RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article T1 Native forest replacement by exotic plantations in southern Chile (1985–2011) and partial compensation by natural regeneration A1 Zamorano Elgueta, Carlos A1 Rey Benayas, José María A1 Cayuela Delgado, Luis A1 Hantson, Stijn A1 Armenteras, Dolors K1 Deforestation K1 Fragmentation K1 Land cover change K1 Temperate forest K1 Spatial patterns K1 Ciencia K1 Medio Ambiente K1 Science K1 Environmental science AB Although several studies have reported rates of deforestation and spatial patterns of native forest fragmentation, few have focused on the role of natural forest regeneration and exotic tree plantations on landscape dynamics. The objective of this study was to analyze the dynamics of land cover change in order to test the hypothesis that exotic tree plantations have caused a major transformation of temperate forest cover in southern Chile during the last three decades. We used three Landsat satellite images taken in 1985 (TM), 1999 (ETM+), and 2011 (TM) to quantify land cover change, together with a set of landscape indicators to describe the spatial configuration of land cover. Our results showed that the major changes were dynamic conversion among forest, exotic tree plantation and shrubland. During the study period,the area covered by exotic tree plantations increased by 168% (20,896–56,010 ha), at an annual rate of3.8%, mostly at the expense of native forest and shrubland. There was a total gross loss of native forestof 30% (54,304 ha), but a net loss of initial cover of only 5.1% (9130 ha), at an annual net deforestationrate of 0.2%. The difference between gross and net loss of native forest was mostly the result of conversionof shrubland and agricultural and pasture land to secondary forest following natural regeneration. Overthe course of the study period, exotic tree plantations showed a constant increase in patch density, totaledge length, nearest-neighbor distance, and largest patch index; maximum mean patch size occurred inthe middle of the study period. Native forest exhibited an increase and then a decrease in patch densityand total edge length, whereas mean patch size and largest patch index were lowest in the middle of theperiod. Overall, the observed trends indicate expansion of exotic tree plantations and increase in nativeforest loss and fragmentation, particularly between 1985 and 1999. Forest loss included both old-growthand secondary forests, while native forest established after secondary succession differed in diversity,structure, and functionality from old-growth and old growth/secondary forests. Since different successionalstages influence the provision of ecosystem services, the changes observed in our study are likelyto have consequences for humans that extend beyond immediate changes in land use patterns. PB Elsevier SN 0378-1127 YR 2015 FD 2015 LK http://hdl.handle.net/10017/21353 UL http://hdl.handle.net/10017/21353 LA eng NO Comunidad de Madrid DS MINDS@UW RD 29-mar-2024