Resumen

GALVAN-MORENO, Viridiana Sugey et al. Comparison of sampling methods to characterize pine-oak forests in northern México. Ecosistemas y recur. agropecuarios [online]. 2025, vol.12, n.spe5, e4642.  Epub 20-Feb-2026. ISSN 2007-901X.  https://doi.org/10.19136/era.a12nv.4642.

This study presents a comparative evaluation of forest sampling methodologies aimed at describing the structure and composition of irregular pine-oak forests in Ejido Aboreachi, Chihuahua, northern Mexico. A total area of 11.44 hectares was analyzed through a complete tree census, and 16 forest inventory methods were compared, including fixed-area plots and concentric plots of increasing sizes (100-1 500 m2). Key structural variables were assessed, including diameter distribution, species richness, alpha diversity, and evenness, using ecological indices such as Margalef, Shannon-Wiener, Simpson, Hill numbers, Pielou’s evenness, and the Importance Value Index (IVI). Results indicate that larger concentric plots (≥900 m2) provide significantly more accurate estimations relative to the census, capturing forest structural heterogeneity, species diversity, and ecological dominance more effectively. In contrast, smaller plots and the 50 × 20 m rectangular plot showed clear limitations, systematically underestimating richness and diversity, and yielding higher variability in estimates. However, species evenness remained consistent across sampling methods, suggesting structural robustness to plot design. It is concluded that plot size and shape have a decisive influence on the accuracy of ecological characterization in irregular forest stands. For high-precision studies focused on sustainable forest management and conservation, circular plots of at least 900 m2 are recommended due to their superior capacity to reflect the structural and compositional complexity of these ecosystems.

Palabras llave : Species diversity; forest structure; forest inventory; ecological indices; concentric plots.

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