Nothofagus glauca, endemic to Chile, exhibits characteristics commonly found in fire-adapted vegetation, yet the role of fire in the evolutionary history of the vegetation in this area is poorly understood. We are examining the effects of wildfire on secondary postfire succession in a
N. glauca forest in the Coastal Cordillera of south-central Chile. Our work has documented that the majority of the plants associated with this forest type exhibit adaptations to survive fire and/or colonize the postfire environment. However, the presence and success of exotic invaders, particularly
Pinus radiata, is altering the successional trajectory of this endemic community with unknown implications for important ecosystem processes. Currently we are studying how invasion of these forests by
P. radiata is impacting water availability and use.
Figure 7. We are working in endemic Nothofagus glauca forests in south-central Chile to examine the impacts of wildfire, and subsequent invasion by the nonnative Pinus radiata, on plant community dynamics and ecosystem processes.