The Cacti of the Chaparra Valley, Peru: diversity and distribution

Abstract

The Cactaceae is an American family, very diverse in the western Andes. However, its diversity and distribution are not yet precisely known, as no exhaustive inventories or species records have been made in potentially biodiverse localities; therefore, this research seeks to determine the diversity and distribution of Cactaceae in the Cháparra Valley. Field visits were carried out from 2016 to 2018, covering the whole extension of the valley (coastal zone, valley zone and highlands), from 100 to 3500 m. Intensive searches were carried out, with botanical collections, geographical data collected (coordinates, altitude) and photographs taken. The taxa were identified with the aid of specialized bibliography. 23 taxa were recorded, 18 of which are endemic to Peru and two exclusive to Arequipa. In terms of distribution, Cactaceae are found from 170 to >3000 m. In the coastal zone, six taxa have been recorded, ranging from 170 to 700 m. The valley zone, which ranges from 300 to 3000 m, has 17 taxa, with the greatest diversity in the 1500-1800 m range. Finally, the upper zone, which is above 3000 m, has four taxa.