Abstract

TAVERA-CARRENO, M.; RAMIREZ-MARCIAL, N.; GONZALEZ-ESPINOSA, M.  and  NAVARRETE-GUTIERREZ, D.A.. Functional traits of rare and abundant tree species in mountain Forests of Southern Mexico. Polibotánica [online]. 2019, n.48, pp.29-41.  Epub June 15, 2020. ISSN 1405-2768.  https://doi.org/10.18387/polibotanica.48.3.

The mountain forests of Chiapas, southern Mexico harbor high species richness; however, these systems are seriously altered by human influence. The effect of human disturbances differentially affects species based on their functional attributes to effectively respond to environmental pressures. All biological communities are made up of rare and abundant species. The first are generally considered more vulnerable to the transformation of their habitats because they generally have low population densities, are geographically restricted and are found in specific habitats. To test this notion, we evaluated the functional response of rare and abundant tree species recorded in the mountain forests of the Central Highlands, Northern Mountains and Sierra Madre of Chiapas. Four functional traits were selected that reflect an association with the capture of resources, growth and regeneration of the species (tree size, leaf area, type of diaspora, and dispersion mechanism) with this we define a functional response in terms of its successional affinity. A classification analysis based on the similarity of these traits showed that several of rare species were grouped within a group of common species (Quercus spp.). The set of species registered as rare correspond to small trees and slow growth, tolerant to shade, produce fruits like drupes, zoocoric dispersion (birds and small mammals) and have late successional affinity. The foregoing recognizes the risks of forest transformation on these rare species and advocates in favor of their conservation.

Keywords : Conservation; montane forests; plant functional traits; rarity.

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