0llgaard, B. 1994. Floristic composition, structure, and dynamics of an upper montane rain forest in Southern Ecuador. -Nord. J. Bot. 14: 403-423. Copenhagen. ISSN 0107-055X.Two 1 ha plots of undisturbed upper montane rain forest in southern Ecuador were sampled for all trees with a dbh 2 5 cm. An extraordinarily high a-diversity for a forest near treeline is described. The "non-ridge forest" plot at 2900 m elevation has 75 species and 28 families ha-' and is believed to represent an advanced stage of succession whereas, the "ridge forest" plot at 2700 m elevation with 90 species and 38 families ha-' has a more rapid turn-over rate probably due to a more unstable environment. Downslope forces (soil creep) are discussed as a possible cause for 3244% of all trees being inclined more than 30" in the moderately steep terrain (average slope 20" in both study plots). The plot of "non-ridge forest" is characterized by a much greater biomass whether expressed as basal area (44 m2 versus 15 m2) or stem volume (214 m3 versus 52 m?), while the density is equally high (2310 versus 2090 trees ha-') in both plots. Families with Family Importance Value >25 / ha-' are Clusiaceae, Cunoniaceae, Melastomataceae, Myrsinaceae, and Ternstroemiaceae.
The epiphytic Rhipsalis riocampanensis from the upper montane rain forest of the Podocarpus National Park is described as a new species. A large columnar cactus previously known from N Peru, Browningia microsperma. is here recorded from the Loja province in southern Ecuador. It is the first time Browningia has been reported from Ecuador. Espostoa lanata ssp. roseiflora is described as a new subspecies based on a population in the Catamayo valley. It is suggested that Armatocereus rupicola is an older name for Armatocereus brevispinus.
The present study compare flora and vegetation of two study sites located nearby each other and characterised by similar biophysical conditions and the same legislation with regard to utilisation. One of the sites, the island of Kouyong, seemingly represents a piece of the original climax forest which has remained almost untouched by man due to religious beliefs in the area. The second site, the forest of Koutal on the mainland, is however strongly influenced by the intervention of man. The woody vegetation of the Kouyong Island is much more dense and diverse than that of Koutal. The degradation of the forest at Koutal is explained by human impact, i.e. exploitation of charcoal, fuel wood, and pasture, along with anthropogenic fire.
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