Calamagrostis llanganatensis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Calamagrostis llanganatensis faces severe pressure from agricultural expansion and livestock grazing in Ecuador's high-altitude páramo ecosystems. The species' restricted range in the Llanganates National Park region makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat conversion for potato cultivation and cattle ranching. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures may force this cold-adapted grass to retreat to increasingly limited suitable elevations.
Habitat
This endemic grass species inhabits high-altitude páramo grasslands and alpine meadows in the Ecuadorian Andes, typically occurring between 3,500-4,200 meters elevation. It grows in wet, boggy areas and along stream margins within the unique páramo ecosystem characterized by tussock grasses, cushion plants, and specialized high-altitude vegetation.