Regeneration dynamics and life history differences in southern Chilean Nothofagus forests: a synthesis

Abstract

Large, infrequent natural disturbances have been proposed as a key component in determining the distribution and abundance of Nothofagus in southern Andean temperate forests. In this study, a comparison of influences of small-to-intermediate-sized natural disturbances and effects of selective logging on the establishment and growth of Nothofagus forests in south-central Chile are synthesized with the results of other forest studies to develop general hypotheses on the regeneration dynamics of southern Chilean Nothofagus alpina forests. A synthesis is given for regeneration pattern in the abundance of 18 temperate rain forests in the Andean Range, Chile. The study aimed to determine the role of life history differences in promoting coexistence of the five main tree species (N. alpina, N. dombeyi, N. pumilio, N. macrocarpa and Laurelia philippiana) in N. alpina-dominated forests. Age data reported for N. alpina, a shade mid-tolerant emergent tree in the temperate rain forests of southern Chile, indicate maximum lifespans > 650 years, figures unprecedented for N. alpina. In low elevation stands, N. alpina coexists with broad-leaved evergreen tree species, such as L. philippiana, L. sempervirens, Persea lingue, and in these stands an intermittent establishment of Nothofagus occurred and appeared to be most dependent on small-to-intermediate disturbances. In high-elevation stands, in contrast, Nothofagus establishment was less dependent on disturbance, regeneration being much more continuous even in the absence of canopy openings. The forests studied provide another example of the general pattern of increasing dependence of Nothofagus on disturbance towards the more productive end of the environmental gradients. As a long-lived pioneer and despite its dependence on disturbance in lowland sites, N. alpina has been subject to selection for complementary growth, adult survivorship, and mid-tolerance to shade. Thus, interspecific differences in juvenile and adult life history characteristics of N. alpina and its competitors may be sufficient to maintain its persistence in the landscape. In conclusion, this study of population structures and replacement patterns provides a comprehensive picture on our understanding of regeneration dynamics and trait differentiation in southern temperate forests by recognizing both the influences of environmental gradients (i.e., altitude) on competing species and the disturbance regimes.