Hacia una fitogeografía histórica del Desierto de Atacama

Abstract

The concept of floristic element is fundamental in historical biogeography. In this work the floristic boundaries of the Atacama Desert as well as the biogeographical relationships that have been proposed for the area are reviewed. In an attempt to identify floristic elements of the Atacama Desert, the phyIogenetic literature is reviewed and integrated with the knowledge about the geographical distribution of lineages present in the Atacama Desert. Four floristic elements were identified: (i) neotropical, (ii) Central Chilean, (iii) transandean and (iv) antitropical. These elements are discussed in the context of the possible geographical origins of the Atacama Desert flora.