Miconia guayaquilensis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Miconia guayaquilensis faces severe pressure from rapid urban expansion around Guayaquil, Ecuador, where its dry forest habitat is being converted for residential and commercial development. Agricultural encroachment, particularly cattle ranching and crop cultivation, has fragmented the remaining forest patches where this endemic shrub occurs. The species' restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to localized habitat destruction and edge effects from surrounding disturbed areas.
Habitat
This endemic shrub inhabits dry deciduous forests and forest edges in the coastal lowlands of western Ecuador, particularly in areas with well-drained soils and seasonal rainfall patterns. It occurs in secondary growth areas and forest margins, typically at elevations below 500 meters in the Guayas region.