Ecuador's Biodiversity
Ecuador is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. This makes it one of the prime locations for a Biology Experiential Tour. There are 14 different ecosystems, 4 different regions, and too many species to count.
The Ecuadorian Amazon
Mindo is a small tourist-town north-west of Quito, and to most visitors is known for the zip-lines. The ecosystem of Mindo is located in is called the Cloud Forest. The elevation of the area differs by thousands of feet, the vegetation is vast and thick, the weather is typically cloudy and oftentimes foggy, and the species biodiversity is off the charts. There are 43 different species of hummingbirds, plus many different sorts of birds including toucans, finches, and more. There are butterfly gardens your group can visit, but there are also plenty of butterflies out and about as well. On a personal note, when I spent a day in Mindo, I saw too much in this ecosystem to truly even scratch the surface in comprehending the types of species I was seeing. There is a reason why Mindo is considered the most biodiverse location in Ecuador.
The Amazon Jungle in Ecuador is a one of a kind biodiverse experience. The jungle is located south-east of Quito. Compared to the Cloud Forest in Mindo, the jungle sits at a lower elevation, higher humidity, and larger rivers. The vegetation is in some ways similar to Mindo in the way that it is thick and very green. But when taking a closer look, there is a large difference in the species found in each ecosystem. It is even fuller with plant life, and the canopy can be too thick to see the sky. Trails need constant upkeep with machetes, because within weeks a trail can be re-swallowed up by the jungle. There are some flowering plants that have symbiotic relationships with the trees and will latch on when a tree is younger, then grow with the tree without harming them. So, even when it seems like you are looking at one tree thinking it is a single living organism, chances are there are multiple more organisms living on, or in, or with it. There are plenty of Animalia, vertebrates and invertebrates that live in this ecosystem as well. Monkeys, fish, snakes, insects, arachnids, frogs, caiman and birds are all inhabitants of the Ecuadorian section of the Amazon Jungle.
The Andes Mountains
The Andes are one of the most biologically diverse mountain ranges in the world. Experiential Tour groups that come to Ecuador for Biology or adventure purposes have the option of exploring some of the mountains and studying the different living organisms and some of the non-living aspects that make up the ecosystems of the Andes. Some of the mountains to summit are the Pichinchas. The Pichinchas are three of the peaks that look over Quito Ecuador, and all three of the summits are above 15,000 feet. Not to fret, there is a cable-car called the Teleférico that takes passengers up from the 9,000 feet elevation of Quito, to 12,500 feet to start the ascent up Rucu Pichincha.
If a group is wanting to challenge themselves to summit all three peaks, that will require being dropped off via car 1,000 feet short of the summit of Guagua Pichincha. From there, they’ll hike to the top of Guagua, to the summit of Padre Encantado, then to the top of Rucu and end the hike at the Teleférico. Whether only summiting Rucu or summiting all three, there is plenty to see. Many different species of grasses, shrubbery, bushes, flowering plants, mosses, lichen, birds, and maybe some rabbits. Due to the high elevation and wind, there are not typically many bugs, but sometimes little flying insects. The weather can change quickly, but depending on the day, it might be sunny and warm, or it might be misty from the clouds, or even possibly raining.
No matter where your journey takes your group in Ecuador, there are so many different ecosystems to observe and notice the adaptations different species take on to survive and thrive.
About the Author:
Alexander Bole
My connection to L&LI: Student with Living and Learning Int. Quito, and intern with Experiential Tours in Ecuador.
What my role is: I go to the Location sites that are to be visited by Experiential Tours and collect information for the groups that will be working there. Fun Fact: I have many years of experience as an outdoor guide, and I have been to all three of the locations listed, they are cool, so you should go.