| After one growing season of recovery, vegetation cover and height, species richness, and life forms composition were surveyed in 15 sites located along a gas-pipeline track running through an altitudinal range from 400-2000 m in the subtropical mountains of north-western Argentina (23°S). Vegetation cover was negatively correlated with altitude but was generally high at all sites (> 60%) after one year. Total species richness and maximum vegetation height did not vary significantly with altitude. Cover of grasses, and cover and species richness of trees, small shrubs and climbers were negatively correlated with altitude. Herb species richness correlated positively with altitude. Large shrub richness and cover showed no statistical relationship with... |
