CR

Stipa tulcanensis

Unknown

Overview

Stipa tulcanensis is a species of grass in the family Poaceae. It is found only in Ecuador.

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.

Threat summary

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.

Other threatened species in POACEAE

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Panicum pinifolium

Unknown
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Eragrostis usambarensis

Unknown
VU

Cymbopogon bhutanicus

Unknown
VU

Drepanostachyum annulatum

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Stipa tulcanensis classified as Critically Endangered?
Stipa tulcanensis is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. 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.
Where does Stipa tulcanensis live?
Stipa tulcanensis 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 Stipa tulcanensis?
The main threats to Stipa tulcanensis 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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