Evaluación de la regeneración natural su relación con variables ambientales y de cobertura arbórea en ecosistemas naturales alto andinos de la Provincia del Azuay

Abstract

Andean ecosystems are an important reserve of biodiversity. In addition to their biological wealth, these ecosystems, provide also numerous ecosystem services. In this study, natural regeneration was described and its relation with environmental variables and tree cover in High-Andean natural ecosystems (paramo and secondary forests) in the Azuay province was characterize d. Woody (≤ 5.0 cm de D.B.H.) and herbaceous species were described in permanent sampling plots to determine richness, diversity, abundance and dominance. These parameters were evaluated at the level of forest communities (FC) and paramo using non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis tests (P<0.05). Also, correlations between soil chemical parameters, environmental variables and tree cover were tested using non-parametric Spearman correlations (P<0.05). Forest communities one and two (FC1 and FC2, respectively) had the highest values of richness, Simpson and Shannon diversity indices for both herbaceous and woody species. Herbaceous and woody species richness was positively correlated with leaf area index and tree cover; density index was positively correlated with the altitude, but negatively correlated with leaf area index, tree cover and available phosphorous (P). The dominance of individuals was negatively correlated with the available phosphorous (P). Shannon's alpha diversity index presented a small positive correlation with the available phosphorous (P) and negatively correlated to altitude. In conclusion the natural regeneration can be an effective strategy for the conservation of plant biodiversity in the High-Andeans ecosystems.