Vegetation of Andean wetlands (bofedales) in Huascarán National Park, Peru
Hybrid terrestrial-aquatic ecosystems in the Andes, commonly known as bofedales, consist of both peatlands and wet meadows and line valley floors at elevations > 3800 m. Compared with similar ecosystems at lower altitudes and higher latitudes, the ecosystem processes and spatial patterns of bofed...
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| Language: | English |
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International Mire Conservation Group and International Peatland Society
2019-03-01
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| Series: | Mires and Peat |
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| Online Access: | http://mires-and-peat.net/media/map24/map_24_01.pdf |
| _version_ | 1827883467494391808 |
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| author | M.H. Polk K.R. Young A. Cano B. León |
| author_facet | M.H. Polk K.R. Young A. Cano B. León |
| author_sort | M.H. Polk |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hybrid terrestrial-aquatic ecosystems in the Andes, commonly known as bofedales, consist of both peatlands and wet meadows and line valley floors at elevations > 3800 m. Compared with similar ecosystems at lower altitudes and higher latitudes, the ecosystem processes and spatial patterns of bofedales are only just beginning to be understood. The research presented here provides the first exploratory and descriptive analysis of the biodiversity and place-to-place variation of vegetation in bofedales in three valleys inside Peru’s Huascarán National Park. Through vegetation surveys, we recorded 112 plant species in 29 families. Over a short geographical distance, a valley-to-valley comparison showed high dissimilarity in terms of species composition. Based on dominant life form and species composition, vegetation in bofedales can be grouped into five assemblages. Our preliminary analysis suggests that several abiotic factors could influence the floristic composition of bofedales: elevation, bulk density, percent organic matter, and cation exchange capacity. The findings of high valley-to-valley variation in species, soil and elevation influences may be useful to land managers of high mountain landscapes that are undergoing transformation related to glacier recession. While our findings advance research on tropical Andean bofedales, they also highlight the need for additional comprehensive investigations to fill gaps in knowledge about the tropical mountains of Latin America. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:12:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-428a942aa137463eac4ccce698f171c3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1819-754X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:12:59Z |
| publishDate | 2019-03-01 |
| publisher | International Mire Conservation Group and International Peatland Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Mires and Peat |
| spelling | doaj.art-428a942aa137463eac4ccce698f171c32023-08-02T05:41:13ZengInternational Mire Conservation Group and International Peatland SocietyMires and Peat1819-754X2019-03-01240112610.19189/MaP.2018.SNPG.387Vegetation of Andean wetlands (bofedales) in Huascarán National Park, PeruM.H. Polk0K.R. Young1A. Cano2B. León3Department of Geography & the Environment, The University of Texas at Austin, USADepartment of Geography & the Environment, The University of Texas at Austin, USAMuseo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, PerúDepartment of Geography & the Environment, The University of Texas at Austin, USA and Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, PerúHybrid terrestrial-aquatic ecosystems in the Andes, commonly known as bofedales, consist of both peatlands and wet meadows and line valley floors at elevations > 3800 m. Compared with similar ecosystems at lower altitudes and higher latitudes, the ecosystem processes and spatial patterns of bofedales are only just beginning to be understood. The research presented here provides the first exploratory and descriptive analysis of the biodiversity and place-to-place variation of vegetation in bofedales in three valleys inside Peru’s Huascarán National Park. Through vegetation surveys, we recorded 112 plant species in 29 families. Over a short geographical distance, a valley-to-valley comparison showed high dissimilarity in terms of species composition. Based on dominant life form and species composition, vegetation in bofedales can be grouped into five assemblages. Our preliminary analysis suggests that several abiotic factors could influence the floristic composition of bofedales: elevation, bulk density, percent organic matter, and cation exchange capacity. The findings of high valley-to-valley variation in species, soil and elevation influences may be useful to land managers of high mountain landscapes that are undergoing transformation related to glacier recession. While our findings advance research on tropical Andean bofedales, they also highlight the need for additional comprehensive investigations to fill gaps in knowledge about the tropical mountains of Latin America.http://mires-and-peat.net/media/map24/map_24_01.pdfmountain peatlandsplant diversitypunatropical Andes |
| spellingShingle | M.H. Polk K.R. Young A. Cano B. León Vegetation of Andean wetlands (bofedales) in Huascarán National Park, Peru Mires and Peat mountain peatlands plant diversity puna tropical Andes |
| title | Vegetation of Andean wetlands (bofedales) in Huascarán National Park, Peru |
| title_full | Vegetation of Andean wetlands (bofedales) in Huascarán National Park, Peru |
| title_fullStr | Vegetation of Andean wetlands (bofedales) in Huascarán National Park, Peru |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vegetation of Andean wetlands (bofedales) in Huascarán National Park, Peru |
| title_short | Vegetation of Andean wetlands (bofedales) in Huascarán National Park, Peru |
| title_sort | vegetation of andean wetlands bofedales in huascaran national park peru |
| topic | mountain peatlands plant diversity puna tropical Andes |
| url | http://mires-and-peat.net/media/map24/map_24_01.pdf |
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