Forest Community
The Renaico River is part of what ecologists refer to as a “temperate forest.” Forests of this type are located in temperate areas of both the northern and southern hemispheres of the planet, outside of the tropics. They are characterized by abundant precipitation and cold winter temperatures. In the summers, they are warm and there is less rain. In Chile, there are a number of temperate forests, extending from the Maule Region to the south, all the way to Patagonia (in the Aysén and Magallanes Regions). One example of this is the forest of Chile’s central zone: the deciduous forests that the Renaico River flows through. There, we can find species such as the coigüe (Nothofagus dombeyi), the oak (Nothofagus obliqua), and the raulí (Nothofagus alpina). There is one particular kind of temperate forest at the source of the Renaico River: the deciduous Andean forest, with species like the monkeypuzzle (Araucaria araucana), known in Chile as the araucaria, or (its Mapuche name) the pehuén.
A key characteristic of the temperate forest in this region of the continent is its large number of endemic species: species whose natural habitat is limited to that specific area. 90% of trees and shrubs, 50% of freshwater fish, and 76% of amphibians in this forest are unique to this region and/or do not exist in other parts of the planet [1]. Chile’s temperate forests are also considered to be biodiversity “hotspots” [2], that is, places where a wealth of native species are currently endangered.
The forests have an important role to play in the water cycle. The tree roots filter sediment, preventing it from accumulating at the riverbed where it might contaminate the water. This allows the water to flow freely into the water table, carrying nutrients with it that enrich the soil. The tree roots are also natural barriers that prevent the soil close to the riverbank from eroding, which is what happens when storms occur. The forests also encourage the rain through evapotranspiration [3], that is, the evaporation of bodies of water (oceans, rivers, lakes, etc.) and the transpiration of the plants themselves. This process is important for water balance, humidity, and climate regulation.
As far as human life is concerned, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) stated in 2022 that “forest and mountain ecosystems are the sites of more than 75% of renewable water sources, supplying water to more than half of the world’s population,” and that “the principal hydrographic basins that have a tree cover loss rate of over 50% run a greater risk of erosion, forest fires, and basic water stress” [4].
Native Trees in the Forest:
Sclerophyll Trees:
Boldo (Peumus boldus), Vachellia caven (Acacia caven), Litre trees (Lithrea caustica), Mayten trees (Maytenus boaria), Chilean citronella (Citronella mucronata), Chilean acorn (Cryptocarya alba), and Soap bark (Quillaja saponaria).
Deciduous Trees:
Chilean cedar (Austrocedrus chilensis), Coigüe (Nothofagus dombeyi), Chilean laurel (Laurelia sempervirens), Lingue (Persea lingue), Chilean plum yew (Prumnopitys andina), Willow-leaf podocarp (Podocarpus salignus), Piñol (Lomatia dentata), Queule (Gomortega keule), Radal (Lomatia hirsuta), Raulí (Nothofagus alpina), and Patagonian oak (Nothofagus obliqua).
Trees in the Valdivian Temperate Forests:
Chilean myrtle (Luma apiculata), Chilean hazelnut (Gevuina avellana), Winter’s bark (Drimys winteri), Fuinque (Lomatia ferruginea), Luma (Amomyrtus luma), Prince Albert’s yew (Saxegothaea conspicua), Palo Santo (Dasyphyllum diacanthoides), and Ulmo (Eucryphia cordifolia).
Selected Fungi Communities
Changle (Ramaria flava) and digüeñe (Cyttaria espinosae).
Fish Communities
The following are fish species native to the Renaico:
Velvet catfish (Diplomystes nahuelbutaensis and Diplomystes Camposensis), Mountain catfish (Nematogenys inermis), Catfish (Bullockia maldonadoi), Pencil catfish (Trichomycterus areolatus), Carmelita (Percilia gillissi), Cauque (Odontesthes mauleanum), Farionela (Aplochiton taeniatus), Farionela listada (Aplochiton zebra), Chilean lamprey (Mordacia lapicida), Loa silverside (Basilichthys semotilus), Pocha de los Lagos (Cheirodon galusdae), and Pocha del sur (Cheirodon australe).
The following are non-native fish species found in the Renaico:
Chameleon cichlid (Australoheros facetum), Mosquitofish (Gambusia spp), Crucian carp (Carassius carassius), Ten spotted live-bearer (Cnesterodon decemmaculatus), Brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus), Killifish (Jenynsia multidentata), Uruguay tetra (Cheirodon interruptus), Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), and Common carp (Cyprinus carpio).
Mammalian Communities
Mammals in the region include: South Andean deer (Hippocamelus bisulcus), Long-haired grass mouse (Abrothrix longipilis), Pampas cat (Leopardus colocolo), Large long-clawed mouse (Chelemys megalonyx), Valdivian long-clawed akodont (Geoxus valdivianus), Southern big-eared mouse (Loxodontomys micropus), Chilean rock rat (Aconaemys fuscus), Pudú (Pudu puda), Puma (Puma concolor), Culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus), Kodkod (Leopardus guigna), Molina’s hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga), Lesser grison (Galictis cuja), Colocolo opossum (Dromiciops gliroides), Southern viscacha (Lagidium viscacia), Chilean climbing mouse (Irenomys tarsalis), Olive grass mouse (Abrothrix olivacea), Nutria (Myocastor coypus), Bridges’s degu (Octodon bridgesii), South American gray fox (Lycalopex griseus), Southern river otter (Lontra Provocax).
Reptile Communities
En la comunidad de reptiles se encuentran especies como: culebra de cola larga (Philodryas chamissonis), culebra de cola corta (Tachymenis chilensis), lagarto chileno (Liolaemus chiliensis), lagartija de vientre azul (liolaemus cyanogaster), lagartija pintada (Liolaemus pictus), lagartija lemniscata (Liolaemus lemniscatus), lagartija esbelta (Liolaemus tenuis), gruñidor del sur (Pristidactylus torquatus), lagartija de Schröeder (Liolaemus schroederi), lagartija de vientre anaranjado (Liolaemus pictus).
Amphibian Communities
En la comunidad de anfibios se encuentran especies como: ranita de darwin (Rhinoderma darwinii), sapo de barros (Alsodes barrioi), rana arbórea (Hylorina sylvatica), rana moteada (Batrachyla leptopus), sapo de cuatro ojos del sur (Pleurodema bufoninum), sapo de cuatro ojos del norte (Pleurodema thaul), rana de ceja (Batrachyla taeniata), rana chilena (Calyptocephalella gayi).
More information, sources, and citations:
Forest Community:
(1) “Ecología del bosque templado lluvioso chileno.” Presentation by Dr. Alfredo Saldaña, Botanist, University of Concepción. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5tIz6RcJ4Q
(2) Biodiversity Hot Spots: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity_hotspot
(3) Evapotranspiration: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evapotranspiration
(4) A Guide to Forestwater Management, 2022: https://www.fao.org/documents/card/es/c/CB6473EN
On temperate forests: https://centroderecursos.educarchile.cl/handle/20.500.12246/44045
For more information about native trees, see Árboles nativos de Chile, by Nicolás García Berguecio y César Ormazabal Pagliotti, 2008.
Fish Species:
(1) Undersecretariat for Fishing and Aquiculture, Government of Chile, 2021.
Mammalian, Reptile, and Amphibian Species:
-For more information, see Fauna de los bosques templados de Chile, by Juan Luis Celis Diez, Silvina Ippi, Andrés Charrier, and Carlos Garín. 2011.
– Estudio Fauna Silvestre/ Reyman – IG Ambiental