Introduction: This study focuses on the central mountain region of the Peruvian Andes, particularly its western slopes, high-altitude areas, and inter-Andean valleys situated above 3000 m.a.s.l. Despite its ecological importance, the region remains understudied, resulting in significant information gaps. Objective: To identify flora species along an altitudinal gradient in the Cajatambo district. Methods: Sampling was carried out at five distinct altitudinal levels using a combination of sampling techniques. Taxonomic identification was performed, and statistical analyses including ANOVA, the Mantel test, and NMDS were applied. Results: 424 plant species were identified, revealing the dominance of Asteraceae. The approach used allowed for the identification of floristic and structural patterns in various habitats, ranging from arid montane scrub to puna grassland. Surprisingly, Asteraceae richness had a significant impact on species diversity, while altitude did not. Additionally, floristic similarity between nearby altitudinal levels was not related to geographical distance. The analysis of ecosystems has shown that certain families are adaptable. Additionally, floristic diversity has been affected by human activity near the district capital. The distribution of medicinal species has been limited due to selective extraction. Conclusions: The shrubland and thorny scrub was the most diverse ecosystem and had the widest distribution across the altitudinal gradient.

Polylepis woodlands, endemic to the Andean Mountains, are critical for biodiversity and ecosystem services but face threats from anthropogenic disturbances and climate change. This study employed sonic tomography (ST) to assess the structural integrity of three relict Polylepis stands on the western slopes of the Peruvian Andes. A total of 192 tomograms from 48 trees across three sites revealed substantial variation in internal decay (2.5–70%), with mean decay levels of 11.6% (Z1), 16.6% (Z2), and 10.5% (Z3). Although the initial generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) suggested tree diameters at breast height (DBH) as a potential predictor of decay, subsequent non-parametric Spearman’s correlation analysis found no significant relationship between DBH and decay (r < 0.001, p > 0.05) or between altitude and decay (r = 0.187, p = 0.204). No significant differences were detected among species or zones. The study demonstrates the efficacy of ST for noninvasive health assessment in high-altitude ecosystems and underscores the need for long-term monitoring to guide conservation strategies.

Mutualisms characterized by reciprocal benefits between species are a fundamental relationship of tropical ecosystems. Ant Gardens (AGs) represent an interesting ant-plant mutualism, involving specialized interactions between vascular epiphytes and ants. While this relationship has been extensively studied in various tropical regions, the available information on Peruvian ecosystems is limited. The objective of this study was to identify the ant and epiphyte species that constitute AGs. From February 2023 to January 2024, a study was conducted on two 50 × 10 m transects within the Mauritia flexuosa peat swamp forest, located within the Water Association Aguajal Renacal del Alto Mayo (ADECARAM) Tingana in San Martín, Peru. A total of 69 ant gardens were documented, comprising 18 phorophyte species, 19 epiphyte species, and three ant species. The results demonstrated that neither the height nor the diameter at breast height (DBH) of phorophytes exhibited a statistically significant correlation with the number of AGs per host. However, a positive correlation was observed between the length and width of the AGs and the number of ants per AG. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of AG mutualism in Peruvian ecosystems.

A variety of ecosystems can be found on the eastern flank of the Peruvian Andean-Amazonian piedmont. Amongst these, seasonally flooded forests (which include many peatlands) have attracted scientific attention because of the ecosystem services they provide. Our research was conducted in the Tingana flooded forests situated in the Alto Mayo Valley, San Martin (Peru). The canopies and branches of phorophytes (epiphyte-bearing plants) located within fourteen 20 × 20 m plots at two study sites were accessed using climbing equipment, and 107 epiphytic species were recorded. The epiphyte genera with the highest diversity were Epidendrum (15 species), Asplenium (7 species), Anthurium (6 species) and Peperomia (5 species), and the phorophyte with the highest epiphyte diversity was Ficus trigona. The richness estimators (Chao1 and ACE) accounted for > 75.3 % of the species present, with Stratum III being the most abundant and diverse. Demographic studies will be needed to comprehend the potential consequences of climate change for the epiphyte communities of flooded forests as they recover from disturbance.

Palms of the genus Ceroxylon constitute a key component of Andean tropical montane forests; however, their internal structural integrity has been scarcely studied in Peru. The present study assessed the internal structural condition of natural populations within the Private Conservation Area (PCA) Bosque de Palmeras of the Taulía-Molinopampa (Amazonas, Peru) using sonic tomography. A total of 64 individuals distributed across four zones with differing degrees of anthropogenic disturbance—Mixed Forest (MF), Active Restoration (AR), Passive Restoration (PR), and Cattle Ranching (CR)—were analyzed, generating 256 tomograms across four vertical levels. Results revealed high levels of structural deterioration (mean = 63.58%), with significant differences observed among zones (p < 0.05). A linear mixed model (LMM) demonstrated that both study zone and diameter at breast height (DBH) are significant predictors of decay (p < 0.05), with the CR zone exhibiting a significant increase of 9.28% in damage compared to the MF reference. Furthermore, a significant positive relationship was found between DBH and structural damage (increase of 0.419% per cm), while fixed effects in the model explained 24.1% of the total variance. Structural deterioration exhibited a heterogeneous vertical distribution, being most sensitive to anthropogenic pressure at the basal level (10 cm). These findings demonstrate that areas under greater anthropogenic pressure and larger individuals are associated with higher structural deterioration, confirming the potential of sonic tomography as an effective tool for the monitoring and conservation of Andean palms.

Palms of the genus Ceroxylon constitute a key component of Andean tropical montane forests; however, their internal structural integrity has been scarcely studied in Peru. The present study assessed the internal structural condition of natural populations within the Private Conservation Area (PCA) Bosque de Palmeras of the Taulía-Molinopampa Peasant Community using sonic tomography, a non-invasive technique for detecting cavities and decay in the stipe. A total of 64 individuals distributed across four zones with differing degrees of anthropogenic disturbance — passive recovery, reforestation, active cattle ranching, and mixed forest — were analyzed, generating 256 tomograms at four vertical levels. Results revealed high levels of structural deterioration across all zones (59.8%–67.9%), with the greatest affectation recorded in the active cattle ranching zone, and significant differences among zones (Kruskal–Wallis, p < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between diameter at breast height (DBH) and structural damage (ρ = 0.298; p = 0.0168), whereas altitude showed no significant association (p = 0.7462). Structural deterioration exhibited a heterogeneous distribution both vertically and among individuals. Taken together, these findings indicate that anthropogenic activities increase structural deterioration and compromise the stability of Ceroxylon populations, and confirm the potential of sonic tomography as an effective tool for the monitoring and conservation of Andean palms.