ABSTRACT Peatlands are ecosystems that play a special role in conserving biodiversity because they are refugia for unusual wetland-dependent species. Nevertheless, these ecosystems are threatened in southern South America by the overharvesting of Sphagnum moss, used in horticulture as substrate. Moreover, the biodiversity measurement as species richness has not been considered in management practices. Thus, our purpose was to study the bryophyte and lichen diversity and abiotic factors of Chiloé peatlands to distinguish habitat preferences and key abiotic factors to improve peatland management. The study was conducted in eight peatlands of Chiloé Island in Chile (42-43° S and 75-73° W). We found good predictors to overall species richness and each organism group. The observed patterns of cryptogamic species richness are well explained by microtopographic variables and moisture, increasing in tree base, and decreasing in saturated substrate and carpet. We highly recommend conserving “tree base” microtopographic areas as reservoirs of species richness in intervened areas by harvesting. Furthermore, we also suggest monitoring water chemistry variables such as pH or ionic ratio (IR), to provide information to predict impacts on the biodiversity of peatlands under Sphagnum harvesting. These recommendations give rise to sustainable management and to transforming moss into a renewable resource for farmers.

Abstract: Peatlands are one of the most important carbon cycle regulatory ecosystems, and are influenced by global climate change. However, studies of this kind of wetland are scarce in southern South America. In this study we performed a detailed analysis of recent accumulation rates of carbon (RERCA) in two types of Sphagnum peatland in Isla Grande de Chiloé (Chile) (42°-43°S and 75°-73°W). Monoliths of peat in continuous depths were analyzed and assigned ages using 210Pb dating. The results showed a difference between the two types of peatland; the average rate for the anthropogenic peatland (107.34 ± 113.9 g C m-2 yr-1) was superior to that of the natural peatland (78.33±77.1 g C m-2 yr-1). The surface profiles (30 cm) clearly revealed the recent rate of carbon accumulation for the past 100 years in Sphagnum peatlands of Northern Patagonia. The rate for the natural peatland is within the range found for ombrotrophic peatlands in the Northern Hemisphere. However, the rate estimated for the anthropogenic peatland was significantly greater than those reported in other parts of the world. Our results provide evidence of the importance of these unique ecosystems in the carbon accumulation process.

RESUMEN Los briófitos juegan un rol clave en las turberas. Sin embargo, el conocimiento de este grupo es escaso en el sur de Sudamérica. Se presenta una clave de identificación de musgos de turberas de la Isla Grande de Chiloé (Chile). La clave está separada para cada grupo con caracteres similares.

Abstract: Bryophytes and lichens are an important component of biodiversity. Nevertheless, these cryptogamic groups are rarely included in floristic and ecological studies in southern South America. We present the first comparison of patterns of alpha and beta diversity of bryophytes and macrolichens in peatlands and Tepualia stipularis forests (TF) on Isla Grande de Chiloé, Chile. Two kinds of Sphagnum peatlands were studied, which were defined according to their origin and their vegetation, natural peatlands (GP) and anthropogenic peatlands (AP). A total of 86 species were found: 42 liverworts, 29 mosses and 14 lichens. The most species-rich sites were AP with a total of 52 species, followed by TF with 45 species, and GP with 21 species. The total bryo-lichenic diversity reported in this study was considerably higher than that reported in other studies for Patagonian peatlands. The three types of studied habitats showed significant differences in species richness and diversity indices. We found clear distinctions between the three habitat types, with significant differences in the floristic composition of GP, AP, and TP. Moreover, AP presented a species composition that has not been previously documented in TF or GP. They are the result of human action, but do not depend on continued human intervention for their maintenance. Therefore, here we propose to denominate AP as a novel ecosystem.

Resumen: Los briófitos y líquenes son un componente importante de la biodiversidad. Sin embargo, estos grupos criptogámicos son escasamente incluidos en estudios ecológicos y florísticos en el Sur de Sudamérica. En este estudio se presenta la primera comparación de patrones de diversidad alfa y beta de briófitos y macrolíquenes en turberas y bosques de Tepualia stipularis (TF) de la Isla Grande de Chiloé, Chile. Se estudiaron dos tipos de turberas esfagnosas, las cuales fueron definidas de acuerdo a su origen y vegetación, turberas naturales (GP) y turberas antropogénicas (AP). En este estudio se reporta un total de 86 especies, de las cuales 42 fueron hepáticas, 29 musgos y 14 líquenes. Los sitios con mayor riqueza de especies fueron los AP (52 especies), seguidos por TF con 45 especies y GP con 21 especies. La diversidad brio-liquénica reportada en este estudio es considerablemente más alta en relación a lo reportado en otros estudios para las turberas patagónicas. Los tres tipos de hábitats analizados mostraron diferencias significativas en riqueza de especies e índices de diversidad. Además, se encontraron claras diferencias en la composición florística de GP, AP, y TP. AP presentó una composición de especies que no había sido previamente documentada en TF o GP. Esta nueva conformación es el resultado de la acción antrópica sobre estos lugares, pero no dependen de la intervención humada para su mantenimiento. En consecuencia, proponemos denominar a AP como ecosistemas noveles.

Los briófitos juegan un rol clave en los ecosistemas turbosos, participan directamente en la constitución de la turba y en el mantenimiento de estos ecosistemas. Sin embargo, el conocimiento de este grupo es muy limitado, especialmente para las hepáticas. En consecuencia, se presenta una clave para determinar hepáticas, restringidas a turberas y bosques pantanosos de Tepualia stipularis (Hook. & Arn.) Griseb. de la Isla Grande de Chiloé (Chile). Esta clave incluye los principales taxones hallados en estos hábitats y está basada en caracteres vegetativos para facilitar la identificación. Se presentan 52 especies y 28 géneros. Estos taxones pertenecen a 19 familias. Las familias mejor representadas son Lepidoziaceae, Lophocoleaceae, Plagiochilaceae y Aneuraceae. Los géneros con la mayor cantidad de especies son Chiloscyphus, Plagiochila y Riccardia. Se entregan además claves separadas para cada grupo de plantas con caracteres afines y una lista en orden alfabético de los taxones incluidos.

Bryophytes play a key role in peatland ecosystems; they participate directly in the constitution of peat and in the maintenance of these ecosystems. Nevertheless, the knowledge of this group is highly limited, specifically for liverworts. Therefore, we present a key to determine liverworts, restricted to peatland habitats and swamp forests of Tepualia stipularis (Hook. & Arn.) Griseb. of Isla Grande de Chiloé ( Chile ). This key includes the main reported taxa for these ecosystems and it is based on vegetative characters to facilitate identification. Fifty-two species and 28 genera are included. These taxa belong to 19 families. The best represented families are: Lepidoziaceae, Lophocoleaceae, Plagiochilaceae, and Aneuraceae. Chiloscyphus, Plagiochila, and Riccardia are the richest genera. A separate key for each group with similar characters and alphabetical taxa list are provided.

BACKGROUND: Peatlands play a key role in the global carbon cycle; these contain one third of the world's soil organic carbon, equivalent to more than half the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. Nevertheless, these ecosystems have been scarcely studied in southern South America. The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the recent accumulation rates of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in two kinds of oligotrofic peatlands in Isla Grande de Chiloé (Chile). RESULTS: Using peat C and N content, dry bulk density, and Pb-210 dating, we determined the rates of N and C accumulation in profiles from five peatlands in the northern Chilean Patagonia. The recent rate of C accumulation (RERCA) ranges from 8.5 to 87.06 g C m-2 year-1, and the recent rate of N accumulation (RERNA) ranges from 0.15 to 2.37 g N m-2 year-1. The difference in RERCA and RERNA between glacial peatlands and anthropogenic peatlands was significant. One of the remarkable results is that accumulation of N and C are directly related. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes for a better understanding of the Patagonian peatlands of Chile. In addition, this research contributes by setting a basis for conducting further studies and for assessing the impacts of climate change on peatlands.

Ten new distributional records to the Chilean bryo-lichenic flora are reported. Three species and a subspecies are new to the flora of the province of Chiloé, five species are new from the Los Lagos Region and one species is new to mainland Chile. The specimens were collected in peatlands (Sphagnum bogs) and swamp forests of Tepualia stipularis in Isla Grande de Chiloé (Chile) (41°- 43° S; 74°-73° W). Diagnostic characters, chemistry (only lichens), habitats preferences and distribution are provided. The national ranges of two species are expanded.

Se reportan 10 nuevos registros de distribución geográfica para la flora brio-liquénica de Chile. Tres especies y una subespecie son nuevas para la provincia de Chiloé, cinco especies son nuevas para la Región de Los Lagos y una es nueva para Chile continental. Los especímenes fueron recolectados en turberas esfagnosas y bosques anegados de Tepualia stipularis de la Isla Grande de Chiloé (Chile) (41°- 43° S 74°-73° W). Se proveen caracteres diagnósticos de las especies, química (sólo para líquenes), preferencias de hábitat y distribución. Se extiende el rango de distribución de dos especies.

A palynological analysis was performed on the sedimentary cover of Laguna Cea, located in the subbasin of the Simpson River in the Coyhaique region of southern Chile. The pollen record shows a landscape evolution from a woodland-type ecosystem covered by Nothofagaceae (Nothofagus antarctica/N. dombeyi) to a meadow-type ecosystem in which low brush such as calafate (Berberidaceae), herbaceous layers such as different types of grasses (Poaceae), and hydrophilic vegetation such as marsh plants (Cyperaceae) may be found. This structural change in vegetation occurred approximately 120 years before present (BP) and coincided with the middle of the XIX Century, the epoch which marks the beginning of colonial settlements and the consequent clearing and livestock grazing. The palynological record supports the occurrence of fire through charcoal particles in the sediments analyzed for the aforementioned period, which suggests that current variation in the landscape of the region has been influenced by anthropic action.

Se realiza un análisis palinológico a una sección sedimentaria proveniente de Laguna Cea, ubicada en la subcuenca del río Simpson, en la región de Coyhaique, sur de Chile. El registro polínico muestra la evolución en el paisaje desde un ecosistema boscoso dominado por fagáceas a un ecosistema de pradera donde predominan especies del matorral bajo, como los calafates (Berberidaceae); del estrato herbáceo, como gramíneas (Poaceae) y de vegetación hidrófila, del tipo palustre (Cyperaceae). La transición de este cambio en la composición vegetal se registra aproximadamente unos 100 años antes del presente (AP), coincidiendo con la mitad del siglo XIX, época que marca el inicio de la llegada de colonos a la zona y el consecuente despeje del territorio para asentamiento y crianza de ganado. El registro polínico evidencia la presencia de fuego en el sedimento a través de micropartículas de carbón, lo que sugiere que el paisaje actual de la región habría estado bajo influencia de carácter antrópica.