Background:

Information about temperate communities is insufficient, and this is particularly evident in the state of Michoacán.

Questions:

How is a temperate ecosystem established in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB) organized in terms of its composition, structure, and specific diversity?

Study Site and Date:

The analysis was conducted in the fall and winter of 2018 in the Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park in Uruapan, Michoacán, Mexico.

Methods:

In 18 plots of 0.1 hectares (20 × 50 m), woody plants with a diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 2.5 cm were recorded. Information was collected on the number of individuals and stems, basal area, canopy cover, height, alpha diversity, and units were grouped using multivariate techniques.

Results:

In 1.8 hectares, 55 species were recorded, belonging to 42 genera and 32 families. Pinaceae was the most diverse family with 8 species, followed by Asteraceae with 9 species. Density (500-1,330 individuals per hectare), stems (650-3,040 per hectare), canopy cover (10,999-46,390 m2 ha-1), DBH (9.2-18.9 cm), height (6.5-12 m), and species richness (6-17) varied among plots. 75 % of the basal area (20.1 m2 ha-1) was contributed by pines, oaks contributed 14 % (3.6 m2 ha-1), and 11 % came from other species (2.9 m2 ha-1).

Conclusions:

The forest ecosystems in the park exhibit ecological properties typical of temperate forests in the TMVB. This study serves as a reference point for establishing quantifiable ecological restoration goals in the park.

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