Páramo: Islands of Biodiversity in the Sky

The neotropical páramo is a singular environment found only in the mountains of Central America and the northern Andes, between 3,000 and 5,000 meters above sea level. Sandwiched between treeline and snowline, these rugged, glacially-shaped landscapes are distinguished by their humid, cold climate and dramatic temperature fluctuations. These mosaics of grasslands, wetlands, and shrublands are home to a remarkable diversity of life.  

Image From: Madriñán et al. (2013)

Extreme Weather Patterns

The páramo’s climate is shaped by its altitude and proximity to the equator, resulting in low mean annual temperatures, high winds, and intense solar radiation. Annual rainfall can vary significantly depending on location, but is precipitation is generally delivered as low-intensity, persistent drizzle rather than heavy downpours. 

Throughout the year, the páramo experiences distinct wet and dry seasons, though both are characterized by high humidity and frequent precipitation. The rainy season, typically April to November, brings persistent cloud cover, frequent rain, and mild nighttime temperatures. During the shorter dry season, from December to March, there is less rainfall, clearer skies, and a greater diurnal temperature shift, with daytime highs and nighttime lows becoming more pronounced. Frost is more common during the dry season, while the rainy season’s cloudiness limits sunlight to keep temperatures more stable.

Mornings in the páramo often begin with clear skies and chilly temperatures, with the valleys below being blanketed in clouds. As the sun rises, temperatures climb rapidly, sometimes reaching around 15°C (60°F). By midday, clouds typically rise and envelop the páramo in fog and drizzle, contributing to persistently humid conditions. The combination of strong UV radiation during the day and cold, damp nights creates an environment where plants, animals, and fungi must be highly adaptable to survive. 

An Evolutionary Laboratory 

What makes the páramo especially fascinating is its role as a natural laboratory for evolution. Organisms found in this ecosystem are likely the result of distinctive adaptations to harsh conditions, developed over the past three to five million years. As the Andes mountains gradually rose due to tectonic activity, the region experienced significant geological uplift to elevations capable of supporting unique ecosystems with specialized vegetation. 

Photo credits: Joey Santore, Alan Rockefeller, and Mandie Quark

Because these ecosystems were shaped by dramatic geological and climatic changes over the last few million years, they have given rise to a high number of endemic species-plants and animals found nowhere else. One of the world’s fastest-evolving biodiversity hotspots, fungi in the paramo are understudied and almost 90% of plants are found nowhere else. The organisms in these unique high elevation grasslands are specially adapted to survive intense UV radiation, strong winds, and daily freeze-thaw cycles. 

A Natural Reservoir

Importantly, the páramo functions as a sponge, absorbing precipitation and making it an important water reservoir. Páramo plants and soils capture moisture from clouds and gradually release it, feeding rivers and streams that supply fresh water to millions of people living at elevations below. Additionally, páramo peatlands store large amounts of carbon, helping regulate greenhouse gas emissions for the health of the planet.

Despite its importance, the páramo faces significant threats from human activities such as agriculture, mining, and infrastructure development, as well as from climate change. These pressures can disrupt the delicate balance of this ecosystem, endangering its biodiversity and water supply functions. Protecting the páramo through sustainable land management and conservation is essential to preserve its unique environment and the critical services it provides.

Join Us to Explore the Páramo

During both our high-elevation foray in Costa Rica this July, and our adventure foray in Ecuador this November, our groups will explore the páramo. We often visit during the rainy season, when forests are lush, vibrant, and teeming with life. During this season fungi flourish, streams run crystal clear, and the landscapes burst with bright colors and a symphony of wild sounds. 

Photo credits: Andy Better and Mandie Quark

Brück, S. A., Medina Torres, B. D., & de Moraes Polizeli, M. de L. T. (2023). The Ecuadorian paramo in danger: What we know and what might be learned from northern wetlands. Global Ecology and Conservation, 47, e02639. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02639

Madriñán, S., Cortés, A. J., & Richardson, J. E. (2013). Páramo is the world’s fastest evolving and coolest biodiversity hotspot. Frontiers in Genetics, 4, 192. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2013.00192