Puya dasylirioides

This species’ subalpine bog habitat is considered to be a highly restricted and fragile ecosystem within the Talamanca mountains. Due to conservation efforts, it has remained relatively intact and therefore this species has experienced only low levels of habitat loss. However, it is vulnerable to anthropogenic fire, climate change and alterations to the surrounding hydrology and drainage patterns (Jiménez 2016). In bogs where natural succession may be accelerated by human disturbance of drainage patterns, new establishment sites are limited by the presence of common and highly competitive grasses and sedges. Populations in these areas are threatened and appear to decline rapidly (Auspurger 1985). The construction of the Pan American highway has contributed to alteration in drainage where this species occurs and has contributed to the fragmentation of sub-populations. The narrow elevational range of this species also suggests low habitat plasticity and thus greater vulnerability to habitat loss and change.