Puya nivalis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Puya nivalis faces severe pressure from livestock grazing, particularly cattle and sheep, which trample and consume the plants in their high-altitude grassland habitat. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures push suitable habitat conditions higher up mountain slopes, reducing available range. Mining activities and infrastructure development in the Andes further fragment and destroy the specialized páramo ecosystems where this bromeliad occurs.
Habitat
Puya nivalis inhabits high-altitude páramo grasslands and alpine meadows in the Andes, typically occurring between 3,000-4,200 meters elevation. This terrestrial bromeliad grows in open, rocky terrain with well-drained soils in the cold, wet montane environments of Ecuador and northern Peru.
Other threatened species in Bromeliaceae
Frequently asked questions
Why is Puya nivalis classified as Endangered?
Where does Puya nivalis live?
What are the main threats to Puya nivalis?
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