Stipa tulcanensis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Stipa tulcanensis faces severe threats from agricultural expansion and livestock grazing in its restricted high-altitude range. The species' extremely limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat conversion, while overgrazing by cattle and sheep degrades the specialized páramo grassland communities it requires. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the temperature and precipitation patterns of its montane habitat.
Habitat
This endemic grass species inhabits high-altitude páramo grasslands and alpine meadows in the Andes of Ecuador, typically occurring between 3,500-4,200 meters elevation. It grows in specialized montane grassland communities characterized by cool temperatures, high humidity, and volcanic soils.