Functional characterization of plants and their utility in the selection of species for the ecological restoration of high-Andean ecosystems

Abstract

To start a restoration process in disturbed areas, it is important to select plant species that provide functional diversity to the recovering ecosystem and allow the establishment of new individuals towards more advanced stages of succession. We evaluated 14 life history traits in 20 species in a transition zone between high Andean forest and paramo in the Aguas Vivas reserve, Soacha, Colombia. We record information on pollination and dispersal types, growth habit, maximum height, fruit type and size, number of seeds per fruit, leaf texture, leaf area, specific leaf area, leaf nitrogen, leaf dry matter content and leaf hardness. The principal components analysis showed that leaf nitrogen, leaf hardness and specific leaf area were the most informative features to define associations between species. We found three functional types that include plants with different adaptation strategies, which will be considered when selecting plant species to be introduced in modified environments. However, this selection should also be made taking into account local knowledge, availability of propagules, and the successional status of the recovering areas.

Keywords

• grupo funcional
• disturbios
• rasgos de historia de vida
• subpáramo
• sucesión vegetal