Study area

"Deserts are special places, with a unique beauty. Too few ecologists appreciate this beauty, however, and not many are willing to spend their time there..." "...To do serious ecological studies in deserts is difficult and often uncomfortable, but the rewards, in both science and aesthetics, are great." John A. Wiens (1991)

Our research is focused on deserts communities. In particular, our work takes place in the Monte desert, which is a biome exclusively present in the west of Argentina. The majority of our studies are developed in the Biosphere Reserve of Ñacuñán (34º03'S-67º54'W), located in the intermediate latitude of the Travesía de Tunuyán, an alluvial plain in the east of Mendoza Province. We include a summary of the most remarkable features of the Monte desert (including its limits, biogeography and its historical, physical and physiognomical aspects) as well as a detailed description of the Reserve of Ñacuñán (including historical, geographical and physical aspects, the climatic peculiarities of the area and its vegetation). The texts that follow are based mainly on Javier Lopez de Casenave's PhD Thesis; more detailed information as well as the original literature citations can be found there.