A phenological analysis of páramo vegetation along an altitudinal gradient: The influence of camelids on Andean flora in the páramo of Chimborazo, Ecuador

Background/Question/Methods

Camelid-plant interactions in the Chimborazo Volcano area of Ecuador are poorly understood even though this region hosts herds of domesticated alpacas (Vicugna pacos) and re-introduced wild vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna). These camelid species, especially vicuñas that have reproduced in large numbers, need current studies for their impacts on plant composition, diversity, and spatial phenology. In this study three sites were compared: one inhabited only by vicuña at 4100 m elevation, one only by alpaca at 3700 m, and one with both species overlapping at 3900 m. At each site three 10 m radius circles were implemented for plant species counts and number of senescing leaves, flowers, fruits, and dying leaves.

Results/Conclusions

The vicuña site and alpaca site separately had expected patterns of higher leaf senescing, flowering, and fruiting plants at lower altitudes, and higher dying leaves at higher altitudes. The combined vicuña and alpaca site, however, had the lowest species evenness, but the species common to all 3 sites also had notable phenological differences that did not align with altitudinal or climatic gradients, which we suggest may result from high grazing pressures from the large populations of grazing alpaca and vicuña. Consequences at heavily grazed sites may impact pollination and reproductive success of paramo flora in the area.