The tropical Andes1 harbor extraordinary biological and cultural diversity, contained in a mosaic of ecosystems (Josse et al. 2009). The regions complex topography, coupled with elevational and latitudinal gradients, results in varied physical conditions that create unique habitats and barriers for species movement. Temporal variability of climatic conditions, such as temperature, wind, and precipitation, also occurs across the tropical Andes over inter-annual and decadal time scales, as driven by the interplay between the tropical Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and Amazonian influences (Marengo et al. 2004). Both humans and biota have adapted to the heterogeneity of the tropical Andean landscape and fluctuations in climatic conditions. An estimated 45,000 plant and 3400 vertebrate species (excluding fishes) have been documented from tropical Andean ecosystems, representing approximately 15% and 12% of species known globally, respectively. Nearly half of these species are endemic (Myers et al. 2000). The wellbeing of human populations has been linked to the functioning of tropical Andean ecosystems over a history that extends more than 10,000 years. Today, millions of people depend on these ecosystems as a source of fresh water, food, cultural importance, and many other ecosystem goods and services (Josse et al. 2009). Recently, the range of natural climatic variability in the tropical Andes has started to exceed historically documented thresholds. Of particular concern is the general warming trend and its implications for the integrity of ecosystems and the human populations that depend on them. In this chapter, we explore current knowledge of the effects of climate change on tropical Andean ecosystems and ecosystem services. At present, other than unambiguous indications of a pronounced warming trend, the overall picture of the climatic future of the tropical Andes remains uncertain, making predictions about the fate of ecosystems difficult. Some studies on recent climate variability have been published, but much information remains observational or anecdotal. The information presented here was gathered from discussions among climatologists, ecologists, anthropologists, and natural resource managers with expertise in the tropical Andes during a weeklong workshop designed to facilitate transfer of knowledge on climate change and tropical Andean biodiversity, together with a review of literature and other available information.
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