FunAndes - A functional trait database of Andean plants.

We introduce the FunAndes database, a compilation of functional trait data for the Andean flora spanning six countries. FunAndes contains data on 24 traits across 2,694 taxa, for a total of 105,466 entries. The database features plant-morphological attributes including growth form, and leaf, stem, and wood traits measured at the species or individual level, together with geographic metadata (i.e., coordinates and elevation). FunAndes follows the field names, trait descriptions and units of measurement of the TRY database. It is currently available in open access in the FIGSHARE data repository, and will be part of TRY's next release. Open access trait data from Andean plants will contribute to ecological research in the region, the most species rich terrestrial biodiversity hotspot.

Elevation and latitude drives structure and tree species composition in Andean forests: Results from a large-scale plot network.

Our knowledge about the structure and function of Andean forests at regional scales remains limited. Current initiatives to study forests over continental or global scales still have important geographical gaps, particularly in regions such as the tropical and subtropical Andes. In this study, we assessed patterns of structure and tree species diversity along ~ 4000 km of latitude and ~ 4000 m of elevation range in Andean forests. We used the Andean Forest Network (Red de Bosques Andinos, https://redbosques.condesan.org/) database which, at present, includes 491 forest plots (totaling 156.3 ha, ranging from 0.01 to 6 ha) representing a total of 86,964 identified tree stems ≥ 10 cm diameter at breast height belonging to 2341 identified species, 584 genera and 133 botanical families. Tree stem density and basal area increases with elevation while species richness decreases. Stem density and species richness both decrease with latitude. Subtropical forests have distinct tree species composition compared to those in the tropical region. In addition, floristic similarity of subtropical plots is between 13 to 16% while similarity between tropical forest plots is between 3% to 9%. Overall, plots ~ 0.5-ha or larger may be preferred for describing patterns at regional scales in order to avoid plot size effects. We highlight the need to promote collaboration and capacity building among researchers in the Andean region (i.e., South-South cooperation) in order to generate and synthesize information at regional scale.

Regeneración de árboles en ecosistemas naturales y plantaciones de Pinus patula (Pinaceae) dentro de un gradiente altitudinal andino (Azuay, Ecuador) / Regeneration of trees in natural ecosystems and plantations of Pinus patula (Pinaceae), in an Andean altitudinal gradient (Azuay, Ecuador)

Resumen Los bosques y páramos andinos poseen alta riqueza de especies, pero están amenazados constantemente por deforestación. La regeneración natural arbórea de estos ecosistemas condiciona su estructura y funcionalidad en el futuro, pero ha sido escasamente evaluada. En Los Andes del sur del Ecuador, también existen plantaciones forestales de Pinus patula (pino) abandonadas, que podrían ser escenarios para promover la regeneración natural. En un gradiente altitudinal andino, se evaluó florísticamente parámetros de la regeneración arbórea en dos escenarios de estudio: ecosistemas naturales (páramos herbáceos y bosques naturales) y plantaciones de pino. Para ello la diversidad de la regeneración fue descrita mediante la riqueza de especies, índice de Shannon y composición florística. La abundancia a través del número de individuos; estos parámetros fueron comparados en ambos escenarios. También se determinó qué variables ambientales o predictoras de: cobertura de dosel, edáficas, estructura arbórea, distancia horizontal y fisiográficas, explicaron con mayor magnitud la variación en los parámetros de la regeneración. Para ello se realizó un análisis de partición de la variación. La riqueza y diversidad de especies fueron mayores en los ecosistemas naturales, la composición florística fue diferente y su abundancia fue similar. En los ecosistemas naturales, el área basal y la densidad arbórea explicaron mayormente la variación en la riqueza, diversidad y abundancia. No así en las plantaciones de pino en donde la distancia horizontal hacia los bosques nativos fue la predictora que mayormente las explicó. La mayor diversidad de regeneración en los ecosistemas naturales (bosques) está asociada con la existencia de biotipos arbóreos, arbustivos y disponibilidad de semillas, adicionando a la eficiencia en los procesos de dispersión a nivel de micro-hábitat, aspectos que son limitantes en las plantaciones de pino, en los cuales la dispersión o disponibilidad de semillas depende de la cercanía a los ecosistemas naturales.

Abstract Andean forests and paramo have high species richness, but constantly they are threatened by deforestation. Natural arboreal regeneration of these ecosystems will condition their structure and functionality in the future, but now it has been poorly evaluated. In the Andes of Southern Ecuador, there are also abandoned Pinus patula (pine) forest plantations, which could be scenarios to promote natural regeneration. In an Andean altitudinal gradient, we evaluated floristically parameters of tree regeneration between two study scenarios: natural ecosystems (herbaceous paramos and natural forests) and pine plantations. For this, the diversity of regeneration was described by species richness, Shannon index and floristic composition. Abundance with the number of individuals; these parameters were compared between two scenarios. We determined also that environmental variables or predictors of: canopy cover, soil, tree structure, horizontal distance and physiographic explained the variation in the parameters of regeneration with greater magnitude. For this, a partition analysis of the variation was carried out. Richness and diversity of species were greater in natural ecosystems, whereas floristic composition was different and its abundance was similar. In natural ecosystems, basal area and tree density explained mainly the variation in wealth, diversity and abundance. Not so in pine plantations where horizontal distance to the native forests was the predictor that mostly explained. The greatest diversity of regeneration in natural ecosystems (forests) is associated with the existence of arboreal, shrub and seed biotypes. It is adding to this, efficiency in dispersion processes at the micro-habitat level. These aspects are limiting in plantations of pine, in which the dispersion or availability of seeds depends on the proximity to natural ecosystems.

Author Correction: Widespread but heterogeneous responses of Andean forests to climate change.

In Fig. 2 of this Article, the positive part of the y axis scale should read 0, 0.02, 0.04 instead of 0, 0.04, 0.02. This has been corrected online.

Widespread but heterogeneous responses of Andean forests to climate change.

Global warming is forcing many species to shift their distributions upward, causing consequent changes in the compositions of species that occur at specific locations. This prediction remains largely untested for tropical trees. Here we show, using a database of nearly 200 Andean forest plot inventories spread across more than 33.5° latitude (from 26.8° S to 7.1° N) and 3,000-m elevation (from 360 to 3,360 m above sea level), that tropical and subtropical tree communities are experiencing directional shifts in composition towards having greater relative abundances of species from lower, warmer elevations. Although this phenomenon of 'thermophilization' is widespread throughout the Andes, the rates of compositional change are not uniform across elevations. The observed heterogeneity in thermophilization rates is probably because of different warming rates and/or the presence of specialized tree communities at ecotones (that is, at the transitions between distinct habitats, such as at the timberline or at the base of the cloud forest). Understanding the factors that determine the directions and rates of compositional changes will enable us to better predict, and potentially mitigate, the effects of climate change on tropical forests.