University of Amsterdam (NL) - Páramo vegetation research, Venezuela.

Study Extent

The paramo area is located in Merida province in Venezuela. The dataset covers an altitudinal range from 2950m.a.s.l. up to 4280m.a.s.l. Data collected between 1978 and 1984.

Sampling

The vegetation sampling was done by the relevé method following the Braun-Blanquet principles. The relevé is a list of the plants in a delimited plot of vegetation, with information on species cover and on substrate and other abiotic features in the plot. The vegetation releve data were converted into species occurrence data.

Quality Control

The data stored in TurboVeg was checked to identify errors in the information or gaps needed to be filled. The two main fields identified to be checked/completed were the georeference data and the validation of the taxonomy of each species.

Method steps

1. Releve data was stored in the software TurboVeg and then exported into species occurrence data. The species list used in TurboVeg was checked by an expert to confirm the valid taxonomy (taking into account taxonomy changes, synonyms, etc)(Guido van Reenen, paramo species list). This list was cross-checked with The Plant List (http://www.theplantlist.org/), for the period July 2011 until February 2013 (during this time frame the names where the accepted). All the data lacks georeference information, precision of the georeference data and specific habitat indication.

All plants identified to species level. Vegetation including phanerogams, bryophytes and lichens

1. Plantae
   common name: Phanerogams rank: kingdom
2. Plantae
   common name: Bryophytes rank: kingdom
3. Fungi
   common name: Lichens rank: kingdom

The paramo area is located in Merida province in Venezuela. The dataset covers an altitudinal range from 2950m.a.s.l. up to 4280m.a.s.l.