A paleoecological context to assess the development of oak forest in Colombia: A comment on Zorilla-Azcué, S., Gonzalez-Rodríguez, A., Oyama, K., González, M.A., & Rodríguez-Correa, H., The DNA history of a lonely oak: Quercus humboldtii phylogeography in the Colombian Andes. Ecology and Evolution 2021, doi: 10.100-2/ ece3.7529

The present “comment” on Zorilla-Azcué et al.’s paper “The DNA history of a lonely oak: Quercus humboldtii phylogeography in the Colombian Andes. Ecology and Evolution 2021, doi:10.100-2/ece3.7529” provides the paleoecological understanding of oak forest since Quercus became apparent in the Northern Andes three glacial–interglacial cycles ago. The interpretation of phylogeographical data is placed in an up-to-date paleoecological context. We arrived at sharper conclusions how genetic diversity between Q. humboldtii populations might have been driven by the dynamic environmental theatre of the recent Pleistocene. This paleoecological context also serves the potential future analyses of other arboreal taxa from the Andean montane forest belt. We show that hypotheses to be tested should grow out of phylogenetic analysis and paleoecological understanding together.publishedVersio

Colobanthus quitensis (h.b.k.) bartl. (caryophyllaceae) en los andes colombianos

Colobantbus quitensis y Deschampsia antarctica son las dos únicas fanerogamas nativas presentes hoy dia en el continente antártico (Green, 1970). La primera tiene una distribución amplia en regiones templadas y frías de América Latina, desde la Tierra del Fuego hasta México (Moore, 1972).  En noviembre de 1978 se realizó una exploración geobotánica corta al Páramo Alto del Almorzadero en la Cordillera Oriental, Departamento de Santander; en el piso pantanoso de un vallecito a 3.900 m (El Tutal) se encontraron algunas maticas dispersas de Colobanthus quitensis (biótipo laxa) cerca de una corriente lenta de agua. El hallazgo anterior de Colobanthus quitensis en la región del Nevado del Ruiz en la Cordillera Central motivó la elaboración del presente trabajo, con el fin de dar a conocer los caracteres morfológicos, palinológicos y sociológicos de esta interesante especie

Plant dispersal strategies of high tropical alpine communities across the Andes

Dispersal is a key ecological process that influences plant community assembly. Therefore, understanding whether dispersal strategies are associated with climate is of utmost importance, particularly in areas greatly exposed to climate change. We examined alpine plant communities located in the mountain summits of the tropical Andes across a 4,000-km latitudinal gradient. We investigated species dispersal strategies and tested their association with climatic conditions and their evolutionary history. We used dispersal-related traits (dispersal mode and growth form) to characterize dispersal strategies for 486 species recorded on 49 mountain summits. Then we analysed the phylogenetic signal of traits and investigated the association between dispersal traits, phylogeny, climate and space using structural equation modelling and fourth-corner analysis together with RLQ ordination. A median of 36% species in the communities was anemochorous (wind-dispersed) and herbaceous. This dispersal strategy was followed by the barochory-herb combination (herbaceous with unspecialized seeds, dispersed by gravity) with a median of 26.3% species in the communities. The latter strategy was common among species with distributions restricted to alpine environments. While trait states were phylogenetically conserved, they were significantly associated with a temperature gradient. Low minimum air temperatures, found at higher latitudes/elevations, were correlated with the prevalence of barochory and the herb growth form, traits that are common among Caryophyllales, Brassicaceae and Poaceae. Milder temperatures, found at lower latitudes/elevations, were associated with endozoochorous, shrub species mostly from the Ericaceae family. Anemochorous species were found all along the temperature gradient, possibly due to the success of anemochorous Compositae species in alpine regions. We also found that trait state dominance was more associated with the climatic conditions of the summit than with community phylogenetic structure. Although the evolutionary history of the tropical Andean flora has also shaped dispersal strategies, our results suggest that the environment had a more predominant role. Synthesis. We showed that dispersal-related traits are strongly associated with a gradient of minimum air temperatures in the Andes. Global warming may weaken this key filter at tropical alpine summits, potentially altering community dispersal strategies in this region and thus, plant community structure and composition.Fil: Tovar, Carolina. Royal Botanic Gardens; Reino UnidoFil: Melcher, Inga. University of Amsterdam; Países BajosFil: Kusumoto, Buntarou. Royal Botanic Gardens; Reino Unido. University Of The Ryukyus, Okinawa; JapónFil: Cuesta, Francisco. Universidad de Las Américas.; EcuadorFil: Cleef, Antoine. University of Amsterdam; Países BajosFil: Meneses, Rosa Isela. Universidad Católica del Norte; ChileFil: Halloy, Stephan. Ministry For Primary Industries; Nueva ZelandaFil: Llambi, Luis Daniel. Universidad de Los Andes; VenezuelaFil: Beck, Stephan G.. Universidad Mayor de San Andrés; BoliviaFil: Muriel, Priscilla. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador; EcuadorFil: Jaramillo, Ricardo Luis. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador; EcuadorFil: Jacome, Jorge. Pontificia Universidad Javeriana; ColombiaFil: Carilla, Julieta. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; Argentin

Distribution and ecology of parent taxa of pollen lodged within the Latin American Pollen Database

The cornerstone of palaeoecological research, concerned with vegetation dynamics over the recent geological past, is a good understanding of the present-day ecology and distribution of the taxa. This is particularly necessary in areas of high floral diversity such as Latin America. Vegetation reconstructions, based on numerous pollen records, now exist with respect to all major vegetation associations from Latin America. With this ever-increasing number of sedimentary records becoming available, there is a need to collate this information and to provide information concerning ecology and distribution of the taxa concerned. The existing Latin American Pollen Database (LAPD) meets the first of these needs. Information concerning the ecology and distribution of the parent taxa responsible for producing the pollen, presently lodged within the LAPD, is the focus of this paper. The 'dictionary' describes the ecology and distribution of the parent taxa responsible for producing pollen identified within sedimentary records. These descriptions are based on a wide range of literature and extensive discussions with members of the palaeoecological community working in different parts of Latin America investigating a range of different vegetation types.Fil: Marchant, Robert. University of Amsterdam; Países BajosFil: Almeida, Lucía. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Behling, Hermann. Center for Tropical Maritime Ecology; AlemaniaFil: Berrio, Juan Carlos. University of Amsterdam; Países BajosFil: Bush, Mark. West University Boulevard; Estados UnidosFil: Cleef, Antoine. University of Amsterdam; Países BajosFil: Duivenvoorden, Joost. University of Amsterdam; Países BajosFil: Kappelle, Maarten. Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INBio); Costa RicaFil: De Oliveira, Paulo. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: de Oliveira, Ary Teixeira. Universidade Federal de Lavras; BrasilFil: Lozano García, Socorro. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Hooghiemstra, Henry. University of Amsterdam; Países BajosFil: Ledru, Marie Pierre. Instituto de Geociencias; BrasilFil: Ludlow Wiechers, Beatriz. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Markgraf, Vera. University of Colorado; Estados UnidosFil: Mancini, Maria Virginia. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Paleoecología y Palinología; ArgentinaFil: Paez, Marta Mercedes. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Paleoecología y Palinología; ArgentinaFil: Prieto, Aldo Raul. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Paleoecología y Palinología; ArgentinaFil: Rangel, Olando. Universidad Nacional de Colombia; ColombiaFil: Salgado Labouriau, Maria Lea. Universidade do Brasília; Brasi

Eight new species of Gomphichis (Orchidaceae, Spiranthoideae) from Colombia

Eight new species of the genus Gomphichis from Colombia are described. Each species is illustrated, and detailed habitat and distribution data are provided. A distribution map of the new species is presented. A dichotomous key for determination of the Gomphichis species in northern South America is provided. Conservation status assessments are provided for each species; current International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List categories and criteria are listed. A brief discussion of spiranthoid orchids taxonomy, conservation status of species, endemism in the Andes and paramo are presented

In memorian Peter A. Florschütz

El 25 de mayo de 1976 falleció inesperadamente, a la edad de 53 años, Peter Arnold Florschütz, eminente briólogo y profesor de Botánica Sistemática en Utrecht (Holanda). Era bien conocido por sus estudios de los musgos de Surinam. Fue coauter del "Index Muscorum”, miembro de la comisión de la Flora Neotrópica y tesorero del IAPT. Durante sus últimos 10 años estudiaba, junto con la señora Florschütz, los musgos de los Andes colombianos. En 1972 visitó muchas zonas de páramos y selvas andinas, especialmente en los alrededores de Bogotá (Cundinamarca), la Sierra Nevada del Cocuy (Boyacá, Arauca) y el Nevado del Ruiz (Caldas). En 1975 tuvo la oportunidad de visitar nuevamente algunos páramos cercanos a la capital colombiana. Sus colecciones de 1972 y 1975 (con cerca de 1.000 números) se conservan en Bogotá (COL) con duplicados en Utrecht (U)

In memorian Peter A. Florschütz

El 25 de mayo de 1976 falleció inesperadamente, a la edad de 53 años, Peter Arnold Florschütz, eminente briólogo y profesor de Botánica Sistemática en Utrecht (Holanda). Era bien conocido por sus estudios de los musgos de Surinam. Fue coauter del "Index Muscorum”, miembro de la comisión de la Flora Neotrópica y tesorero del IAPT. Durante sus últimos 10 años estudiaba, junto con la señora Florschütz, los musgos de los Andes colombianos. En 1972 visitó muchas zonas de páramos y selvas andinas, especialmente en los alrededores de Bogotá (Cundinamarca), la Sierra Nevada del Cocuy (Boyacá, Arauca) y el Nevado del Ruiz (Caldas). En 1975 tuvo la oportunidad de visitar nuevamente algunos páramos cercanos a la capital colombiana. Sus colecciones de 1972 y 1975 (con cerca de 1.000 números) se conservan en Bogotá (COL) con duplicados en Utrecht (U)

The Vegetation of the Páramos of the Colombian Cordillera Oriental

A phytosociological survey based on methods of the Zürich-Montpellier School was carried out in the páramo vegetation of the Cordillera Oriental, Colombia. The study area covers about 10,000 and comprises the páramo between the Nevado de Sumapaz (3°55'N, 4250 m), the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy (6°25'N, 5493 m) and the Páramo del Almorzadero (7°N, 4375 m). The páramo vegetation was studied along various altitudinal transects from the upper forest line (3000-3500 m) up to the lower limit of the snowcap (4800 m). A general description of the study area includes data on geology, geomorphology, soils, climate, flora, phytogeography, morphological characters of the vegetation, fauna and landuse. The evolution and Quaternary history of páramo vegetation and climate is reviewed, incorporating the first data from the Lateglacial and Holocene of the Páramo de Sumapaz. The general altitudinal zonation of the páramo vegetation was studied and is presented for both the dry and the humid side of the Cordillera. The zonal and azonal plant communities are described including their physiognomy, composition and syntaxonomy, habitat and distribution. Eighty five syntaxa from the rank of variant to that of the class are newly described, 17 of which are provisional. The vegetation is not ranked syntaxonomically yet, but described on the basis of preliminary tables. A number of azonal communities, part of them of lesser extent, are described in a similar way. The páramo vegetation is primarily determined by the tropical diurnal high mountain climate. The diversity of the páramo vegetation is related to temperature (altitudinal gradient) and to humidity (dry and wet climate). The presence of zonal bunchgrass páramo, bamboo-bunchgrass páramo or bamboo páramo mainly depends on the complex interrelation between these factors. Finally a synthesis is provided on ecology, morphology and phytogeography of the páramo vegetation of the study area