Vegetation of Península Valdés: Priority sites for conservation

Abstract

This chapter describes the main vegetation units of Península Valdés at scale 1:250,000 with emphasis on relevant physiognomic and floristic characteristics. Based on photogrammetry (aerial photograph pairs 1:60,000) and ground check, 18 dominant singular plant species arrangements (vegetation units) were identified reflecting the variety of environmental conditions at a mesoscale (1:250,000) within Península Valdés. At sites selected for ground check, floristic?physiognomic census including a complete floristic plant species list with the relative abundance of each species were performed. After that, censuses of species abundance were ordered by principal component analysis. The layer structure, the main life forms and the dominant species for each identified and mapped vegetation unit were described. Among them, we identified shrubby vegetation units at northern and central Peninsula Valdés and, grassy vegetation units at southern Península Valdés. A map of vegetation units and some pictures of the most representative vegetation units complete the vegetation description. Moreover, this chapter includes a detailed description of the plant communities (resolution scale 1:1) characterizing four sites identified as priorities for ecosystem conservation. Priority sites for conservation are located in Salt marshes, Uplands and Plain Systems and Endorheic Basins. Some contrasts between conserved and degraded community states are also exemplified.