Woody vegetation of a Peruvian tropical dry forest along a climatic gradient depends more on soil than annual precipitation

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

MUENCHOW, J.

Institute of Geography, Univ. of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Allemagne

VON WEHRCHEN, H.

Institute of Ecology, Faculty of Sustainability and Center for Methods, Leuphana Univ., Lüneburg, Allemagne

RODRÍGUEZ, E.F.

Herbarium Truxillense, National Univ., Trujillo, Perou

RODRÍGUEZ, R.A.

Faculty of Engineering, Univ., Piura, Perou

BAYER, F.

Faculty of Geography, Univ., Marburg, Allemagne

RICHTER, M.

Institute of Geography, Univ. of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Allemagne

Description :
The objective of this study is to determine if a main gradient is detectable in the woody plant composition in this hyper- to semi-arid environment; and to which extent climatic and edaphic variables account for it. A cluster analysis detects two plant functional groups: a tropical desert formation and a shrub and dry forest formation. Variation partitioning reveals edaphic variables to be more important in structuring vegetation than mean annual rainfall. Extending irrigation in parts of the study area may possibly be beneficial for local residents. However, it will almost certainly trigger the extinction of the last remnants of the highly endemic tropical dry forest formations.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Erdkunde, issn : 0014-0015, 2013, vol. 67, n°. 3, p. 241-248, nombre de pages : 8, Références bibliographiques : 3 p.

Date :
2013

Editeur :
Pays édition : Allemagne, Kleve, Boss

Langue :
Anglais