Evaluación espacio-temporal de procesos de fragmentación y redes ecológicas en el Parque Nacional Llanganates

Abstract

The aim of this research was to determine the level of fragmentation of the ecosystems and ecological networks in Llanganates National Park (PNL) during two periods (1991 to 2001 and 2001 to 2016). Land cover mapping, landscape metrics and indices were obtained. The identification of land cover was carried out by applying the Maximum Likelihood Classification algorithm on the satellite images of the area to be studied with a previous radiometric and atmospheric correction. A validation of the classification results was carried out through the calculation of Kappa coefficient and the confusion matrix for each scenario. Then, the landscape metrics and indices were obtained by using Indifrag software and these results were read according to the guidelines given by this tool. As a result, three hydrographic basins were enclosed in Llanganates National Park, they were: Jatunyacu River Basin, Yanayacu River Basin and Pastaza River Basin. The first basin presented a low fragmentation level in ground covers; Bodies of water and flooded páramo grasslands diminished over time and the forest remained almost endless in its extension. In the second basin, an increase in agricultural and anthropic areas was evidenced, but the bodies of water and grasslands decreased; there is a low fragmentation in this type, except the forest. In the third basin, the areas without vegetation cover decreased and were replaced by páramo grasslands, while the anthropic zones and agricultural areas increased, despite of the general low fragmentation. As a conclusion, Llanganates National Park reflects a low to medium level in the structural and configurational fragmentation of ecosystems, although there is functional fragmentation. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out a specific field trip research in order to evaluate how fragmentation occurs in ecological networks within Llanganates National Park.