Diversidad y distribución de los endemismos de Asteraceae (Compositae) en la Flora del Ecuador

Abstract

The family Asteraceae is represented in the Flora of Ecuador by a total of 310 endemic taxa. There are grouped into 4 subfamilies (Asteroideae, Barnadesioideae,Cichorioideae and Mutisioideae), 16 tribes, and 89 genera. The habitat of two hundred and seventy-two taxa (87.74%) is restricted to the Andean Region. The highest levels of endemism are associated with the Andes, and are to be found in a great majority in the high Andean forest up to the moorlands, and in the Galapagos Islands. The genera that show the greatest extent of endemism are: Mikania (26), Pentacalia (23), and Gynoxys (20). Three monotypic genera are endemic: Cyathomone, Idiopappus and Trigonopterum . The genera Darwiniothamnus, Kingianthus, Lecocarpus , and Scalesia are also endemic. The diversity of the family increases from 2000 m to 3000 m above sea level, achieving its maximum between 2900–3000 m, with a dominance of shrubby (195 species, 1 subspecies, 2 varieties) and herbaceous (97 species) plants. One hundred and twenty-six species are considered vulnerable, 90 are in danger of extinction, and 24 are critically threatened. Mean annual temperature and precipitation show significant statistical variation between biogeographical sectors.