Diversidad de plantas, estructura de la comunidad y biomasa aérea en un páramo del sur del Ecuador

Abstract

Long-term monitoring of high mountain ecosystems is a key element to understand the impact of global environmental change on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Our research explored the floristic diversity and plant aereal biomass content in the paramo ecosystem in Cajanuma at the Podocarpus National Park, Loja, Ecuador. The aim of our study was to create baseline information for subsequent monitoring. The monitoring area ocuppied 1 260 m2, where 30 permanent plots of 1 m2 were established. The floristic composition, structure and aeral biomass (dry weight) were determined. The individuals were classified within 66 species belonging to 49 genera and 32 families. The most diverse families were Asteraceae and Ericaceae, while the most frequent species were Tillandsia aequatorialis with 47 000, Thelypteris euthythrix with 31 000, and Blechnum cordatum with 19 667 individuals. We estimated an aereal biomass of 14.76 t ha-1; where 9.35 t ha-1 accounted for alive biomass and 5.42 t ha-1 for necromass. This information will be useful to evaluate future changes in vascular-plant communities and productivity in high Andean mountain ecosystems due to factors associated to global environmental change.