Abstract

PINTO, Carlos  and  CUELLAR SOTO, Erika. Multi-temporal analysis of a vegetation mosaic form by a serial stages of the Chacoan forest on well drained soils, Kaa-Iya del Gran Chaco National Park. Ecología en Bolivia [online]. 2017, vol.52, n.1, pp.7-20. ISSN 1605-2528.

According to previous studies the original vegetation of Southeast corner of the Kaa-Iya National Park was the Chacoan forest on well drained soils. However, the current landscape is formed by a mosaic of serial stages in different degrees of maturity. In order to visualize and quantify situations of retraction or invasion of vegetation communities, we developed a study of the structural changes of the vegetation in a determined area over time. We used satellite images and geographic information systems tools to produced three vegetation maps after a "supervised classification" for 3 decades 1979, 1984 and 2009. We calculated the extension of each plant community for each year and compare these between years. We observed the greatest retraction (91.5%) of the grassland community and the increase of woody shrub formations. We hope that the information obtained in this work will help to understand the loss of open ecosystems and the habitat for species dependent on the Chacoan grasslands and promote a better management of them.

Keywords : Gran Chaco; Multi-temporal analysis; Satellite images; Vegetation maps; Woody encroachment.

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