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Neotropical dry forests are among the most diverse and threatened ecosystems worldwide. The extent and knowledge of Neotropical dry forests are quite heterogeneous with forests located in the Ecuadorian province especially diverse, threatened and poorly studied. In this work, we review patterns and conservation status of biodiversity, ecosystem pro...
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... EP-TDF is home of at least ~900 species of trees, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles with an average of 18% being endemic (range 25-6%) as shown in Table 1. This is a high level of endemism similar to that reported for the whole Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena region and other Neotropical biodiversity hotspots [11]. ...
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... is a high level of endemism similar to that reported for the whole Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena region and other Neotropical biodiversity hotspots [11]. Around 30% of these endemic species are under some threatened IUCN category (Table 1). Amongst tree spe- cies, the richest taxonomic group of those well docu- mented, 20% of the species are endemic to EP-TDF [13,30]. ...
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... are the second richest taxonomic group with an estimated 250-300 species. Tropical dry forest of the Ecuadorian Province (in the case of birds, better known as Tumbesian region) sustains one of the highest concentrations of species with restricted distribution in South America [14] with 21% of species endemic to the region, and 30% under some IUCN threatened category [24,[31][32][33], (Table 1). Although with much lower levels of endemism, the mammal community is represented by 200 species, with 12 considered endemic [34,35]. ...
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... and reptiles are also important compo- nents of biodiversity in EP-TDF, contributing almost 100 species of which around 20% are endemic (see Table 1). For reptiles, most species are snakes and lizards, one species of blind snake, Amphisbaena occidentalis, and one turtle (Rhinoclemmys annulata) [37]. ...
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... caudiscutatus), which have geographical distributions restricted to the northwestern part of the continent, which are also affected by cat predation. These findings illustrate the potential interaction between cats and locally adapted species, which can carry consequences for the function of ecosystems (Kitts-Morgan 2015;Escribano-Avila et al. 2017). A recent meta-analysis reported 89 native species as prey of cats for the South American continent (Lepczyk et al. 2023), while we recorded 30 native taxa (21 native species) solely in the study area, which has an area of approximately 3,000 km 2 . ...
Domestic cats pose a latent threat to wildlife that lives within the remnants of natural vegetation in urban ecosystems. Both intrinsic (e.g., age, weight, sterilization status) and extrinsic factors (e.g., night confinement, interaction time with owners at home) can influence the number of prey items caught by cats. We assessed the fauna predation by domestic cats in three cities on the coast of Ecuador. We aimed to: (i) evaluate the composition of the prey brought home by cats, counting the taxa number and their capture frequency, as well as their conservation status, and (ii) identify the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence the quantity of prey brought home by cats (henceforth referred to as ‘prey captured’). A citizen science approach was employed to gather information about wildlife taxa caught and brought home by 100 cats in 50 households between March and October 2023. Cats captured 132 prey items, of which 53.8% were invertebrates, 27.3% reptiles, 8.3% birds, 6.8% small mammals, and 3.8% amphibians. These prey items belonged to 53 taxa, 56.6% native and 15.1% non-native. Non-native reptiles Hemidactylus sp. and Anolis sagrei were the most frequently captured taxa, and ten native taxa were among the most commonly captured, particularly odonates. This is the first study to register predation of cats on amphibians in northwestern South America. The capture by cats of Coniophanes dromiciformis, a vulnerable and probably endemic snake, is noteworthy. Three factors—age, nocturnal confinement, and the presence of toys in their homes—were the most important factors that contributed to predation events. We recommend controlling these factors to reduce the potential impacts caused by domestic cats on wildlife.
... Seasonally dry forests in the Pacific-Equatorial exhibit reduced species diversity, but have a pronounced degree of endemism, notably among vertebrates and flora (Chvala et al. 1972;Cracraft 1985;Cueva-Ortiz et al. 2019). It is estimated that one in every five species within these ecosystems is endemic (Escribano-Avila et al. 2017). Furthermore, distinct sections of this region are recognized as one of the 25 global biodiversity hotspots. ...
... In this biogeographic zone, few studies have been conducted on the richness, distribution, and endemism of various groups, especially arthropods, including horseflies (Buestán 1980;Lattke et al. 2016;Escribano-Avila et al. 2017;Padrón et al. 2023). This implies that our understanding of the biological diversity of one of the most medically and ecologically relevant groups of blood-feeding insects in one of the least studied and highly threatened biogeographic zones in Ecuador and South America is limited. ...
The Equatorial Pacific Region (EPR) in Ecuador is characterized by high rates of vegetation diversity, and rapid loss of vegetation cover due to anthropogenic pressures. In this study, general ecological aspects of the Tabanidae family, including richness, endemism, and seasonality, were evaluated. Analyses reveal that approximately 42% of the species recorded for Ecuador are present in the EPR, and out of the 84 species cataloged in the EPR, 6 are endemic, representing an endemism of 7.14%. Furthermore, it was established that tabanid populations in a coastal dry forest significantly increased their population density during the dry season, while decreasing during the wet season.
... It is estimated that only 12.6% of TDF are protected worldwide, well below other types of forest such as the temperate broadleaf evergreen forest (34.2%), the tropical montane forest (26.1%) and the tropical semi-evergreen moist broadleaf forest (26.4%), and this protection is below the global forest average of 15.9% (Schmitt et al. 2009). It is also estimated that for each paper related to TDF that is published, there are 4.5 on evergreen forests, signifying that only 10% of the total scientific production related to tropical forests concerns TDF (Escribano-Avila et al. 2017), thus making it the least studied ecosystem (Blackie et al. 2014). ...
... It is, therefore, necessary to study the fragmentation and connectivity of SATDF (Escribano-Avila et al. 2017). The aim of this study was to assess changes in the fragmentation and connectivity of SATDF between 1992 and 2020 with the following specific objectives: (i) to assess changes in dry forest cover in South America at country scales; (ii) to evaluate changes in fragmentation patterns during three different periods (1992-2000, 2000-2010 and 2010-2020), and (iii) to study the evolution of the functional and structural connectivity of SATDF. ...
Tropical dry forests are the most threatened of all the major tropical forest types and less than 25% of TDF currently remain worldwide. They are located mostly in South America. Parameters such as habitat loss, fragmentation and loss of connectivity have been identified as the main threats to biodiversity. This research aims to discover the forests changes, the evolution of connectivity and fragmentation of the South American tropical dry forest between 1992 and 2020. Land uses layers provided by the Copernicus program were employed, and land uses change, fragmentation and structural connectivity were analyzed in GIS systems. To calculate the functional connectivity, the Graphab software was used. The results showed a loss of forest surface, where fragmentation increased and a loss of functional connectivity between 25% and 49% occurs depended on the parameter analysed. On the other hand, some areas were recovered. Brazil is the country that recovered the most forest area and Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia those that lost the most area. Only 31% of the area was not altered between 1992 and 2020. Human activities such as deforestation, agriculture expansion, and urbanization have led these forests to become increasingly fragmented and worse connected impacting on both ecological and socio-economic aspects. Supranational measures must be taken to mitigate the negative impacts of fragmentation and the loss of connectivity.
... Conversely, isolation by the environment is associated with greater genetic similarity between populations in similar environmental conditions (Alberto et al., 2013;Sexton et al., 2014). Research suggests that climatic factors might play a role in driving biogeographical patterns, as closely related species' distributional boundaries match climate regimen boundaries at the transition zone between the two regions in Western Ecuador (Albuja et al., 2012;Amador et al., 2019;Escribano-Avila et al., 2017;Morrone, 2006;Prieto-Torres et al., 2019). ...
... STRUCTURE when K = 4. DAPC identified K = 4 as the most likely number of clusters, while STRUCTURE regarded it as the third most likely. Employing K = 4 not only enables a finer classification but also resulted in genetic clusters with geographical boundaries that correspond closely to those of biogeographical regions that have been previously reported(Amador et al., 2019;Escribano-Avila et al., 2017;Morrone, 2006;Prieto-Torres et al., 2019) enabling us to explore potential barriers within Western Ecuador. ...
Environmental gradients have the potential to influence genetic differentiation among populations ultimately leading to allopatric speciation. However, environmental gradients can also facilitate hybridization between closely related taxa. We investigated a putative hybrid zone in western Ecuador, involving two polytypic wren species (Aves: Troglodytidae), Campylorhynchus zonatus and C. fasciatus. Our study addressed two primary questions: (1) Is there evidence of population structure and genetic admixture between these taxa in western Ecuador? and (2) What are the relative contributions of isolation by distance and isolation by the environment to the observed genetic differentiation along the environmental gradient in this region? We analyzed 4409 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 112 blood samples sequenced using ddRadSeq and a de novo assembly. The optimum number of genetic clusters ranged from 2 to 4, aligning with geographic origins, known phylogenetics, and physical or ecological constraints. We observed notable transitions in admixture proportions along the environmental gradient in western Ecuador between C. z. brevirostris and the northern and southern genetic clusters of C. f. pallescens. Genetic differentiation between the two C. f. pallescens populations could be attributed to an unreported potential physical barrier in central western Ecuador, where the proximity of the Andes to the coastline restricts lowland habitats, limiting dispersal and gene flow, especially among dry‐habitat specialists. The observed admixture in C. f. pallescens suggests that this subspecies may be a hybrid between C. z. brevirostris and C. fasciatus, with varying degrees of admixture in western Ecuador and northwestern Peru. We found evidence of isolation by distance, while isolation by the environment was less pronounced but still significant for annual mean precipitation and precipitation seasonality. This study enhances our understanding of avian population genomics in tropical regions.
... Bonifaz & Cornejo 2004;Pennington et al., 2004;Aguirre & Delgado, 2005;Leal-Pinedo & Linares-Palomino, 2005; Vázquez et al., 2005; Aguirre et al., 2006a b;Marcelo-Peña et al., 2007;García-Villacorta, 2009;Pennington et al., 2009;Linares-Palomino et al., 2010;Espinoza et al., 2012;Jadán et al., 2014;Muñoz et al., 2014;Portillo-Quintero et al., 2015;Escribano- Avila, 2016;Eguiguren-Velepucha et al., 2016;Eduardo-Palomino et al., 2017;Escribano-Avila et al., 2017), ...
La cordillera Chongón Colonche (CCHC) forma parte del punto caliente de biodiversidad Tumbes-ChocóMagdalena debido a la alta concentración de especies endémicas. Presentando bosques húmedos de garúa en la
parte alta y bosques secos en las partes bajas. Este estudio cuantifica la dinámica de la cobertura arbórea en la
cordillera entre 2000 y finales del 2022, un enclave vital del bosque seco tropical (BST) en Ecuador. Mediante
la aplicación del conjunto de datos de alta resolución de Global Forest Watch de Hansen, se determinó que la
CCHC a principios del 2023 tenía 300 374 ha de cobertura arbórea, y sufrió una pérdida neta de cobertura
arbórea de 10 787.20 hectáreas durante el período de estudio, a pesar de un incremento marginal de 825
hectáreas hasta 2012. La pérdida continua de cobertura arbórea en la CCHC representa una amenaza
significativa para la biodiversidad, la integridad ecológica del BST y la seguridad hídrica y alimenticia de las
comunidades locales. Además, se realizó el mismo análisis para tres Áreas Protegidas Nacionales (Parque
Nacional Machalilla, Parque Samanes y Parque Lago) y 10 Bosques Protectores (Bosqueira, Cerro Blanco,
Cerro el paraíso, Chongón-Colonche o Colonche, La Prosperina, Loma Alta, Papagayo de Guayaquil, Sancan
y Cerro Montecristi, Subcuenca del Río Chongón y Subcuencas de los Ríos Canta-Gallo y Jipijapa) que están
dentro de la cordillera, las cuales hasta inicios del 2023 protegían 149 983 ha de cobertura arbórea. Este análisis
subraya la urgente necesidad de implementar medidas efectivas de conservación en la CCHC que la puedan
promover a una categoría de área protegida nacional y/o Reserva de Biosfera, resaltando la necesidad de
aumentar los esfuerzos de investigación y conservación en los BST a nivel regional y en América Latina.
... El uso de MDEs es limitado particularmente para los ecosistemas de bosques tropicales estacionalmente secos (BTES). Dentro de este bioma, la región tumbesina destaca como una de las áreas menos estudiadas (Escribano- Avila et al., 2017;Espinosa et al., 2012) a pesar de ser reconocida mundialmente por sus niveles de endemismo (Escribano- Avila et al., 2017), así como por sus amenazas Best & Kessler, 1995;García-Olaechea et al., 2021;Venegas, 2005). Los BTES están sujetos a una larga historia de actividades antropogénicas, como la deforestación, la expansión de la frontera agrícola, el pastoreo de ganado, los incendios forestales, entre otras (Best & Kessler, 1995;Dodson & Gentry, 1991;Espinosa et al., 2012;Ferrer-Paris et al., 2019;Jara-Guerrero et al., 2019). ...
... El uso de MDEs es limitado particularmente para los ecosistemas de bosques tropicales estacionalmente secos (BTES). Dentro de este bioma, la región tumbesina destaca como una de las áreas menos estudiadas (Escribano- Avila et al., 2017;Espinosa et al., 2012) a pesar de ser reconocida mundialmente por sus niveles de endemismo (Escribano- Avila et al., 2017), así como por sus amenazas Best & Kessler, 1995;García-Olaechea et al., 2021;Venegas, 2005). Los BTES están sujetos a una larga historia de actividades antropogénicas, como la deforestación, la expansión de la frontera agrícola, el pastoreo de ganado, los incendios forestales, entre otras (Best & Kessler, 1995;Dodson & Gentry, 1991;Espinosa et al., 2012;Ferrer-Paris et al., 2019;Jara-Guerrero et al., 2019). ...
... Los BTES están sujetos a una larga historia de actividades antropogénicas, como la deforestación, la expansión de la frontera agrícola, el pastoreo de ganado, los incendios forestales, entre otras (Best & Kessler, 1995;Dodson & Gentry, 1991;Espinosa et al., 2012;Ferrer-Paris et al., 2019;Jara-Guerrero et al., 2019). Tales actividades han generado homogenización y fragmentación de los ecosistemas tumbesinos llevando a que grandes extensiones de bosques queden reducidas a parches aislados (Aguirre & Kvist, 2005;Best & Kessler, 1995;Tapia-Armijos et al., 2015) que ocupan menos del 30 % de la cobertura original (Escribano- Avila et al. 2017;Portillo-Quintero & Sánchez-Azofeifa, 2010). Esta alta fragmentación de los bosques tumbesinos los deja altamente expuestos a otras amenazas, como el cambio climático, el cual tiende a alterar los rangos de distribución de algunas de las especies de la región (Manchego et al., 2017;Orihuela-Torres et al., 2020). ...
Title: Species distribution models and conservation status of threatened bats in the Tumbesian region of Ecuador and Perú
Introduction: Biodiversity is being lost at an accelerating rate because of global change. Tools such as species distribution models (SDMs) have been widely used to improve knowledge about species' conservation status and help develop management strategies to mitigate biodiversity loss. SDMs are especially important for species with restricted distributions, such as endemic species.
Objective: To determine how potential distribution predicted by SDMs for eight threatened bat species differed from the distribution maps reported by the IUCN. Also, to infer the area of distribution and state of endemism of each specie, and to evaluate the importance of the Tumbesian region for their conservation.
Methods: Based on presence records across the species' entire ranges, we used SDMs to assess the conservation status of these eight species in the Tumbesian region of Ecuador and Peru.
Results: The areas estimated by SDMs were 35-78 % smaller for four species (Eptesicus innoxius, Lophostoma occidentale, Platalina genovensium and Lonchophylla hesperia) and 26-1600 % larger for three species (Amorphochilus schnablii, Promops davisoni and Rhogeessa velilla) than those reported by the IUCN. For Tomopeas ravus, the area estimated by the SDM and IUCN was similar but differed in spatial distribution. SDMs coincided with areas of endemism reported by previous authors for E. innoxius, R. velilla, and T. ravus, but were different for A. schnablii, P. genovensium, P. davisoni, and L. hesperia, due in part to projected distributions for these latter species in dry inter-Andean valleys according to the SDMs.
Conclusions: The Tumbesian region represents a significant portion (40-96 %) of the predicted distribution of seven of the eight species studied, underscoring the importance of this region for bat conservation. Our results show likely distributions for these species and provide an important basis for identifying research gaps and developing conservation measures for threatened bats in the Tumbes biodiversity hotspot.
https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rbt/article/view/54459
... Despite their biological value, the protection status of the Ecuadorian IADTFs ( Fig. 1) lacks sufficient policies compared to lowland forests, despite their vital role in carbon sequestration (Duque et al. 2021). Furthermore, these forests have been less studied compared to other Ecuadorian ecosystems (Escribano-Avila et al. 2017). Aguirre-Mendoza et al. (2006) divided them into northern and southern IADTF, while the National Ministry of Environment of Ecuador adopts a similar classification, referring to them as "Northern/Southern semi-deciduous forest and shrubland of the Valleys" (Ministerio del Ambiente del Ecuador 2013). ...
A pesar de la alta biodiversidad y endemismo en el Bosque Seco Tropical Interandino (BSTI), parte del Bosque Seco Tropical Estacional (BSTE), el estudio de la entomofauna en éste hábitat ha sido relegado. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo reducir la brecha de conocimiento respecto a la diversidad de escarabajos en un BSTI ecuatoriano, el Bosque Protector Jerusalém (BPJ). El muestreo reveló 568 especímenes, representando 66 especies, siendo Chrysomelidae, Curculionidae y Coccinelidae las familias más abundantes. El índice de Simpson reveló una alta diversidad, con cinco especies dominantes que contribuyeron significativamente a la abundancia. La presencia de “singletons” y “doubletons” dio indicios de una comunidad rica y compleja. La curva de acumulación de especies no alcanzó una asíntota, y el índice Chao 1 estimó un total de 105 especies, sugiriendo una mayor diversidad por descubrir. Se encontraron varios taxones potencialmente nuevos, incluido un nuevo registro de género para el país para Psomus Casey (Curculionidae), acentuando la necesidad de más investigaciones taxonómicas en este ecosistema. Además, se hallaron algunas especies introducidas, resaltando la influencia del paisaje periurbano circundante. Este estudio proporciona una base para futuros estudios e iniciativas de conservación, además señala la importancia de estudiar taxones sensibles como los escarabajos para comprender y proteger este ecosistema amenazado.
... The Tumbes-Choco-Magdalena biodiversity hotspot in South America, which spans a moisture gradient from the humid Choco-Darien-Western Ecuador region to the dry Tumbesian region, has a high-endemism and distinct biogeographical patterns (Dodson & Gentry, 1991;Mittermeier et al., 1998). Research suggests that climatic factors might play a role in driving biogeographical patterns, as closely related species' distributional boundaries match climate regimen boundaries at the transition zone between the two regions in Western Ecuador (Albuja et al., 2012;Amador et al., 2019;Escribano-Avila et al., 2017;Morrone, 2006;Prieto-Torres et al., 2019). This suggests that climate may be a major factor influencing the distribution of these species. ...
... We analyzed genetic diversity using the genetic clusters defined by STRUCTURE when K=4. DAPC identified K=4 as the most likely number of clusters, while STRUCTURE regarded it as the third most likely. Employing K=4 not only enables a finer classification but also resulted in genetic clusters with geographical boundaries that correspond closely to those of biogeographical regions that have been previously reported (Amador et al., 2019;Escribano-Avila et al., 2017;Morrone, 2006;Prieto-Torres et al., 2019) enabling us to explore potential barriers within Western Ecuador. ...
Climate variability influences genetic and phenotypic diversity within species, impacting biodiversity’s evolution. Gene flow and selection maintain changes in genetic and phenotypic variants along an environmental gradient. We investigated a hybrid zone in western Ecuador, involving two wren species (Aves: Troglodytidae), Campylorhynchus zonatus and C. fasciatus, and their admixed populations. We addressed two primary questions: (1) What is the relative contribution of Isolation by Distance (IBD) and Isolation by Environment (IBE) to genetic differentiation in these species along the western Ecuadorian environmental gradient? (2) Is there evidence of genetic admixture and introgression between these taxa in western Ecuador? We analyzed 4,409 SNPs from 112 blood samples sequenced using ddRadSeq. Clusters ranged from K=2-4, aligning with geographic origins, known phylogenetics, and physical or ecological constraints. IBD was evident across all models, while IBE was less pronounced but still significant for annual mean precipitation and precipitation seasonality. Genetic admixture between C. f. pallescens and C. zonatus gradually changed along the environmental gradient. Genetic differentiation in the two C. f. pallescens populations could be attributed to an unreported potential physical barrier in central western Ecuador. The proximity of the Andes to the coastline restricted lowland habitats, limiting dispersal and gene flow, especially among dry-habitat specialists. Taxonomic changes are not proposed, but the admixture in C. f. pallescens suggests it may be a hybrid between C. z. brevirostris and C. fasciatus, with varying degrees of admixture in western Ecuador and northwestern Peru. This study enhances our understanding of avian population genomics in tropical regions.
... 1998; Ugent & Ochoa 2006), han sido fuertemente modificados y reducidos a un porcentaje mínimo de lo que se estima que originalmente cubrían (Portillo-Quintero & Sánchez-Azofeifa 2010). Para los BES Pacífico-Ecuatoriales, incluyendo los BES del suroeste del Ecuador, se estimó que sólo queda el 30% de la extensión original (25% en Ecuador, 5% en Perú) (Escribano-Avila et al. 2017). Un estudio reciente en los BES del Ecuador mostró que solo en el periodo 1990 -2018 se perdió más de un cuarto de la superficie que existía en 1990 (Rivas et al. 2020). ...
Seasonally dry forests in Peru are a combination of ecosystems that include three large floristic groups: coastal, inter-Andean and eastern forests. Except for the seasonally dry forests of the northern coastal plains of the country, until recently it was difficult to explore what occurred floristically within each group due to lack of data. However, in the last 20 years various floristic studies and botanical inventories focused on woody plants have managed to fill knowledge gaps in critical areas. With these studies we have generated the DRYFLOR Peru database that to date includes 526 quantitative inventories (lists of species in discrete areas, including records of their abundances) and that allows us to confirm the floristic distinction of the three large groups. Additionally, we were able to clearly recognize two subgroups of seasonally dry coastal forests (on coastal plains and along the Andean piedmont), two inter-Andean subgroups (within the Marañón-Mantaro and Pampas valleys) and three eastern subgroups (within the Huallaga, Tambo and Urubamba valleys). All subgroups have an assemblage of woody plant species that distinguishes and characterizes them in terms of abundance, frequency, species richness, and levels of endemism. Although we can now better describe the floristic heterogeneity of seasonally dry forests in Peru, we have identified important knowledge gaps that require urgent attention: i) we require additional inventory efforts in the eastern forests, ii) we need to resolve the floristic affinities of the forests of the Apurímac valley, iii) our data agree in little more than 75% with the definitions and distribution of dry forests of the recent National Ecosystem Map of Peru, and it will be necessary to review the concept of seasonally dry forests to adequately capture its distribution in this management tool.
... Another difficulty encountered by the REAr is the redefinition of its limits. It has been a military base and an exclusion zone since the 1970s because of its strategic location on the border with Peru [6]. Originally, the former military base had an area of 22,000 ha. ...
... Indeed, the tropical dry forest is one of the most threatened biomes in the world [26,38] and has experienced one of the most extensive rates of habitat loss during the last few decades [38]. Be that as it may, it is a much less-studied ecosystem than other tropical ecosystems, such as rainforests [6]. The small extension and high fragmentation of the Ecuadorian dry forests makes them more sensitive than those which are located in other countries [39]; this situation is especially relevant in the REAr. ...
Ecuador, located in the Neotropics, has 66 protected natural areas, which represent about 13.77% of its overall territory. The Reserva Ecológica Arenillas reserve (REAr), located in southwestern Ecuador, protects an area of dry forest, coastal thorn forest, and mangroves. This dry forest is part of the Pacific equatorial core and is included the Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena, one of the 34 biodiversity hot spots of the world. It is an extremely fragile ecosystem and therefore the need for conservation is of the utmost importance. Knowledge of the flora and their ecological characteristics is still limited, which was one of the main objectives of this work. In this study, 118 plots located in different locations of the REAr were selected in order to sample the trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants within them. This information was supplemented with data from the literature and the GBIF; life forms were included according to Raunkiaer's classification and their growth habits. The flora of the REAr was represented by 381 species, belonging to 77 families. The two most numerous families were the Fabaceae (51 plant species) and Malvaceae (31 species). The dominant life form was the phanerophytes with 200 species (52.5%), followed by therophytes with 104 species (27.3%), and camephytes with 22 species (5.8%). Physiognomy was dominated by the herbaceous growth (44%). The biodiversity indices of two ecosystems were studied (The deciduous forest of the Jama-Zapotillo lowland and the low forest and deciduous shrubland of the Jama-Zapotillo lowland), obtaining higher values for the deciduous forest ecosystem of the Jama-Zapotillo lowland. With these indicators , a classification of each forest type was made by performing a hierarchical cluster analysis. The information provided in this paper is particularly important for focusing conservation efforts and preventing the loss of flora diversity in these forests, which are subject to great anthropogenic pressures.
