Biophysical variables in fertile islands of the Argentinian Arid Chaco

Abstract

Arid ecosystems usually present emergent tree species interspersed within a shrubby matrix, forming patches, known as “fertile islands” and result from the ecosystem dynamics in degraded environments where a major soil particles, water, nutriments and biomass accumulation occur. The study of the changes in the biotic and abiotic variables under and outside the fertile islands is of great importance in arid ecosystems in order to determine the management and rehabilitation guidelines. The objective is to determine the influence of Prosopis flexuosa and Larrea divaricata over some biophysical variables within fertile islands.