Browsing by Author "Andino Muñoz, Emily Aylin"

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    Diversidad de aves y su potencial para el desarrollo del aviturismo en la parroquia el Tingo la Esperanza Cotopaxi - Ecuador
    (Universidad Técnica de Cotopaxi (UTC). La Mana. Turismo, 2026-10-19) Andino Muñoz, Emily Aylin; Núñez Muñoz, José Luis
    The present study aimed to analyze bird diversity and its potential to promote birdwatching tourism in the parish of El Tingo La Esperanza, located in Pujilí canton, Cotopaxi province, Ecuador. The research was conducted in the Yungañán sector, situated along the road to Choasillí, on the foothills of the western Andes, at elevations ranging from 2,000 to 2,500 m a.s.l. The study area corresponds to an Andean cloud forest ecosystem, characterized by remnants of primary forest and areas disturbed by agricultural activities. Monthly field observations were carried out for approximately one year, establishing nine monitoring points distributed along a trail of approximately three kilometers. Species records were obtained through direct observation, photographic evidence, and support from the Merlin Bird ID application. The study identified 80 bird species, grouped into 10 orders and 27 families, demonstrating significant avifaunal richness in the study area. Data analysis was performed using PRIMER 7 software. Abundance data were assessed through univariate diversity indices. Species richness per station ranged from 21 to 38 species, while total abundance varied between 36 and 58 individuals. Station 9 (EST 9) showed the highest values of species richness and abundance, with 38 species and 58 individuals, establishing it as the point with the greatest ecological presence along the trail. The Margalef index ranged from 5.539 to 9.112, indicating relevant species richness across all sampling points. Pielou’s evenness index presented values between 0.9202 and 0.9659, suggesting a balanced distribution of individuals among the recorded species. Likewise, the Shannon–Wiener index ranged from 2.904 to 3.508, reflecting moderate to high diversity, while Simpson’s index showed values close to 1, ranging from 0.9525 to 0.9825, confirming low dominance by a few species. The results demonstrate that the Yungañán sector supports a diverse, balanced, and ecologically important bird community, favored by the presence of cloud forest, low tourism pressure, and landscape heterogeneity. From a birdwatching tourism perspective, the recorded diversity represents a strategic natural resource for promoting bird observation activities. In this regard, the parish of El Tingo La Esperanza presents favorable conditions for the development of a sustainable birdwatching route, provided that habitat conservation actions, interpretive signage, community training, and periodic avifaunal monitoring are incorporated.