| Abstract Detail
Tropical Biology Valdebenito, Hugo [1], Miranda, Nelson [1], Zabala, Damian [1]. Structure and floristic composition of a forest fragment in the Mindo Andean Cloud Forest, Ecuador. In 2018, two permanent 1-ha square permanent plots (plot 1 and 2), divided into 100 subunits of 10x10m subplots, were established in the Mindo-Nambillo Protected Forest, located approximately 76 km northwest of Quito (Ecuador). All tress ≥ 10cm dbh were marked with numbered aluminum plates, and their coordinates in the plot were recorded. Voucher specimens were collected for all species and were deposited in the herbarium QUSF. The study area corresponds to a "Low Montane Rainforest" type vegetation (Jorgensen and León-Yañez, 2016), located at 1,500 masl characterized by being part of the Chocó Andean corridor, and recently declared Biosphere Reserve, a zone with high biodiversity and endemism (Gentry, 1992). The objective of the present work is to present preliminary results (=base line) of the vegetation present in the study zone, which will be used for comparative studies with annual measurements in order to know the dynamics of the Mindo - Nambillo Protected Forest. We have identified 100% of the Families and 90% of the species, measured its commercial and total height, dbh and its status (alive/dead). So far, 625 (493) individuals have been recorded for plot 1 and (2), distributed in 69 (66) species and 53 (43) genera included in 25 (23) families, giving a total number of 1118 individuals recorded. For mathematical analysis and interpretation, Cerón (2005) was followed, calculating the absolute tree species richness (S), the average height and the importance value index (IVI). Curtis and McIntosh's (1951) formula was used to calculate the Importance Value Index (IVI) for each species. The data analysis shows a forest that corresponds to 65% primary forest and 35% secondary forest. In both plots the best represented families were Lauraceae and Cyatheaceae, followed by Moraceae, Rubiaceae and Urticaceae. According to the Shannon-Wiener (1.40) and Simpson (0.50) Indices, species diversity is average. Most trees (53%) are between 5 - 10 m high, 104 individuals reach 15 - 20 m and only 64 individuals exceed 20 m in height. The most common species in both plots were Critoniopsis spp, Cyathea caracasana and Ocotea spp. Given that the establishment of the plots is recent, it is still necessary to continue with the identification work of this work in the Ecuadorian National Herbarium (QCNE). Additionally, the plots will be registered in the ForePlots Program. Preliminary figures obtained for diversity and abundance indicate that this area should be preserved and deserves priority attention.
1 - Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales/Herbarium QUSF, Calle Diego de Robles y Vía Interoceanica, Cumbayá, Quito, Pichincha, 170901, Ecuador
Keywords:
Andean Cloud Forest
Mindo
Ecuador
Floristic composition.
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Tropical Biology Posters
Location: Virtual/Virtual
Date: Thursday, July 30th, 2020
Time: 5:00 PM Time and date to be determined
Number: PTB001
Abstract ID:60
Candidate for Awards:None |
