Climatic and Ecological Changes in the Subtropical High Andes During the Last 4,500 Years

Cesar Mayta,Antonio Maldonado

doi:10.3389/feart.2022.833219

Abstract

The effects of climate change may be more evident in mountainous areas. In these areas, an increase in temperature and a decrease in precipitation can reduce the amount of snow, which represents a source of water for human consumption and vegetation. To analyze the effects of climate change on vegetation, it is possible to examine the climate–vegetation relationship in the past and observe the influence of variation in temperature and precipitation on the dynamics of plant communities. The aim of the present work was to describe the climate–vegetation dynamics of the last 4,500 years in the high subtropical Andes of Chile (30°S). The paleoclimatic reconstruction was carried out through the analysis of fossil pollen and macroscopic carbon obtained from sediment cores from two high Andean lakes. The dynamics of the vegetation was analyzed taking into account the alpha and beta diversity. The pollen and carbon records showed three contrasting periods during the last 4,500 years. From the beginning of the sequences until ∼1900 cal. yr BP, relatively dry climatic conditions are suggested, with a slight trend toward more humid conditions after 2,700 cal. yr BP. Pollen records from ∼1900 to ∼600 cal. yr BP suggest wetter conditions than today. Finally, relatively arid conditions have reappeared in the last ∼600 years. The diversity analysis showed that the climate mainly influences the composition of taxa in the communities (beta diversity) and not the richness (alpha diversity). In periods of dry/wet transition and vice versa, beta diversity changes. On the other hand, richness remains relatively constant throughout the record.

Highlights

Climate change is a global phenomenon, arid and semiarid areas may be more vulnerable (World Water Council, 2009); one of these areas is located from 27 to 32°S in Chile (Sarricolea et al, 2016)
This study presents the results of pollen records obtained in lakes formed by glacial retreat in the high mountains of subtropical Chile (30°S) for the last 4,500 years, complemented with macroscopic carbon analysis and the changes in alpha and beta diversity in the plant communities during this period
The pollen ensembles of LCO and LQP were interpreted according to the altitudinal gradient of vegetation and climate conditions

Summary

Introduction

Climate change is a global phenomenon, arid and semiarid areas may be more vulnerable (World Water Council, 2009); one of these areas is located from 27 to 32°S in Chile (Sarricolea et al, 2016). This area is a transition between arid regions such as the Atacama Desert (~18–27°S) and semiarid Mediterranean areas (~31–37°S) (Kaiser et al, 2008). At this latitude, precipitation occurs in winter and is generated by the interaction of two systems: the southern westerlies and the South Pacific anticyclone (Montecinos and Aceituno, 2003).

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