Ecology of a paramo cushion mire

Bosnian, A.F.; Molen, P.C. van der; Young, R.; Cleef, A.M.

doi:10.2307/3236128

Cited by 30 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Moreover, for certain species, the planar growth of a patch may appear as unlimited once the resource constraint and/or the competition from other species has been removed or alleviated. We may here quote the case of Andean cushion bogs, especially those dominated by Distichia muscoides (Juncaceae), a cushion plant found in the TAE of the Andes: on dry slopes it forms small, circular cushions while in wet bottomlands with saturating water conditions it can develop a continuous cover [72] A large share of self-organization models that have been developed to account for spatially periodic vegetation patterns can also yield LSs within the part of the parameter space that corresponds to conditions harsher than for periodic patterns. Under such adverse conditions, plant LSs owe their existence and perpetuation to strong facilitative effects from pre-existing biomass and the locations of the structures are strongly dependent on initial conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant clonal morphologies and spatial patterns as self-organized responses to resource-limited environments

Couteron

Anthelme

Clerc

et al. 2014

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A.

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We propose here to interpret and model peculiar plant morphologies (cushions and tussocks) observed in the Andean Altiplano as localized structures. Such structures resulting in a patchy, aperiodic aspect of the vegetation cover are hypothesized to self-organize thanks to the interplay between facilitation and competition processes occurring at the scale of basic plant components biologically referred to as ‘ramets’. (Ramets are often of clonal origin.) To verify this interpretation, we applied a simple, fairly generic model (one integro-differential equation) emphasizing via Gaussian kernels non-local facilitative and competitive feedbacks of the vegetation biomass density on its own dynamics. We show that under realistic assumptions and parameter values relating to ramet scale, the model can reproduce some macroscopic features of the observed systems of patches and predict values for the inter-patch distance that match the distances encountered in the reference area (Sajama National Park in Bolivia). Prediction of the model can be confronted in the future with data on vegetation patterns along environmental gradients so as to anticipate the possible effect of global change on those vegetation systems experiencing constraining environmental conditions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant clonal morphologies and spatial patterns as self-organized responses to resource-limited environments

Couteron

Anthelme

Clerc

et al. 2014

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A.

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“…Local climatic gradients further complicate within-mountain diversity patterns, with spatial community changes often occurring over short distances (Cleef, 1981;Ramsay, 1992;Sklenár, 2000). Topographic variations at this scale result in azonal habitats such as cushion mires, and even finer scale differences within these habitats (Bosman et al , 1993). Polylepis woodlands, probable remnants of more extensive upper Andean forest in the past (Fjeldså, 1992;Laegaard, 1992), also contribute to the mosaic of the páramo habitats (Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity of zonal páramo plant communities in Ecuador

Sklenář

Ramsay²

2001

Diversity and Distributions

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Abstract. Patterns of vascular plant species diversity in high‐altitude Ecuadorian ecosystems (‘páramos’) are examined. Data from two independent surveys were used: the first from 12 different locations and 192 samples, the other from 18 locations and 243 samples. These surveys included 348 and 284 species, respectively. The data confirmed the occurrence of two main zones in terms of vascular plant species diversity. The grass páramo and superpáramo were distinguished by differences in plant cover, species richness, α‐diversity and β‐diversity. The transition between these two zones begins at around 4000 m. Grass páramo samples comprised more species but the strong dominance of tussock grasses resulted in low equitability compared with the superpáramo, where safe sites for plant survival are limited and the environment does not permit continuous grass cover. Turnover of species across the altitudinal gradient is higher in the grass páramo than in the superpáramo. This is due largely to agricultural fires at lower altitudes, which create a fine‐scale mosaic of burned patches that enhances variability at this scale. Despite the loss of equitability, intermediate levels of fire disturbance appear to promote species richness within the samples. It is suggested that the complex patterns of páramo diversity in the Ecuadorian Andes are largely the outcome of three interrelated factors: altitude, disturbance and the availability of safe sites at the highest altitudes.

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“…Moisture gradients and grazing intensity drive bofedal species composition (Bosman et al 1993;Ruthsatz 2012;Salvador et al 2014). Cushion-forming species such as Distichlis humilis (Poaceae), Plantago tubulosa (Plantaginaceae), and Ranunculus flagelliformis (Ranunculaceae) are dominant in low-lying rivulets, pools, and saturated areas.…”

Section: Methods Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in carbon storage with land management promoted by payment for ecosystem services

et al. 2016

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SUMMARYAndean grasslands (páramos) are highly valued for their role in regional water supply as well as for their biodiversity and large soil carbon stocks. Several Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) programmes promote either afforestation or alteration of traditional burning regimes under the assumption that these land management strategies will maximize páramo ecosystem services, including carbon storage. However, knowledge of the effects of incentivized land uses is limited. In an evaluation of how afforestation and elimination of burning affect carbon storage at a site in southern Ecuador, we found the highest above-ground biomass carbon levels at afforested sites (99.3–122.0 t C ha−1), while grassland sites reached 23.9 t C ha−1 after 45 years of burn exclusion. Soil carbon storage from 0–20 cm was high across all sites (172.8–201.9 t C ha−1), but was significantly lower with afforestation than with burn exclusion. These findings suggest that, although afforestation is generally favoured when carbon is the primary ecosystem service of interest, grasslands with infrequent burning have important potential as a land management strategy when both above-ground biomass and soil carbon are considered. These results are relevant to the development and adaptation of PES programmes focused on carbon as well as those focused on multiple ecosystem services.

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Ecology of a paramo cushion mire

Cited by 30 publications

References 7 publications

Plant clonal morphologies and spatial patterns as self-organized responses to resource-limited environments

Plant clonal morphologies and spatial patterns as self-organized responses to resource-limited environments

Diversity of zonal páramo plant communities in Ecuador

Changes in carbon storage with land management promoted by payment for ecosystem services

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