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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
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Quantitative Autonomic Testing
Published on: July 19, 2011
Humboldt's Tableau Physique revisited
Pierre Moret1, Priscilla Muriel2, Ricardo Jaramillo2
1Laboratoire Traces UMR 5608, CNRS, Toulouse University, 31058 Toulouse, France; pierre.moret@univ-tlse2.fr.
Summary
Alexander von Humboldt's vegetation data from Mt. Antisana shows a 215-266m upslope plant shift over 215 years. This revises our understanding of his methods and tropical Andes climate change impacts.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Biogeography
- Climate Change Research
Background:
- Alexander von Humboldt's 1807 "Tableau Physique" established vegetation belts, foundational to biogeography.
- Humboldt's altitudinal plant distribution data from the equatorial Andes has not been critically re-examined.
- Dispersed historical archives made re-analysis of Humboldt's original data challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically re-examine Alexander von Humboldt's original data for his "Tableau Physique" (1807).
- To investigate the accuracy of Humboldt's data, particularly above the tree line.
- To compare historical plant distribution with current records to assess climate change impacts in the tropical Andes.
Main Methods:
- Unearthing and analyzing overlooked historical documents related to Humboldt's expeditions.
- Identifying the primary collection site for Humboldt's upper-montane plant data (Mt. Antisana, not Chimborazo).
- Conducting a resurvey of plant species distribution at Mt. Antisana to compare with historical records.
Main Results:
- The upper section of Humboldt's "Tableau Physique" was based on unverified and partly inaccurate data.
- Humboldt's primary plant data above the tree line originated from Mt. Antisana.
- A resurvey at Mt. Antisana revealed a 215- to 266-m altitudinal shift in vegetation over 215 years.
Conclusions:
- Humboldt's scientific methods and thinking require a nuanced understanding, especially regarding data accuracy.
- Historical data, when carefully interpreted, can serve as a valuable resource for documenting long-term environmental changes.
- The observed upslope vegetation shift in the Andes aligns with global climate change trends, highlighting the region's vulnerability.
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