Flora diversity and landscape patterns in high-Andean wetlands of the Chimborazo Wildlife Reserve, Ecuador
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study evaluated the floristic diversity of high-Andean bogs in the Chimborazo Wildlife Reserve (Ecuador) using biodiversity indices and remote sensing analysis (EVI and MNDWI). A total of 16 sampling sites distributed across three Andean provinces were analyzed, identifying 63 species grouped into 25 families. The most representative families were Asteraceae and Poaceae, with dominant species such as Distichia muscoides and Plantago rigida. Diversity indices (Margalef: 2.07–3.38; Shannon: 2.17–2.83) indicate moderate diversity typical of high-mountain ecosystems. Spatial analysis revealed that only 23% of the study area has vegetation cover, while the rest lacks biomass due to geological conditions. No significant correlation was found between spectral indices and floristic diversity. These results suggest that remote sensing indices, on their own, are insufficient to characterize the ecological complexity of Andean bofedales, highlighting the need to integrate additional environmental variables.
Downloads
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Material appearing in the journal may be reproduced and cited, provided that it complies with the conditions established in the licenses of the published articles Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
References
Anhalzer, J., and Lozano, P. (2015). Flora and Fauna of Ecuador’s Páramos: A Brief Guide to Life at High Altitude. Mariscal. 8–234 pp. Quito
Ati Cutiupala, G. M., J. M. Shucad Shunta, M. L. Vaca Cárdenas, H. E. Chamorro Sevilla, M. Á. Guallpa Calva, S. D. Horna Durán, N. X. Lara Vásconez, and D. F. Cushquicullma Colcha. 2023. Classification, composition, and floristic diversity in natural grasslands across different strata in the Ichubamba Yasepan protected area. pp. 2006–2025. Journal of Namibian Studies. https://doi.org/10.59670/jns.v33i.828.
Bustamante, M; Albán, M; and Argüello, M. (2011). The Chimborazo páramos: a socio-environmental study for decision-making. EcoCiencia.
Buytaert, W., Deckers, J., Wyseure, G., 2006. Description and classification of nonallophanic Andosols in south Ecuadorian alpine grasslands (páramo). Geomorphology 73, 207–221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2005.06.012
Carrasquel, G. (February 2, 2012). Los Bofedales, Andean wetlands deserving of protection. Ecoticias. https://www.ecoticias.com/naturaleza/61002/noticia-medio-ambiente-Bofedales-humedales-andinos-merecen-proteccion
Caranqui-Aldaz, J. M., Lozano-Rodriguez, P. X., and Reyes, J. (2016). Floristic composition and diversity of the páramos in the Chimborazo Wildlife Reserve. Ecuador. Enfoque UTE, 7 (1). http://scielo.senescyt.gob.ec/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1390-65422016000100033
Carrasco Baquero, J. C., V. L. Caballero Serrano, F. Romero Cañizares, D. C. Carrasco López, D. A. León Gualán, R. Vieira Lanero, and F. Cobo-Gradín. 2023. Water quality determination using soil and vegetation communities in the wetlands of the Andes of Ecuador. Vol. 12, 1586. Land. MDPI open access publisher. doi:10.3390/land12081586
Célleri, R., Feyen, J., 2009. The hydrology of tropical Andean ecosystems: importance, knowledge status, and perspectives. Res. Dev. 29, 350–355. https://doi.org/10.1659/mrd.00007.
Curtis J.T. and McIntosh R.P. (1951), An upland forest continuum in the pariré-forest border region of Wisconsin. Ecology 32: 476-496. http://vmpincel.ou.edu/rice_and_penfound/1931725.pdf
Chimbolema, S., Suárez, D., Peñafiel, M., Acurio, C., and Paredes, T. (2010). Plant Guide of the El Ángel Ecological Reserve. Smaak Graphic Studio
Córdova, M., Carrillo-Rojas, G., Crespo, P., Wilcox, B., and Célleri, R., 2015. Evaluation of the Penman-Monteith (FAO 56 PM) Method for Calculating Reference Evapotranspiration Using Limited Data. Mountain Research and Development, ISSN 0276-4741. DOI 10.1659/mrd-journal-d-14-0024.1
Coppus, R., L. Endara, M. Nonhebel, V. Mera, S. León Yánez, P. Mena Vásconez, J. Wolf & R.G.M. Hofstede. (2001). The Health Status of Some Páramos in Ecuador: A Field Methodology. Páramo and Abya Yala Project.
De Groot, R.S., Wilson, M.A., and Boumans, R.M.J., 2002. A typology for the classification, description, and valuation of ecosystem functions, goods, and services. Ecological Economics, ISSN 0921-8009. DOI 10.1016/S0921-8009(02)00089-7
Egües A., Gaona M., Albán A. 2017. “Geological Map of the Republic of Ecuador 2017.” Ministry of Energy and Non-Renewable Natural Resources, Institute of Geological and Energy Research. Military Geographic Institute. Authorization No.: IGM-2017-004. Scale: 1:1,000,000. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qYhMc4PKBg38Y-2dOm-RogOH8i5JMcUa/view)
Eguiguren, P., and Ojeda, T. (November 8, 2010). Floristic diversity of the páramo ecosystem in Podocarpus National Park for climate change monitoring. National University of Loja. https://www.portalces.org/sites/default/files/references/004_Eguiguren%20et%20al.%202010.Diversidad%20flor%C3%ADstica%20p%C3%A1ramo.pdf
Fiallos, et al. (2015). Application of biodiversity indices. Redalyc. http://www.redalyc.org/pdf/1930/193042629015.pdf
Medina G., Mena P., and Hofstede R. (2001). The Páramos of Ecuador. The Páramos of Ecuador. Páramo and Abya Yala Project. https://www.portalces.org/sites/default/files/references/044_Mena%20et%20al.%20 (Eds.).%20%202001.Paramos%20Ecuador%20COVER%2B_%2BTECHNICAL%2BSHEET%2BAND%2BPRESENTATION.pdf
Mena, P. and Medina, G., (January 19, 2013). The biodiversity of the páramos in Ecuador. Academia. https://www.academia.edu/9044711/LA_BIODIVERSIDAD_DE_LOS_P%C3%81RAMOS_EN_EL_ECUADOR
Moreno, C. (2001). Methods for measuring biodiversity. Ibero-American Program of Science and Technology for Development. sites.google.com/site/ecologiauabc/OKmetodosparabiodiversidad.pdf
Monasterio. (2013). Ecological Characterization of the Climate in Páramo. Ayala. Quito
Mosquera, G.M., Lazo, P.X., Célleri, R., Wilcox, B.P., Crespo, P., 2015. Runoff from tropical alpine grasslands increases with the area of wetlands. CATENA 125, 120–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2014.10.010
Myers, N., Mittermeier, R. A., Mittermeier, C. G., da Fonseca, G. A. B., & Kent, J. (2000). Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature, 403(6772), 853–858. doi:10.1038/35002501. https://www.nature.com/articles/35002501
Jiang, Z., A. R. Huete, K. Didan, and T. Miura. 2008. Development of a two-band enhanced vegetation index without a blue band. Remote Sens. Environ. 112: 3833–3845. doi: 10.1016/j.rse.2008.06.006.
Hofstede, R. G. M., Dickinson, K. J. M., Mark, A. F., Hofstede, R. G. M., Dickinson, K. J. M., Mark, A. F., … Narváez, E. (2018). A Broad Transition from Cloud Forest to Páramo Characterizes an Undisturbed Treeline in Llanganates National Park, Ecuador, 0430. https://doi.org/10.1657/1938-4246-46.4.975
Liu, H.Q., Huete, A.R. (1995). A feedback-based modification of the NDV I to minimize canopy background and atmospheric noise. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 33, 457–465
Pauli, H., Gottfried, M., Lamprecht, A., Niessner, S., Rumpf, S., Winkler, M., Steinbauer, K., & Grabherr, G. (2015). GLORIA Project Field Manual. An Approach to the Study of Mountain Peaks. Basic, Complementary, and Additional Methods. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282567915_Manual_para_el_trabajo_de_campo_del_proyecto_GLORIA_Aproximacion_al_estudio_de_las_cimas_Metodos_basico_complementarios_y_adicionales_5_edicion
Penningtona, R.T., Lavin, M., Särkinen, T., Lewis, G.P., Klitgaard, B.B., and Hughes, C.E., (2010). Contrasting plant diversification histories within the Andean biodiversity hotspot. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, ISSN 00278424. DOI 10.1073/pnas.1001317107.
Pereyra, L., and Moreno, C. (2013). Divide and conquer: a review of methods for partitioning regional species diversity into its alpha and beta components. Chilean Journal of Natural History. http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0716-078X2013000300001
Xu, Hanqiu. (2006). Modification of the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) to Enhance Open Water Features in Remotely Sensed Imagery. International Journal of Remote Sensing. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232724072_Modification_of_Normalized_Difference_Water_Index_NDWI_to_Enhance_Open_Water_Features_in_Remotely_Sensed_Imagery/link/5c9aee13299bf1116949a345/download
Wu J, Hobbs R (2007). Landscape ecology: the state of the science. In: Wu J, Hobbs R (eds) Key topics in landscape ecology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 271–287
Wu J, Hobbs R (2013). Landscape Ecology. School of Life Sciences and Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
Zhang, X., M. A. Friedl, B. Tan, M. D. Goldberg, and Y. Yu. 2012. Long-term detection of global vegetation phenology from satellite instruments. pp. 297–320. In: X. Zhang (ed.). Chapter 16, Phenology and climate change. ISBN 978-953-51-0336-3. In tech open access publisher. doi:10.5772/39197.
Zhang, X., M. A. Friedl, C. B. Schaaf, A. H. Strahler, J. C. F. Hodges, F. Gao, B. C. Reed, and A. Huete. 2003. Monitoring vegetation phenology using MODIS. Remote Sens. Environ. 84: 471–475. doi: 10.1016/S0034-4257(02)00135-9.
Zhang, X., M. A. Friedl, B. Tan, M. D. Goldberg, and Y. Yu. 2012. Long-term detection of global vegetation phenology from satellite instruments. pp. 297–320. In: X. Zhang (ed.). Chapter 16, Phenology and climate change. ISBN 978-953-51-0336-3. In tech open access publisher. doi:10.5772/39197.
Zurita-Polo, S. M., M. H. Velasco-Arellano, and J. P. Lisintuña-Toapanta. 2020. Analysis of the floristic diversity of the floodplain grassland ecosystem in the Río Colorado Alto páramo community, Pilahuín – Tungurahua. Pol. Con. Vol. 5, Special Issue No. 1, pp. 80–105. Polo del Conocimiento. doi:10.23857/pc.v5i1.1879.