The tropical Andes constitute a natural barrier between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic; in these mountains, are a great variety of Ecosystems, defined by factors such as orography, winds, humidity, temperature, among others. Some of these Ecosystems have different environmental conditions from tropical ones. In them, there is a great Biodiversity, in some cases endemic and associated with relatively small geographic areas. An example of this biodiversity is the orchids of the genus Dracula, about which discussions are currently generated due to the difficulty in classifying their members. The present work shows a study where DNA was isolated and sequenced from plant samples obtained from 52 species of orchids of the genus Dracula, which were analyzed using the MEGA7 software. Phylogenetic analysis of the DNA sequences showed a well-resolved topology that reflects a geographical pattern of several major clades of the Pacific and Atlantic watersheds. Geophysical conditions of the Andes have generated greater biodiversity of the genus Dracula on the side of the Pacific. Although the species Dracula cordobae and alessandroi reported on both sides of the study site belong to the same clade and show limited mobility through the drier area to the South of the mountain range.

A través de proyectos de investigación desarrollados en el Grupo de investigación de la facultad de ciencias (GEAA) de la Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH), se ha logrado implementar una red meteorológica automática, la cual cuenta con 11 estaciones automáticas vaisala ubicadas en diferentes lugares estratégicos de la Provincia de Chimborazo instaladas desde el año 2013. Cuyo objetivo es Cuantificar los volúmenes y distribución de la precipitación hídrica de la Provincia de Chimborazo. Dichas estaciones han permitido el desarrollo de trabajos de titulación, escritura de artículos científicos, colaboración interinstitucional, participación de congresos e investigación. Con el desarrollo de esta red de estaciones, se socializan resultados y el software creado disponible para otras entidades para validar con otras bases de datos. Los resultados y aportes principales de este proyecto son desarrollo e implementación como: las bases de datos de las variables meteorológicas, reportes meteorológicos, los mapas preliminares que resuman la precipitación hídrica en las zonas de influencia del proyecto. Por medio de estas actividades se ha venido aportando en investigaciones científicas, para proponer futuros proyectos de investigación en este campo en el Ecuador.

Precipitation variability in the tropical Andes is strongly influenced by complex topography and regional hydroclimatic processes, yet the spatial organization and temporal evolution of precipitation regimes remain insufficiently characterized. This study identifies dominant precipitation regimes in the Upper Pastaza River Basin, Ecuador, and examines their variability during 1981–2025 using daily precipitation data from the Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS) dataset. CHIRPS estimates were evaluated against observations from three meteorological stations, revealing spatial differences in precipitation estimation accuracy and a general underestimation of monthly precipitation totals. Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis and K-means clustering were applied to identify four recurrent precipitation Weather Types (WTs), ranging from a dominant low-intensity regime (WT1), representing approximately 70% of classified days, to a relatively infrequent but intense precipitation regime (WT2), accounting for approximately 1.7%. Seasonal and interannual variability was characterized through regime occurrence frequencies and temporal recurrence patterns. Monotonic trends were assessed using Kendall’s rank correlation coefficient and Sen’s slope estimator, while the burstiness index was used to examine temporal irregularity. A statistically significant positive trend was identified in WT2 occurrence (Kendall’s τ = 0.3830, p = 0.0002), whereas no significant trends were detected for the remaining regimes. Comparison with the recent period (2015–2025), using a consistent classification framework, revealed differences in regime occurrence while preserving broadly similar spatial precipitation patterns. These findings highlight changes in the occurrence of specific precipitation states rather than a generalized redistribution of all regimes, providing insights into hydroclimatic variability across the Andes–Amazon transition zone.

The expansion of climate monitoring networks has generated an increasing accumulation of end-of-life meteorological sensors, creating a specialized stream of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) that remains largely unaddressed in developing countries. This study presents a material characterization and sustainable management framework for obsolete meteorological sensors installed in automatic weather stations in Ecuador. A hybrid methodological approach was applied, combining field inventory of 16 stations, gravimetric measurements, and analysis of manufacturer technical specifications to estimate material composition and recovery potential. Results show that 65–90% of the total sensor mass consists of recyclable materials, including aluminum, stainless steel, copper, glass, and engineering polymers. A smaller fraction contains components requiring controlled management due to the potential presence of hazardous additives, such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride) elements and electronic microdevices. Based on these findings, a multi-phase management protocol is proposed, incorporating selective disassembly, material segregation, traceability mechanisms, and processing under extended producer responsibility principles. The framework supports circular economy strategies and offers a replicable model for improving sustainability in climate monitoring infrastructure and specialized WEEE management in low- and middle-income countries.