Spread and impact of introduced conifers in South America: Lessons from other southern hemisphere regions

• Autores: Simberloff, Daniel; Nuñez, Martín A.; Ledgard, Nicolas J.; Pauchard, Anibal; Richardson, David M.; Sarasola, Mauro; Van Wilgen, Brian W.; Zalba, Sergio Martín; Zenni, Rafael D.; Bustamante, Ramiro; Peña, Eduardo; Ziller, Silvia R.
• Año de publicación: 2010
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Materia: Argentina; Brasil; Chile; Conifer Plantation; Lag Time; Propagule Presure
• Institución: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

The history of conifers introduced earlier elsewhere in the southern hemisphere suggests that recent invasions in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay are likely to increase in number and size. In South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, early ornamental introductions and small forestry plantations did not lead to large-scale invasions, while subsequent large plantations were followed with a lag of about 20–30 years by troublesome invasions. Large-scale conifer plantation forestry in South America began about 50–80 years later than in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, while reports of invasions in South America lagged behind those in the latter nations by a century. Impacts of invading non-native conifers outside South America are varied and include replacement of grassland and shrubland by conifer forest, alteration of fire and hydrological regimes, modification of soil nutrients, and changes in aboveground and belowground biotic communities. Several of these effects have already been detected in various parts of South America undergoing conifer invasion. The sheer amount of area planted in conifers is already very large in Chile and growing rapidly in Argentina and Brazil. This mass of reproductive trees, in turn, produces an enormous propagule pressure that may accelerate ongoing invasions and spark new ones at an increasing rate. Regulations to control conifer invasions, including measures to mitigate spread, were belatedly implemented in New Zealand and South Africa, as well as in certain Australian states, inspired by observations on invasions in those nations. Regulations in South America are weaker and piecemeal, but the existing research base on conifer invasions elsewhere could be useful in fashioning effective regulations in South America. Pressure from foreign customers in South Africa has led most companies there to seek certification through the Forestry Stewardship Council; a similar programme operates in Australia. Such an approach may be promising in South America.
Fil: Simberloff, Daniel. University of Tennessee; Estados Unidos
Fil: Nuñez, Martín A.. University of Tennessee; Estados Unidos. University of Central Florida. Department of Biology; Estados Unidos
Fil: Ledgard, Nicolas J.. Scion; Nueva Zelanda
Fil: Pauchard, Anibal. Universidad de Concepción; Chile. Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad; Chile
Fil: Richardson, David M.. Stellenbosch University; Sudáfrica
Fil: Sarasola, Mauro. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Carlos de Bariloche; Argentina
Fil: Van Wilgen, Brian W.. Centre for Invasion Biology; Sudáfrica
Fil: Zalba, Sergio Martín. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Grupo de Estudios en Conservación y Manejo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca; Argentina
Fil: Zenni, Rafael D.. The Nature Conservancy. South America Invasive Species Program; Brasil
Fil: Bustamante, Ramiro. Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad; Chile. Universidad de Chile; Chile
Fil: Peña, Eduardo. Universidad de Concepción; Chile
Fil: Ziller, Silvia R.. Horus Institute for Environmental Conservation and Development; Brasil