The Spontaneous Terrestrial Vegetation of the Pampa Plain

Abstract

The Pampa plain is a geomorphological domain that occupies a vast proportion of the southernplains of South America. It covers approximately 540,000 km2, between 29-38°S and 57-67°W.From a geological point of view, six aeolian units were described based on the nature of the lateQuaternary aeolian deposits, landforms, and their geological-structural settings. From avegetational point of view, eight vegetation units belonging to two phytogeographic provinceswere described based on current spontaneous terrestrial vegetation. In this chapter, we describethe spontaneous terrestrial vegetation of the two phytogeographic provinces and their vegetationunits that completely cover the Pampa plain. Dominant spontaneous vegetation types, such assteppes, meadows, prairies, savannas, and forests, and the characteristic species andcommunities are described in each phytogeographic province and vegetation unit. In addition,we present a brief comparison between the maps of the aeolian units and vegetation units.