Abstract

QUEIJEIRO-BOLANOS, Mónica Elisa  and  CANO-SANTANA, Zenón. Temporal dynamics of dwarf mistletoe infestation ( Arceuthobium globosum and A vaginatum ) in Zoquiapan (Iztaccíhuatl Popocatépetl National Park), Mexico. CienciaUAT [online]. 2015, vol.9, n.2, pp.6-14. ISSN 2007-7858.

Dwarf mistletoes are forest parasites of great impact on temperate forests, both at the biological and the economical level; however, little is known about the tempo ral dynamics of their infestation. The aim of this study was to investigate how the incidences of Arceuthobium vaginatum and A. globosum change through time in the Zoquiapan region, in the Iztaccíhuatl Popocatépetl National Park, Mexico. For two and a half years (november 2008 to may 2011), it was registered the incidence of dwarf mistletoe (proportion of infected trees), hosts abundance, and the abundance of pines smaller than 2 m in height on 24 plots of 3 300 m2. Results show that infes tation dynamics varies greatly, between species and plots, and that A. vaginatum showed a greater incidence than A. globosum (Z = 44.09, P < 0.000 1). In addition to the above, the investigators found out that the occurrence of fires and logging apparently affected the mistletoe incidence, and even, in some cases, mistle toe regrowth was observed. The incidence of A. vaginatum had a negative correlation with small pines abundance (rs = - 0.414, P<0.05), which could be indicat ing that there is a negative effect on sapling recruitment. It is necessary to incorporate the occurrence of stochastic phenomena (like fires) to dwarf mistletoe manage ment programs, to improve the conservation of forest resources.

Keywords : dwarf mistletoe; Pinus hartwegii; Zoquiapan; infestation; incidence.

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