According to the global latitudinal diversity gradient, a decrease in animal and plant species richness exists from the tropics towards higher latitudes. The aim of this study was to describe the latitudinal distribution patterns of Chilean continental flora and delineate biogeographic regions along a 4270-km north-south gradient. We reviewed plant lists for each of the 39 parallels of continental Chile to build a database of the geographical distribution of vascular plant species comprising 184 families, 957 genera and 3787 species, which corresponded to 100%, 94.9% and 74.2% of the richness previously defined for Chile, respectively. Using this latitudinal presence-absence species matrix, we identified areas with high plant richness and endemism and performed a Cluster analysis using Jaccard index to delineate biogeographic regions. This study found that richness at family, genus and species levels follow a unimodal 4270-km latitudinal distribution curve, with a concentration of richness in central Chile (31-42°S). The 37th parallel south (central Chile) presented the highest richness for all taxonomic levels and in specific zones the endemism (22-37°S) was especially high.This unimodal pattern contrasts the global latitudinal diversity gradient shown by other studies in the Northern hemisphere. Seven floristic regions were identified in this latitudinal gradient: tropical (18-22°S), north Mediterranean (23-28°S), central Mediterranean (29-32°S), south Mediterranean (33-37°S), north temperate (38-42°S), south temperate (43-52°S) and Austral (53-56°S). This regionalization coincides with previous bioclimatic classifications and illustrates the high heterogeneity of the biodiversity in Chile and the need for a reconsideration of governmental conservation strategies to protect this diversity throughout Chile.

Proposición de zonas de crecimiento de renovales de roble (Nothofagus obliqua) y raulí (Nothofagus alpina) en su rango de distribución natural* Proposition of growth zones for roble (Nothofagus obliqua) and raulí (Nothofagus alpina) second growth forests along their natural distribution rank C.D.O.

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RESUMENSe estudió la dinámica de degradación de la vegetación en un mosaico vegetal antropogénico del paisaje rural de la Región de Aisén para establecer las posibles relaciones de origen tanto espacial como temporal entre las comunidades y proponer series de degradación. Se trabajó con metodología fi tosociológica levantando 50 censos de vegetación. La tabla inicial fue ordenada usando especies diferenciales en 7 comunidades: matorral de ñire (Anemone multifi da-Nothofagus antarctica), silvopastoreo con ñire, silvopastoreo con chacay, pradera de trébol-ballica (Bromus catharticus-Trifolium repens), pradera de chépica-cadillo (Acaena ovalifolia-Agrostis capillaris), pradera de cadillo-Aira y estepa de cadillo, las que se compararon en sus espectros sistemáticos, biológicos y de origen. Posteriormente, se realizaron análisis estadísticos multivariados de clasifi cación (conglomerados) y de ordenación (componentes principales) a la tabla inicial transformada previamente en una matriz de datos. Finalmente, utilizando el índice de Ellenberg se compararon las comunidades encontradas, las que se distribuyeron en una constelación de comunidades. La fl ora de la tabla inicial estuvo conformada por 78 especies con un predominio de plantas herbáceas perennes y anuales alóctonas que indican un alto grado de antropización. Se estableció la siguiente dinámica vegetacional de degradación: el matorral de ñire se degrada por pastoreo a un silvopastoreo con ñire, el cual se transforma en una pradera antropogénica, con sobrepastoreo ésta da origen a una pradera de cadillo-Aira, la que por abandono desemboca en una estepa de cadillo. Se discuten los resultados obtenidos y la aplicabilidad del método. PALABRAS CLAVE:Patagonia chilena, vegetación, dinámica, degradación antrópica. ABSTRACTWe studied the dynamic of the vegetation degradation in a rural anthropogenic mosaic vegetal landscape of the Aisen Region, Chile to establish relations of origin in space and time between communities and propose series of degradation. With plant sociological methodology we make up 50 vegetation samples. The initial table was sorted using differential species in 7 communities: ñire scrub (Anemone multifida-Nothofagus antarctica), silvipasture with ñire, silvipasture with chacay, trebol-ballica prairie (Bromus catharticus-Trifolium repens), chepica-cadillo prairie (Acaena ovalifolia-Agrostis capillaris), cadillo-Aira prairie and cadillo steppe, which were compared in their systematic, biological and origin spectra. The initial table previously transformed into a data matrix was treated with multivariate statistical analysis of classification (cluster analysis) and ordination (principal components analysis). Finally using the Ellenberg community similarity coefficient were compared and distributed in a communities constellation. The flora of the initial plant sociological table consisted of 78 species with a predominance of annual and perennial herbaceous foreign species that indicated a large anthropic influence. The following vegetation dynamic of d...

This paper summarizes the EERI reconnaissance team findings on damage to the Chilean wine industry after the 27 February 2010 Offshore Maule Earthquake. Wine production is one of the major industries in Chile, with an annual production of approximately one million metric tons. It is estimated that the total loss to the wine industry is over 125 million liters, with infrastructure damage estimated as high as US$430. Most of the damage was concentrated in older wineries with collapse of adobe walls and timber roofs or ribbed brick vaults. Damage to steel fermentation tanks was widespread among all wineries visited with the severity of such damage depending on the type of tank anchorage. Local buckling of legs in legged tanks or excessive movement followed by the tank falling off the support pad led to toppling that ruptured piping or valves. Stacked barrels, stored bottles of wine, and production lines were also damaged.