Influence of Altitude and Climatic Factors on the Floristic Composition of the Moorlands of the Guamote Canton, Ecuador: Key Revelations for Conservation

Diego Francisco Cushquicullma-Colcha (), Guicela Margoth Ati-Cutiupala, Edmundo Danilo Guilcapi-Pacheco, Juan Federico Villacis-Uvidia, Marcela Yolanda Brito-Mancero, Pedro Vicente Vaca-Cárdenas, Martha Marisol Vasco-Lucio, Eduardo Antonio Muñoz-Jácome and Maritza Lucia Vaca-Cárdenas
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Diego Francisco Cushquicullma-Colcha: Statistics Department, Universidad de Granada, Avda. del Hospicio, 18010 Granada, Spain
Guicela Margoth Ati-Cutiupala: Doctoral School, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
Edmundo Danilo Guilcapi-Pacheco: Faculty of Natural Resources, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Panamericana Sur, km 1.5, Riobamba 060155, Ecuador
Juan Federico Villacis-Uvidia: Faculty of Accounting and Auditing, Technical University of Ambato, Ambato 180207, Ecuador
Marcela Yolanda Brito-Mancero: Faculty of Natural Resources, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Panamericana Sur, km 1.5, Riobamba 060155, Ecuador
Pedro Vicente Vaca-Cárdenas: Andean Paramos, Research Center, Riobamba 060155, Ecuador
Martha Marisol Vasco-Lucio: Andean Paramos, Research Center, Riobamba 060155, Ecuador
Eduardo Antonio Muñoz-Jácome: Andean Paramos, Research Center, Riobamba 060155, Ecuador
Maritza Lucia Vaca-Cárdenas: Faculty of Livestock Sciences, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Panamericana Sur, km 1.5, Riobamba 060155, Ecuador

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 2, 1-12

Abstract: The Andean paramos are unique and biodiverse environments. Located between the upper limit of forest and perpetual snow, they provide ecosystem services, especially freshwater supply; however, anthropogenic activities and climate change have altered their distribution and composition. This paper analyses the influence of altitude and climatic factors on the floristic composition of the páramos. A quasi-experimental study was used in three altitudinal gradients, collecting geolocalised data on species and bioclimatic variables. Principal component analysis, using the HJ-Biplot visualisation technique and k-means clustering algorithms, was applied to explore the relationships between factors. It was determined that the lower zone is nuanced by the presence of Solanaceae, which are important for human food. In the middle zone, there is a high diversity, with the Ericaceae and Caprifoliaceae families standing out, while in the upper zone, the Ericaceae and Gentianaceae families are accentuated. The PCA reveals that strata 2 and 3 share family taxa, while stratum 1 shows differences. Altitude and precipitation directly influence the distribution of species in each stratum; the Asteraceae family is dominant in the canton for its contribution to the principal components.

Keywords: floristic inventory; principal component analysis; species distribution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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