Synoptic Survey of Surface Water Isotopes and Nutrient Concentrations, Paramo High-Elevation Region, Antisana Ecological Reserve, Ecuador

Heterogeneous Distribution of Rainfall and Discharge Regimes in the Ecuadorian Amazon Basin

“…They often cover ancient glacial valleys and exhibit a high propensity for huge water storage. Recent studies (Williams et al 2001;Buytaert et al 2002Buytaert et al , 2004 have described the characteristics of this original formation and reviewed its impact on the river flow regime. The slow and persistent outlet from these superficial aquifers may help sustain the flow regimes of some basins at high altitude, during the dry season (May to September).…”

Clarifying regional hydrologic controls of the Marañón River, Peru through rapid assessment to inform system-wide basin planning approaches

“…The influence of evaporation and sublimation on water surfaces in the tropical Andes appears to be highly sitespecific, with some studies reporting a high evaporation signal (Williams et al, 2001) while others do not Stichler et al, 2001). Some evaporative effect is observed in the alpine samples (m = 7.39) relative to the LMWL (m = 8.2), suggesting possible importance to surface water of snow, ice, or ponded (puna) water in the alpine reach, whereas in the alpine zone effects from transpiration are expected to be minimal due to limited vegetation.…”

Selling the Public on Sustainable Watershed Conservation

“…There is ample evidence that the cloud forest belt of the Tropical Andean landscapes represents the most important biodiversity holding of the neotropical realm (Dinerstein, et al, 1995;Sarmiento 2001a;. There have been several attempts to characterise the ecological variability of the high mountain system around the Antisana volcano, with research from paleoecological theory (Colinvaux et al, 1997) as well as present-day inventories, surveys and experiments (Francou et al, 2000;Williams et al, 2001). A complex of national protected areas exists around the headwaters of the Papallacta river basin, recognising the important ecological value of the Andean cloud forests and páramos now found in the Antisana Ecological Reserve, and surrounding areas to the north (Cayambe-Coca Ecological Reserve), and the south (Cotopaxi National Park).…”