Criptógamas epífitas como bioindicadores de la calidad del aire en la ciudad de Ambato.

Abstract

Abstract: Air pollution is a growing problem in intermediate cities such as Ambato, where increased vehicular traffic and urban activities generate environmental pressures that are not always assessed using technical monitoring systems due to their high cost and limited coverage. In this context, the use of epiphytic cryptogams, such as lichens and bryophytes, is presented as an ecological, accessible, and sensitive alternative for air quality assessment, since these organisms respond directly to local environmental conditions. The objective of this research was to evaluate the potential of epiphytic cryptogams as bioindicators of air quality in the city of Ambato, based on the analysis of their diversity, distribution, and ecological response to different gradients of air pollution. This included the establishment of nine sampling stations distributed in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas, the latter considered as control areas. At each station, the coverage and species richness of epiphytic lichens and bryophytes were assessed, and the data were analyzed using ecological diversity indices and multivariate statistical techniques. The results showed greater richness and diversity in rural areas, while urban areas were dominated by tolerant species. These findings confirm the usefulness of epiphytic cryptogams as reliable and sustainable bioindicators for air quality monitoring, providing key information for urban environmental management and the design of public policies aimed at sustainability.