“Impacts of cattle on the South American temperate forests: Challenges for the conservation of the endangered monkey puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana) in Chile” written by Zamorano-Elgueta et al., was the paper I posted in the Monkey Puzzle tree forum. Zamorano-Elgueta et al., analyzed the relationship between increasing the activity of cattle in South American temperate forests and forest regeneration. Cattle activity was measured by the quantity of cattle feces in the same area where they measure forest regeneration. Forest regeneration was measured by the quantity of sapling and seedlings. These two quantities along with the density of parent trees in the area are used for the function named cattle intensity index (also known as CAI).
The results showed that the increase of cattle activity led to a decrease in forest regeneration, when looking at the overall data. When looking at specific forests, the severity of the impact of cattle activity on forest regeneration varies. Forests owned by timber companies had a steady decline in forest regeneration, while CAI increased. But forests owned by smaller landowners had their forest regeneration decline quickly to zero, as CAI increased. An increase in cattle activity also had an effect on the ratio between asexual and sexual regeneration, potentially leading to genetic drift in the future.
Zamorano-Elgueta et al., came to the conclusion that the conservation of a single species does not directly translate to that species continuing to exist for an extended period of time. The focus should also be on maintaining an ecosystem that can support the increased population of the species. They suggest the involvement of stakeholders to aid in proposing strategies in controlling and limiting cattle activity on the plots where the endangered species grows. This paper highlights the relationship between cattle activity and forest regeneration, along with potential solutions to conserve the endangered monkey puzzle tree.
References:
Zamorano-Elgueta, C., Cayuela, L., González-Espinosa, M., Lara, A., & Parra-Vázquez, M. R. (2012). Impacts of cattle on the South American temperate forests: Challenges for the conservation of the endangered monkey puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana) in Chile. Biological Conservation, 152, 110-118.
Applied Plant Ecology Winter 2020 