Termites are one of the most challenging pests that agriculture and urban environments are faced with. They bring substantial losses in annual and perennial crops and damage wood components at construction sites. The development of natural products with biological activity for termite control is an ecological alternative in the search to replace conventional products. Hence, the aim of this research was to predict the termiticidal and repellent effects of the essential oil from Ocotea quixos leaves on Nasutitermes corniger using a one-factor response surface methodology design. The variable analysed was the concentration of essential oil in ethanol at an interval of 0.3–0.05% for anti-termite activity and between 0.12 and 0.01% for repellent action. A 100% mortality rate was found at concentrations higher than 0.12% and at the minimum concentration analysed, the effect was 22.2%. As for the repellent action, the concentration of 0.12% was able to repel 100% of the termites and at 0.01% it repelled 48.9%. The analysis of the essential oil from Ocotea quixos leaves by GC-MS resulted in the presence of 42 compounds, 39 of them elucidated. The main compounds were (E)-cinnamyl acetate (36.44%), (E)-cinnamaldehyde (27.03%), (E)-β-caryophyllene (5.21%) and (E)-methyl isoeugenol (4.18%).

The evergreen forests of the Ecuadorian Amazon Region are altered by anthropogenic and natural factors. This provokes the need to look for tools that facilitate decision-making in support of restoration. We characterized the ecological structure and distribution of an evergreen Amazonian-Andean forest in the upper Puyo River micro-basin as a base for establishing an ecological quality index. The inventory was assessed using transects 0.1 ha (10 m × 100 m), registering the species with diameters at 1.30 m height ≥10 cm. We encountered a high degree of richness (30 families, 65 species and 322 individuals). The structural parameters indicated the predominance of a heterogeneous forest, with characteristics belonging to disturbed forests. A non-continuous vertical distribution pattern was found, determined by 78% of the species in a single stratum. The mixing ratio resulted in a higher proportion (1:5) for the lower class. The species Wettinia maynensis, Alchornea glandulosa, Miconia splendens, Piptocoma discolor and Inga velutina had the highest ecological value. The principal components analysis distinguished the abundance of species that had a high correlation with the sites and a distinct pattern was found in transect three. We developed the Structural Ecological Quality Index, which considers the social position of various species as well as their ecological importance, to reflect alterations in structural parameters. Abundance was concentrated in the 10–20 m strata (10–20 cm diameter class), which showed the presence of disturbance indicator species and a low ecological value. This indicated the real value of the historical succession of the forest, thus we recommend carrying out a restoration of this important reservoir.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality patterns of Switenia macrophylla, Cedrelinga cateniformis and Ochroma pyramidale seeds and seedlings in response to restoration. The seed viability test was performed using 1 % tetrazolium (2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride) during three staining times and the percentage of viability and vigor levels were considered according to the topological staining pattern. Germination speed, germination capacity, and morphological indices of plant quality were determined using the aboveground belowground ratio, slenderness, degree of lignification and Dickson's quality. The highest percentage of viable seeds with the maximum staining time (3 hours) was verified. The medium vigor category was higher in the three species, as determined by a partial reddish staining pattern as an expression of their physiological quality, which was reflected in the response to germination. The morphological quality indices allowed us to identify the species’ potential for growth and development for acclimatization to the area. The correspondence analysis was significant (p≤0.05), which facilitated the formation of quality groups, C. cateniformis was found to be of a high-enough quality as an indicator of its potential to cover restoration needs in Amazonian conditions.