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Influence of the altitudinal gradient on the composition and structure of “forest and protective vegetation el artesan-ecuadorianhands”, joa, jipijapa

Abstract:

Dry forest is one of the most threatened ecosystems due to the ease of fragmentation associated with anthropogenic activities. In Manabí, this ecosystem is habitat of many species whose populations have undergone modification as a result of traditional and unsustainable extraction practices. Using geographic information systems (GIS) 24 permanent circular sampling plots were randomly established with an area of 500 m2 considering three altitude floors (200-250; 251-300 and > 300 masl). In these plots, data on chest height diameter (DBH) and total height of individuals with DBH > 5 cm. were registered. Using this data, structural parameters were calculated (abundance, frequency, dominance and the importance value index). The analysis found 627 individuals, grouped into 11 families and 21 species. The results show that the study forest tends to be homogeneous with dominance of species such as Ceiba trischistandra, Bursera graveolens, Cordia lutea, Eriotheca ruizii, Erythrina velutina and Cochlospermum vitifolium; these six species represent 74 % of the species found in the area of studies. The most ecologically important families were Malvaceae, Burseraceae, Fabaceae, Boraginaceae and Bixaceae. Altitude is significantly associated with species abundance. The forest had intermediate successional states and although a considerable degree of intervention was evident, they maintain an important potential in ecosystem processes.