Floristic composition and notes on the vegetation of the lomas of Queneto: An area with potential for conservation in La Libertad, Peru

Cuba-Melly N.; de Mera A.G. · Revista Peruana de Biologia (2025) · DOI: 10.15381/rpb.v32i4.31128

Resumen

This study documents the composition of the vascular flora in the Lomas of Queneto, a locality in the province of Virú (La Libertad Department, northern Peru) for which little floristic information is available. Based on recent botanical collections and the revision of herbarium specimens, a baseline inventory of vascular flora was established for the area. A total of 156 species were recorded across three landscape units (sandy areas; piedmont and seasonal streambeds; and desert mountains), of which 51 are endemic to Peru. The presence of Peperomia asperula Hutchison & Rauh (Piperaceae) is reported for the first time in a lomas ecosystem. In addition, new records are documented, and a new combination is proposed for the genus Echeandia (Asparagaceae). The diversity of the study area is analyzed and compared to other Peruvian localities. A possible biogeographical connection between the coastal desert and high-Andean ecosystems is discussed. Furthermore, the change in land use in sandy areas, caused by the expansion of agro-industrial crops, is highlighted, and this represents a threat to endemic species with restricted distribution. This study underscores the conservation significance of a fragile ecosystem that requires the implementation of short- and long-term management strategies. © Los autores. Este artículo es publicado por la Revista Peruana de Biología de la Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. Este es un artículo de acceso abierto, distribuido bajo los términos de la Licencia Creative Commons Atribución 4.0 Internacional. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.es) que permite Compartir (copiar y redistribuir el material en cualquier medio o formato), Adaptar (remezclar, transformar y construir a partir del material) para cualquier propósito, incluso comercialmente.

Instituciones: Universidad Científica del Sur