We have a 17-year database (1987 to 2004) for a desert area of Chile (Auco, National Reserve "Las Chinchillas"), which tracks widely fluctuating precipitations, vegetation bloomings, irruptions and declines of vertebrate herbivores, as well as the diets and residence status of their predators. To gain an ecosystem perspective on this system, we have obtained data on the producers (herbage and seed bank), so that primary productivity pulses triggered by rains can be traced through the herbivorous and carnivorous consumers. 

As an end-product, we expect to model this ecosystem with input being precipitation and outputs being primary (herbage and seed), secondary (herbivore), and tertiary (predator) productivity. We expect to trace not only energy and matter pathways, but also to identify the major biological bottlenecks (species and interactions)

Contact: Dr. Fabián Jaksic
Catholic University of Chile

Last updated: 25 July 2008