Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) is an important commodity with substantial global growth in semi-arid regions under irrigation, such as Central Chile. This region of Chile has faced severe drought that has resulted in the abandonment of avocado orchards, previously established in a global biodiversity hotspot. This study investigates the early effects of abandonment of avocado farms on vegetation recovery and soil after severe droughts. We measured and characterized early plant successional processes by identifying the flora, vegetation coverage, similarity, and soil characterization through 42 transects distributed in four recently abandoned sites, a productive farm, and a natural site. Multivariate analysis was used to identify significant relationships between soil and habitat properties and vegetation abundance and coverage variations for the dominant species. The Jaccard similarity coefficient was used to compare sites. The establishment of native or endemic species was extremely limited and variable between sites. In total, we recorded 55 vascular plants (49.1% were native). The results indicated that Schinus molle L. has become a dominant colonizer, particularly in highly disturbed planting rows in abandoned farms. Factors such as the sources of S. molle propagules, soil salinity, and organic matter accumulation were identified as key predictors of its coverage and presence in abandoned farms. The study concludes that the abandonment of avocado farms, coupled with severe drought, has created favorable conditions for the recruitment of this species, adversely impacting other native species. This research underscores the importance of considering the remaining features of soil and habitat in new successional processes in highly disturbed areas.

Habitat or vegetation manipulation is a strategy within conservation biological control, yet, its formal study is relatively recent and lacking in many parts of the world, particularly when using native plants. We found 56 studies dealing with native plants and conservation biological control, from 2002 to 2022. Most were carried out in developed countries, and studied the provision of flower resources to natural enemies' complexes in several crops. The main gaps in knowledge, similar to studies with non-native plants, were the lack of understanding mechanisms, unknown effects on pest populations, and absence of cost-benefit analyses. Breaching these gaps will allow this strategy to be more transferable among cropping systems and locations and will promote its use by farmers.

Understanding the factors that affect native plant communities is essential to protect floristic diversity, particularly in Mediterranean agroecosystems. The Chilean Mediterranean- climate area supports high species richness and levels of endemism, and harbors the main fruit production. We investigated whether the richness of native and non-native flora differs between two Mediterranean climate areas of Chile with contrasting rainfall levels in both cultivated and uncultivated habitats. Thirteen fruit farms under conventional management were prospected in the spring of 2015 and of 2016 by sampling in square meter quadrants (N = 3,630). A total of 191 vascular plants were found, 48.2 % of them native, 50.3 % non-native and 1.6 % not identified. Species richness was low in both areas and habitat types. However, there were more native species in uncultivated habitats in the Mediterranean-to-desert transition area than in the mesic Mediterranean area, and the contrary was observed for non-native species. Our results suggest that wetter Mediterranean climate areas are more prone to the establishment of non-native plant species.

Flower strips can promote and conserve beneficial insects in agroecosystems. Knowing which groups are favoured and which plant traits affect visitation rates by beneficial insects is important for the design of plant strips. We established 21 Native Flower Strips (NFS) in avocado orchards in Central Chile. NFS contained 7–11 plant species, with variable corolla length and flowering period, to promote beneficial insects. We assessed flight activity of ladybirds (Coccinellidae) and bees (Apiformes) in sites adjacent to and far from NFS within avocado orchards. Additionally, we evaluated flower visitation for the main flower visitor groups (Apiformes, Lepidoptera, Diptera, and Coleoptera) to the plant species in NFS according to season and corolla length. We found almost six times greater flight activity of coccinellids and bees in NFS than sites far from NFS within avocado orchards. Visitation rates of pollinator groups varied according to corolla length and season. Diptera, Coleoptera, and Lepidoptera consistently visited short corolla flowers. NFS were highly visited in summer and autumn, when avocados were not in bloom. NFS in orchards should be encouraged by policymakers because they support beneficial insects that could deliver ecosystem services and contribute to local biological conservation.

The taruka is one of the least known deer species of the world. Its range includes the northern Andean mountains in Chile, where their relationship with Aymara peasants is conflictive because of crop raiding. The aim of this study is to understand the nature of this conflict in Chile, and identify socio-ecological features that may explain it. Data of different sampling dates from 2003 to 2011 of night transects on roads, crop examination, interviews and direct sighting of tarukas were used to understand its ecology and relationship with local peasants. Peasants interviewed (n=47) cultivated mainly corn (85.1%) and alfalfa (74.5%) in small farms and 83% of them raise livestock. The conflict is widespread in Parinacota Province, where tarukas effectively consume crops, mainly abandoned alfalfa at night. The occurrence of crop raiding is not positively correlated with dry season as expected. However crop consumption is low (10.3% average of damaged plants in crop plots). In Del Tamarugal Province only 29.4% of peasants manifested conflict with tarukas but they did report conflict with other ungulates. Day sightings showed 78 tarukas in 34 encounters during 59 days. Night surveys yielded 11.6 +/- 7.4 tarukas/survey, sighted only in alfalfa plots. Aymara agriculture feeds tarukas and is declining because of rural-urban migration. The conflict must be considered in the conservation strategy of the species.

Pollination is an essential ecosystem service for pollinator-dependent crops and plant communities. Apis mellifera L. is by far the most commonly used species to obtain this service in agriculture. However, there is growing evidence of the importance for crop yields of the service provided by wild bees and non-bee insect pollinators. Establishing flower resources in agricultural landscapes is a management practice that can increase insect pollinator populations and improve crop yields. We established perennial native flower strips (NFS) in four avocado orchards in central Chile during autumn 2017. We monitored flower visitors and counted newly formed fruits in avocados near and far from NFS in spring 2019, to assess flower visitor groups, flower visitation rates and fruit numbers. Only A. mellifera visited avocado flowers within bees, whereas both the managed A. mellifera and wild bees were the main visitors to the NFS. NFS increased visitation rates to adjacent avocado of flies, and with a trend for the sum of all non-managed flower visitors (i.e. excluding A. mellifera). However, there were no differences in the rates of A. mellifera visitation to avocados near and far from NFS. Avocado fruit numbers were higher among avocados near NFS than among those farther away. This difference could be due to better pollination by the increased visits to avocado flowers by flies or other wild insects. Therefore, NFS could contribute to crop fruit number, as well as conservation of native flora, wild bees and non-bee pollinators on fruit farms in the "Central Chile" biodiversity hotspot.

Bats are one of the least-studied vertebrate groups in Chile. We sampled six fruit farms in the Mediterranean-climate zone and three in a semiarid zone during 2015 and 2016, respectively. We assessed if activity (passes) and foraging (feeding buzzes) of bat species differed between cultivated and uncultivated intra-farm habitats. We found six bat species, all threatened and insectivorous. Tadarida brasiliensis was the most frequently recorded species. We found more activity and foraging in uncultivated than cultivated habitats in total, although the opposite trend was observed during springtime in semiarid region. More than a third of the bat passes were feeding buzzes in both habitats, suggesting the potential service to agriculture. Further investigation is needed to promote conservation of bats and their integration as biocontrols in agroecosystems in Chile.

El guanaco (Lama guanicoe), el unico ungulado nativo de Tierra del Fuego, posterior a la introduccion de ovejas utiliza mayormente el bosque. La regeneracion de la lenga (Nothofagus pumilio) se presume ser obstaculizada por el ramoneo de guanacos. En este contexto se evaluo la dieta del guanaco en Tierra del Fuego mediante analisis microhistologico de fecas en un area libre de ganado dominada por bosques de lenga. El guanaco se comporto como un herbivoro generalista, exhibiendo variaciones estacionales. En comparacion con otros estudios en Tierra del Fuego en simpatria con ovejas, se reporto menor consumo y rechazo de arboles. Estos resultados tienen implicancias en gestion, ya que un manejo apropiado del ganado podria reducir el potencial impacto de los guanacos sobre los bosques de lenga.

La precordillera de la I Región de Chile (18º 15´S -69º 33´W) es una franja que recibe efectos tanto del adyacente desierto ubicado hacia el poniente a menor altitud, como del Altiplano, el piso superior con el cual limita hacia el oriente.La vegetación en el área presenta, en consecuencia, una variación altitudinal, donde la precordillera se ubica en el segundo de cuatro pisos denominado comúnmente tolar o estepa arbustiva pre-altiplánica (sensu Gajardo).En esta zona 10 parcelas fueron muestreadas mediante el uso de transectos, en cuatro trabajos en terreno durante el año 2002 y 2003.En ellas se investigó acerca de las formas de vida, cobertura vegetal absoluta y relativa, diversidad y riqueza de especies vegetales vasculares en un período anterior y posterior a la época de lluvias estivales (estación seca y estación húmeda).La precipitación estival del año 2002 fue 203 mm, un monto normal para la región, mientras que el año 2003 la precipitación estival fue menor e igual a 84,7 mm (inferior al 50% del promedio de la última década a esa fecha).La amplia mayoría de especies vegetales vasculares encontradas (92,9 %) es de origen nativo (n= 98 especies) y sus principales formas de vida son caméfitas, nanofanerófitas y hemicriptófitas.

La precordillera de la I Región de Chile (18º 15´S _ 69º 33´W) es una franja que recibe efectos tanto del adyacente desierto ubicado hacia el poniente a menor altitud, como del Altiplano, el piso superior con el cual limita hacia el oriente. La vegetación en el área presenta, en consecuencia, una variación altitudinal, donde la precordillera se ubica en el segundo de cuatro pisos denominado comúnmente tolar o estepa arbustiva pre-altiplánica (sensu Gajardo). En esta zona 10 parcelas fueron muestreadas mediante el uso de transectos, en cuatro trabajos en terreno durante el año 2002 y 2003. En ellas se investigó acerca de las formas de vida, cobertura vegetal absoluta y relativa, diversidad y riqueza de especies vegetales vasculares en un período anterior y posterior a la época de lluvias estivales (estación seca y estación húmeda). La precipitación estival del año 2002 fue 203 mm, un monto normal para la región, mientras que el año 2003 la precipitación estival fue menor e igual a 84,7 mm (inferior al 50% del promedio de la última década a esa fecha). La amplia mayoría de especies vegetales vasculares encontradas (92,9 %) es de origen nativo (n= 98 especies) y sus principales formas de vida son caméfitas, nanofanerófitas y hemicriptófitas. Los resultados de los transectos presentaron patrones de estacionalidad; arrojaron mayor cobertura, riqueza de especies y mayores índices de biodiversidad durante la estación húmeda respecto a la seca. En la estación seca nanofanerófitas y caméfitas, principalmente tolas (de la voz aymara t´ola que significa arbusto), son las formas de vida más abundantes, mientras que en la estación húmeda se suman las terófitas y hemicriptófitas herbáceas. El cambio proporcional de cobertura vegetal entre estaciones húmeda y seca, así como la participación relativa de terófitas se vieron disminuidos durante el año 2003, precedido por menor precipitación estival que el año 2002.ABSTRACT The pre-andean mountains of the northern Chile (18º 15´S _ 69º 33´W) corresponds to a narrow strip which is affected by the desert at lower altitud to the west, and the Altiplano, a higher plateau at the east. The vegetation in the area also presents an altitudinal variation, and the pre-andean mountains constitutes the second of four altitudinal floors, commonly called tolar or pre-altiplano shrubland (sensu Gajardo). Ten sampling sites were studied for life forms of plants, absolute and relative vegetal cover, plant diversity and species richness of vascular plants before and after summer rainfall (dry and wet season) in four expeditions during 2002 and 2003 by using transects. The summer rainfall in 2002 was 203 mm, considered a normal precipitation for the region, whereas the following year presented a lower amount of rain of 84.7 mm (less than 50% of normal summer rain for the area). The majority of the species of plants (92,9 %) were native (total n=98 species) and the most abundant life forms were chamaephytes, nanophanerophytes and hemicryptophytes. The results of the transects showed patterns of seasonality; they presented higher vegetal cover, species richness and biodiversity in wet season. In the dry season nanophanerophytes and chamaephytes, mainly tolas (shrubs in Aymara language), are the most abundant life forms. Whereas in the wet season therophytes and hemicryptophytes herbs also are present. The proportional change of vegetal cover between wet and dry season and the presence of terophytes community were lower in the wet season during 2003, which was dryer than 2002.