PATTERNS OF PLANT-SPECIES ENDEMISM IN ECUADOR

Distribution patterns of plant species endemic to Ecuador and adjacent parts of southern Colombia and northern Peru are analysed on the basi s of information in the Flora of Ecuador. A total of 827 restricted-ra nge species were found, many of which are known from extremely small a reas, often only one or a few localities. A total of 27% of the specie s treated in the Flora of Ecuador are endemic to that country. The ove rall proportion of endemic and restricted-range species is greater in the Andes than in the lowland areas on either side of these mountains; particularly the southern Andes appears to be very rich in endemic sp ecies. Spatial analysis of distribution data results in the recognitio n of 15 floristic elements and 18 geographical endemism regions in Ecu ador, the characteristics of which are discussed. Comparison with dist ribution patterns of restricted-range bird species show a general corr espondence, with the main difference that birds tend to be more widely distributed than plants along the Andes. Comparison of the results wi th the location of national parks and other protected areas shows that the endemic floras in the northern and eastern parts of the country a re much better protected than those of the southern and western parts.