Abstract

GUTIERREZ-BAEZ, Celso; ORTIZ-DIAZ, Juan Javier; FLORES-GUIDO, José Salvador  and  ZAMORA-CRESCENCIO, Pedro. Diversity, structure and composition of woody species in the Territorial Union Point (PUT) semi-deciduous forest in Yucatan, Mexico. Polibotánica [online]. 2012, n.33, pp.151-174. ISSN 1405-2768.

This research was conducted at the Territorial Union Point (PUT), south of Tekax, Yucatan, Mexico. The aim of this study was to determine the composition of woody species, to characterize the vertical and horizontal structure and quantify the diversity of woody species in semi-deciduous forest. 0.1 ha were sampled by the quadrats method and recorded all woody species ≥ 1.0 cm DBH and ≥ 1.5 m tall. As a result of the present study, 103 species were recorded for 0.1 ha, with the families Fabaceae, Euforbiaceae, Rubiaceae and Flacourtiaceae with the highest number of species. The species with highest relative importance value were: Caesalpinia gaumeri, Manilkara zapota, Bursera simaruba, Croton reflexifolius, Piscidia piscipula, Gymnopodium floridundum and Talisia olivaeformis. We used the diversity index of Shannonn-Wiener and floristic similarity was assessed with Morisita's index, being 4.2 of diversity and 0.8 evenness. 25 species endemic. The PUT presents greater plant diversity than other Natural Protected Areas (PNA's) and even greater number of endemic species. At a comparative level with other national geographical areas, the PUT is among the richest ones in woody species (second in species richness). Our results suggest that this area should be declared as a protected area because of the high plant diversity.

Keywords : semi-deciduous forest; diversity; endemism; conservation proposal.

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