The Ecoydrologic Functions of Polylepis Forets Within The Andean Paramo and Their Resilience and Vulnerability to Climate Change. Ecoidrological functions of Polylepis forests within the Andean Páramo, its resilience and climate change vulnerability

Andean Páramo Ecosystems Provide Water Provisioning Services, Yet the Ecoydrological Functions of Polylepis Forest Patches Embedded Within The Páramo You have prescribed Little Attention. In particular, The Combination of High Water Use by Trees and Additionional Water Inputs via Canopy Fog Interception Mayantly Impact The Paramo Water Cycle, Born on The Balance Between BeSe Water Gains and Losses. Moreover, Because polylepis trees occur at extreme altitudes limiting tree Growth, they may be specially vulnerable to increases in climatic variation and moisture stress due to climate change-with potential Underestanding The Ecohydrological Functions and Physiological Adaptations and Resilience to Climate Extremes of Polylepis Forest is critical to Improving Predictions of Climate Change and Management Impacts in Páramo Watersheds. THE PROPOSED PROJECT INTEGRATES PLANT ECOPHYSIOLOGICAL MEASUREMENTS AND HYDROLOGICAL MONITORING TO ADDRESS THREE OBJECTIVES: (1) Evaluate The Adaptive Strategies and Responses to Climate Variation in in Polylepis Forest. (2) Characterize The Hydraulic Functional Traits in Dominant Plant Species Within Páramo Forets and Grasslands. (3) Quantify The Water Balance and Hydrologic Regulation Process in Polylepis Forest. This Project Will Support One PHD Student, One MSC Student, and Two BSC Students, The Publication of Three Scientific Papers, Field Course in Water Resources, and a Teaching Module in Plant Ecophysiology. The results Will Help Guide Policy Decions Related To Managing Water and Forest Resources Within Paramo Landscapes, and contributes to Capacity Building in the Fields of Plant Ecophysiology and Ecohydrology at The University of Cuenca.

OUT OF CALL – EXTERNAL FUNDS