry, warm summers with long and dry resources. Each year the drought is world. periods that can last up to 8 months. more intense, which strongly affects the biodiversity of central Chile and Moreover, being a country that expands The Mediterranean ecosystems in also increases the incidence of across many latitudes Chile has a wide the world are seriously threatened wildfires. variety of climates, from extremely arid by urbanization, agriculture and to very rainy sub-Antarctic climate. climate change, this is mainly Currently the Maipo River Basin is because these areas tend to directly threatened by a hydroelectric Cascada de las Animas is embedded in concentrate large human high impact project. It could a Mediterranean-type ecosystem, it is populations. irreversibly affect the ecosystem of one of the few places in the world that the central region. has this kind of weather. It is Flora Flora The Mediterranean climate generates heavily altered by livestock or forest intense pressure on the flora of the fires. area. The dry period can last up to eight months, so plants must adapt to the Sclerophyllous scrub and forest are prolonged lack of water and a couple of very threatened by change in land very rainy winter months. use in the central region, so its protection is essential to preserve Due to the strong environmental this natural heritage. pressure, the dominant vegetation of the area is categorized as Sclerophyllous scrub or "hard leaf", Azulillo, Pasithaea coerulea meaning trees and shrubs thicken their leaves to avoid losing water through Palqui, Cestrum parqui evaporation. The flora of the Maipo River basin contains about 600 species of vascular plants, of which about a 150 are endemic to the area. It is also common to see spinal areas which are pastures dominated mainly by Roman Cassies (Acacia caven). This vegetation type is generated in areas that have been Oreganillo, Viviania marifolia Flora E Quillay Boyén E Quillaja saponaria Kageneckia oblonga Evergreen tree that lives on Small evergreen tree related to the sun-exposed, dry slopes. When it Quillay. Inhabits exposed and dry flowers, multiple pollinators pay a soils. visit. The fruit is star-shaped and Common in woods and sclerophyll contains winged seeds which are shrubbery. dispersed by the wind. 2- 5 mt Its leaves have been used Due to the large amount of Saponin medicinally to induce vomiting and (component that serves as detergent) function as a laxative, but in larger contained in its bark it has been used amounts they can be poisonous. as shampoo, toothpaste, soap, medicines, vaccines, etc. other potential uses are still being discovered. 10 - 20 mt Flora Colligüay E Litre E Colliguaja odorifera Lithraea caustica Evergreen shrub found in arid and Evergreen tree that can be found exposed sclerophyllous forests. frequently in shrub shape, depending on the habitat. When it blossoms you can hear a loud sound coming from the capsules It frequents areas which are very as they open with great force, this in exposed to the sun and with little order to disperse their seed as wide precipitation, as well as moist ravine as possible. areas. It is known to cause allergies due to a component present in the resin. Its flowering attracts many pollinators and its fruit serves as food for birds, rodents and foxes. 1 - 2 mt 2 - 6 mt Flora Quisco E Roman Echinopsis chiloensis Cassie N An endemic species of cactus Acacia caven that lives mainly on arid slopes exposed to the north. Deciduous tree that inhabits Its leaves are transformed very dry sun-exposed areas into thorns which cover it with poor soil, it’s able to live completely and form a big, in badly eroded areas. white flower which is pollinated by a wide variety In the central region there is an of insects. The cactus then ecosystem of Espinal, mainly in produces an edible fruit which places that have been altered by feeds insects and mammals human activity and livestock. alike, including humans. During its flowering it attracts many pollinators and it decorates the place it lives with its 2 - 4 mt abundant yellow flowers. This species has been heavily exploited for the excellent quality of the coal it produces 2 - 6 mt when burned. Flora E Turquoise puya Guayacán E Puya berteroniana Porlieria chilensis Herbaceous plant that lives mainly An evergreen tree which frequents on rocky and dry slopes exposed to dry and rough areas, with a high the north. Very little is known about ornamental value for its unusual this plant, but it has been seen to shape. bloom some years and not on others. It has small violet flowers that are Its abundant and attractive flowers visited by different pollinators. attract a variety of insects and Its population has been heavily 1 - 4 mt hummingbirds which feed on its exploited because of the strength sweet nectar. The cluster of flowers and beauty of its wood, making it (inflorescence) can reach up to a difficult to find big individuals. meter high and they are supported by a wooden stem. 2 mt Flora Glory of the Sun E Leucocoryne ixiodes that is Perennial herb 1 - 2 mt distributed in Central Chile in arid locations with sun exposure; especially on Chilean Climbing northern-exposed N slopes.