Chronically disturbed paramo vegetation at a site in southern Ecuador

The characteristics of paramo (tropical alpine) vegetation were investigate d at a chronically disturbed site in Podocarpus National Park, southern Ecu ador. Located at 2950 m elevation, this site was most likely covered with f orest 500 years ago, but it has experienced frequent anthropogenic disturba nces during the past several hundred years. Nine 2 x 2 m plots were invento ried to determine the diversity and floristic composition of this vegetatio n, and the results are compared to those obtained for other paramo communit ies examined in southern Ecuador. Approximately 60 vascular plant species o ccurred, most of which are common in paramo communities located at higher e levations. This community exhibits characteristics of both grass and shrub paramo vegetation, and shrubs are as important as any of the other six life forms present. Finally, I discuss the vegetation of this site in relation to disturbance ecology and other environmental factors.