Estudio de la dinámica del ecosistema páramo a lo largo de la gradiente altitudinal, en el Parque Nacional Podocarpus, provincia de Loja, Ecuador

The paramo is a unique high mountain ecosystem in which singular and own life forms inhabit, this ecosystem is threatened by diverse factors of anthropic and climatic type. The paramo ecosystem of southern Ecuador has a small area in relation to other tropical biomes, which makes it especially vulnerable to human intervention. Additionally, there is little knowledge about the temporal changes of its vegetation. For this reason, this research seeks to reduce this knowledge gap i) by analyzing the temporal changes in ecological indicators along the altitudinal gradient ii) by evaluating the turnover of plant species to determine the replacement given in the last 13 years. This research was carried out in a pilot site denominated PNP-EC within the Podocarpus National Park, scientifically managed by the National University of Loja. The pilot site is made up of three peaks considering an altitudinal gradient (CIA: 3,270 m asl, CIB: 3,320 m asl and CIC: 3,400 m asl). for long-term biodiversity monitoring, which was carried out following the protocols of the GLORIA Network (Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments) for alpine and Andean ecosystems. Within the study, the ecological indicators density, Margalef richness, Shannon index and percentage of coverage for the species present in the three peaks were calculated for the monitoring carried out in 2009 and 2022. To compare the changes over time and throughout of the altitudinal gradient, an analysis of variance was carried out with mixed linear models. The results indicated that there is a decrease in richness and Shannon index for the period studied at altitudes of 3,270 m asl and 3,400 m asl, belonging to the CIA and CIC respectively. The percentage of vascular plant cover and the species density of the monitoring peaks have been maintained and do not present significant changes along their altitudinal gradient. A decrease in the percentage of coverage of the Chusquea neurophylla and Calamagrostis macrophylla species was observed at the highest altitude peak between the periods of analysis. Additionally, there is turnover of plant species in the pilot zone, for the CIA of 28.67%, for the CIB 31.07%, and for the CIC 37.43%. The results obtained represent key data for future studies, offering a powerful tool to detect changes in vegetation diversity in contrast to climate change and dynamics in the tropical Andes. Keywords: paramo ecosystem, biodiversity, vegetation, permanent plots, altitudinal gradient, species turnover, climate change.

• Hovedforfatter: Bermeo Abad, Jessica Susana (author)
• Format: bachelorThesis
• Sprog: spa
• Udgivet: 2023
• Fag: ECOSISTEMA; PARAMO; DINAMICA
• Online adgang: https://dspace.unl.edu.ec/jspui/handle/123456789/26443