Unveiling vegetation recovery dynamics in Andean grasslands along a trans-Andean natural gas pipeline
To unveil the temporal vegetation recovery dynamics in the Andean grasslands, we propose a new index that incorporates species abundances, data variation, and a continuously updated control mean. To test whether this index can identify areas with varying recovery rates, we used data collected yearly...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Ecological Indicators |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24013414 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832576573436329984 |
|---|---|
| author | Fiorella Eduardo-Palomino Héctor Chuquillanqui Reynaldo Linares-Palomino |
| author_facet | Fiorella Eduardo-Palomino Héctor Chuquillanqui Reynaldo Linares-Palomino |
| author_sort | Fiorella Eduardo-Palomino |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | To unveil the temporal vegetation recovery dynamics in the Andean grasslands, we propose a new index that incorporates species abundances, data variation, and a continuously updated control mean. To test whether this index can identify areas with varying recovery rates, we used data collected yearly by a restoration monitoring program over nine years (2010–2019, except 2017). This data was gathered along a trans-Andean gas pipeline right-of-way, encompassing 276 km of restored Andean grasslands of the Ayacucho and Huancavelica regions in southern Peru. The study area was divided into 12 large ecological landscape units (ELUs) to facilitate data comparison and interpretation. All 12 ELUs were further divided into 500 m sections and evaluated by placing a pair of 100-meter transects (within and outside of the right-of-way) within each section. Field-collected data were standardized and meticulously cleaned to ensure accuracy and consistency over time. Statistical analyses were conducted, and vegetation recovery was visualized at different spatial and temporal scales. The results revealed general trends of vegetation recovery at the ELU level, with a majority displaying a positive recovery trajectory. The new index, which incorporates species abundance and a control mean, offers a comprehensive and precise measure for understanding the temporal and spatial aspects of grassland restoration. Nevertheless, the study acknowledges certain limitations and challenges, such as the necessity for long-term data and the consideration of other environmental and management factors that can impact vegetation recovery. Ultimately, the new index presents itself as a valuable tool for assessing and monitoring the effectiveness of restoration activities in areas of Andean grasslands affected by development projects. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c303e15c10bb44e187fcd5ff147618c2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1470-160X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Indicators |
| spelling | doaj-art-c303e15c10bb44e187fcd5ff147618c22025-01-31T05:10:16ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2025-01-01170112884Unveiling vegetation recovery dynamics in Andean grasslands along a trans-Andean natural gas pipelineFiorella Eduardo-Palomino0Héctor Chuquillanqui1Reynaldo Linares-Palomino2Agropecuaria ARZU, Carretera Desaguadero-Ilo Km 55, Huacullani, 21621 Puno, Peru; Corresponding author at: Calle Ilo 882, Moquegua, 18001 Moquegua, Peru.Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Ca. Almirante Lord Cochrane 111, Of. 110, San Isidro, 15073 Lima, Peru; Asociación Peruana para la Conservación de la Naturaleza, Jr. Almte. Martín Guisse 2523, Lima, PeruSmithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Ca. Almirante Lord Cochrane 111, Of. 110, San Isidro, 15073 Lima, Peru; Asociación Peruana para la Conservación de la Naturaleza, Jr. Almte. Martín Guisse 2523, Lima, PeruTo unveil the temporal vegetation recovery dynamics in the Andean grasslands, we propose a new index that incorporates species abundances, data variation, and a continuously updated control mean. To test whether this index can identify areas with varying recovery rates, we used data collected yearly by a restoration monitoring program over nine years (2010–2019, except 2017). This data was gathered along a trans-Andean gas pipeline right-of-way, encompassing 276 km of restored Andean grasslands of the Ayacucho and Huancavelica regions in southern Peru. The study area was divided into 12 large ecological landscape units (ELUs) to facilitate data comparison and interpretation. All 12 ELUs were further divided into 500 m sections and evaluated by placing a pair of 100-meter transects (within and outside of the right-of-way) within each section. Field-collected data were standardized and meticulously cleaned to ensure accuracy and consistency over time. Statistical analyses were conducted, and vegetation recovery was visualized at different spatial and temporal scales. The results revealed general trends of vegetation recovery at the ELU level, with a majority displaying a positive recovery trajectory. The new index, which incorporates species abundance and a control mean, offers a comprehensive and precise measure for understanding the temporal and spatial aspects of grassland restoration. Nevertheless, the study acknowledges certain limitations and challenges, such as the necessity for long-term data and the consideration of other environmental and management factors that can impact vegetation recovery. Ultimately, the new index presents itself as a valuable tool for assessing and monitoring the effectiveness of restoration activities in areas of Andean grasslands affected by development projects.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24013414Vegetation recovery indexSpecies abundanceMonitoringTransectsSpatial scalesTemporal scales |
| spellingShingle | Fiorella Eduardo-Palomino Héctor Chuquillanqui Reynaldo Linares-Palomino Unveiling vegetation recovery dynamics in Andean grasslands along a trans-Andean natural gas pipeline Ecological Indicators Vegetation recovery index Species abundance Monitoring Transects Spatial scales Temporal scales |
| title | Unveiling vegetation recovery dynamics in Andean grasslands along a trans-Andean natural gas pipeline |
| title_full | Unveiling vegetation recovery dynamics in Andean grasslands along a trans-Andean natural gas pipeline |
| title_fullStr | Unveiling vegetation recovery dynamics in Andean grasslands along a trans-Andean natural gas pipeline |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unveiling vegetation recovery dynamics in Andean grasslands along a trans-Andean natural gas pipeline |
| title_short | Unveiling vegetation recovery dynamics in Andean grasslands along a trans-Andean natural gas pipeline |
| title_sort | unveiling vegetation recovery dynamics in andean grasslands along a trans andean natural gas pipeline |
| topic | Vegetation recovery index Species abundance Monitoring Transects Spatial scales Temporal scales |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24013414 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fiorellaeduardopalomino unveilingvegetationrecoverydynamicsinandeangrasslandsalongatransandeannaturalgaspipeline AT hectorchuquillanqui unveilingvegetationrecoverydynamicsinandeangrasslandsalongatransandeannaturalgaspipeline AT reynaldolinarespalomino unveilingvegetationrecoverydynamicsinandeangrasslandsalongatransandeannaturalgaspipeline |