Floristic types of high‐Andean wetlands from northwest Argentina and their remote‐sensed characterization at a regional scale

Abstract

Aims: High-Andean vegas are key functional wetlands in the Puna ecoregion. Plant communities in combination with ecogeographic characteristics determine their functional processes. In this study, we identified groups of vegas based on their plant composition and characterized these groups with spatial and spectral variables representing their ecogeographic context.Location: Argentine Puna and High-Andean ecoregions. Methods:We recorded the species composition and cover of plants in 50 vegas distributed along a ecogeographic gradient. We calculated six spatial and 14 spectral variables for each vega. We performed a correspondence analysis (CA) to explore species data and used the site's scores in a k-means analysis to identify groups of vegas.Then, we characterized each group of vegas with spatial and spectral variables with the v.test using the 'catdes' function in the FactoMineR package. Results:The CA showed five groups of vegas segregated by the plant species composition. Each group was related to different spatial and spectral variables showing an ecogeographic gradient. Vegas with Poaceas were located at higher altitude and lower latitude and longitude (Group 1, Festuca nardifolia and Deschampsia hackelii). Vegas dominated by cushion species had higher humidity (Group 2, Oxychloe andina), and higher and more stable productivity (Group 3, Eleocharis pseudoalbibracteata), while vegas with halophytic species were associated with a larger area, higher salinity, and lower humidity (Group 4, Amphiscirpus nevadensis), and lower productivity (Group 5, Lycium humile and Salicornia pulvinata). Conclusions:Our results are the first floristic classification and remote-sensing characterization of high-Andean vegas at a regional scale. This information shows the variation of these ecosystems and suggests that remote sensing, complemented with field information, could help to identify types of vegas at regional scales. This information is relevant for land planning and sustainable management of these key ecosystems in the context of threats of global change.

Threatened aquatic Andean frogs and mining activity in the Lithium Triangle of South America: Can both coexist?

“…Brine desiccation could provoke a decrease in the base level of groundwater in the basin, thus reducing fresh water outside the edges of the salt flats and affecting the functioning of lagoons, streams, and peatlands (Gallardo, 2011; Sticco, Scravaglieri & Damiani, 2019; Vera et al, 2023). High Andean wetlands, such as peatlands, provide key ecosystem services, contributing a significant proportion of primary productivity, maintaining vertebrate populations, and regulating hydrological resources (Izquierdo et al, 2015; Rolando et al, 2017; Oyague & Cooper, 2020). These wetlands provide shelter to aquatic species, having a high diversity of macroinvertebrates and zooplankton, which contribute to the processing of organic matter while serving as food for other organisms such as fish and amphibians (Nieto et al, 2017).…”

Experimental warming increases respiration and affects microbial communities of soil wetlands at different elevations of the Argentinean Puna

“…We selected three representative vegas of high Andean wetlands in a similar region with similar floristic composition and eco-geographic characteristics according to Izquierdo et al (2022), but located at different elevations: 3 793, 3 862, and 4 206 m a.s.l. (Table 1, Fig.…”

“…S1). Plant communities are characterised by the dominance of Zameioscirpus atacamensis, with the presence of Eleocharis pseudoalbibracteata, Lobelia oligophylla and Phylloscirpus acaulis, among others (Izquierdo et al, 2022). Distichia muscoides and Oxichloe andina are also abundant species which form a typical cushion and can be associated with grasses, like Festuca nardifolia and Deyeuxia hackelii (Izquierdo et al, 2022).…”

registro arqueológico superficial de la quebrada de Cavi

“…El paisaje de este sector de la Puna corresponde a la vegetación altoandina (Cabrera, 1976). En la vega presenta cojín de Oxychloe andina y gramíneas, vegetación característica de vegas de alta humedad y productividad (Izquierdo et al, 2022). La vega de Cavi ofrece pasturas altamente localizadas que actualmente son utilizadas por pastores de llamas (Lama glama).…”