Les populations d'Espeletia timotensis dans le páramo désertique des Andes du Vénézuela

This study concerns the population dynamics and reproductive patterns of Espeletia timotensis at Piedras Blancas, a desert paramo at 4200 m elevation in the Cordillera de Merida, Venezuela. For the study of population dynamics, permanent plots of 100 m2 each, dominated by E. timotensis, were established at regular intervals along a topographic gradient. Every individual was marked and plant establishment and death were recorded from 1977 to 1988. In each sample-plot total plant height, stem length, rosette diameter and number of inflorescences per individual were recorded