Fallopia japonica (Houtt.) Ronse Decr. in southern Chilean Patagonia and its local environmental governance implications

La especie introducida Fallopia japonica (Houtt.)Ronse Decr.es registrada por primera vez en las ciudades de Puerto Natales y Punta Arenas en la Patagonia chilena.En este trabajo se entregan evaluaciones de los envolventes climáticas en Patagonia y explora a las implicancias de la gestión ambiental en el control de esta especie invasora.This is the first registration of various presences of Fallopia japonica (Houtt.)Ronse Decr.(Polygonaceae), commonly known as Japanese knotweed (or "JK"), in Southern Patagonia, specifically in the cities of Puerto Natales (51.73 °S, 72.73 °W) and Punta Arenas (53.17 °S, 70.93 °W).JK is an infamous invasive plant that offers many challenges to effective management across scales (Martin 2019), beyond the usual ecological concerns that invasive species generate.JK has myriad human-facing factors to consider, including growing through asphalt and concrete (Payne & Hoxley 2012) and increased flood damage (Colleran & Goodall 2014).Its effects on infrastructure has impacted housing markets (Francis & Chadwick 2015) and is a concern in watershed management (Delbart et al. 2012).Due to its various negative impacts, there is a great effort in North America and Europe to understand and asses the northern edge of its range.JK has been described as far north as Tromsø (67.65 °N) in Europe (Holm et al. 2018), as far north as 50 °N in eastern Canada, and in Sitka, Alaska at 54 °N (Barney 2006).Models indicate a poleward distribution limit of JK can be predicted by three climatic variables -the length of the growing season (≥ 2505 degree-days), minimum annual air temperature ( -30.2 °C), and annual precipitation (≥ 735 mm) -which form an envelope of climate thresholds (Bourchier & Van Hezewijk 2010).Below, we (1) examine the initial observed distribution of JK in southern Chilean Patagonia, (2) place JK in the climatic envelope context described by Bourchier & Van Hezewijk (2010), and (3) provide a brief evaluation of the management implications of JK presence in Southern Patagonia to explore the potential of managing a potential silent invasion. MATERIALS AND METHODSDuring austral spring and summer months of 2020 and 2021 (September through February), informal front-yard surveys in the cities of Puerto Natales, Punta Arenas, and Porvenir (53.29 °S, 70.37 °W) and along highways throughout the Magallanes Region of Chile, was conducted following an initial identification of JK in Puerto Natales.