Abstract

ALANIS-RODRIGUEZ, Eduardo et al. Variability of the structure, composition and diversity of a reference community of tamaulipan thorn scrub. Polibotánica [online]. 2025, n.59, pp.81-95.  Epub Apr 29, 2025. ISSN 1405-2768.  https://doi.org/10.18387/polibotanica.59.5.

The tamaulipan thornscrub is one of the plant communities most affected by land use change in northeastern Mexico. However, there are still some areas where this scrub has reached maturity and is in a good state of conservation. The structural variability, composition and diversity of a Tamaulipas thornscrub community in northeastern Mexico was evaluated. Ten locations were sampled, in each of them 10 sites of 10 x 10 m were established (100 sites in total). The basal diameter (d0.10 ≥ 4 cm), total height (h) and taxonomic identity of each woody individual were measured. Basal area, vertical canopy cover, volume (of wood), species richness, abundance, density of individuals and beta diversity were determined. An analysis of variance was performed and the Tukey test was used as a post hoc test. 30 species, 26 genera and 15 families were recorded. Species richness ranged between 3.90 ± 1.1 and 6.2 ± 1.22, basal area varied from 7.8 ± 4.4 to 14.1 ± 10.9 m2 / ha, and canopy cover overlapped in eight of the 10 locations. Cordia boissieri, Havardia pallens, Senegalia greggii and Vachellia rigidula were found in the 10 evaluated localities. Fabaceae dominate the mature scrub areas, and the similarity of the localities is intermediate-high. The localities present a high variability in abundance, basal area, crown area and wood volume, presenting significant differences (p<0.05).

Keywords : crown area; reference ecosystem; mature shrubland; species richness; similarity.

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