Abstract

MENDOZA-CIFUENTES, Humberto. Species richness patterns of Melastomataceae and Rubiaceae in the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia, Northern Andes. Colomb. for. [online]. 2012, vol.15, n.1, pp.5-54. ISSN 0120-0739.

Based on standardized inventories, species richness patterns of Rubiaceae and Melastomataceae were evaluated along latitudinal and altitudinal gradients of the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes of Colombia. The inventory represents 30 and 23% of the species of Melastomataceae and Rubiaceae known in Colombia respectively. Altitudinal trends found: (1) a decrease in richness with increasing altitude, this pattern being more striking for Rubiaceae than for Melastomataceae; (2) high values of species turnover along the elevational gradient, with a complete change in species composition between sites separated by an altitude of 1000 m. Latitudinal trends found: (1) an increase in species richness with decreasing latitude on the eastern slope of the eastern Andes; the highest levels of species richness were found in the foothills in the departments of Caquetá and Putumayo, possibly due to the confluence of Andean and Amazon biota; (2) no clear trends of species richness on the western slopes; (3) a turnover of more than 80% of species between samples separated by 250 - 300 km on the eastern slope of the eastern Andes, however, these high values could be an artifact of methodological issues; (4) high values of species turnover between Oak-forest of the western slope, indicating that the species’ composition of these two families is not homogeneous within this vegetation type (oak-forest). Recommendations for establishing some conservation priorities within the eastern Andes of Colombia are given based on the results.

Keywords : Colombia; species richness; species turnover.

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