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Soil texture and altitude, respectively, largely determine the floristic gradient of the most diverse fog oasis in the Peruvian desert

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 July 2013

Jannes Muenchow ,
Simon Hauenstein ,
Achim Bräuning ,
Rupert Bäumler ,
Eric Frank Rodríguez  and
Henrik von Wehrden
Jannes Muenchow*
Affiliation:
Institute of Geography, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Kochstr. 4/4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
Simon Hauenstein
Affiliation:
Institute of Geography, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Kochstr. 4/4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
Achim Bräuning
Affiliation:
Institute of Geography, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Kochstr. 4/4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
Rupert Bäumler
Affiliation:
Institute of Geography, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Kochstr. 4/4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
Eric Frank Rodríguez
Affiliation:
Institute of Geography, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Kochstr. 4/4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
Henrik von Wehrden
Affiliation:
Institute of Geography, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Kochstr. 4/4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
*
1Corresponding author. Email: jannes.muenchow@fau.de
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Abstract:

Studying species turnover along gradients is a key topic in tropical ecology. Crucial drivers, among others, are fog deposition and soil properties. In northern Peru, a fog-dependent vegetation formation develops on mountains along the hyper-arid coast. Despite their uniqueness, these fog oases are largely uninvestigated. This study addresses the influence of environmental factors on the vegetation of these unique fog oases. Accordingly, vegetation and soil properties were recorded on 66 4 × 4-m plots along an altitudinal gradient ranging from 200 to 950 m asl. Ordination and modelling techniques were used to study altitudinal vegetation belts and floristic composition. Four vegetation belts were identified: a low-elevation Tillandsia belt, a herbaceous belt, a bromeliad belt showing highest species richness and an uppermost succulent belt. Different altitudinal levels might reflect water availability, which is highest below the temperature inversion at around 700 m asl. Altitude alone explained 96% of the floristic composition. Soil texture and salinity accounted for 88%. This is in contrast with more humid tropical ecosystems where soil nutrients appear to be more important. Concluding, this study advances the understanding of tropical gradients in fog-dependent and ENSO-affected ecosystems.

Keywords

altitudinal zonationdiversity gradientdry tropicsedaphic gradientENSOfloristic modellingLa NiñaSouth Americaspatial analysisspecies richness
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 29 , Issue 5 , September 2013 , pp. 427 - 438
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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References

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