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High Andean ecosystems are among the most protected and ecologically valuable areas worldwide. Within forests, leaf litter fall is crucial as it forms an organic layer known as litter, which contributes nutrients and minerals to the soil. Research in this field is essential but limited, highlighting the importance of studying factors influencing litter decomposition across different vegetation covers. This study aimed to determine the effect of four types of vegetation cover—native forest, pine plantations, grasslands, and pastures—on litter decomposition rates. Decomposition rates were estimated using field and laboratory techniques with litterbags sampled biweekly over one year. Data analysis involved descriptive and inferential statistics, assessing decomposition percentages and times. Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric tests revealed significant differences in decomposition rates among the covers. Grassland cover (PO) exhibited the fastest decomposition (k=0.007473446), while pine forest cover (BP) showed slower decomposition (k=0.008853634). Pajonal (PA) and native forest (BN) covers demonstrated similar litter decomposition rates. Climate, litter quality, abundance of decomposing organisms, and physicochemical composition of each species were identified as variables influencing decomposition rates across covers

The Passiflora genus presents a representative variability of species within the inter-Andean alley, however, the difficulty of propagation and the limited availability of studies, have caused a lack of interest in this genus; In this research the following objectives were proposed: 1) To evaluate the effect of different concentrations of 2 hormones on the rooting of cuttings of 4 species of Passiflora identified in the foothills of the Andean forest of the parishes of Chumblin and San Gerardo. 2) To evaluate the effect of two hormones, naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and indole butyric acid (IBA) on the rooting of cuttings in field conditions in four species (Passiflora ampullaceae, Passiflora manicata, Passiflora tripartita, Passiflora ligularis). 3) To evaluate three concentration doses of ANA (100, 200 and 300 ppm) and AIB (250, 500 and 750 ppm), for rooting cuttings of 4 species of Passifloras. An independent experiment was carried out, each one was developed with a completely randomized design with 7 treatments and 8 replicates. The results showed that, for the number of live cuttings, P. ampullaceae, presented a survival percentage of 50% in (500 and 750 ppm) of AIB, in the number of buds, differences were presented in P. manicata, being ANA (200 ppm) the best treatment; for the number of roots, AIB in (500 and 750 ppm) presented categories of abundant and regular, for root length, values of 2.8 cm were reached with the use of ANA (100 ppm). The present work concludes that each species responds differently to the treatments.

The Andean tropical forests of Ecuador are important for mitigating the effects of climate change due to the environmental services they provide, particularly for capturing and storing carbon in their biomass. To evaluate the impact of Andean forests on climate change mitigation, it is necessary to quantify the amount of stored carbon. The objective of this study was to compare airborne carbon estimates in reforested areas using field-derived wood density values and global information databases in southern Ecuador. Fifty-two permanent plots were established where five tree species were selected to obtain wood samples, and two methods were used to determine the green volume of the wood samples: empirical and water displacement. From the obtained data, allometric equations were applied for the calculation of airborne carbon. The results showed diverse floristic composition and a wide variability of airborne carbon in the southern part of the country, where 59.6% of the plots showed a difference greater than 10% in relation to the values reported by Zanne et al., 2009 compared to the estimated carbon in the field, and the greatest differences occurred in plots without information on wood density at the species level, highlighting the importance of considering more precise values to avoid underestimation or overestimation in the evaluation of airborne carbon content in tropical forests.

Aulonemia queko is a species of bamboo that is important in the social, economic, and cultural spheres, since it´s used as raw material for basketry, making musical instruments, feeding animals, and building houses. In addition, this species can be useful as a potential substitute for plastic replacement, especially in the use of covers, which represent 13% of the world's waste. Under this background, the objective of this research proposal is to propagate in situ and follow up on the initial development of the native species "Duda" in the Molleturo forest, Azuay province. In this study, a completely randomized design (DCA) were used with a 3a x 2b factorial arrangement for rhizomes and segments of culms with branches, having six treatments and three repetitions made up of 18 experimental units. The variables evaluated were: height, diameter, number of leaves, number of internodes, percentage of survival and in the underground part was evaluated: number of roots, length and diameter of the longest root. For the analysis of the results, the normality of the data was analyzed, in addition, the Spearman correlation analysis were applied and finally the data was processed using the Kruskal Wallis test. As a result, the data in the propagation of rhizomes, normality did not appear (p>0.05) and likewise no differences in survival were found (p=0.26); in shoot length (p=0.08) in the same way in the underground part. On the other hand, for the propagation by segment of culms with branches I do not present normality in the data and no differences in survival were found (p=0.67); length (p=0.36) and finally the underground part did not present differences either. It was evidenced in general terms that the rhizome method presented a higher percentage of survival compared to the propagation method with segments of culms with branches.

In the context of climate change is relevant to estimate the carbon stock stored in the aboveground biomass and belowground biomass in the Andean region. However, there exist little information about how the reforestation contributes to carbon sequestration and storage, considering that this is a mitigation strategy to face climate change. The main aim of this study was to estimate the carbon content aboveground and below ground biomass of reforested sites, and their relation with weather variables and site- specific characteristics. The reforested sites were located in the Andean region in Azuay and Cañar provinces. Six sites were selected, where a total of 16 plots were installed; the criteria for site selection was the age of the plantation, which ranges between 5 to 10 years and using mainly native tree species. Non destructive methods were applied through allometric equations for carbon calculations. Moreover, weather variables were obtained from global data base named CHELSA, and global data base named DRYAD to obtain information of wood density. The organic matter was analyzed in different soil depths (Total = 5), and the method used was Loss on Ignition (LOI). The principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the observational plots formed four groups for the carbon stock stored in the abovegroundbiomass. This study contributed with important information about the carbon stock stored in reforestation projects in the Andean region.

Litter production is highly significant for the transfer of nutrients that develops from the aerial part to the soil. Litter is made up of various plant residues such as leaves, branches, flowers, fruits and miscellaneous. The objective of the study is to determine the effect of four types of vegetation cover on litter production in an area of the Sunsun Yanasacha protective forest, Azuay province. Four different covers were studied: Natural Forest (BN), Pine Forest (BP), Pajonal (PA) and Pasture (PO). For this, 16 plots were installed, divided into four plots for each plant cover, with five collection traps in each plot, with a collection period of 15 days for tree covers and 45 days in Potrero and Pajonal covers. For the analysis of the data in six months of collection, descriptive statistics were used, the averages were evaluated, obtaining a production for the tree covers (BN) 2386,840 kg ha-1 and (BP) 3570,575 kg ha-1 . As for (PA) 1353,747 kg ha-1 and (PO) 161,024 kg ha-1 . In the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test, it was determined that there are differences in coverage for production. In the fractions (BN) the highest average was leaves of the dominant species 1290,20 kg ha-1 and the lowest bark 19,49 kg ha-1 . Finally, in fractions of (BP) the dominant leaf with 3292,29 kg ha-1 , the lowest was miscellaneous 33,51 kg ha-1 . It was determined that there are differences at the level of the fractions both in (BN and BP).

Andean montane native forests have high diversity and provide ecosystem goods and services. For this, the functional characteristics play a very important role. However, it is necessary to carry out research to generate knowledge and evaluate the functionality of species through functional traits. In this research, information on functional traits was generated as predictors or indicators of aboveground biomass. The study area was in the Azuay province, Cuenca canton in Andean montane, secondary and mature forests, located at altitudes between 2900-3500 m. Twenty-eight permanent monitoring plots were monitored, where the functional traits of each species (RF) were measured in individuals with ≥ 5 cm DBH. The following functional traits were measured: leaf area (AF), specific leaf area (SFA), dry matter content (DM), wood density (DM), diameter at breast height (DBH), maximum height (HT) and leaf thickness (Gr). These traits were described by mean and standard deviation statisticians. Additionally, analyzes of the relationship between RF with altitude and age of succession were performed. The initial biomass was measured in the years 2016-2017, the final biomass in the year 2020 and the mean annual increase of this period of time. Finally, simple Pearson and Spearman correlations were performed between functional traits (predictors) and biomass (response variables). As results, significant relationships were obtained in four of the seven functional traits (RF) with altitude. Successional age was significantly correlated with all functional traits, except leaf thickness (P=1). The initial biomass (BI) registered 65.5 Mg/ha, the final biomass (BF) was 76.3 Mg/ha and the average annual increase was 2.69 Mg/ha/year. Diameter at breast height and height were strongly and significantly correlated with initial biomass and final biomass, therefore, they are the functional traits that mostly explain carbon storage in Andean montane forests.