Abundance and species richness of Araceae along an altitudinal transect in the tropical cloud forests of Ecuador
(2022) BIOY01 20212Degree Projects in Biology
- Abstract
- Araceae is one of the most abundant species families in South America with over 2200 species across the continent, yet it has not been given much attention in ecological investigations. I analysed the species diversity and abundance of araceans along an altitudinal transect between 400 and 2350 m altitude. The transect, made up of 7 different sites, was located in the Cloud forests of the Ecuadorian Chocó in the northwestern part of the Pichincha province, a region famous for high endemism and diversity of plants. I also examined how the abundance of substrate (trees with dbh<10 cm) correlate with the abundance of climbing or epiphytic species of Araceae. A maximum of species richness was found to occur at 950-1200 m. For altitudes above... (More)
- Araceae is one of the most abundant species families in South America with over 2200 species across the continent, yet it has not been given much attention in ecological investigations. I analysed the species diversity and abundance of araceans along an altitudinal transect between 400 and 2350 m altitude. The transect, made up of 7 different sites, was located in the Cloud forests of the Ecuadorian Chocó in the northwestern part of the Pichincha province, a region famous for high endemism and diversity of plants. I also examined how the abundance of substrate (trees with dbh<10 cm) correlate with the abundance of climbing or epiphytic species of Araceae. A maximum of species richness was found to occur at 950-1200 m. For altitudes above 1500 m or below 950 m species richness declined, indicating a hump-shaped richness curve along the transect investigated. The relationship between the overall abundance of Araceae and altitude was weak. No significant relationship could be found between the abundance of climbers and epiphytic species and the abundance of substrate. In total, 138 morphospecies was recorded in the 28 plots examined. (Less)
- Popular Abstract
- Abundance and species richness of Araceae along an altitudinal transect in the tropical cloud forests of Ecuador
The unique and heterogeneous landscape that is the tropical Andes of Ecuador harbour a vast diversity of plants. One of the most abundant plant families in south America, Araceae, with over 2200 species across the continent has both a high abundance and diversity in the tropical Andes. In these forests they are important providers of nectar, food and nesting sites to many canopy dwelling animals and insects, making then an important target group for conservational action and ecological studies.
An area of particular interest in Ecuador is the Chocó biosphere, a region that because of its high plant diversity and endemism... (More) - Abundance and species richness of Araceae along an altitudinal transect in the tropical cloud forests of Ecuador
The unique and heterogeneous landscape that is the tropical Andes of Ecuador harbour a vast diversity of plants. One of the most abundant plant families in south America, Araceae, with over 2200 species across the continent has both a high abundance and diversity in the tropical Andes. In these forests they are important providers of nectar, food and nesting sites to many canopy dwelling animals and insects, making then an important target group for conservational action and ecological studies.
An area of particular interest in Ecuador is the Chocó biosphere, a region that because of its high plant diversity and endemism is considered a biodiversity hotspot. Despite this, the Chocó biodiversity hotspot in Ecuador has become highly populated and fragmentated through agriculture and other land-use. Forest clearing, grazing and river alteration is putting pressure on this highly diverse landscape and results in, amongst other, deforestation of primary forest able to sustain the wide range of biota. Climate warming is also threatening many tropical species of Araceae, driving local extinction of sensitive species. Although the tropical Andes provide a variety of microclimates, many Araceae already live at their thermal limit, complicating dispersal of these species in a warming climate. Further, the Pichincha Province has a high endemism of Araceae that due to climate warming and habitat displacement may get lost.
In my project, I explored how the abundance and diversity of Araceae at seven different sites fluctuated along an altitudinal transect, ranging from 400 – 2350 m altitude, in the cloud forests of northwestern Ecuador. I also explored how the abundance of substrate, in this case the amount of tree-substrate with a diameter above breast height (dbh) larger than 10 cm, would affect the amount of climbing and epiphytical Araceae in the same area. All data was collected within the Chocó biodiversity hotspot, and more specifically with in the Pichincha region of Ecuador, with the aim to better understand what conservational action should be implemented in the area to better protect the diversity of Araceae within the area.
One of the main factors that determine diversity and abundance patterns of Araceae in the Ecuadorian cloud forests is altitude with its changes in temperature, humidity, and precipitation. From a conservational perspective epiphytic Araceae are of particular interest as they depend on many different factors to grow and reproduce, in secondary forest or disturbed areas they also have a slow recolonization rate making diversity of these species particularly vulnerable to deforestation and habitat displacement. Within the Ecuadorian Chocó the species composition is dominated by genus Anthurium and Philodendron, which both have a high number of epiphytic species as well as climbing and terrestrial.
Through my research I concluded that the study area had a high species diversity and abundance of Araceae, with many species limited to a singular location. Species diversity peaked between the altitudes of 950 and 1200 m at sites with older forest, indicating that the age of the forest affects the species diversity of Araceae. Species abundance tended to follow the same pattern as species diversity with some deviations at high altitudes. No significant pattern could be found for the amount of epiphytic or climbing Araceae with the amount of available substrate, indicating that the lack of mature, primary forest may affect the abundance of these lifeforms in the studied area. I therefore predict that conservational action to better protect species diversity and abundance of Araceae could be aimed at protecting mature forest at mid-elevation with a high connectivity to low- and high altitudes to better allow dispersal.
Bachelor´s degree project in Biology; 30 credits; 2021-2022
Department of Biology, Lund University
Supervisors: Stefan Andersson & Bertil Ståhl (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9079197
- author
- Reimer, Sonja
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- BIOY01 20212
- year
- 2022
- type
- M2 - Bachelor Degree
- subject
- language
- English
- id
- 9079197
- date added to LUP
- 2022-05-11 13:56:32
- date last changed
- 2022-05-11 13:56:32
@misc{9079197,
abstract = {{Araceae is one of the most abundant species families in South America with over 2200 species across the continent, yet it has not been given much attention in ecological investigations. I analysed the species diversity and abundance of araceans along an altitudinal transect between 400 and 2350 m altitude. The transect, made up of 7 different sites, was located in the Cloud forests of the Ecuadorian Chocó in the northwestern part of the Pichincha province, a region famous for high endemism and diversity of plants. I also examined how the abundance of substrate (trees with dbh<10 cm) correlate with the abundance of climbing or epiphytic species of Araceae. A maximum of species richness was found to occur at 950-1200 m. For altitudes above 1500 m or below 950 m species richness declined, indicating a hump-shaped richness curve along the transect investigated. The relationship between the overall abundance of Araceae and altitude was weak. No significant relationship could be found between the abundance of climbers and epiphytic species and the abundance of substrate. In total, 138 morphospecies was recorded in the 28 plots examined.}},
author = {{Reimer, Sonja}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Abundance and species richness of Araceae along an altitudinal transect in the tropical cloud forests of Ecuador}},
year = {{2022}},
}