1. Changes in plants and animals at this site are fundamentally driven by abiotic factors, principally rainfall, which in turn is usually tied to El Niño events here.
2. Biotic interactions play a relatively minor role although during times of drought (particularly during La Niñas), competition and predation effects may be exacerbated.
3. Some species are permanently resident in the thorn scrub (i.e., O. degus, P. darwini, A. olivaceus, T. elegans) whereas others are only temporarily resident usually during or after wet periods.  The latter maintain permanent populations in fog forest and wetter river bottoms and shallow ravines.
4. Consequences of more frequent and intense El Niño events may be the persistence of a more stable and dominant small mammal assemblage in the community.  In addition, introduced species such as rabbits and hares as well as invasive herbs such as Plantago spp. (plantain) and Erodium spp. (stork’s bill) may fundamentally alter community dynamics in this semarid locality.

STUDIES IN PROGRESS

1. Additional studies are monitoring annual bird migrations into the park from foothill and Andean areas during winter months.
2. Insects are being inventoried and sampled monthly to determine if they are a seasonally variable and important resource for insectivorous lizards, birds and mammals.
3. Plant studies are targeting the role of hydraulics, nutrient cycling, and changes in mycorrhizal-plant interactions with changes in rainfall patterns and El Niños here.
4. New exclusion studies are targeting effects of introduced lagomorphs on vegetation and their potential interactions with small mammal herbivores.
5. As part of the Millennium Scientific Initiative, the site is now one of 3 long-term monitoring sites for tracking global climatic change effects on plants and animals by the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (IEB).  Other sites in Chile are at the Fundación Senda Darwin on Chiloé Island, and Omora Park in extreme southern Chile.

Publications from the work at Fray Jorge Forest National Park

Other long-term research sites in Chile:

http://www.bio.puc.cl/auco/index.htm

http://www.bio.puc.cl/fjaksic1.htm

Support Sources

Northern Illinois University; University of California, Davis; Universidad de la Serena; Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico (FONDECYT); National Science Foundation; CEAZA; IEB