Evaluación ecológica de la avifauna representativa del ecosistema páramo perteneciente a la unión de comunidades indígenas toallo santa rosa

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the ecological quality of the Avifauna of the páramo ecosystem that belongs to the Union of indigenous communities Toallo Santa Rosa, Ambato canton, Tungurahua province. The area was divided into three study locations: Tablón, Mama Rumi and Sector de la Cruz. Excursions were made in October 2022-March 2023, covering altitude ranges of 3,500-4,500 masl and four plant formations: intervened areas, forests and scrublands, pads, and páramo grassland. Through technical tools such as vocalizations, sightings, mist nets and photographs, 23 bird species belonging to 14 families and eight orders were identified. The Mama Rumi locality presented the best connectivity between native forests and forest plantations, with the most significant number of individuals, with 36% representation. The indices determined a greater diversity and richness in Mama Rumi, with 85% and 2.69%, respectively; the Shannon Wiener and Pielou indices show a 93% degree of homogeneity, highlighting a high degree of intervention. Using the Sorensen similarity index, it was determined that the species between Mama Rumi and the La Cruz sector present a similarity of 60% and that the páramos of the sector are homogeneous. At the same time, the forests are heterogeneous, with varying species composition in these habitats. Regarding the conservation status, two species of ecological importance were determined: Cnemarchus erythropygius, in the threat category, and Falco femoralis, in the vulnerable category; the rest are of minor concern. Finally, the ecological quality of the Avifauna is good since a great diversity of species that need to be conserved was found; here is the importance of the bilingual identification guide that includes the Kichwa language.