Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 77 (1): 51-71, 2004
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Geographic patterns of distribution of trees and shrubs in the transitional Mediterranean-
temperate climatic zone of Chile
One main aim of biogeography is to determine if species are randomly distributed or if
there exist groups of species with common distributional patterns known as chorotypes. In this study, we determined through
quantitative techniques if there exists such chorotypes for trees and shrubs in the transitional Mediterranean-temperate climatic zone of
Chile, Eigth Administrative Region of Chile. Additionally, we evaluated the relationship between climate and distribution of the different
chorotypes. The analyses allowed defining 24 significant chorotypes, 18 of which were significantly associated with some used
environmental variable. Mean annual temperature, mean summer temperature and mean winter temperature were the variables that
explained the distribution of most of the chorotypes. The geographic tendencies of chorotypes and their relationship with environmental
variables were evaluated with canonical correspondence analysis. The results indicated that chorotypes distributed in the Andes
Range were correlated with the mean winter temperature, whereas chorotypes with coastal distribution were correlated with
mediterreanity. We discusses the use of new approaches for phytogeographic analysis and its utility in the study of the relationship
between vegetation and environmental factors that determine its distribution.
Key words:
chorology, chorotype,
environmental variables, phytogeography, climatic transition
