Abstract Detail

Plant Research and Conservation on the Andes

Segovia, Claudia [1], Uribe-Convers, Simon [2], Gonzalez, Lauren [3].

A Review of Plant Research in the Andes: 2006-2016.

The Andes are one of the most rich and biodiverse regions on the planet, with an extension of 1,542,644 km2 from western Venezuela to northern Chile and Argentina. This almost continuous mountain chain separates the western coastal area from the rest of the South American continent, creating a great diversity of niches, including alpine-like regions (páramos, punas, and jalcas), cloud forests, and dry habitats. This ecological partitioning has led to the evolution of numerous species—some groups being the results of extraordinary explosive radiations—that inhabit many different microhabitats. Geological evidence has shown that the Andes started uplifting in the Miocene (~10 MA), and that the northern range of the cordillera is the youngest (~5 Myr), becoming one of the world’s most recent mountain ranges.. Ten percent of all the world’s species are located in the Andes, reaching high levels of endemism (50–60%). However, only 25 percent of their original habitat remains, becoming a conservation priority. Humans have lived in the inter-Andean valleys for thousands of years, and the effects of a growing population continue to threaten biodiversity in this mountain range. Continuing high rates of population growth and the attraction of urban life, underlie the persistence of dense rural settlement patterns in the Andean cities of Bogota, Quito, and Medellín among others, which has led to deforestation and erosion.In this context, plant research in the Andes has increased in the last ten years, leading to more than 2,500 studies published in Science Direct using the keywords “ Andean plants”, as of March 2016. Nevertheless, we need to review our priorities and identify areas where plant biologists need to work together. Having a better understanding of the research that has been done on Andean plants will not only mean getting closer to our conservation goals, but will also help us with our everyday research. This study focuses on papers published in English, and we reviewed the relation among the area of research, country, and implementation of conservation actions.

1 - Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas-ESPE, Ciencias de la Vida y la Agricultura, Av. Rumiñahui S/N, Sangolquí­, Pichincha, 17-12-85, Ecuador
2 - University of Missouri - St. Louis, Biology Department, One University Blvd., R325 Research Building, St. Louis, MO, 63121, USA
3 - University of Florida, Biology, Laboratory of Molecular Systematics and Evolutioanry Genetics. , Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL, USA

Keywords:
Andes
international research
Review.

Presentation Type: Symposium Presentation
Session: SY06, Plant Research and Conservation on the Andes
Location: Chatham Ballroom - C/Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
Date: Tuesday, August 2nd, 2016
Time: 8:15 AM
Number: SY06002
Abstract ID:156
Candidate for Awards:None