The Magellanic moorland or Magellanic tundra (
Spanish: Tundra magallánica) is an
ecoregion on the
Patagonian archipelagos south of latitude 48° S. It is characterized by high rainfall with a vegetation of
scrubs, bogs and patches of forest in more protected areas.
Cushion plants, grass-like plants and
bryophytes are common.[1]
The classification of Magellanic moorland has proven problematic as substrate, low temperatures and exposure to the ocean influences the development of the Magallanic moorland. It thus may qualify either as
polar tundra or
heathland.[5]
Soils are usually rich in turf and organic matter and poor in bases. Often they are also water-saturated.[22]Granitoids,
schists and ancient
volcanic rocks make up the basement on which soils develop.[23] Any previously existing
regolith has been eroded by the
Quaternary glaciations.[23] It is not rare for bare rock surfaces to be exposed in the interior of islands.[24]
^Arroyo, M.T.K.; Pliscoff, P.; Mihoc, R.; Arroyo-Kalin, M. (2005). "The Magellanic moorland". In Fraser, Lauchlan H.; Keddy, Paul A. (eds.). The World's Largest Wetlands: Ecology and Conservation. Cambridge University Press. pp. 424–445.
ISBN978-0-52183404-9.
Bibliography
Pisano Valdés, E. (1977). "Fitogeografía de Fuego-Patagonia chilena. I.-Comunidades vegetales entre las latitudes 52 y 56º S". Anales del Instituto de la Patagonia (in Spanish). Vol. VIII.
Punta Arenas.{{
cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
link)