Community Ecology
Volume/Issue:
Volume 18: Issue 1
Changes in soil cryptogamic communities in tropical Ecuadorean páramos
Authors:
Y. González Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto s/n, Loja, Ecuador

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G. Aragón Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Móstoles, E- 28933, Madrid, Spain

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A. Benítez Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto s/n, Loja, Ecuador

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M. Prieto Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Móstoles, E- 28933, Madrid, Spain

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Pages:
11–20
Online Publication Date:
Apr 2017
Publication Date:
01 Apr 2017
Article Category:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1556/168.2017.18.1.2
Keywords:
Altitude; Bryophytes; Cladoniaceae; Climatic conditions; Lichens; Plant cover; Rainfall; Slope
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Altitudinal gradients involve macroclimatic changes that can affect the diversity of several organisms. We tested the effects of elevation and small-scale variables on the diversity and composition of terricolous communities (lichens and bryophytes) in five páramos in southern Ecuador. The altitudinal range considered (from 2700 to 4000 m a.s.l.) is associated with changes in rainfall, temperature and irradiance. At each páramo, forty 40 x 40 cm2 sample plots were randomly selected in similar areas of vegetation (grass páramo) and conservation status. The presence/absence and cover of lichens and bryophytes were recorded in 200 sample plots. A total of 90 species (46 lichens and 44 bryophytes) were identified. Our results showed that total species richness, lichen and bryophyte richness, Simpson’s inverse and Shannon’s index were related to elevation and slope. Nevertheless, the response to elevation was dependent on the organism considered. Thus, meanwhile lichens had their maximum richness at the highest elevation (3930 m a.s.l.), bryophytes had a maximum peak at middle elevation (3300 m a.s.l.). Species composition also differed significantly among the five páramos, especially in bryophytes. We conclude that differences in the elevation of these páramos and small-scale variables such as slope significantly affect the diversity and composition of terricolous communities.

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Cover Community Ecology
Community Ecology An Interdisciplinary Journal Reporting Progress in Community and Population Studies
Print ISSN:
1585-8553
Online ISSN:
1588-2756

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Community Ecology
Language English
Size A4
Year of
Foundation		 2000
Volumes
per Year		 1
Issues
per Year		 3
Founder Akadémiai Kiadó
Founder's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Publisher's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
CH-6330 Cham, Switzerland Gewerbestrasse 11.
Responsible
Publisher		 Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 1585-8553 (Print)
ISSN 1588-2756 (Online)

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