The Andean uplift is recognized as one of the most important events shaping the Neotropical biota. Previousphylo genetic reconstructions of Nasa, a mostly tropicalAndean genus, have been unable to address its historical biogeography or ancestral character estimations in detail due to insucient sampling and phylogenetic resolution. The main goal of the present study is to provide an expanded and highly resolved phylogenetic reconstruction of the genus to address these questions. We were able to sequence 87 of the 125 taxa (species and subspecies) of and is composed of Central Andean species. The remaining three clades are more widely distributed, found also in the Amotape-Huancabamba Zone (AHZ) and the northern Andes. Our morphological analyses were able to identify plausible phylogenetic a nities of most Nasa spp. For which molecular data are unavailable, with three of the morphological clusters composed mostly by species of three well-supported clades (Clades II, III and IV). Historical biogeography indicates that Nasa has a history spanning 50 Myr, its early events predating most of the undergrowth habitats took place. This coincides with renewed uplift that increased the complexity of the abiotic

Clonal propagation becomes more abundant with increasing altitudes as environmental conditions worsen. To date, little attention has been paid to the way in which clonal propagation affects genetic diversity and the fine-scale spatial genetic structure (FSGS) of clonal alpine trees. An AFLP study was undertaken to quantify the clonal and genetic diversity and FSGS of the vulnerable treeline species Polylepis reticulata in Ecuador. We successfully genotyped 32 and 75 ramets within 4 m 9100 m (coarse scale) and 4 m 94 m (fine scale) transects of one population, respectively. Higher genotypic diversity was detected at the coarse scale than at the fine scale, while lower genetic diversity was detected for P. reticulata than other Polylepis spp. at both scales. Significantly stronger FSGS was detected at the ramet level than the genet level for P. reticulata within a spatial distance of 3 m. The studied P. reticulata population showed pronounced FSGS (Sp = 0.012 at the genet level, a statistic reflecting declining pairwise kinship with distance) revealed restricted gene dis- persal, which implies restricted seed dispersal for this population, assuming pollen flow is as extensive as that described for other wind- pollinated tree species. Our results revealed that clonal diversity is a function of both sample size and the spatial scale of the sampling area. The findings highlights that clonal propagation has affected FSGS within a spatial distance of 3 m for this species.

Changes in growth forms frequently accompany plant adaptive radiations, including paramo–a high-elevation treeless habitat type of the northern Andes. We tested whether diverse group of Senecio inhabiting montane forests and paramo represented such growth form changes. We also investigated the role of Andean geography and environment in structuring genetic variation of this group. We sampled 108 populations and 28 species of Senecio (focusing on species from former genera Lasiocephalus and Culcitium) and analyzed their genetic relationships and patterns of intraspecific variation using DNA fingerprinting (AFLPs) and nuclear DNA sequences (ITS). We partitioned genetic variation into environmental and geographical components. ITS-based phylogeny supported monophyly of a Lasiocephalus-Culcitium clade. A grade of herbaceous alpine Senecio species subtended the Lasiocephalus-Culcitium clade suggesting a change from the herbaceous to the woody growth form. Both ITS sequences and the AFLPs separated a group composed of the majority of paramo subshrubs from other group(s) comprising both forest and paramo species of various growth forms. These morphologically variable group(s) further split into clades encompassing both the paramo subshrubs and forest lianas, indicating independent switches among the growth forms and habitats. The finest AFLP genetic structure corresponded to morphologically delimited species except in two independent cases in which patterns of genetic variation instead reflected geography.

The tropical alpine flora in the northern Andes has caught the attention of evolutionary biologists and conservationists because of the extent of its diversity and its vulnerability. Although population genetics studies are essential to understand how diversity arises and how it can be maintained, plant populations occurring above 4100 m a.s.l. in the so-called super-páramo have rarely been studied at the molecular level. Here, we use 11 microsatellite DNA markers to examine genetic structure in populations of Lupinus alopecuroides, a long-lived semelparous giant rosette known from only 10 geographically isolated populations. Each population is located on a different mountain top, of which three are in Colombia and seven in Ecuador. We analysed 220 individuals from all the ten known populations. We find low genetic variation in all but one of the populations. Four populations are completely monomorphic, and another five show only one polymorphic locus each. On the other hand, we find extremely high genetic differentiation between populations. We discuss the mechanisms that might cause this pattern, and we suggest that it is related to founder effects, lack of gene flow, and autogamy. The genetic relationships among the populations, and the lack of correlation between the genetic and geographic distances also point to the importance of founder effects and colonization history in driving differentiation among the populations.

Brunellia ephemeropetala, a new species discovered in Llanganates National Park, Ecuador is described and illustrated. This species belongs to a group of species that have unifoliate leaves, large fruits and navicular endocarp, in which B. ephemeropetala is distinguished by large and thin stipules, leafy inflorescence and the presence of a petal whorl. For the first time, the presence of petals is recorded in Brunellia, a genus previously considered apetalous.

In the aseasonal tropical alpine environment, plants experience frequent oscillations of air temperature around zero, but little is known about the leaf temperatures of different plant growth forms in dry versus humid climatic conditions. During July-August 2007, we measured air temperature at 100 cm and 20 cm above the ground, soil temperature at 1 cm and 10 cm depth, and temperatures of leaves and stems of tropical alpine plants on the eastern (windward and cloudy) and western (leeward and sunny) sides of the Antisana volcano (Ecuador) between 4100 m and 4600 m, with the aim of examining the effects of climate and growth forms on leaf temperature. The sunnier climate on the western side of the mountain provided a much broader thermal envelope, in which only leaves of low-statured plants showed significant departure from air temperature during the day. In contrast, most plants had warmer leaves than was the air temperature on the eastern side, and except for cushion plants, the difference in temperature was progressively greater in leaves of taller plants. Plants warmed up significantly faster on the western side and at higher elevations, with the fastest warming rates of 13-15 K h⁻¹ observed in erect herbs. Night cooling rates did not differ between the opposite mountain sides or between elevations. Erect herbs cooled at the fastest rates (3 K h⁻¹), whereas cushion plants cooled at the slowest rates (about 1 K h⁻¹).

Chemical elements, which are present in drinking water, could vary due to water sources, treatment processes or even the plumbing materials. Most of these elements do not represent a threat, while others, such as heavy metals, have been proven to cause harmful effects over human and aquatic wildlife. In this study, the quality of drinking water in three cities in Ecuador, Quito, Ibarra and Guayaquil was assessed through a multielement analysis and the heavy metal pollution index (HPI). A total of 102 drinking water samples and six natural water samples were collected and analyzed. Within the scope of analysis, results show that water quality complies with local and international guidelines. HPI did not show significant differences in the water that is supplied to the different neighborhoods of the three cities studied. However, actions should be taken to protect the sources of water, especially in Guayaquil, due to the presence of lead and chromium. For instance, lead was found in 2.8% of the samples in concentrations above World Health Organization (WHO) recommended values. Thus, we suggest to assessing the quality and age of the plumbing system within the whole country, in order to avoid drinking water contamination with heavy metals

Se presenta un nuevo reporte de Werneria (Asteraceae) para Ecuador, es W. spathulata, una pequeña hierba rizomatosa encontrada en los páramos del volcán Antisana. Además, se documenta el redescubrimiento de Xenophyllum acerosum en el Ecuador después de su primera colección hace 73 años en la provincia de Azuay. Se proveen fotografías del hábito de las dos especies, así como del hábitat donde fueron halladas.

A new species of Monticalia with minute, ciliate leaves, radiate capitula, and eight involucral bracts is described from the northern Andes of Ecuador. It is a striking shrub that has been oddly overlooked until now. It grows in the highlands of Papallacta, a very humid paramo characterized by harboring many lagoons. Photographs of living plants of the new species and a related taxon are provided.

Tres nuevas especies de Lachemilla (Rosaceae), dos de Colombia y una de Perú, se describen e ilustran. Lachemilla rothmaleriana se caracteriza por tener tallos robustos, indumento sericeovilloso, y verticilos anchos ascendentes con lóbulos laterales trilobados. Lachemilla argentea presenta una combinación única de hojas basales tripartitas con indumento villoso plateado en el haz y ramas decumbentes con verticilos lobulados. Finalmente, Lachemilla cyanea presenta hojas basales distintivas de forma reniforme, color azul–verdoso y pubescencia hirsuta. Análisis flogenéticos del cistrón ribosomal nuclear y múltiples regiones del genoma cloroplástico revelaron el origen alopoliploide de los tres nuevos taxones.

We compiled a data set for all tree species collected to date in lowland Amazonian Ecuador in order to determine the number of tree species in the region. This data set has been extensively verified by taxonomists and is the most comprehensive attempt to evaluate the tree diversity in one of the richest species regions of the Amazon. We used four main sources of data: mounted specimens deposited in Ecuadorian herbaria only, specimen records of a large-scale 1- hectare-plot network (60 plots in total), data from the Missouri Botanical Garden Tropicos® database (MO), and literature sources. The list of 2,296 tree species names we provide in this data set is based on 47,486 herbarium records deposited in the following herbaria: Alfredo Paredes Herbarium (QAP), Catholic University Herbarium (QCA), Herbario Nacional del Ecuador (QCNE), Missouri Botanical Garden (MO), and records from an extensive sampling of 29,768 individuals with diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥10 cm recorded in our plot network. We also provide data for the relative abundance of species, geographic coordinates of specimens deposited in major herbaria around the world, whether the species is native or endemic, current hypothesis of geographic distribution, representative collections, and IUCN threat category for every species recorded to date in Amazonian Ecuador. These data are described in Metadata S1 and can be used for macroecological, evolutionary, or taxonomic studies.