ARTICLE: Distribution changes in páramo plants from the equatorial high Andes in response to increasing temperature and humidity variation since 1880

We share this recent publication that deals with the effects of climate change on the distribution of paramo plants in the equatorial high andes.

Climatic change threatens the diverse and unique páramo flora of the equatorial Andes with species loss and reduction of plant community diversity. Whymper’s findings in his botanical exploration of the Ecuadorian Andes in 1880 offer an opportunity to examine the impact of climate changes on species distribution over time. This research revised Whymper’s historical plant species collections, recorded elevational distribution of the same species along his sampling routes on Chimborazo and Antisana volcanoes, and applied to them ecological indicator values. The results of this study suggest that species composition of páramo plant communities changed since 1880 in response not only to rising temperature, but also increasing dryness.

This interdisciplinary collaboration, was co-authored by Ricardo Jaramillo, member of the Biosphere Institute-USFQ.