Abstract

PALACIOS-WASSENAAR, Olivia; CASTILLO-CAMPOS, Gonzalo  and  VAZQUEZ-TORRES, Santiago Mario. Population structure as a quick indicator of the conservation status of threatened tree species. The case of Resinanthus aromaticus in central Veracruz, Mexico. Bot. sci [online]. 2016, vol.94, n.2, pp.241-252. ISSN 2007-4476.  https://doi.org/10.17129/botsci.271.

In order to quickly evaluate the conservation status of threatened tree species, we assessed the density and population structure in size categories of Resinanthus aromaticus; an endangered endemic timber tree, in five study sites covering 0.67 ha in central Veracruz. The analysis of population structure was performed using three approaches: the adjustment of population size distribution to the log-normal curve, the proportion of juveniles to adults, and the skewness of population size distributions. Comparing the skewness of population size distributions was the most appropriate method to identify the population in better conservation status. The results of this study indicate that the population density of R. aromaticus shows a reduction of 57 % compared to previous studies and the analysis of population size distributions skewness could be used as a quick method to identify threatened populations of tree species. According to the IUCN Red List criteria, this species should be kept in the category “endangered”.

Keywords : endangered species; endemic species; population structure; semideciduous tropical forest; skewness.

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