University of Amsterdam (NL) - Páramo Vegetation Research, Sumapaz-Bocagrande-Chisaca paramo complex, Colombia

Study Extent

The study was done in the National Natural Park Sumapaz (PNN Sumapaz) and two adjacent areas (Chisaca and Bocagrande). In the sampling sites included Andabobos, Las Anillas lake, Cerro Nevado, Lagunalarga, Cortaderal Valley, Cuchilla La Rabona, El Fraile, Gobernador Lake, La Guitarra lake, Lagunitas, Media Naranjas Valley, Sitiales, Sorbedero, La Redonda Lake, Las Garzas lake, Los Tunjos and Santa Rosa. The data was collected in several field trips between 1972 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. 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 Googlemaps, 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

Most of the localities of the data set are part of the National Natural Park Sumapaz (PNN Sumapaz) and other are just outside the park borders close to Bogota, such as Chisaca and Bocagrande paramo, but here considered as part of the same area. All located in the Eastern cordillera. The PNN Sumapaz is located between de provinces of Cundinamarca, Meta and Huila, it has two main areas one in the eastern cordillera (called Sumapaz) and the other in the foothills of the "Llanos Orientales" region (called Pie de monte llanero). Chisaca and Bocagrande are both located in Cundinarmarca. In the Sumapaz region of the PNN Sumapaz in Cundinamarca, the municipalities of Arbelaez, San Bernardo, Gutierrez and Bogota are located. And in the "Pie de monte llanero" in Meta the municipalities of Acacias, Guamal, Cubarral, El Castillo, El Dorado, Lejanias and El Uribe are part of the park and finally in Huila only the municipality of Colombia is located within the park borders. The altitudinal range of the PNN Sumapaz goes from 1500m.a.s.l. up to 4360m.a.s.l. but the dataset only includes vegetation information from 3150m.a.s.l. up to 4250m.a.s.l.