GERMINATION ECOLOGY OF NATIVE SPECIES OF PÁRAM Focused on propagation and in situ management for ecological restoration.

Ecuador's moors are flora endemism centers and fulfill the function of producing and regulating water. Despite their great importance for biodiversity and for human societies, moors have a series of anthropic threats. In this context, moors's restoration actions are a national priority. However, these types of interventions are seriously limited by a lack of knowledge about how the germination and management of the majority of native plants of these ecosystems; Especially of the shrub-reader plant communities. In order to spread native plants from seeds, basic aspects of its morphology and physiology must be known. Therefore, a series of laboratory and field experiments are proposed with a minimum of eight woody species. These experiments will be conducted in the laboratories of the Universities of Cuenca and Universidad del Azuay, in addition to the Loma Larga (Azuay) and Antisana (Pichincha and Napo). Laboratory experiments will focus on evaluating the imbibition and germination responses of seeds with different preparing treatments, identifying and describing the types of dormancy present or absence. For field experiments permanent plots will be implemented that will analyze a microclimatic and ecological gradient influence on the emergency, survival and growth of seedlings after direct sowing. The project also includes training through a workshop. Finally, the preliminary results of the study will be presented at a regional congress.

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