Evaluación de ecosistemas de páramo inundables, mediante variables espectrales y técnicas de clasificación orientada a objetos; en la Reserva de Producción de Fauna Chimborazo

Abstract

The aim of the research was the assessment of paramo flooded ecosystems by means of object classification tools in the Chimborazo Fauna Production Reserve. It had to do with the analysis of satellite images oriented to geographic objects (GEOBIA), obtaining reflectance values from objects generated in the form of polygonal vectors; later, Landsat8 sensor spectral indices were calculated creating a database to establish the evaluation and validation of the ecosystems through remote sensing techniques as well as decision trees, this allowed having an adequate prediction to estimate the current surface. The analysis of solar radiation suggests that the data collected during november (148 - 211 W/m2) are suitable for the monitoring process. The classification method permitted to identify an increase from 765.55 hectares in the paramo flooded grassland ecosystem, reported by the Ministry of the Environment, to 2,163.67 hectares reported through GEOBIA. From the ultra-humid subnival paramo grassland category, a loss of 11,094.31 hectares in the surface is reported by the Ministry of Environment and 2377.11 hectares are reported by GEOBIA; the increasing category were pastures due to anthropic intervention, identifying 1,265.39 hectares, due to the increase of the agricultural frontier in this ecosystem. The study allowed obtaining a research input, estimating the ecosystem in a consistent way, in order to generate the comprehensive management of endemic species related to primary activities. It is recommended to carry out similar proposals with new variables for the methodology in order to create a data base with the proposals for areas that reflect vulnerability regarding water accumulation capacity and validation of ecosystems nationwide and which proposed by the Ecuadorian Ministry of the Environment.