Aster quitensis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Aster quitensis faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to urban expansion and agricultural conversion in its limited Andean range. Climate change poses an additional critical threat, as rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns threaten the specific high-altitude conditions this species requires. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to any localized disturbances or environmental changes.
Habitat
This critically endangered plant species is endemic to high-altitude Andean environments, typically found in páramo grasslands and alpine meadows between 3,000-4,200 meters elevation. It occupies specialized microhabitats with specific soil and moisture conditions in the montane ecosystems of South America.