Central Chile’s Diverse Ecosystems: Forests, Scrub & Climate
Central Chile’s Diverse Ecosystems
Sclerophyllous Forest and Scrub
Region of Central Chile: Mountain region from the 31st parallel south (LS) Biobio to the Imperial rivers. Features Andean summits. The maritime basin prevents penetration and acts as a rain shadow, especially south of Nahuelbuta.
Key Difference: Broad-leaved evergreen sclerophyllous forest and broad-leaved evergreen sclerophyllous scrub. Broad-leaved evergreen sclerophyllous forest (sclerophyll: hard and tough leaf that reduces water loss) is located in sectors 400 to 1000 meters tall, with brown soil rich in calcium.
Representative Species
- Quillaja
- Liter
- Acorns
- Molle
- Boldo
- Peumo
- Maite
Inside, an azonal forest develops. Among its most characteristic species is one of the southernmost palms, the Chilean palm, identifiable in special microclimates between 33° and 34° LS.
Fauna is similar to the rest of the environment, with an increased number of mammals and rodents. This environment has reduced in size as a result of human action.
Broad-Leaved Evergreen Sclerophyllous Scrub
In the Coastal Range, where the forest has disappeared, boldos, peumos, liters, quillay, and rolls remain, rising in the Andes to 1,500 m, subsisting at such a height as a shrub layer built by cruise sage and Retamilla. In sunshine, groves of myrtle, peumo, machinery, and canelo are found. In the coastal range, as the association degrades, it is replaced by Coligan, which is very fuel-prone in summer. All of this is associated with natural grass such as weed and thistle, which fuels the introduction of grazing, unfortunately causing erosion.
On the shady slopes with precipitation (PP) of 500 to 900 mm, a genus Nothofagus forest develops, receiving the name hualo, associated with Mani, cinnamon, lingue, and patagua.
In the Coastal Andes (CA) between 34° and 35° LS, this is replaced by scrub oak forest, integrating the cypress (from the Tinguiririca river south), the hualo (from the Lontué river), and from 36° LS the evergreen (Nothofagus alpina), which replaces the oak maulinos. Soils are Entisols, including others such as the brown forest.
Humid Temperate Climate
From Imperial to the Chacao channel, there is a decrease in temperature (T°) and increased precipitation (PP). The dry period is reduced by frontal disruption. Despite the decline, the Coastal Cordillera (CC) acts as a climate screen, creating differences between windward and leeward sides, but does not prevent the entry of fronts. There is a greater presence of glaciers in the Andes Cordillera (AC) and outcrops of thermal activity related to volcanic activity.
Rivers and Lakes: The Importance of Water Resources
Rivers are fed by rain, with nivale input. Flow is more stable, and glacial lake formation occurs.
Rainforest
Raising the PP increases the vegetation, and soils are thicker and richer. From 39° LS, PP exceeds 2000 mm, and the relative humidity (RH) is greater, resulting in evergreen rainforests, deciduous, mixed, and coniferous rainforests, broad-leaved evergreen, and mixed forests called “Valdivian jungle”, located either by the lake to Chiloe Island.
Representative Species
- Boldo
- Oak
- Cinnamon
- Tepa
Shrub species include musk, black wood, and blackberry vines (voqui), also found lianas, quila, ferns, mosses, and lichens.
In Chiloe Island, oak disappears and is replaced by coigüe, the cypress, or Lahuen Guaitecas species that remain to Tierra del Fuego. In southern latitudes, the rain diminishes in height and assumes a rich subantarctic character.