VEGETATION RESPONSE ON A FOREST SLOPE CLEARED FOR A SKI-RUN WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE HERB ALSTROEMERIA-AUREA GRAHAM (ALSTROEMERIACEAE), ARGENTINA

The vegetation structure and composition of an area of Nothofagus pumilio forest clear-felled for skiing (Mt Catedral, Argentina) have been studied, with speical reference to the development of Alstroemeria aurea shoots and seedlings. The recovery of this species after cutting to ground level was also evaluated. Eight transects were set up in three areas with shrub-cutting activities and different intensities of disturbance by footpaths after the ski-run development. Ordinations of sampling areas and species were obtained. Understorey clonal species dominate all sampling areas, although patches of exotic species and native ruderals were to be found in more disturbed areas. Alstroemeria aurea recovered after vegetative-shoot cutting by producing new vegetative shoots and curtailing the development of reproductive shoots. The closure of some footpaths and the restriction of maintenance activities to the end of the growing season could prevent further invasions by ruderals.