Population Relationship of Three Forestry Species, Aegiphila ferruginea, Oreopanax ecuadorensis, Vallea stipularis; in the Leonan de Llucud Forest, Chambo Canton, Chimborazo Province

Abstract

Abstract The present investigation aims to relate the population of three native forest species of the Andean region of Ecuador: Oreopanax ecuadorensis Seem, Aegiphila ferruginea, and Vallea stipularis in the Leonan de Llucud high montane evergreen forest located in the Chambo canton. Through the inventory and observation of the distribution of these three species in three altitudinal floors, establishing ten plots within which circular subplots of five meters radius were placed, taking the species under study as the center, all individuals with diameter at breast height greater than or equal to 7 cm were selected. For each altitudinal floor, the Importance Value Index, the Simpson and Shannon-Weaver Biodiversity Indices, and the Sorensen Similarity Index were calculated. The results presented below are the result of the data obtained in the field and its interpretation. V. stipularis and O. ecuadorensis Seem show a close relationship, while A. ferruginea has a low population due to the exploitation it is subjected to in this forest, thus asserting the presence of this species in the red book at a near-threatened level.

Keywords

• evergreen forest, native forest species, altitudinal floors