Regional heterogeneity and global changes analysis

The regional analysis include a set of techniques, methodological approaches and conceptual models to characterize, at the scale of hundreds to thousands km2, the spatial and temporal patterns of ecological attributes and their relationships with environmental and human variables. The ecological attributes are mainly related to the exchange of carbon and water between the vegetation and the atmosphere, i.e. primary production and evapotranspiration. This kind of analysis uses databases on the ecosystem structure and functioning, satellite imagery, (mainly Landsat, NOAA/AVHRR and SAC-C), simulation models and agricultural statistics.

The main objectives of our research are:

1. To characterize at the regional scale the structure and functioning of the actual and potential vegetation of temperate South America.
2. To characterize landuse patterns in these areas, and to identify their environmental controls.
3. To analyze the impact of landuse changes on ecosystem functioning.

Regional analyses, field studies and the use of simulation models  are the basis to study how the different dimensions of global change (changes in atmospheric composition, land use, climate and biodiversity) affect ecosystem functioning.

Staff list for this research area

• Aguiar, Martín R.
• Austin, Amy T.
• Ballaré, Carlos
• Batista, William B.
• Burkart, Silvia
• Caride, Constanza
• Chaneton, Enrique J.
• Conde, Cecilia
• Fernández, Roberto J.
• Ghersa, Claudio
• Golluscio, Rodolfo A.
• Irisarri, Gonzalo
• Izaguirre, Miriam
• León, Rolando J.C.
• Marchesini, Victoria
• Martínez-Ghersa, María A.
• Mazza, Carlos
• Menéndez, Analía
• Miranda, María I.
• Oesterheld, Martín
• Paruelo, José M.
• Perelman, Susana B.
• Piñeiro, Gervasio
• Texeira, Marcos
• Vega, Ernesto
• Weyland, Federico
• Yahdjian, M. Laura