Equatorial Ecology

The eastern margin is a convergent boundary subduction zone under the South American Plate and the Andes Mountains, forming the Peru–Chile Trench. The southern side is a divergent boundary with the Antarctic Plate, the Chile Rise, where seafloor spreading permits magma to rise. The western side is a divergent boundary with the Pacific Plate, forming the East Pacific Rise. The northern side is a divergent boundary with the Cocos Plate, the Galapagos Rise.

http://issg.org/database/species/search.asp?st=sss&sn=&rn=Peru&ri=18513&hci=-1&ei=-1&fr=1&sts=&lang=EN

Invasive species !

1. Acacia melanoxylon (tree) English français

Acacia melanoxylon is native in eastern Australia. This tree grows fast and tall, up to 45m height. It has a wide ecological tolerance, occurring over an extensive range of soils and climatic conditions, but develops better in colder climates. Control of its invasion of natural vegetation, commercial timber plantations and farmland incurs considerable costs, but its timber value and nursing of natural forest succession provides a positive contribution.

2. Achatina fulica (mollusc) English français

Achatina fulica feeds on a wide variety of crop plants and may present a threat to local flora. Populations of this pest often crash over time (20 to 60 years) and this should not be percieved as effectiveness of the rosy wolfsnail (Euglandina rosea) as a biocontrol agent. Natural chemicals from the fruit of Thevetia peruviana have activity against A. fulica and the cuttings of the alligator apple (Annona glabra) can be used as repellent hedges against A. fulica.

3. Aedes aegypti (insect)

Interim profile, incomplete information

The yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti is very common in urban and suburban areas in the tropic and subtropic regions. It is adapted to close association with humans and the female feeds almost exclusively on human blood. A. aegypti is the domestic vector of the yellow fever virus, caused epidemics of yellow fever in the Americas (before the 1940's) and recently in West Africa, and is responsible for 'urban yellow fever' - direct transmission of the virus between humans. A. aegypti is also the most important carrier of the dengue virus, although it is not paticularly susceptible to viral infection compared with other mosquito species.

4. Agave americana (herb, shrub)

Agave americana is a large, rhizomatous succulent that grows in a wide range of conditions including cliffs, urban areas, woodlands, grasslands, riparian zones, beaches and sandy areas, and rocky slopes. A. americana is tolerant of wind, salt, high temperatures, and extreme drought. It can grow in shallow, very dry, low fertility soil and can colonise bare sand. It is grown for many reasons- ornamental, medicinal and agricultural. In South Australia Agave americana mainly invades disturbed sites, road sides and coastal vegetation. It may also harbour introduced animal species, such as rabbits, making feral animal control more difficult.

5. Ambrosia artemisiifolia (herb) English

Ambrosia artemisiifolia is a summer annual herbaceous plant that is native to temperate North America in the United States and Canada. Also commonly known as ragweed this forb establishes easily in human impacted and disturbed areas in high abundance. It is considered an invasive species in Europe, parts of Asia and Australia, although it is not an extremely competitively aggressive species and is mainly considered a noxious weed that interferes with other cultivated crops. The main impact of this plant is the copious amount of pollen produced from male flowers that are allergens to sensitive people, compounding health problems like rhinitis, oculorhinitis, asthma and causing skin irritations.

Yellow Tailed Wolly Monkey

According to the International Primatological Society and Conservation International this species is considered one of the world’s 25 most endangered primates. It is believed that there are less than 250 left in the wild, this species is only found in the Peruvian Andes at elevations of 4,900 to 8,900 ft / 1,500 to 2,700 m. Loss of habitat is the main reason for its lower population. Economic development, logging, agriculture and mining are destroying the habitat of this monkey.

Andean Condor

The condor is the most majestic of the birds found in the Andes. They nest on mountain ledges in the Andean Range and have a low reproductive rate as they lay eggs every other year. Hunting condors for medicinal remedies is one of the factors affecting its survival. Air, water and soil pollution due to mining and industrial development is affecting its population as well as a reducing its food supply.

Andean Mountain Cat

They live in altitudes of 11,500 to 15,700 ft /3,500 to 4,800 m in the Andes Mountains. It is one of the shyest cats and the least known feline in the world, there are none in captivity. The Andean Cat is considered critically endangered. Its size is about the size of a house cat with a longer tail and its fur is soft and thick. It is believed that the main reason for its decreased population is the reduction of populations of its main prays and hunting by humans. Andean cats are hunted for traditional ceremonial purposes, in Chile and Bolivia they are believed to be bad luck and therefore killed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_Plate

Easterly side is a divergent boundary

At a rate of about 50 mm per year the South American Plate is moving towards the Pacific Ocean over the Nazca Plate.

West side with Nazca plate and pertaining to Peru is convergent and Nazca plate goes underneath South American

http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/peru.html

http://www.limaeasy.com/earthquakes-in-peru/earthquakes-info

The subduction of the Nazca Plate caused millions of years ago the rise of the Andes Mountains, the creation of the Peru-Chile Trench and the volcanism in the Peruvian highlands. Until today this process continues and causes a number of geo-dynamic processes. The consequent results of a heavy earthquake striking the area are destruction, panic, fear, innocent casualties, poverty, hunger and diseases.