Carmen Ulloa

Plant evolution and endemism in Andean South America: An introduction

Andean South America, including the adjacent lowland environments, can be evaluated in reference to the patterns and processes that characterize plant diversity, evolution, and distribution. Although its ecological complexity is bewildering and the evolutionary and geological history is convoluted and poorly understood, progress can be made by testing the relationship of known processes and paleoevents to patterns of diversification and distribution.Plant diversity patterns can be quantified and mapped in order to permit the study of linkages to environmental parameters and to past speciation and extinction processes. Such studies show the importance of dispersal barriers and long altitudinal gradients for the evolution of Andean plants. Phylogenetic studies allow for the tying of these processes to the timing of connections from the Andes to adjacent tropical forests, grasslands, and deserts, to other highlands in South America, or to other continents. They can also reveal temporal relationships among a variety of plant lineages, allowing for the identification of basal groups, of paleoendemics, and of the recently derived neoendemics. The special places in South America that have high representation of these restricted-range taxa can be better understood as a result. In the Andean context, these are often located in isolated habitat islands, with moisture regimes ranging from arid to perhumid.These patterns allow the development of conservation actions that respond to the presence of special places for plant diversification and of special species that require immediate attention. Further research will include the documentation of patterns at ever-finer spatial resolutions, to better match our biodiversity databases with the topographical and ecological features found in South America. The phylogenetics of plant molecular and morphological characters provide a necessary evolutionary framework that can then be compared to processes identified as important among animal and fungi lineages. For Andean South America, coevolution of plant and animal species is an important source of additional complexity, while trends of evolution to occupy drier and/or higher environments appear in numerous lineages. Anthropogenic influences on these patterns and processes are little understood, but humans have affected and will continue to shape the composition, diversity, and geography of South American biota.ResumenLa Sudamérica andina, y los ambientes adyacentes de las tierras bajas, pueden evaluarse con referencia a los patrones y procesos que caracterizan la diversidad, evolución, y distribución de sus plantas. Si bien existe una complejidad ecológica desconcertante y la historia evolutiva y geológica es convoluta y poco entendida, se puede progresar por medio del estudio de las relaciones de los procesos conocidos y los paleoeventos con patrones de diversificación y distribución.Los patrones de la diversidad de plantas se pueden cuantificar e ilustrar en mapas para permitir el estudio de los enlaces con los parámetros medioambientales y con los procesos pasados de especiación y extinción. Tales estudios muestran la importancia de las barreras de dispersión y los gradientes altitudinales grandes para la evolución de las plantas andinas. Los estudios filogenéticos permiten enlazar estos procesos a la secuencia de eventos relacionada a la conexión de los Andes con los bosques tropicales adyacentes, los pajonales y desiertos, con otras áreas montañosas de Sudamérica, o con otros continentes. También pueden revelar las relaciones temporales entre una variedad de linajes de plantas, permitiendo la identificación de grupos basales, de paleoendémicos, y de los neoendémicos derivados recientemente. Como resultado se puede entender mejor los sitios especiales en Sudamérica que tienen una representación alta de estos taxones con áreas de distribución restringidas. En el contexto andino, estos sitios se encuentran a menudo en hábitats de islas aisladas, con regímenes de humedad que varían de árido a perhúmedo.Estos patrones permiten el desarrollo de acciones de conservación que responden a la presencia de sitios especiales para la diversificación de las plantas y de especies especiales que requieren una atención inmediata. Investigación más a fondo induirá la documentación de patrones a resoluciones espaciales más finas, para una mejor comparación de nuestras bases de datos de biodiversidad con las caracteristícas topográficas y ecológicas que se encuentran en Sudamérica. La filogenia de los carácteres moleculares y morfológicos de las plantas proveen un marco evolutivo necesario que se podría comparar con los procesos de identificados en linajes de animales y hongos. Para la Sudamérica andina, la coevolución entre las especies de plantas y animales es una fuente importante de complejidad adicional, mientras que la tendencia evolutiva a ocupar ambientes más secos y/o más altos aparece en varios linajes. La influencia humana sobre estos patrones y procesos es poco entendida, pero ha afectado y continuará influenciando la composición, la diversidad, y la geografía de la biota sudamericana.

Identification of Biodiversity Conservation Priorities using Predictive Modeling: An Application for the Equatorial Pacific Region of South America

We used predictive modeling of species distributions to identify conservation priority areas in the equatorial Pacific region of western Ecuador and northwestern Peru. Museum and herbarium data and predictive models of species distributions are increasingly being used to assess the conservation status of individual species. In this study, we assembled occurrence data for 28 species of vascular plants, birds, and mammals to assess the conservation priorities of the set of natural communities that they represent. Environmental variables were used to predict the species’ distributions using correlative modeling as an alternative to point data, which has been the traditional approach to identify critical areas. Specific priority sites for conservation were identified using an area-selection algorithm based on simulated annealing. Four scenarios of prioritization were created using different criteria for the spatial compactness of the selected sites and fragmentation of remnant habitat. The results provide a preliminary assessment of conservation priorities for the dry ecosystems of the Equatorial Pacific region, and will serve as guidelines to focus future fieldwork.

An integrated assessment of the vascular plant species of the Americas

The vascular plants of the Americas Botanical exploration in the Americas has a history that stretches back for half a millennium, with knowledge assembled in diverse regional floras and lists. Ulloa Ulloa et al. present a comprehensive and integrated compilation of all known native New World vascular plant species (see the Perspective by Givnish). This compilation, in a publicly available, searchable database, includes 124,993 species—about one-third of the worldwide total. They further present details of the distribution of species across families and genera, the geographical foci of diversity, and the floristic relationships between regions. The rate of plant species discovery in the Americas averages almost 750 annually, so this valuable resource will continue to grow. Science, this issue p. 1614; see also p. 1535 A database of all known New World vascular plants holds almost 125,000 species, with the highest concentration in Ecuador. The cataloging of the vascular plants of the Americas has a centuries-long history, but it is only in recent decades that an overview of the entire flora has become possible. We present an integrated assessment of all known native species of vascular plants in the Americas. Twelve regional and national checklists, prepared over the past 25 years and including two large ongoing flora projects, were merged into a single list. Our publicly searchable checklist includes 124,993 species, 6227 genera, and 355 families, which correspond to 33% of the 383,671 vascular plant species known worldwide. In the past 25 years, the rate at which new species descriptions are added has averaged 744 annually for the Americas, and we can expect the total to reach about 150,000.

Phainantha Shuariorum (Melastomataceae), una Especie Nueva de la Cordillera del Cóndor, Ecuador, Disyunta de un Género Guayanés

ABSTRACT Phainantha shuariorum (Melastomataceae) from sandstone mountains of the Cordillera del Cóndor region in southeastern Ecuador is described and illustrated; it is a disjunct species in a genus that is otherwise known only from the Guayana Shield region of northeastern South America. It resembles P. laxiflora and P. maguirei, with which it shares the climbing, twining habit, adventitious roots at the stem nodes, and leaves alternate by abortion of one leaf per pair, but from which it differs in the tri-nerved venation.

Quipuanthus, a New Genus of Melastomataceae from the Foothills of the Andes in Ecuador and Peru

Abstract The new genus Quipuanthus from the foothills of the eastern Andes of Ecuador and Peru is described. Quipuanthus seems to be related to Allomaieta, Alloneuron, and Wurdastom in the tribe Cyphostyleae, but the combination of characters as an herb with haplostemonous flowers, recurved style, inferior ovary and apically dehiscent capsular fruits is unique among the Melastomataceae. The new species Quipuanthus epipetricus is described and illustrated.

A new species of Miconia (Melastomataceae, Miconieae) from the Ecuador-Peru border

Abstract Miconia machinazana C.Ulloa & D.A. Neill, sp. nov.,a new species of Melastomataceae from the Ecuador-Peru border is described and illustrated. It is characterized by the narrow, decussate leaves, dense reddish brown indument, small flowers in short panicles, pale yellow petals, and anthers opening by two large terminal pores.

Arnaldoa argentea (Barnadesioideae: Asteraceae), a New Species and a New Generic Record for Ecuador

A new species of Asteraceae, Arnal- doa argentea C. Ulloa, P. Jorgensen & M. O. Dillon, from southern Ecuador is described and illustrated. It is characterized by its cream-white to light or- ange corollas and red-brown phyllaries covered by a dense silvery pubescence, especially on the ad- axial surface. The genus was previously known only from northern Peru. A key to the species of Arnal- doa is presented. R ESUMEN. Se describe e ilustra una nueva espe- cie de Asteraceae, Arnaldoa argentea C. Ulloa, P. Jorgensen & M. O. Dillon, del sur de Ecuador. Esta especie se caracteriza por las corolas de color blan- co-crema a anaranjado palido y las filarias cafe ´- rojizas cubiertas por un denso tomento argenteo es- pecialmente en la superficie adaxial. El genero anteriormente se conocia solo del norte de Peru ´. Se presenta una clave para todas las especies de Ar- naldoa.

HONDURODENDRON, A NEW MONOTYPIC GENUS OF APTANDRACEAE FROM HONDURAS

Abstract Hondurodendron C. Ulloa, Nickrent, Whitef. & D. Kelly, a new monotypic genus endemic to Honduras, is here described and illustrated. The new species, H. urceolatum C. Ulloa, Nickrent, Whitef. & D. Kelly, is a dioecious tree, distinguished by its minute flowers borne on densely tomentose inflorescences, unique anthers opening by three valves, and a characteristic fruit totally enveloped by the accrescent calyx, which projects beyond the fruit. A molecular analysis based on four genes (nuclear small subunit [SSU] ribosomal DNA [rDNA], chloroplast rbcL, matK, and accD) placed this genus in a clade with Aptandra Miers, Harmandia Pierre ex Baill., Chaunochiton Benth., and Ongokea Pierre in the family Aptandraceae Miers.

Three New Species of Eleocharis (Cyperaceae) from the Andean Páramos of Colombia and Ecuador

ABSTRACT Three new closely related species of Eleocharis R. Brown (Cyperaceae) from Andean páramos are described from Colombia: E. fassettii S. González & P. M. Peterson, E. cuatrecasii S. González & P. M. Peterson, and E. moraosejoana S. González, C. Ulloa & P. M. Jørgensen. They all belong to Eleocharis subgen. Eleocharis, sect. Eleocharis, and differ from related species by a combination of characters, among which are the thin, loose upper sheath apices and the unusual achene shape that is conspicuously tapered toward the base and apex.

Billia roseac The Correct Name for Billia columbiana lHippocastanaceaer

In order to comply with the current International Code of Botanical Nomenclature a new combination, Billia rosea (Planchon & Linden) C. Ulloa & P. Jorgensen, is proposed to replace the superfluous name Billia columbiana Planchon & Linden ex Triana & Planchon. RESUMEN. Para conformar con el C6digo Internacional de Nomenclatura Bot inica vigente se propone la nueva combinaci6n Billia rosea (Planchon & Linden) C. Ulloa & P. Jorgensen que reemplaza a Billia columbiana Planchon & Linden ex Triana & Planchon, un nombre superfluo.