An essay on a forest stations typology in the Tolhuaca National Park, Chile

Abstract

A typology of forest stations is established for the Tolhuaca National Park, Chile. A forest station is a homogenous environmental unit, defined through its physical and biotical characteristics. In order to establish the typology of stations, three methodological stages were achieved, which are the definition of phytosociological and phytoecological groups and types of physical environments or biotopes. The identified phytosociological associations are distributed in the classes Wintero-Nothofagetea, with three associations, and Nothofagetea pumilionisantarcticae, also with three associations. The results obtained with the use of the factorial analysis of correspondences, allow establishing four phytoecological groups: mesophyllous deciduous forest, with broad-leaved evergreen species; microphyllous deciduous forest; microphyllous evergreen forest and mixed microphyllous deciduous scrub, with evergreen species. The best variables for the definition of the biotopes are altitude and relief, both factors with great influence on the local climate. The studied area is located within the temperate macroclimate and the following belts were defined: colinen, lower montane and upper montane. The proposed typology of forest stations consists of fourteen units.