VU

Puya aequatorialis

Unknown

Overview

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

Puya aequatorialis faces severe pressure from agricultural expansion and livestock grazing in Ecuador's high-altitude páramo ecosystems. The species' restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat conversion for potato cultivation and cattle ranching. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures push suitable habitat to higher elevations, while the slow-growing nature of this bromeliad limits its ability to recover from disturbances.

Threat summary

Habitat

Puya aequatorialis inhabits high-altitude páramo grasslands and shrublands in the Ecuadorian Andes, typically occurring between 3,200-4,000 meters elevation. The species grows in open, well-drained volcanic soils among native grasses and cushion plants in these cold, humid montane ecosystems.

Conservation measures underway

Ex-situ conservation

Other threatened species in BROMELIACEAE

EN

Puya fosteriana

Unknown
EN

Puya fastuosa

Unknown
EN

Puya pratensis

Unknown
CR

Puya ramonii

Unknown

Threatened in Ecuador

VU

Diospyros esmereg

Declining
VU

Copper Shark

Carcharhinus brachyurus

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EN

Baird's Tapir

Tapirus bairdii

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Puya aequatorialis classified as Vulnerable?
Puya aequatorialis 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. Puya aequatorialis faces severe pressure from agricultural expansion and livestock grazing in Ecuador's high-altitude páramo ecosystems. The species' restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat conversion for potato cultivation and cattle ranching. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures push suitable habitat to higher elevations, while the slow-growing nature of this bromeliad limits its ability to recover from disturbances.
Where does Puya aequatorialis live?
Puya aequatorialis occurs in Ecuador. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Puya aequatorialis?
The main threats to Puya aequatorialis 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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