Abstract

GUERRA-MARTINEZ, Francisco; GARCIA-ROMERO, Arturo; MARTINEZ-MORALES, Miguel Ángel  and  LOPEZ-GARCIA, José. Ecological resilience of the tropical dry forest: recovery of the structure, composition and diversity in Tehuantepec, Oaxaca. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2021, vol.92, e923422.  Epub Nov 29, 2021. ISSN 2007-8706.  https://doi.org/10.22201/ib.20078706e.2021.92.3422.

This study analyzes the recovery patterns of the structure, composition, and diversity of plants in secondary tropical dry forests (TDF) in agricultural landscapes of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca. A chronosequence was established with 19 plots (including a plot of mature forest) of 20 m × 20 m, with a known age of abandonment between 3 and 50 years. In each plot, woody plants with DBH ≥ 5 cm were counted; the species were identified and their diameter and height were recorded. The results indicate that after the abandonment of agricultural activity, forests regenerate naturally, which should be considered in the strategies for TDF conservation in the context of global change. Also, the composition of species present in secondary forests could help to guide active ecological restoration strategies that may accelerate the process of ecological succession. The ecological resilience of the BTS in former agricultural areas is given by the recovery of attributes rather than by resistance to agricultural disturbance.

Keywords : Agricultural abandonment; Global change; Chronosequence; Passive ecological restoration; Secondary succession.

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