GIMMS NDVI time series reveal the extent, duration, and intensity of “blooming desert” events in the hyper-arid Atacama Desert, Northern Chile

Chávez, Roberto O.; Moreira-Muñoz, Andrés; Galleguillos, Mauricio; Olea, Matías; Aguayo, J.; Latín, A.; Aguilera-Betti, Isabella; Muñoz, Ariel A.; Manríquez, Hermann

doi:10.1016/j.jag.2018.11.013

Cited by 48 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…For each spatial scale, we reconstructed the annual phenological cycle using a non-parametric approach implemented in the "npphen" R package [33]. This tool has proven to be effective for studying vegetation phenological metrics using large remote sensing datasets [34][35][36][37]. With npphen, all NDVI observations ( Figure 5a) are arranged by the phenological year (from July to the following June for the Southern Hemisphere) (Figure 5b).…”

Section: Time-series Analysis and Productivity Assessment At Differenmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Multiscale Productivity Assessment of High Andean Peatlands across the Chilean Altiplano Using 31 Years of Landsat Imagery

et al. 2019

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The high Andean peatlands, locally known as “bofedales”, are a unique type of wetland distributed across the high-elevation South American Altiplano plateau. This extensive peatland network stores significant amounts of carbon, regulates local and regional hydrological cycles, supports habitats for a variety of plant and animal species, and has provided critical water and forage resources for the livestock of the indigenous Aymara communities for thousands of years. Nevertheless, little is known about the productivity dynamics of the high Andean peatlands, particularly in the drier western Altiplano region bordering the Atacama desert. Here, we provide the first digital peatland inventory and multiscale productivity assessment for the entire western Altiplano (63,705 km2) using 31 years of Landsat data (about 9000 scenes) and a non-parametric approach for estimating phenological metrics. We identified 5665 peatland units, covering an area of 510 km2, and evaluated the spatiotemporal productivity patterns at the regional, peatland polygon, and individual pixel scales. The regional assessment shows that the peatland areas and peatlands with higher productivity are concentrated towards the northern part of our study region, which is consistent with the Altiplano north–south aridity gradient. Regional patterns further reveal that the last seven years (2011–2017) have been the most productive period over the past three decades. While individual pixels show contrasting patterns of reductions and gains in local productivity during the most recent time period, most of the study area has experienced increases in annual productivity, supporting the regional results. Our novel database can be used not only to explore future research questions related to the social, biological, and hydrological influences on peatland productivity patterns, but also to provide technical support for the sustainable development of livestock practices and conservation and water management policy in the Altiplano region.

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Section: Time-series Analysis and Productivity Assessment At Differenmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Multiscale Productivity Assessment of High Andean Peatlands across the Chilean Altiplano Using 31 Years of Landsat Imagery

et al. 2019

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“…We used arrays of experimental panels in the Mojave Desert to explore how photovoltaic arrays alter biophysical conditions on two different landforms and examine whether resulting novel microhabitats differ in effects on annual plant communities present. We focus on annuals because these communities are key components of desert ecosystems, providing resources for wildlife and spectacular superblooms with high aesthetic value (Brown et al 1979, Venable et al 1993, Ch avez et al 2019. Long-lived seeds of annuals may also persist within or disperse into developed sites, and annuals provide a tractable experimental system for assessing solar impacts because of their short generation times.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simulated solar panels create altered microhabitats in desert landforms

et al. 2020

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Solar energy development is a significant driver of land-use change worldwide, and desert ecosystems are particularly well suited to energy production because of their high insolation rates. Deserts are also characterized by uncertain rainfall, high species endemism, and distinct landforms that vary in geophysical properties. Weather and physical features that differ across landforms interact with shade and water runoff regimes imposed by solar panels, creating novel microhabitats that influence biotic communities. Endemic species may be particularly affected because they often have limited distributions, narrow climatic envelopes, or specialized life histories. We used experimental panels to simulate the effects of solar development on microhabitats and annual plant communities present on gravelly bajada and caliche pan habitat, two common habitat types in California's Mojave Desert. We evaluated soils and microclimatic conditions and measured community response under panels and in the open for seven years (2012-2018). We found that differences in site characteristics and weather affected the ecological impact of panels on the annual plant community. Panel shade tended to increase species richness on the more stressful caliche pan habitat, and this effect was strongest in dry years. Shade effects on diversity and abundance also tended to be positive or neutral on caliche pan habitat. On gravelly bajada habitat, panel shade did not significantly affect richness or diversity and tended to decrease plant abundance. Panel runoff rarely affected richness or diversity on either habitat type, but effects on abundance tended to be negative-suggesting that panel rain shadows were more important than runoff from low-volume rain events. These results demonstrate that the ecological consequences of solar development can vary over space and time, and suggest that a nuanced approach will be needed to predict impacts across desert landforms differing in physical characteristics.

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“…The Atacama is the most arid desert in the world (Clarke 2006). As a result, many ephemeral herbaceous plants and some shrubs living there can display unusual and explosive development and flowering in years when there is exceptionally high accumulated rainfall, a biological phenomenon known as a "blooming desert" (Chávez et al 2019). In the Atacama, this amazing event mostly occurs in the southern regions following the autumn-winter rainfall.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the Atacama, this amazing event mostly occurs in the southern regions following the autumn-winter rainfall. In contrast, only one blooming desert has been reported from the northern Atacama, which started with the summer rainfall in February 2012 (Chávez et al 2019). Consequently, blooming desert is currently poorly characterized and understood in the northern Atacama.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two new native larval host plants of Hyles annei (Guérin-Méneville, 1839) (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae) in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile following exceptional summer rainfall

Vargas¹,

Hundsdoerfer²

2019

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Adults of the little-known Neotropical hawkmoth, Hyles annei (Guérin-Méneville, 1839) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae: Macroglossinae: Macroglossini), were reared from larvae collected on Allionia incarnata L. (Nyctaginaceae) and Fagonia chilensis Hook. & Arn. (Zygophyllaceae) at about 1900 m elevation in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The two plants were growing after exceptionally high summer rainfall as part of a blooming desert event. These findings provide a clear example of the ability of this hawkmoth to use ephemeral and unpredictable resources in a hyperarid environment.

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GIMMS NDVI time series reveal the extent, duration, and intensity of “blooming desert” events in the hyper-arid Atacama Desert, Northern Chile

Cited by 48 publications

References 45 publications

A Multiscale Productivity Assessment of High Andean Peatlands across the Chilean Altiplano Using 31 Years of Landsat Imagery

A Multiscale Productivity Assessment of High Andean Peatlands across the Chilean Altiplano Using 31 Years of Landsat Imagery

Simulated solar panels create altered microhabitats in desert landforms

Two new native larval host plants of Hyles annei (Guérin-Méneville, 1839) (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae) in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile following exceptional summer rainfall

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