Efectos del cambio climático en la biodiversidad de los Andes tropicales: el estado del conocimiento científico

The tropical Andes are a global biodiversity hotspot with high levels of endemism, particularly in cloud forests and high-altitude ecosystems. Climate change, characterized by rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns, threatens these species, especially those at high altitudes with limited migration options. The document emphasizes that anthropogenic habitat fragmentation exacerbates these risks, potentially leading to mass extinctions. It advocates for adaptive management, the creation of connected conservation areas with broad environmental gradients, and the integration of ecosystem services into policy. Significant knowledge gaps remain in taxonomy and regional climate modeling, and the region faces institutional challenges including limited funding and a 'brain drain' of scientists.

• The tropical Andes are a global biodiversity hotspot with exceptional species richness and endemism, with the highest total species richness found in lowland evergreen forests on the eastern slopes near the equator, and the highest endemism in cloud forests just below the treeline.
• Climate change and land-use alterations could trigger a mass extinction event comparable to the 5-6 major geological extinction events if no action is taken. Species at higher altitudes and mountain peaks are at the greatest risk because they have no further areas to migrate to as temperatures rise.
• Observed historical climate trends in the tropical Andes over the last 45 years show a general decrease in annual precipitation (with some exceptions) and an increase in both maximum and minimum annual temperatures.
• Climate models project that many low-altitude glaciers in the Andes could completely disappear within the next 10 to 20 years due to the rise of the zero-degree isotherm and general tropospheric warming.
• Anthropogenic habitat fragmentation prevents species from following their climate niches, increasing the risk of extinction for those unable to adapt or disperse over long distances.
• Over 40 million people depend on tropical Andean ecosystems for freshwater, food, and other services. Climate change threatens the functionality of these ecosystems, specifically water regulation provided by glaciers, wetlands, and páramos, which supply water to major cities like Bogotá, Quito, and Lima.
• Effective conservation strategies must include broad environmental gradients and be connected via corridors to allow species to move in response to climate change. Priority ecosystems for protection include cloud forests, the treeline ecotone, and high-Andean ecosystems like páramos.
• There are critical knowledge gaps in taxonomy and natural history, with an estimated 50% of the region's biodiversity still undescribed. This lack of baseline data hinders the ability to track climate impacts and identify conservation priorities.
• Institutional capacity is limited by overlapping responsibilities, a lack of regional integration, and a 'brain drain' where scientists with advanced degrees obtained abroad find limited employment opportunities in the region, except in Colombia.
• Regional climate projections are currently unreliable because global climate models lack the necessary resolution to represent the steep topography of the Andes, leading to high levels of uncertainty.

APA

Herzog, S. K., Jørgensen, P. M., Güingla, R. M., Martius, C., Anderson, E. P., Hole, D. G., Larsen, T. H., Marengo, J. A., Carrascal, D. R., & Tiessen, H. (2010). Efectos del cambio climático en la biodiversidad de los Andes tropicales: el estado del conocimiento científico. Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. https://iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/uploads/2014/06/sintesis_cientifica.pdf

Chicago

Herzog, Sebastian K., Peter M. Jørgensen, Rodney Martínez Güingla, Christopher Martius, Elizabeth P. Anderson, David G. Hole, Trond H. Larsen, et al. Efectos del cambio climático en la biodiversidad de los Andes tropicales: el estado del conocimiento científico. Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, 2010. https://iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/uploads/2014/06/sintesis_cientifica.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Herzog |first1=Sebastian K. |last2=Jørgensen |first2=Peter M. |last3=Güingla |first3=Rodney Martínez |last4=Martius |first4=Christopher |last5=Anderson |first5=Elizabeth P. |last6=Hole |first6=David G. |last7=Larsen |first7=Trond H. |last8=Marengo |first8=José A. |last9=Carrascal |first9=Daniel Ruiz |display-authors=etal |title=Efectos del cambio climático en la biodiversidad de los Andes tropicales: el estado del conocimiento científico |publisher=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |date=2010 |url=https://iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/uploads/2014/06/sintesis_cientifica.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{herzog2010efectos, author = {Herzog, Sebastian K. and Jørgensen, Peter M. and Güingla, Rodney Martínez and Martius, Christopher and Anderson, Elizabeth P. and Hole, David G. and Larsen, Trond H. and Marengo, José A. and Carrascal, Daniel Ruiz and Tiessen, Holm}, title = {{Efectos del cambio climático en la biodiversidad de los Andes tropicales: el estado del conocimiento científico}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, year = {2010}, url = {https://iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/uploads/2014/06/sintesis_cientifica.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }