Abstract

GARCIA GARCIA, Samuel Alberto et al. Carbon stock and horizontal structure of a temperate forest in Guadalupe y Calvo, Chihuahua. Rev. mex. de cienc. forestales [online]. 2021, vol.12, n.63, pp.48-70.  Epub Mar 26, 2021. ISSN 2007-1132.  https://doi.org/10.29298/rmcf.v12i63.800.

The need to know the structure and amount of carbon stored in forest ecosystems is very important, as these are a major sink of carbon dioxide (CO2). This study was developed in the ejido Chinatú, municipality of Guadalupe y Calvo, Chihuahua, where random samplings were carried out at eight circular sites of 1 000 m2 distributed in 80.46 hectares of surface. The horizontal structure was analyzed based on the importance value index (IVI) and diametric classes; in addition, the mixing ratio, richness and diversity of species were determined according to the Margalef index (D Mg ) and Shannon-Weiner index (H´), the carbon stored in the aerial biomass was estimated by means of allometric equations, based on the volume for each of the species. Ten species with a density of 460 N ha-1 were identified. The species with the highest ecological value (IVI) was Pseudotsuga menziesii, with 26.14 %; the wealth and diversity obtained were D Mg = 1.47 and H’= 1.96, respectively; the diametric distribution is balanced, in the form of a Liocourt curve, and the stored carbon content was 45.20 Mg C ha-1. These analyses show that the forest is homogeneous, without broad dominance of any specific species, and is in a good state of conservation since the smaller diameter categories abound in small individuals that will later replace the mature mass.

Keywords : Biomass; characterization; CO₂; diversity; Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco); carbon sinks.

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