Estudio de la diversidad florística a diferentes altitudes en el páramo del área protegida Ichubamba Yasepan cantón Guamote, provincia de Chimborazo.

Abstract

This research aimed to determine the floristic diversity at different altitudes in the moorland of the Ichubamba Yasepan protected area belonging to the Guamote town, Chimborazo province. Two different heights were taken as 3440 and 3840 m.s.n.m. The plots were located vertically from the limit of the agricultural frontier, considering that there was vegetation typical of the area and that there was no anthropic use. For the design of the plots, part of the GLORIA methodology was used. Each plot had an area of 25 m2, the same ones that were established in a 5x5 m2 randomly every 400 m altitude. In each quadrant, samples of plant species were collected and taken to the institutional herbarium for the respective taxonomic verification and quantification of floristic diversity. At the height of 3840 m.s.n.m. 16 families and 23 botanical species were recorded, the species with the highest numerical value with respect to DR%, FR%, and IVI corresponded to Calamagrotis intermedia. At the height of 3440 m.s.n.m, 11 families and 19 botanical species were recorded, the species with the highest numerical value in DR%, FR%, and IVI was Lachemilla orbiculata. It had high diversity according to the Simpson index at the height of 3840 m.s.n.m., and the Shannon index indicated that there was a medium diversity. It had high diversity according to the Simpson index at the height of 3440 m.s.n.m. The Shannon index indicated that there was a medium diversity. The Sorensen index showed that the two altitudinal ranges studied are similar. It was concluded that the species were similar with respect to diversity in the heights studied. So, it was recommended to include in the zoning the species of the place to better identify the areas of strict conservation and recovery.