Caracterización de la diversidad de plantas asociadas a ulex Europaeus presente en la Reserva Umbral Cultural Horizontes

Abstract

Invasive species are those that, when introduced naturally, accidentally or intentionally into an environment that is not their own, manage to adapt to it and colonize it (UNAL, 2018). Invasive species establish themselves in an ecosystem or natural habitat and become an agent of change that threatens native ecosystems and biological diversity. The UNAL indicates that invasive species are taxonomically divided as follows: microorganisms, plants, invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, among others. Andrade, director of the Institute of Natural Sciences (ICN) of the National University of Invasive plants and animals are distributed throughout its geography (Cárdenas & López et al. 2017). The thorny broom (Ulex europaeus) is a clear example of a species that generates negative impacts on the native biodiversity of high mountain areas (Ríos, 2005). The establishment of species like these could negatively impact the supply of ecosystem services (water regulation) of both the moor and the high Andean forest and, above all, change the disturbance regime of said ecosystems. Therefore, this project seeks to characterize the biodiversity of plants associated with the development of thorny broom (Ulex europaeus) and identify the modifications and structure present in the high Andean forest ecosystem due to its presence, the above, through the determination of the Simpson, Shannon Wiener, Fisher alpha and Margalef diversity indices in three plots located in the upper area of ​​the Umbral Cultural Horizontes Reserve conditioned with the low, medium and high presence of the Ulex europaeus species. Finally, as a product of the project, a scientific dissemination magazine was designed which allows citizens to be made aware of the impact of the proliferation of invasive species such as Ulex europaeus in the Eastern Hills, thus promoting awareness regarding the conservation of ecosystems such as the of high Andean forest.