Llamas (Llama glama) enhance proglacial ecosystem development in Cordillera Blanca, Peru.

ABSTRACT: Worldwide, mountain glaciers are shrinking rapidly. Consequently, large areas are becoming available for the development of novel alpine ecosystems. These harsh environments, however, delay primary succession. In this study with a local community, we conducted an inclusion experiment to investigate whether Llama glama influences soils and vegetation primary succession following glacial retreat. At the foot of the Uruashraju glacier in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru (~ 4680 m.a.s.l.), we established four llama inclusion plots and four control plots that we studied from 2019 to 2022, 24-40 years after deglacierization. After three years, the llama plots had significantly increased soil organic carbon and soil nitrogen. In the llama plots, we found a large, significant increase in vascular plant

SUBMITTER: Zimmer A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10518316 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature