Andean Paramo Research Articles

Anatomía de la madera de ocho especies de Pentacalia (Asteraceae) en Venezuela

La familia Asteraceae es una de las más ricas en Venezuela. Pentacalia es el género con mayor cantidad de especies dentro de la misma y su principal área de distribución corresponde a los estados Mérida, Táchira y Trujillo. A pesar de su importancia, son pocos los estudios de anatomía xilemática para Pentacalia. El objetivo de este trabajo es la descripción anatómica de la madera de ocho especies de Pentacalia: P. cachacoensis, P. greenmaniana, P. imbricatifolia, P. mason-halei, P. pachypus, P. quirorana, P. reflexa y P. venezuelensis con el fin de encontrar caracteres útiles para su identificación. Las muestras fueron colectadas en los páramos de los estados Táchira y Mérida y en selva nublada de Mérida. La preparación del material se hizo utilizando los procedimientos de microtecnia xilemática y la descripción se realizó de acuerdo a lo estipulado por la asociación internacional de anatomistas de la madera. Las especies se pueden separar en dos grupos de acuerdo a la presencia o ausencia de estructura estratificada y dentro de cada grupo se pueden establecer diferencias con base en caracteres cualitativos y, en algunos casos, es necesario separar con base en caracteres cuantitativos. Sólo P. pachypus y P. venezuelensis no se pudieron separar utilizando características anatómicas de la madera.

Taxonomy, phylogeny and distribution of the genus Steromapedaliodes sensu novo in the Cordillera de Mérida, Venezuela (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae: Satyrini)

We revise the taxonomy and phylogeny of the genera Steromapedaliodes Forster, 1964 and Redonda Adams & Bernard, 1981, both subparamo and paramo endemics of the Cordillera de Mérida (Venezuela). Redonda is hereby synonymized with Steromapedaliodes, a decision supported by a comparative study evidencing several synapomorphies of both genera in external characters and genitalia, and the lack of salient synapomorphies specific to each genus in morphological, biogeographical and ecological traits. Also, Steromapedaliodes mavarezi sp.n. presents several intermediate characters in relation to the species traditionally assigned to Redonda and Steromapedaliodes. Furthermore, a molecular phylogenetic analysis with the use of one nuclear and three mitochondrial markers shows no support for reciprocal monophyly between Redonda and Steromapedaliodes but provides strong support for the monophyly of Steromapedaliodes sensu novo, with low levels of genetic divergence among species. Two new species of Steromapedaliodes are described, S. kahlua sp.n. and S. mavarezi sp.n. We describe five new subspecies of S. albonotata (Godman, 1905), two of S. albarregas (Adams & Bernard, 1981), and the females of S. empetrus empetrus (Thieme, 1905) comb.n. and S. lathraia Viloria & Camacho, 2015 comb.n. Several new status and synonymies are also established. Accordingly, Steromapedaliodes contains nine species, including four that are highly polytypic. Adult Seromapedaliodes share several striking morphological and genital similarities with another north Andean paramo genus, Dangond Adams & Bernard, 1979 from the Sierra de Perijá. However, our phylogenetic analysis shows that the two are not sister taxa and that they originated in separate clades of the speciose Pedaliodes complex. This shows that convergence in butterflies affects not only external morphology traits directly correlated with habitat selection but also genitalia. Steromapedaliodes has undergone an adaptive radiation in geographically isolated paramos resulting in unusual morphological and behavioural characters such as brachyptery and flightlessness of the females of S. bordoni Viloria & Pyrcz, 2003 comb.n. and S. empetrus (Thieme, 1905) comb.n., a unique adaptation among the world’s butterflies.

A new species of cottontail rabbit (Lagomorpha: Leporidae: Sylvilagus) from Suriname, with comments on the taxonomy of allied taxa from northern South America

Of the 19 currently recognized species of Sylvilagus Gray, 1867, 15 inhabit North America, and only 5 are recognized in South America: S. brasiliensis Linnaeus, 1758 (throughout most of the continent); S. varynaensis Durant and Guevara, 2001, restricted to the southern lowlands of Venezuela (states of Barinas, Portuguesa, and Guarico); S. andinus (Thomas, 1897) from the Andean paramos of Ecuador and potentially in a sporadic manner to the Colombian and Venezuelan paramos; and S. tapetillus Thomas, 1913, from the coastal plain in the region of Rio de Janeiro. In addition to these, putative subspecies of S. floridanus, primarily a North American taxon, nominally are recognized from the grassland plains areas of northwestern South America east of the Andes. While S. varynaensis and S. tapetillus are monotypic, S. brasiliensis contains at least 37 named taxa in synonymy, distributed in various habitats; S. andinus requires further study. As a result of the recent description of a neotype for S. brasiliensis, it is now possible to assess species limits and begin the process of illuminating formerly obscured biological diversity in South American cottontails. Here, I describe a new species of Sylvilagus from the lowlands of western Suriname, and excise S. sanctaemartaeHershkovitz, 1950 from synonymy with S. brasiliensis.Version of Record, first published online May 17, 2017, with fixed content and layout in compliance with Art. 8.1.3.2 ICZN.

Leaf Litterfall and Decomposition ofPolylepis reticulatain the Treeline of the Ecuadorian Andes

Leaf litterfall contributes significantly to carbon fluxes in forests. A crucial open question for the sustainability of mountain forests is how climate change will affect this and other carbon fluxes (eg photosynthesis and respiration). Leaf litterfall and decomposition of Polylepis reticulata, an endemic species of the Andes, were analyzed during a period of 1 year at 6 experimental plots located in the Andean paramo between 3700 and 3900 m above sea level in Cajas National Park, Ecuador. Litterfall was collected in each plot using 5 randomly distributed traps. Every trap had a 40-cm diameter (0.125 m2) and was suspended 0.8 to 1.0 m above the ground. The decomposition rate of the leaf litter was analyzed using litter bags. Eighteen bags with approximately 20 g of dry litter were placed in the litter layer in each experimental plot and collected 30, 60, 90, 150, 210, 300, and 365 days after they were installed. The mean annual litterfall recorded was 3.77 Mg ha−1, representing 51% of the leaf biomass present in the canopy, so the leaf life span of P. reticulata in Cajas National Park is 1.98 years. Litterfall occurred all year, with no significant seasonal pattern. The mean decomposition rate (k) obtained for this study period was 0.38 year−1. This study contributes to the information gap on litterfall and decomposition in natural forests located at the highest elevations in the world.

Estimation of soil organic carbon (SOC) at different soil depths and soil use in the Sumapaz paramo, Cundinamarca - Colombia

The vertical distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC), considered to be a key component of the carbon cycle, is still poorly understood in tropical highest mountain ecosystems such as the Andean paramo. The estimation of the SOC in the presence and absence of anthropic intervention, will help to define policies to mitigate CO2 emissions into the atmosphere from this ecosystem. The aim of this research was to determine soil organic carbon sequestration at three soil depths under two types of soil use in the paramo of Sumapaz, Colombia. The soil variations of pH, phosphorus, aluminum, bulk density, carbon sequestration, cation exchange capacity, texture and to estimate the vertical distribution of soil organic carbon SOC, were evaluated, respectively. Two sites were selected to establish the soil estimations according to soil use: natural vegetation cover and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) crop. Samples were taken from 0-25, 25-50 and > 50 cm soil depths. Consequently, eight physical-chemical variables were analyzed in terms of the SOC sequestration estimated for each soil depth and soil. The averages for SOC under natural vegetation cover were: 188 tC.ha-1 to 25 cm, 183 tC.ha-1 to 50 cm, and 178 tC.ha-1 at soil depths below 50cm. For potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) crops, SOC sequestration were: 119 tC.ha-1 to 25 cm, 83 tC.ha-1 to 50 cm, and 71.8 tC.ha-1 at soil depths below 50cm. These results allow to support the soil management strategies that addressed to preserve SOC and regulate water level within the ecosystem of the Andean paramo.

Effects of land use on soil C02 flux in the Paramo de Guerrero, Colombia

The Andean paramo is an important global carbon sink and has a fundamental ecological function of capture, regulation and supply of water resources. The soil CO2 efflux is a natural process through which the carbon is released into the atmo sphere by molecular diffusion. The aim of this study was to establish the effect of different land use and soil managements practices over CO2 efflux in the Paramo de Guerrero, using the soil respiration chamber technique. We evaluated five differ ent land covers present in the Paramo de Guerrero (paramo vegetation, pasture, two tillage cover and potato crop). Our results show that soil respiration was lower in the paramo (0.42 g CO2 m-2 h-1) than in the others land uses, probably due to the higher moisture content (57.1% on average). The tillage practices showed a primary physical effect, continued by the increase of the velocity of biological and chemical processes drived by soil microorganisms, such as microbial respiration and organic matter mineralization. This study demostrates that moisture and soil temperature were not the main drivers of CO2 flux in the conditions of the Paramo de Guerrero, but the agricultural management and the land use affect differentially the accumulation and release dynamics of soil organic carbon to the atmosphere.

Artropofauna en necromasa de dos especies de frailejones en diferentes estados sucesionales de Páramo Andino

Los páramos han sufrido transformaciones de paisaje, relacionadas con la ocupación antrópica con fines de vivienda y de actividades agropecuarias, dejando a su paso áreas en diferentes estados sucesionales, alternadas con vegetación natural. Los frailejones son un tipo de planta con gran éxito en el poblamiento de los páramos y se constituyen en modelos ideales para la comprensión de la regeneración de comunidades paramunas. Debido a que los artrópodos constituyen un elemento fundamental dentro de diferentes procesos ecológicos en estas comunidades, se comparó la variación taxonómica y funcional de la artropofauna asociada a la necromasa de Espeletia argentea y E. grandiflora, haciendo énfasis en Coleoptera e Hymenoptera, en un área sin intervención y dos áreas con diferente estado de sucesión en el páramo de Cruz Verde (Colombia). La mayor riqueza, abundancia y diversidad de artrópodos, se encontró en E. argentea del área sin intervención. Se presentaron diferencias altamente significativas entre la abundancia de individuos de la artropofauna establecida en cada una de las tres áreas de estudio y en cada una de las dos especies de frailejón. Los órdenes Coleoptera e Hymenoptera, presentaron mayor diversidad en E. argentea del área sin intervención. Coleoptera presentó diferencias altamente significativas entre la abundancia de individuos por morfotipo, mientras que los morfotipos de Hymenoptera no. Estudios como este permiten la comprensión de las interacciones insecto-planta y su relación con procesos de transformación y sucesión en el páramo andino.

The Andean Paepalanthus pilosus complex (Eriocaulaceae): a revision with three new taxa.

A herbarium-based revision is provided for Paepalanthus pilosus and allies, five commonly confused species of cushion plants native to Andean paramo. These are placed in the recircumscribed Paepalanthus subsect. Cryptanthella Suess. The group includes Paepalanthus pilosus, Paepalanthus dendroides, and Paepalanthus lodiculoides. An additional two species and one variety are newly described: Paepalanthus caryonauta, Paepalanthus huancabambensis, and Paepalanthus pilosus var. leoniae. The latter two are Peruvian endemics, while Paepalanthus caryonauta is known from four countries, and has long been confused with other species. An additional, possibly undescribed taxon is noted from the Serrania de Perijá, Colombia. Five new synonyms and three lectotypes are proposed, and the common misapplication of some names is noted. Within the Paepalanthus pilosus complex, species differences were found in timing of peduncle elongation, sex ratio, and leaf, perianth, diaspore and nectary morphology. Ecological differences are suggested by specimen data and a review of ecological literature. Descriptions, photographs and maps are provided for all species, as is a key to the groups of eriocaulaceous cushion plants from Andean South America.

The Implications of Fire Management in the Andean Paramo: A Preliminary Assessment Using Satellite Remote Sensing

The upper ranges of the northern Andes are characterized by unique Neotropical, high altitude ecosystems known as paramos. These tundra-like grasslands are widely recognized by the scientific community for their biodiversity and their important ecosystem services for the local human population. Despite their remoteness, limited accessibility for humans and waterlogged soils, paramos are highly flammable ecosystems. They are constantly under the influence of seasonal biomass burning mostly caused by humans. Nevertheless, little is known about the spatial extent of these fires, their regime and the resulting ecological impacts. This paper presents a thorough mapping and analysis of the fires in one of the world’s largest paramo, namely the “Complejo de Páramos” of Cruz Verde-Sumapaz in the Eastern mountain range of the Andes (Colombia). Landsat TM/ETM+ and MODIS imagery from 2001 to 2013 was used to map and analyze the spatial distribution of fires and their intra- and inter-annual variability. Moreover, a logistic regression model analysis was undertaken to test the hypothesis that the dynamics of the paramo fires can be related to human pressures. The resulting map shows that the burned paramo areas account for 57,179.8 hectares, of which 50% (28,604.3 hectares) are located within the Sumapaz National Park. The findings show that the fire season mainly occurs from January to March. The accuracy assessment carried out using a confusion matrix based on 20 reference burned areas shows values of 90.1% (producer accuracy) for the mapped burned areas with a Kappa Index of Agreement (KIA) of 0.746. The results of the logistic regression model suggest a significant predictive relevance of the variables road distance (0.55 ROC (receiver operating characteristic)) and slope gradient (0.53 ROC), indicating that the higher the probability of fire occurrence, the smaller the distance to the road and the higher the probability of more gentle slopes. The paper sheds light on fires in the Colombian paramos and provides a solid basis for further investigation of the impacts on the natural ecosystem functions and biodiversity.

Evaluation of the Penman-Monteith (FAO 56 PM) Method for Calculating Reference Evapotranspiration Using Limited Data

Reference evapotranspiration (ETo) is often calculated using the Penman-Monteith (FAO 56 PM; Allen et al 1998) method, which requires data on temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation. But in high-mountain environments, such as the Andean paramo, meteorological monitoring is limited and high-quality data are scarce. Therefore, the FAO 56 PM equation can be applied only through the use of an alternative method suggested by the same authors that substitutes estimates for missing data. This study evaluated whether the FAO 56 PM method for estimating missing data can be effectively used for paramo landscapes in the high Andes of southern Ecuador. Our investigation was based on data from 2 automatic weather stations at elevations of 3780 m and 3979 m. We found that using estimated wind speed data has no major effect on calculated ETo but that if solar radiation data are estimated, ETo calculations may be erroneous by as much as 24%; if relative humidity data are estimated, the error may b...

El páramo andino: características territoriales y estado ambiental. Aportes interdisciplinarios para su conocimiento

The most important characteristics of the Andean paramo are presented, an ecosystem of social and territorial interest, little known among Spaniard geographers. The synthesis developed constitutes a state of the art, updated and contrasted of the main appearances that define and characterise this space. The adopted approach has a systemic character and focuses in environmental questions, for being those ones who better embraces the paramo’s current complexity. After summarizing the geographical setting of the Andean paramo, we review the subjects that better describe its social profit, which includes hydrological uses, land cover and land use activities carried by locals. The main purpose of this article is to let know to the Iberian geographers a subject of great actuality among Latin American geographers.

Effects of exotic trout on benthic communities in high-Andean tropical streams

AbstractWe explored the effects of introduced trout on primary and secondary producers at 2 spatial scales in 17 Andean stream reaches above 3000 m asl in 3 subbasins of the Guayllabamba watershed in Ecuador. At each stream reach, we measured trout density, biological factors, and environmental factors that might affect distribution and density of trout. We also carried out a field-inclusion experiment along a 105-m section of the Saltana stream (which has no trout), in which we introduced trout in experimental cages to assess their effects on aquatic invertebrate populations and algal biomass. Oncorhynchus mykiss (Rainbow Trout) is widely distributed in streams of the Andean paramo in northeastern Ecuador and was the only fish species found. Trout distribution was correlated with altitude, quality of riparian vegetation, substrate diversity, and conductivity. In the survey, invertebrate community composition did not differ between streams with and without trout, but trout density and invertebrate richnes...

English

This study investigated two transition zones (matrix-forest edge-interior gradient) associated to forest fragments with different degrees of intervention, in an Andean paramo ecosystem located in Puracé National Park (Colombia). The relationship between the structures of vegetation and the spatial dynamics associated with microclimatic variation in each patch of woodland was determined in order to establish the Depth of Edge Influence (DEI). In each fragment, the vegetation was evaluated using transects of 80 x 2 m perpendicular to the margin, corresponding to 30 m of the matrix and 50 m into the woodland. All woody plants were identified, the heights and dominance was the most relevant features to determining the structure of the forest edge. Microclimatic data (humidity, sunlight exposure, air and soil temperature) were measured in transects and mapped using interpolation for determining the spatial dynamics in each gradient and the behavior of the variables associated with the DEI. The results obtained indicate that the change of microclimatic variables was significant in the margin-forest edge-interior gradient when comparing the forest fragments. The differences are related to the degree of human intervention, since the pressure exerted on certain plant species determined the spatial arrangement of these plants in the gradient. On mapping the dynamics of the microclimatic variables and their relationship to the distance in the gradient, a depth of edge influence was identified of 10 m for the fragment with less intervention (Woodland 2) and 20 m for the one with most intervention (Woodland 1).   Key words: Paramo, ecotone, edge effect, gradient, microclimate.

Contaminants as habitat disturbers: PAH-driven drift by Andean paramo stream insects

Contaminants can behave as toxicants, when toxic effects are observed in organisms, as well as habitat disturbers and fragmentors, by triggering avoidance responses and generating less- or uninhabited zones. Drift by stream insects has long been considered a mechanism to avoid contamination by moving to most favorable habitats. Given that exploration and transportation of crude oil represent a threat for surrounding ecosystems, the key goal of the present study was to assess the ability of autochthonous groups of aquatic insects from the Ecuadorian paramo streams to avoid by drift different concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) contained in the soluble fraction of locally transported crude oil. In the laboratory, different groups of insects were exposed to PAH for 12h. Three different assays, which varied in taxa and origin of the organisms, concentrations of PAH (0.6–38.8µgL−1), and environment settings (different levels of refuge and flow) were performed. For Anomalocosmoecus palugillensis (Limnephilidae), drift was a major cause of population decline in low concentration treatments but at higher concentrations mortality dominated. PAH was highly lethal, even at lower concentrations, for Chironomidae, Grypopterygidae (Claudioperla sp.) and Hydrobiosidae (Atopsyche sp.), and, therefore, no conclusion about drift can be drawn for these insects. Contamination by PAH showed to be a threat for benthic aquatic insects from Ecuadorian paramo streams as it can cause a population decline due to avoidance by drift and mortality.

Active avoidance from a crude oil soluble fraction by an Andean paramo copepod.

Several oil spills due to ruptures in the pipeline oil systems have occurred at the Andean paramo. A sample of this crude oil was mixed with water from a nearby Andean lagoon and the toxicity of the soluble fraction was assessed through lethal and avoidance assays with a locally occurring copepod (Boeckella occidentalis intermedia). The integration of mortality and avoidance aimed at predicting the immediate decline of copepod populations facing an oil leakage. The 24-h median lethal PAH concentration was 42.7 (26.4-91.6) µg L(-1). In the 12-h avoidance assay, 30% avoidance was recorded at the highest PAH concentration (19.4 µg L(-1)). The mortality at this PAH concentration would be of 25% and, thus, the population immediate decline would be of 55%. The inclusion of non-forced exposure testing with the quantification of the avoidance response in environmental risk assessments is, therefore, supported due to underestimation of the lethal assays.

Reubicación de plantas de <i>Espeletia grandiflora</i> (Asteraceae) como estrategia para el enriquecimiento de áreas de páramo alteradas (PNN Chingaza, Colombia)

Ecological restoration of the Andean paramos faces several ecological barriers mainly at the phase of dispersal and establishment of native species. With the aim to contribute to the enrichment of degraded areas, different strategies have to be developed to overcome those barriers. In this work we studied the response of individuals of Espeletia grandiflora (Asteraceae) to the relocation as a strategy for ecological restoration programs. We also evaluated the effect of size of relocated individuals on their survival and development. The work was carried out in an experimental plot at 3 424m altitude in the sector "Lagunas de Siecha" of Chingaza National Park, Colombia. We relocated 200 plants that belonged to three different size classes: 5, 10 and 15cm of initial height. The following variables were registered: survival, plant height, number of living leaves and stem diameter of each individual. We also evaluated the differences between individuals in survival and development. In terms of survival the most efficient size classes corresponded to 15cm high; the survival was 85% after two years. The relative growth rates for height and stem diameter decreases with the increase in size, but the absolute increase in height did not show significant differences between the three sizes tested. Since the stem diameter was found the strongest survival predictor after two years of relocation activities, we suggest its use as a criterion for selection of relocation individuals. The relocation of individuals of E. grandiflora had a positive side effect, carrying other species that may contribute to the enrichment and restoration of degraded areas. Among these, we found species of the genus Hypericum, as well as Arcytophyllum nitidum and Calamagrostis effusa, which should be evaluated in terms of survival and development for the subsequent implementation of the relocation strategy. In this study we verified the successful relocation of individuals of E. grandiflora as a strategy for enrichment of paramos, and provided values of survival and growth, which should be useful for planning and predicting with greater certainty the success of restoration programs in the paramo.

Comunidades vegetales de las transiciones terrestre-acuáticas del páramo de Chingaza, Colombia.

Plant communities in the terrestrial-aquatic transition zone in the paramo of Chingaza, Colombia. High Andean paramo ecosystems are an important water resource for many towns, and major cities in this region. The aquatic and wetland vegetation of different paramo lakes, pond, swamps and bogs was studied according to the classical phytosociological approach, which is based on homogenous stands, but excludes any border phenomena or transitional zone. The present research aimed at determining the aquatic and wetland vegetation along different moisture gradients. A total of 89 species in 30 transects were reported, of which Crassula venezuelensis, Carex honplandii, Callitriche nubigena, Eleocharis macrostachya, Ranunculus flagelliformis, R. nubigenus, Eleocharis stenocarpa, Galium ascendens y Alopecurus aequalis were present in more than one third of the transects. Numerical classification and indicator species analysis resulted in the definition of the next 18 communities: 1) Calamagrostis effusa, 2) Sphagnum cuspidatum, 3) Cyperus rufus, 4) Eleocharis stenocarpa, 5) Carex acutata, 6) Poa annua,7) Valeriana sp., 8) Ranunculus flagelliformis, 9) Carex bonplandii, 10) Festuca andicola. 11) Muhlenbergia fustigiata, 12) Elatine paramoana, 13) Isoëtes palmeri, 14) Crassula venezuelensis, 15) Lilaeopsis macloviana, 16) Callitriche nubigena, 17) Potamogeton paramoanus and 18) Potamogeton illinoensis. The ordination of communities reveals the presence of three different aquatic-terrestrial gradients which are related to the life form structure of species that characterized the various communities. We concluded that patchiness and heterogeneity of the vegetation is mainly the result of alterations caused by human activities (burning, cattle raise and material extraction for road and dam construction).

Loss of soil and nutrients by surface runoff in two agro-ecosystems within an Andean paramo area

High Andean paramo and cloud forest ecosystems in South America are undergoing transition to agricultural activities such as potato farming and cattle grazing in many areas. There is a lack of data quantifying the contributions of these land uses to soil erosion and nutrients loss. Thus, we assessed soil quality in patches of potato crops and pasture for cattle grazing, and tested soil and nutrient loss from these two land uses in response to heavy rainfall simulation rates (100 mm h −1). Physico-chemical analyses were also carried out in soil and runoff water samples. We found that potato farming had more severe impacts on soil quality, with substantial loss of the silt fraction (low silt levels of 11.9% were found in soil composition) that prevents aggregates formation and increase soil instability. Furthermore, we found that potato farming resulted in much higher soil loss rate (5.67 g h −1) compared to that of pastoral land use (0.61 g h −1). Meanwhile, N and P average losses measured in runoff were 1.22 mg N-NO 3 l −1 plus 0.12 mg P-PO 3 l −1 for the potato crop, and 0.86 mg N-NO 3 l −1 plus 0.09 mg P-PO 3 l −1 for the pastures, respectively. We postulate that more effective and continuous rooting prevents soil disaggregation in pasture relative to cropping, and that continuous and extensive foliage protects the soil from rain-splash erosion. Finally, direct relationships appeared between the two agricultural practices evaluated and the loss of soil and nutrients. Thus, if anthropogenic practices such as those studied herein continue their widespread trend observed in recent years in the region, then two of the most important paramo eco-systemic services, that is, water regulation and high water quality supply, may be impaired with all the consequences this brings for human settlements and their livelihoods located down waters.

Entomology in Ecuador

Accepte le 19 novembre 2009 T Western Amazonian basin has long been recognized as supporting one of the highest levels of biological diversity in the world. Insects are particularly abundant and species rich in this region, yet the task of describing new species, discovering their range, understanding the factors that govern their distribution and the degree of alteration in their community structure as a result of habitat degradation is still in its early stages. Th e wide diversity of habitats that Ecuador possesses in a small area makes it an ideal location for biodiversity and ecological research. Although the diversity of many groups (e.g. plants, birds, and frogs) has been the focus of numerous publications data on the entomological fauna in Ecuador are scarce, mostly limited to the response of insect diversity to altitudinal gradients. During the past decades, the Ecuadorian research in Entomology has been dominated by taxonomic studies. Face to the acute environmental awareness and called attention to the pressing problem of biodiversity conservation, this taxonomic knowledge has recently been refocused in an ecological perspective. Th e nine contributions to this special issue aim to present some of the major lines of research developed in ecological entomology in Ecuador, mainly at the Museum of Zoology of the Catholic University of Quito (QCAZ), Invertebrate Section. Th e studies concern diff erent ecosystems of Ecuador such as lowland Amazonian rainforests (Carpio et al. 2009, Checa et al. 2009), Montane cloud forest (Donoso & Ramon 2009) and Andean paramos (Moret 2009). Most studies however cover a wide range of biogeographic regions (Badher et al. 2009, Barragan et al. 2009, Donoso et al. 2009, Dangles et al. 2009) including comparisons with other regions from Latin America (Cardenas et al. 2009). Th e coverage of taxa (e.g. Diptera, Isoptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera), thematic (e.g. taxonomy, biogeography, community ecology, conservation biology) and methodologies (e.g. multi-dimensional analysis, spatial statistics, niche modeling) was designed to highlight the diverse areas on which QCAZ entomologists have focused during the last years, giving a broad view of some of their scientifi c achievements. In spite of their large topical range, the contributions to this special issue are united by a common theme: a focus on how a good knowledge of species taxonomy plays a crucial role in fostering and underpinning ecological research in the fi eld of entomology. Th is is particularly important in tropical countries like Ecuador where the task of entomologists seems to have a time limit with a clock ticking faster and faster as human disturbance continues to increase. I hope that this special issue will not only provide a fresh view of entomological research performed in Ecuador but also foster interest from entomologists worldwide to come and perform research in this country which shelters one of the most species-rich but also most endangered insect fauna on Earth. Acknowledgements. I am grateful to Brigitte Frerot, Pierre Rasmont, and Yves Carton for their enthusiasm in this special issue project and their support for making it a reality. I also thank all the members of the QCAZ Museum, Invertebrates Section for their dedicated contribution to this issue. Special thanks to Raphael Cardenas, for his help in the coordination of the issue. Financial supports from the Pontifi cia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador (Donacion de Impuesto a la Renta), the IRD (UR-072) and the University of Delaware (Department of Entomology & Wildlife Ecology) for the publication of this special issue are greatly acknowledged.

Three New Species of Eleocharis (Cyperaceae) from the Andean Páramos of Colombia and Ecuador

Three new closely related species of Eleocharis R. Brown (Cyperaceae) from Andean paramos are described from Colombia: E. fassettii S. Gonzalez & P. M. Peterson, E. cuatrecasii S. Gonzalez & P. M. Peterson, and E. moraosejoana S. Gonzalez, C. Ulloa & P. M. Jorgensen. They all belong to Eleocharis subgen. Eleocharis, sect. Eleocharis, and differ from related species by a combination of characters, among which are the thin, loose upper sheath apices and the unusual achene shape that is conspicuously tapered toward the base and apex.