We studied data from 65 0.1-hectare floristic inventories from the seasonal lowland vegetation in coastal Piura by using multivariate methods and analyses of floristic composition. We identified six vegetation groups, five of which greatly coincide with vegetation types already described 100 years ago by August Weberbauer. In contrast, we were not able to accurately identify any of the eight dry forest categories recently defined by the Proyecto Algarrobo for the study area using numerical methods. We conclude that the maps and data generated by Weberbauer are more accurate and better reveal the floristic relationships of the seasonally dry vegetation in Piura. Therefore, we suggest a more widespread use of the descriptions made by Weberbauer in the region, parallel to those of the Proyecto Algarrobo

Estudiamos datos de inventarios florísticos de 65 parcelas de 0,1 hectáreas de la vegetación estacional de las llanuras costeras de Piura usando métodos multivariados y análisis de composición florística. Identificamos seis grupos de vegetación, de los cuales cinco coinciden con tipos de vegetación descritos hace casi 100 años por Augusto Weberbauer. Por el contrario, de las ocho categorías de bosque seco definidas recientemente por el Proyecto Algarrobo para el área de estudio, ninguna pudo ser reconocida adecuadamente mediante métodos numéricos. Concluimos que los mapas y datos generados por Weberbauer resultan ser más exactos y revelan mejor las relaciones florísticas de la vegetación estacionalmente seca de Piura. Por lo tanto, sugerimos el uso más frecuente de las descripciones propuestas por Weberbauer para la región, paralelamente a los del Proyecto Algarrobo.

Ecological surrogates are environmental or biotic proxies for biodiversity quantification. Their application circumvents logistic constraints and taxonomic voids to sample and identify species, and has become an important tool in conservation and management. In this study, we illustrate a surrogate method using multivariate ordinations, and we apply it to tree data from the Chanchamayo montane forest (Andes, Peru).

Ecological surrogates are environmental or biotic proxies for biodiversity quantification. Their application circumvents logistic constraints and taxonomic voids to sample and identify species, and has become an important tool in conservation and management. In this study, we illustrate a surrogate method using multivariate ordinations, and we apply it to tree data from the Chanchamayo montane forest (Andes, Peru).

Seasonally dry forests in Peru are a combination of ecosystems that include three large floristic groups: coastal, inter-Andean and eastern forests. Except for the seasonally dry forests of the northern coastal plains of the country, until recently it was difficult to explore what occurred floristically within each group due to lack of data. However, in the last 20 years various floristic studies and botanical inventories focused on woody plants have managed to fill knowledge gaps in critical areas. With these studies we have generated the DRYFLOR Peru database that to date includes 526 quantitative inventories (lists of species in discrete areas, including records of their abundances) and that allows us to confirm the floristic distinction of the three large groups. Additionally, we were able to clearly recognize two subgroups of seasonally dry coastal forests (on coastal plains and alo...