Question

Why does the Patagonia plateau have Scrub vegetation

Answer 1

Patagonia lies between 39° and 55°S, partly in Chile but mainly in Argentina; its extra-Andean portion is treeless semi -arid grass and shrub steppes that have been grazed by domestic livestock for a little over a century. The climate is arid to semi-arid, and cool to cold, with mean temperatures decreasing from 15.9°C in the north to 5.4°C in the south. Extra-Andean Patagonia is an area of semi-arid grass and shrub steppes; vegetation is characterized by xerophytes. Guanacos are the only large native ungulate herbivore and the region has evolved under light grazing pressure. Most vegetation has been seriously modified by sheep, particularly in the past 40-50 years, with palatable grasses being replaced by unpalatable woody plants.