Chilean native forests have been subjected to several types of disturbances, with one of them being the replacement by exotic species. Pinus radiata D. Don is a widespread exotic tree that forms extensive plantations in southern Chile. It covers extended areas, affecting the landscape, biodiversity, and ecosystem services associated with native forest ecosystems. Although advances in assessing the impact of exotic plant species have been conducted, few studies have focused on the alteration of soil microorganisms. This study aimed to characterize the rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities associated with the tree species Nothofagus obliqua inside a native forest stand and within a P. radiata plantation growing nearby. We used a 16S rRNA gene and ITS region metabarcoding approach. Using bioinformatics, diversity indices, relative abundance, preferential taxa, and predicted functions and guilds were estimated. The β-diversity analysis showed that both factors, the type of soil (rhizosphere or bulk soil) and the type of site (native forest or P. radiata plantation), were significant, with the site explaining most of the variation among bacterial and fungal communities. Proteobacteria and Basidiomycota were the most abundant bacterial and fungal phyla in both types of soil and sites. Similarly, bacteria showed similar abundant taxa at the family level, independent of the soil type or the site. The main fungal taxa associated with native forests were Tricholomataceae and Cantharellales, whereas in P. radiata plantations, Russulaceae and Hyaloscyphaceae were the most abundant families. The main bacteria functional groups were chemoheterotrophy and aerobic chemoheterotrophy, without significant differences between the type of soil or sites. Overall, these results demonstrate that the composition and diversity of bacterial and fungal communities associated with native N. obliqua forest are influenced by the surrounding forest, and mainly depend on the site’s characteristics, such as the lignin-rich wood source. These results improve our understanding of the impact of native forest replacement on soil microbial communities, which can alter microbial-related soil ecosystem services.

Background: Invasion by exotic plants worldwide can lead to the loss of native species, particularly on islands with a high proportion of endemic plants, such as Robinson Crusoe Island (RCI). Aims: We studied the two most invasive exotic plant species occurring in the forest of RCI: Aristotelia chilensis and Rubus ulmifolius. We aimed at establishing thresholds for environmental and microsite variables related to invasion. Methods: Environmental and forest understorey variables, including canopy gaps and invasive species cover were measured in non-invaded and invaded forest sites. We expected more invasion in plots located close to invasive shrublands, and in large gaps with high solar radiation. Results: We found no relationship between the distance to invasive shrublands and invasion probability. Solar radiation tended to be slightly related with a higher cover of R. ulmifolius, the most abundant invasive exotic plant in RCI forests. Overall, the cover of native ferns appeared to inhibit invasion. Conclusions: The identification of variable thresholds related to invasion can be useful for guiding management decisions. Our results suggest that management should consider monitoring forest canopy gap formation and promote the establishment of ferns to reduce the probability of invasive species establishing.

Urban vegetation plays a vital role in mitigating the impacts of urbanization, improving biodiversity, and providing key ecosystem services. However, the spatial distribution, ecological dynamics, and social implications of urban vegetation remain insufficiently understood, particularly in underrepresented regions. This systematic review aims to synthesize global research trends in very-high-resolution (VHR) remote sensing of urban vegetation between 2000 and 2024. A total of 123 peer-reviewed empirical studies were analyzed using bibliometric and thematic approaches, focusing on the spatial resolution (<10 m), sensor type, research objectives, and geographic distribution. The findings reveal a predominance of biophysical studies (72%) over social-focused studies (28%), with major thematic clusters related to urban climate, vegetation structure, and technological applications such as UAVs and machine learning. The research is heavily concentrated in the Global North, particularly China and the United States, while regions like Latin America and Africa remain underrepresented. This review identifies three critical gaps: (1) limited research in the Global South, (2) insufficient integration of ecological and social dimensions, and (3) underuse of advanced technologies such as hyperspectral imaging and AI-driven analysis. Addressing these gaps is essential for promoting equitable, technology-informed urban planning. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the state of the field and offers directions for future interdisciplinary research in urban remote sensing.

Prumnopitys andina (lleuque) es una especie de conífera con una distribución restringida en Chile y Argentina. A pesar de su importancia ecológica, los conocimientos sobre la estructura y dinámica de los bosques donde crece P. andina son limitados. El objetivo de este trabajo fue describir la estructura y regeneración de bosques con alta presencia de P. andina. Se muestrearon bosques cercanos a Lonquimay (38°1' S, 71º3' O - 38°3'S, 71°3' O) midiendo árboles, regeneración y flora vascular a través de 24 parcelas. Se encontró que P. andina ocurre predominantemente en el estrato superior (15-18 m) acompañado por Nothofagus obliqua y/o Austrocedrus chilensis, además de Lomatia hirsuta y Maytenus boaria en estratos intermedios (4-8 m). En base a la estructura, se identificaron tres tipos de bosques de P. andina: bosques abiertos, bosques secundarios adultos y bosques puros. Los bosques puros de P. andina o “lleuquerías” alcanzaron áreas basales entre las más grandes reportadas para bosques templados del sur de Sudamérica (230 m²/ha). La regeneración de P. andina osciló entre 1.550 individuos/ha en bosques abiertos y 25.000 individuos/ha en bosques puros. P. andina exhibió una estrategia de regeneración aparentemente continua, y en ausencia de disturbios antrópicos como pastoreo de ganado o tala selectiva, sus poblaciones serían autosuficientes.

There is growing recognition of the health benefits that forests and green spaces provide to people. Forest bathing is a practice that promotes relaxation and human well-being through immersive, mindful experiences in forest environments. How forest bathing affects distinct dimensions of well-being is still not fully understood. In this study, we assessed changes in well-being before and after two and four forest bathing sessions and examined whether a brief introductory session on forest ecosystem services enhanced participants’ overall perception of well-being. Forty adults from a rural community in southern Chile completed the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale to assess perceived well-being. Participants showed improvements in overall well-being after two sessions, with the most significant gains in relaxation, optimism, clarity of thought, and social connection. Scores remained stable between the second and fourth sessions, suggesting that initial exposure offers the most substantial benefits, while continued practice helps maintain them. Although the introductory session did not significantly affect overall well-being scores, it showed positive effects on optimism and social connection. These findings highlight forest bathing as an effective nature-based intervention to promote emotional and social well-being, with implications for policies advancing public health and sustainability goals.