Abstract
Gonopterodendron sarmientoi is a threatened native tree of the Dry Chaco region in South America, adapted to semiarid conditions. However, the relationships among climatic and edaphic conditions and its forest structure have not been defined yet. Up to date, in Argentina, the study of palo santo forest management and conservation is scarce and still depends on basic information. The objectives of this study were 1) to classify forest groups based on forest stand attributes and species composition, 2) to analyze relationships between dasometric parameters of palo santo with climatic and edaphic variables at the regional level and forest types, and 3) to compare total aboveground biomass between forest types as a tool for managing and conserving this species. We compiled forest inventories carried out during the years 2004-2019, containing dasometric data of palo santo for the northern part of the Argentine Dry Chaco region. In the study area, we extracted climatic and edaphic conditions from global data base and national maps. We obtained three forest groups: palosantal, forests with low presence of palo santo and forests with high presence of palo santo. Temperature, precipitation, evapotranspiration and soil textures had significant effects on the forest structure of palo santo at the regional level and on forest types. The total density of individuals of G. sarmientoi has a different effect on the total biomass depending on the type of forest, which allows for different management and conservation practices. Consolidating a national forest plan for palo santo could address more viable proposals to manage and conserve the species in the region.
Highlights
Consolidar un Plan Estratégico Nacional para el Manejo Sustentable del Palo Santo en la República Argentina podría atender más propuestas viables de manejo y conservación de la especie en la región
The objectives of this study were 1) to classify forest groups based on forest stand a ributes and species composition, 2) to analyze relationships between dasometric parameters of palo santo with climatic and edaphic variables at the regional level and forest types, and 3) to compare total aboveground biomass between forest types as a tool for managing and conserving this species
The total density of individuals of G. sarmientoi has a different effect on the total biomass depending on the type of forest, which allows for different management and conservation practices
Summary
El área de estudio se encuentra ubicada en el norte de la Argentina (Figuras 1A y 1B), dentro del dominio fitogeográfico regional del Chaco Seco (Cabrera 1976), incluyendo el oeste de las provincias de Chaco y Formosa, y el este de la provincia de Salta (22.0°- 25.8° S, 59.3° - 64.6° O). Con mosaicos de bosques, pastizales, sabanas y arbustales como unidades predominantes en el paisaje (Morello and Adamoli 1974). Las especies arbóreas más frecuentes son Aspidosperma quebrachoblanco, Schinopsis lorentzii y Gonopterodendron sarmientoi, que pueden alcanzar hasta 20 m de altura (Cabrera 1976). En el estrato superior también pueden participar especies como Sarcomphalus mistol, Prosopis nigra y Prosopis
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