| Organisms that survive a volcanic eruption are part of the biological legacies that are fundamental to subsequent succession and ecosystem development. In January 2012, the summer immediately after the eruption of the Puyehue-Cordón Caulle volcanic complex, we evaluated the short-term response of epigaeic beetle abundance to ash deposition. We focused on three mountains (La Mona, Bayo, Challhuaco) in northwestern Patagonia (Argentina) that were differentially affected by ash deposition. We re-established 32, 100 m² sampling plots of nine pitfall traps, every 100 m of altitude from the base to the summit of each peak, which we had previously sampled in January 2005 and 2006. We compared the shape of pre- and post- eruptive abundance-elevation relationship... |
