University of Amsterdam (NL) - Páramo Vegetation Research, Rabanal, Guerrero and Villa de Leyva paramo complex, Colombia

Study Extent

The area includes the complex of Rabanal and Guerrero and also part of Villa de Leyva, it is located in the eastern cordillera in the provinces of Boyaca and Cundinamarca. The sampling sites included in Cundinamarca the paramo of Laguna Verde, San Cayetano-Cogua (hill sides of upper Guandoque river valley), Neusa (dam), Guarga and in Boyaca: Villa de Leyva (road between vereda Candelaria - via La Mina). The data was collected by different projects and dates between 1976 and 1989.

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 to make as complete as possible description in terms of community composition. Different releves were done at different altitudes in the Paramo.
The community 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. Also the gaps in terms of the precision of the georeference data were filled.

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). Many of the data was lacking a georeference, precision of the georeference data and specific habitat indication. In 2012 to improve the dataset quality, it was completed as detail and precise as possible using several online resources, consultation with experts and revision of the original data. The georeference data was completed mainly with the use of Google Maps, in collaboration with A. Cleef and checking the original field notes and the publications.

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 area includes the complex of Rabanal and Guerrero, it is located in the eastern cordillera in the provinces of Boyaca and Cundinamarca in Colombia. The Rabanal paramo is located in the biggest plateau of the country, called "Altiplano Cundiboyacense" in the municipalities of Lenguazaque, Guachetá, Villapinzón (Cundinarmaca) and Samacá, Ráquira and Ventaquemada (Boyaca). The altitudinal range varies from 2.690m.a.s.l. up to 3.500m.a.s.l. The Guerrero complex is located in north side of the Cundinamarca province and includes the municipalities of Carmen de Carupa, Tausa, Zipaquirá, Subachoque, Cogua, Pacho, San Cayetano y Susa. The altitudinal range varies from 3.200m.a.s.l. up to 3.780m.a.s.l.