Land-use intensity drives structural simplification of vegetation patches in arid woodland ecosystems

Background Disturbances associated with land-use modify the size, composition, and spatial distribution of vegetation patches in arid woodlands. These changes could hinder the sustainable management of the native dryland forests. We aimed to evaluate how land-use intensity influences the spatial configuration of vegetation and the characteristics of woody patch types in an arid woodland of the Central Monte Desert. We hypothesized that increasing land-use intensity simplifies spatial distribution and modifies the structural characteristics of woody vegetation patch types across the woodland. Therefore, we expected lower patch density, cover, and area under high land-use intensity, together with reductions in patch height, diameter, richness, intrapatch cover, and vegetation activity. We also expected an increase in the dominance of simpler patch types and changes in species composition as anthropogenic disturbances increase. We established paired sampling sites with high and low grazing intensities in four livestock settlements within the Reserva Natural Bosques Telteca in Mendoza, Argentina. At each site, we established four 50 m-long transects, on which we determined patch number and cover, and measured morphometric and structural characteristics of each patch. We also analyzed temporal variation in vegetation activity at the sites using satellite imagery. Results Patch density was higher at low land-use intensity, patch cover remained without significant change, but patch size (area) and vegetation activity decreased with increasing land-use intensity. Land-use intensity did not drive patches with distinctive characteristics but altered their relative dominance. We could identify five types of vegetation patches. Tree-dominated patches were more prevalent at sites with high land-use intensity. The richest and shrub-dominated patches were more present in sites with low land-use intensity. Conclusion Our findings indicate that land-use intensity in the Monte Desert alters patch configuration and dominance rather than generating entirely distinct patch types, whereas patch cover remains unchanged. Additionally, increased land-use intensity reduces vegetation activity, patch area, and shrub-patch cover. Together, our results suggest that anthropogenic disturbance could decrease the functional activity of vegetation patches without generating significant changes in tree-layer structure. By linking disturbance intensity to vegetation patterns, this study provides insight into the dynamics of vegetation structure in the Monte Desert and similar arid woodlands.