ABSTRACT
The Ecuadorian Amazon is home to a rich biodiversity of woody plant species. Nonetheless, their conservation remains difficult, as some areas remain poorly explored and lack georeferenced records. Therefore, the current study aims predominantly to analyze the collection patterns of timber species in the Amazon lowlands of Ecuador and to evaluate the conservation coverage of these species in protected areas. Furthermore, we try to determine the conservation category of the species according to the criteria of the IUCN Red List. We identified that one third of the timber species in the study area was concentrated in three provinces due to historical botanical expeditions. However, a worrying 22.0% of the species had less than five records of presence, and 29.9% had less than ten records, indicating a possible underestimation of their presence. In addition, almost half of the species evaluated were unprotected, exposing them to deforestation risks and threats. To improve knowledge and conservation of forest biodiversity in the Ecuadorian Amazon, it is recommended to perform new botanical samplings in little-explored areas and digitize data in national herbaria. It is critical to implement automated assessments of the conservation status of species with insufficient data. In addition, it is suggested to use species distribution models to identify optimal areas for forest restoration initiatives. Effective communication of results and collaboration between scientists, governments, and local communities are key to the protection and sustainable management of forest biodiversity in the Amazon region.
ABSTRACT
Plantaciones de teca (Tectona grandis L.f.) en Ecuador están siendo afectadas por una compleja enfermedad de marchitez vascular y muerte regresiva, con características epidémicas, sin que hasta el momento se conozca el o los agentes causales. Se planteó describir la sintomatología de la enfermedad e identificar los hongos fitopatógenos asociados a árboles enfermos en el Trópico Húmedo Ecuatoriano mediante morfofisiología. Se seleccionaron tres plantaciones de 2, 5 y 7 años de edad, en cada una se delimitó tres parcelas de 500 m2. Se realizó la descripción sintomatológica, evaluó la incidencia y severidad de la enfermedad empleando una escala de cinco categorías. Por parcela se diseccionaron tres árboles, cuyos tejidos se llevaron al laboratorio, donde se emplearon tres estrategias metodológicas (cámara húmeda, sandwiches de zanahoria, y medio de cultivo papa-dextrosa-agar; PDA) para estimular la expresión de los fitopatógenos. En árboles enfermos se detectó clorosis, pérdida de turgencia, ápices de crecimiento secos, emisión de brotes epicormicos en el fuste, y marchitez fulminante. Se aisló e identificó Ceratocystis fimbriata Ellis & Halst., y especies de Fusarium de forma consecutiva con las tres estrategias metodológicas empleadas. La incidencia de la enfermedad fue del 16.6%, 15.2%, y 11.6% para las plantaciones de 2, 5 y 7 años, respectivamente. Los árboles enfermos en la plantación de 2 años se encontraron en las escalas 2, 4 y 5, mientras que en plantaciones de 5 y 7 años se ubicaron en las escalas 2, 3 y 5 de progreso de la enfermedad...(AU)
Teak plantations (Tectona grandis L. f.) in Ecuador are being affected by a complex disease of vascular wilt and dieback, with epidemic characteristics, without knowing the causal agent(s) so far. We proposed to describe the symptomatology of the disease and identify phytopathogenic fungi associated with diseased trees in the Ecuadorian Humid Tropic by morphophysiology. Three plantations of 2, 5 and 7 years of age were selected, in each three plots of 500 m2 were delimited. The symptomatologic description was made, evaluated the incidence and severity of the disease using a scale of five categories. By plot, three trees were dissected, whose tissues were taken to the laboratory, where three methodological strategies were used (wet chamber, carrot sandwiches, and potatodextrose-agar culture medium, PDA) to stimulate the expression of phytopathogens. In diseased trees, chlorosis, turgor loss, dry growth apices, emission of epicormic shoots in the stem, and fulminating wilt were detected. It was isolated and identified Ceratocystis fimbriata Ellis & Halst., and Fusarium species. consecutively with the three methodological strategies employed. The incidence of the disease was 16.6%, 15.2%, and 11.6% for plantations of 2, 5 and 7 years, respectively. The sick trees in the plantation of 2 years were found in scales 2, 4 and 5, while in plantations of 5 and 7 years they were located in scales 2, 3 and 5 of progress of the disease. ..(AU)
