Andean shrublands of Moquegua, South Peru: Prepuna plant communities

作者：Montesinos Daniel B^*; Cleef Antoine M; Sykora Karle V

来源：Phytocoenologia, 2012, 42(1-2): 29-55.

DOI：10.1127/0340-269X/2012/0042-0516

• Prepuna
• floristic diversity
• phytosociology
• syntaxonomic classification
• Echinopsio schoenii-Proustietea cuneifoliae
• Andes
• Peru

A syntaxonomic overview of shrubland vegetation in the southern Andean regions of Peru is presented. For each plant community, information is given on physiognomy, floristic diversity, ecology and geographical distribution. The shrub vegetation on the slopes of the upper Tambo river valley includes annual herbs, grasses, cacti and ferns. In total, 151 vascular species have been documented from forty-six releves made at altitudes between 3470 and 3700 m. After classification with TWINSPAN, one class, one order, one alliance, three associations, two subassociations typicum and three subassociations, one variant, and two communities are distinguished. %26lt;br%26gt;Hierarchically the class Echinopsio schoenii-Proustietea cuneifoliae comprises the order Echinopsio schoenii-Proustetalia cuneifoliae, and the alliance Salvion oppositiflorae, occurring in the Prepuna dwarf scrubs. Within the alliance the following 3 new associations (with subassociations) have been distinguished: Senecioni arnaldii-Exhalimolobetum weddellii (thorny rosette-like dwarf shrubs), Mostacillastro gracile-Chuquiragetum spinosae (high cover of shrubs) and Anredero diffusae-Diplostephietum meyenii (high cover of clustered columnar cacti and patches of thorny shrubs). %26lt;br%26gt;Two communities have been distinguished: Opuntia rosea and Helogyne ferreyrae, and the community of Ophryosporus heptanthus and Escallonia myrtilloides, which includes several introduced species growing on heavily grazed wet slopes. The basal communities of Stipa ichu and Nassella asplundii have been also identified. %26lt;br%26gt;The most diverse families are Asteraceae, Poaceae and Cactaceae, followed by Solanaceae and Fabaceae. The vegetation includes endemic, native and a few introduced species. %26lt;br%26gt;DCA was used to interpret the correlation between environmental variables and species composition. Species composition is best explained by altitude, inclination and vegetation cover.

• 出版日期2012-11-21