Size class structure, growth rates, and orientation of the central Andean cushion<i>Azorella compacta</i>

Kleier, Catherine; Trenary, Tim; Graham, Eric; Stenzel, W.; Rundel, Philip W.

doi:10.7717/peerj.843

Cited by 12 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Azorella compacta (Apiaceae) grows from southern Peru to northern Argentina and Chile between 3950 m and 4900 m (Martinez ), with punctual observations up to 5250 m a.s.l. (Kleier et al ). This is a large, hemispheric cushion, which average surface area in our sampling reached up to 0.56 ± 0.04 m 2 at 4700 m (Table ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fine nurse variations explain discrepancies in the stress‐interaction relationship in alpine regions

Anthelme

Meneses

Valero

et al. 2017

Oikos

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Despite a large consensus on increasing facilitation among plants with increasing stress in alpine regions, a number of different outcomes of interaction have been observed, which impedes the generalisation of the ‘stress-gradient hypothesis’ (SGH). With the aim to reconcile the different viewpoints on the stress-interaction relationship in alpine environments we hypothesized that fine nurse variations within a single life form (cushion) may explain this pattern variability To test this hypothesis, we compared the magnitude of the stress-interaction relationship in a single study area with that observed in existing studies involving cushions, worldwide. We characterized the nurse effects of cushions on the whole plant community at inter-specific, intra-specific and intra-individual levels along a stress gradient in the dry, alpine tropics of Bolivia (4400 m, 4700 m and 4900 m a.s.l). Using a relative index of interaction (RII) we included our data in a meta-analysis on the nurse effects of cushions along alpine gradients, worldwide. At inter-specific level, the loose cushion Pycnophyllum was a better nurse than the compact Azorella compacta. However, at intra-individual level facilitation was higher at the periphery than at the centre of cushions, exceeding in magnitude the variation observed at inter-specific level. This pattern was associated with higher minimum temperature and lower mortality at the periphery of cushions. The net effects of cushions on plant communities became more positive at higher elevation, corroborating the SGH. Within our single site in Bolivia, fine morphological nurse variations captured a similar variability in the stress-interaction relationship as that observed in a subset of studies on cushions on a worldwide scale. This suggests that fine variations in nurse traits, in general those not considered in protocols dealing with facilitation or in restoration/conservation management plans, explain in part the current discrepancies among SGH studies in alpine regions

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fine nurse variations explain discrepancies in the stress‐interaction relationship in alpine regions

Anthelme

Meneses

Valero

et al. 2017

Oikos

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“…Azorella compacta can be found in the dry Puna system, which spreads from northern Chile and Argentina to southern Peru and western Bolivia, between 3800 and 5200 m elevation, making it one of the woody plant species occurring at highest elevations in the world (Kleier et al. ).…”

Section: Relative Interaction Index (Rii; Armas Et Al Ecology 85: mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ralph () reported an increase of 1.4 mm/yr, and Kleier et al. () reported a radial growth of 0.4 cm/yr, although they acknowledged that determining its real growth rate is rather difficult.…”

Section: Relative Interaction Index (Rii; Armas Et Al Ecology 85: mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It catches the eye by its luxuriant light green amid the pale colors of desert. Yareta cushions are generally on a north-facing aspect and at an angle of about 20°from the horizontal to maximize catching solar radiation (Kleier et al 2015). Azorella compacta can be found in the dry Puna system, which spreads from northern Chile and Argentina to southern Peru and western Bolivia, between 3800 and 5200 m elevation, making it one of the woody plant species occurring at highest elevations in the world (Kleier et al 2015).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Azorella compacta extraction and transport were regulated in Chile in 1941, and it is strictly protected since 2008. Its recovery may last centuries although a relatively high number of small, 'young' yareta individuals can be easily found in some locations pointing to a comeback of the species (Kleier et al 2015). Being in a severe environment with water shortage, low temperatures, and high irradiance plus the additional burden of producing defensive substances, reflects in a slow growth rate.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Azorella compacta: survival champions in extreme, high‐elevation environments

et al. 2020

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Cushion plants are life forms with a hemispherical or mat‐like, prostrate canopy well adapted to the extreme conditions of cold regions that have appealed to scientists for their ability to cope with extreme environments in most mountains, arctic, and subantarctic regions of the world. They can buffer the effects of low temperature and drought and improve soil conditions, which makes them notable facilitator species. Living at the edge in the Atacama Desert is one such species, Azorella compacta (yareta or llareta), in the Apiaceae family that can reach much over 6 m (~20 ft) in diameter with a mat‐like shape that tends to hemispherical growth form. Azorella compacta can be found in the dry Puna system, which spreads from northern Chile and Argentina to southern Peru and western Bolivia, between 3800 and 5200 m elevation, making it one of the woody plant species occurring at highest elevations in the world. In this deserted edge of the Atacama, nutrient limitation adds to other stressors such as water scarcity and high UV radiation. A compact canopy and the fact that they are embedded in resin prevent beneficiary species from growing within the cushion and condition how senesced leaves decompose inside the canopy. They can reach 3000 yr old and have to deal with episodic disturbance and herbivory events. Plants in such environments may potentially act as microbial refuges, and it could be expected that bacterial endophytes and mycorrhizal fungi have a main role in the functioning of these survival champions.

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Morphological variability of cushion plant Lyallia kerguelensis (Caryophyllales) in relation to environmental conditions and geography in the Kerguelen Islands: implications for cushion necrosis and climate change

et al. 2020

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HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés.

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Size class structure, growth rates, and orientation of the central Andean cushionAzorella compacta

Cited by 12 publications

References 22 publications

Fine nurse variations explain discrepancies in the stress‐interaction relationship in alpine regions

Fine nurse variations explain discrepancies in the stress‐interaction relationship in alpine regions

Azorella compacta: survival champions in extreme, high‐elevation environments

Morphological variability of cushion plant Lyallia kerguelensis (Caryophyllales) in relation to environmental conditions and geography in the Kerguelen Islands: implications for cushion necrosis and climate change

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