VUVulnerable

Espeletia argentea

Unknown

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Espeletia argentea faces severe pressure from agricultural expansion and cattle grazing in Colombia's páramo ecosystems, where livestock trampling destroys the slow-growing rosettes and compacts the specialized soils these plants require. Climate change poses an additional threat as rising temperatures force this high-altitude specialist toward increasingly limited mountaintop refugia. Mining activities and infrastructure development further fragment the already restricted páramo habitat, while the species' extremely slow growth rate makes recovery from disturbances particularly challenging.
Threat summary

Habitat

Espeletia argentea is endemic to the high-altitude páramo ecosystems of the Colombian Andes, typically found between 3,200-4,200 meters elevation. These specialized alpine grasslands are characterized by extreme temperature fluctuations, high UV radiation, and waterlogged soils, where the species forms distinctive silvery rosettes adapted to the harsh montane conditions.

TERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Asteraceae

Lamb's Succory

Arnoseris minima

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Espeletia argentea classified as Vulnerable?

Espeletia argentea is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. Espeletia argentea faces severe pressure from agricultural expansion and cattle grazing in Colombia's páramo ecosystems, where livestock trampling destroys the slow-growing rosettes and compacts the specialized soils these plants require. Climate change poses an additional threat as rising temperatures force this high-altitude specialist toward increasingly limited mountaintop refugia. Mining activities and infrastructure development further fragment the already restricted páramo habitat, while the species' extremely slow growth rate makes recovery from disturbances particularly challenging.

Where does Espeletia argentea live?

Espeletia argentea occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.

What are the main threats to Espeletia argentea?

The main threats to Espeletia argentea are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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