Forest Restoration in a Fog Oasis: Evidence Indicates Need for Cultural Awareness in Constructing the Reference

摘要: Background: In the Peruvian Coastal Desert, an archipelago of fog oases, locally called lomas, are centers biodiversity and past human activity. Fog interception by a tree canopy, dominated legume tara (Caesalpinia spinosa), enables occurrence in Atiquipa lomas (southern Peru) environmental island with diverse flora high productivity. Although this forest provides essential services to local population, it has suffered 90% anthropogenic reduction area. Restoration efforts now getting under way, including discussion as most appropriate reference ecosystem use. Methodology/Principal Findings: Genetic diversity was studied population over wide geographical ecological range. Neither exclusive plastid haplotypes loma formations nor clear structuring genetic found. Photosynthetic performance growth seedlings naturally recruited remnant patches were compared those or planted adjacent deforested Despite greater water nitrogen availability did not differ from that into area, lower than seedlings. Tara exhibited tight stomatal control photosynthesis, structural photoprotection leaflet closure. These drought-avoiding mechanisms optimize seedling conditions produced moisture. Conclusions/Significance: Both weak geographic partitioning variation lack physiological specialization regime strongly suggest introduced humans. Therefore, fragment is result landscape management resource use pre-Columbian cultures. We argue for restoration should include sustainable agroforestry practices emulate outcomes ancient uses.