Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of the Vegetation Cover from the Bijagual Massif, Boyacá, Colombia, during the 1986–2021 Period

Pablo Andrés Gil-Leguizamón
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Jaime Francisco Pereña-Ortiz
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Daniel Sánchez-Mata
* ORCID logo ,
Ángel Enrique Salvo-Tierra
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Jorge David Mercado-Gómez
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And María Eugenia Morales-Puentes
Version 1 : Received: 28 December 2023 / Approved: 29 December 2023 / Online: 29 December 2023 (14:33:48 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Gil-Leguizamón, P.A.; Pereña-Ortiz, J.F.; Sánchez-Mata, D.; Salvo-Tierra, Á.E.; Mercado-Gómez, J.D.; Morales-Puentes, M.E. Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of the Vegetation Cover from the Bijagual Massif, Boyacá, Colombia, during the 1986–2021 Period. Plants 2024, 13, 948. Gil-Leguizamón, P.A.; Pereña-Ortiz, J.F.; Sánchez-Mata, D.; Salvo-Tierra, Á.E.; Mercado-Gómez, J.D.; Morales-Puentes, M.E. Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of the Vegetation Cover from the Bijagual Massif, Boyacá, Colombia, during the 1986–2021 Period. Plants 2024, 13, 948.

Abstract

Landscape changes based on spectral responses allow showing plant cover changes through diversity, composition, and ecological connectivity. The spatial and temporal vegetation dynamics of the Bijagual Massif from 1986 to 2021 were analyzed as a measure of ecological integrity, conservation, and territory. The covers identified were high open forest (Hof), dense grassland of non-wooded mainland (Dgnm), a mosaic of pastures and crops (Mpc), lagoons (Lag), and bare and degraded lands (Bdl). The Bijagual Massif has 8,574.1 ha. In 1986, Dgnm occupied 42.6% of the total area, followed by Mpc (32.8%) and Hof (24.5%); by 2000, Mpc and Hof increased (43.7 and 28.1%, respectively), while Dgnm decreased (28%); by 2021, Dgnm was restricted to the northeastern zone and continued to decrease (25.2%), Mpc occupied 52.9%, Hof 21.7% and Bdl 0.1%. Of the three fractions of the connectivity probability index, only dPCintra and dPCflux contribute to ecological connectivity. Hof and Dgnm show patches with biota habitat quality and availability. Between 1986 and 2021, Dgnm lost 1,489 ha (41%) and Hof 239.5 ha (11%). Mpc replaced various covers (1,722.2 ha; 38%) in 2021. Bijagual has a valuable biodiversity potential limited by Mpc. Territorial planning and sustainable agroecological and ecotourism proposals are required due to the context of the ecosystems.

Keywords

high Andean forest; Landsat; landscape metrics; multitemporality; paramo

Subject

Environmental and Earth Sciences, Ecology

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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