The Patagonian Steppe biogeographic province: Andean region or South American transition zone?

Abstract

Regionalization in biogeography allows division of the globe into areas according to different criteria, such as combination of biotic elements, physiognomy and climate. This regionalization constitutes a hierarchical system which comprises many categories of areas, from realms to biogeographic districts

Do mayflies (Ephemeroptera) support a biogeographic transition zone in South America?

“…Our results concerning the Patagonian Steppe partially coincide with Roig-Juñent et al (2018) proposal of including this biogeographical province in the STZ.…”

“…In South America, the boundary between the Neotropical and the Patagonian (Andean) regions was proposed many times without significant coincidence among the authors (Cabrera & Willink, 1973;Illies, 1969;Kuschel, 1969;Mello-Leitão, 1937;Olson et al, 2001;Ringuelet, 1955Ringuelet, , 1961Sclater, 1858;Wallace, 1876). The South American Transition zone was proposed to overcome this conflict (Ferro & Morrone, 2014;Morrone, 2004Morrone, , 2014Morrone, , 2015Roig-Juñent et al, 2018;Ruggiero & Ezcurra, 2003). Actually, seven provinces are included in this transition zone: Comechingones, Paramo, Puna, Cuyan High Andean, Monte, Desert and Atacama (Martínez, Arana, Oggero, & Natale, 2017;Morrone, 2004Morrone, , 2015Morrone & Ezcurra, 2016).…”

“…Actually, seven provinces are included in this transition zone: Comechingones, Paramo, Puna, Cuyan High Andean, Monte, Desert and Atacama (Martínez, Arana, Oggero, & Natale, 2017;Morrone, 2004Morrone, , 2015Morrone & Ezcurra, 2016). However, it is clear that still exists much to evaluate and analyse in this area (Roig, Roig-Juñent, & Corbalán, 2009;Roig-Juñent et al, 2018).…”

“…In this context, the order Ephemeroptera seems to be an appropriate taxon to test the validity of the South American Transition zone. Recently, Roig-Juñent et al (2018) have studied the distribution of 20 mayfly genera (among many other aquatic and terrestrial taxa) to test the inclusion of the Patagonian Steppe in the STZ. To our knowledge, no other attempt has been made to delimit the STZ using mayfly distribution.…”

New carabid species and biogeografic considerations of the peripampasic arc

“…Estos dos géneros son endémicos de América del Sur austral y constituyen distintos elementos biogeográficos de la biota austral. El género Baripus pertenece a la tribu Broscini y está relacionado con otros taxa de la tribu distribuidos en los continentes australes, constituyendo un elemento gondwánico patagónico (Roig-Juñent et al, 2018). Las nuevas especies pertenecen al subgénero Baripus que hasta el momento poseía seis especies que habitan la región y sistemas montañosos peripampásicos del centro y noroeste de la Argentina.…”