Abstract

ENRIQUEZ-PENA, E. Gabriela  and  SUZAN-AZPIRI, Humberto. Population structure of Taxodium mucronatum under contrasting conditions of disturbance in the State of Querétaro, Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2011, vol.82, n.1, pp.153-167. ISSN 2007-8706.

Taxodium mucronatum is a riparian species subjected to anthropocentric pressures. In 8 sites under contrasting disturbance conditions we compared the population structure and individual growth for 2 years, implementing two 500 m2 quadrats in each population where we measured for each individual >5cm the diameter at 1.5m, height, basal area, canopy cover, age, radial growth, cone production and shoot growth. Individual structure denoted by height, basal area and cover was influenced by the disturbance condition (MANOVA F= 6.875, p <.0001), without any relationship between age and diameter of the trees. Prolonged inundations change the radial growth producing a temporal expansion of the stems. Cone production differed significantly (year 2002 F= 6.324, p <.0001; 2003 F= 10.013, p <.0001), with local differences in shoot growth (first and last measurements, Panales [F= 8.324, p= 0.032] and El Trapiche [F= 8.635, p= 0.030]). Temperature, available humidity, inundations, organic matter in the soils and human induced disturbances affect the vegetative growth and reproductive performance of the species.

Keywords : Taxodium mucronatum; riparian vegetation; age; radial growth; shoot growth; hydrological conditions; temperature; precipitation.

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