Influence of Altitude and Climatic Factors on the Floristic Composition of the Moorlands of the Guamote Canton, Ecuador: Key Revelations for Conservation

Abstract

The Andean paramos are unique and biodiverse environments. Located between the upper limit of forest and perpetual snow, they provide ecosystem services, especially freshwater supply; however, anthropogenic activities and climate change have altered their distribution and composition. This paper analyses the influence of altitude and climatic factors on the floristic composition of the páramos. A quasi-experimental study was used in three altitudinal gradients, collecting geolocalised data on species and bioclimatic variables. Principal component analysis, using the HJ-Biplot visualisation technique and k-means clustering algorithms, was applied to explore the relationships between factors. It was determined that the lower zone is nuanced by the presence of Solanaceae, which are important for human food. In the middle zone, there is a high diversity, with the Ericaceae and Caprifoliaceae families standing out, while in the upper zone, the Ericaceae and Gentianaceae families are accentuated. The PCA reveals that strata 2 and 3 share family taxa, while stratum 1 shows differences. Altitude and precipitation directly influence the distribution of species in each stratum; the Asteraceae family is dominant in the canton for its contribution to the principal components.