Phycocoenologia
Berlin-Scucrgart, June 26, 1995
('p Die Vegetation von Polylepis-Wäldern der Ostkordillere Boliviens
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von Isabell HENSEN, Berlin mit 9 Photos, 4 Figuren und 2 Tabellen Abstract. This paper descri bes ehe floristic combination of Polylepis Stands in the eastern Cordilleres of Boli via and analyses habicat factors tbat are likely to be essential to the development of the species combination. The area investigated comprises the spacious surroundings of the Cochabam ba valley basin system. Tc has a western lo ngitude of 65°00' to 66°33', a southern latitudc of 17°00' to ·17o45' and an altitude of between 3050 and 4050 m above sea Ievel. In the area investigated five Polylepis species or subspecies were found. T heir distribution depends upon varying site characteristics. Water supply is the vital factor for the developmem of theseplant communiries. Above all, however, differing rypes and extents of anthropogenous influence affect ehe spccics combinarion. T he "partially altercd " Polylepis woods ("bedinge naturnahe" Polylepis-Wälder), which are uscd by man mainly as a source of wood and as pasturcland to a moderate CO extreme degrec, probably represent in the area investigated those plant communitics whosc structural combination most resembles that of the potential natural vegetation. Along a h umidity gradient they can be subdivided into the following vegetation un its: f. Humid Polylepis besse1·i a-forescs II. Frcsh to dry Polylepis besseri ß-forests III. Dr y Polylepis tomentella a-forests IV. Very dry Polylepis tomentella ß-forests. The "strongly altered" Polylepis Stands ("bedingt naturlerne" Polylepis-Bestände), on the other band, result fro m a cultivatio n and pas turing of the fresh Polylepis besseri ß-forests rhat differ in inrensity. T hey are described in te rms o f successive phases. As a general resulr of ehe investigations, it must be poimed o ut chat in ehe region of Cochabamba human influence affected both the vegetation structure and the pattern of distribution of present-day Polylepis Stands. In terms of their species combination the forests still existing correspond to open bushes, grass formatio ns and pasture land communities, o nl y a few planes can be characrerized as "shadow species". Large-scale forest destrucrion is due ro the fact rhat, over many centuries, fire was uri lized in o rder to gain agriculturalland. T his merhod is still being emp loyed. Nearly all srands are used as paseure land in a moderate to extreme way, substantially affecting their suucturc, species combination and rejuvenation. The major part of the area investigated from about 3000 m up to at least 4100 m above sea Ievei was· mosr probab ly once covered w ich forests. However, it is nor possible to rcconstruct thc original structurc of thc Polylepis forcst stand anywhere. On hum id ro frcsh, hardly damaged soils one would cxpect to sec forests densely covered w ith Polylepis sericea, P. besseri a or P. besseri {3 as the most likely vegetation. In dricr rcgions and at extremely degraded localities, if anthropogenous influence could be stoppcd, most probably open woods rich in species incl uding P. besseri ß, P. tomentella a or P. tomentella ß would grow.
0340-269X/95/0025-0235 $ 10.75 © 1995 Gebrüder Borntraeger, D-14129 Berlin · D -70176 Stutegart