ESTRUCTURA Y COMPOSICIÓN FLORÍSTICA DE LA SELVA MEDIANA SUBCADUCIFOLIA EN EL SUR DEL ESTADO DE YUCATÁN, MÉXICO

Abstract

Nine sites totaling 1000 m2 were selected
for testing in the tropical medium subdeciduous forest of southern Yucatan. The
woody species encountered were identified and recorded. The diameter of each
specimen at breast height (DAP) and the
height of all individuals with DAP ≥ 3 cm
were measured. The structure of each site
was described based on relative values of
density, frequency and dominance as well
as the distribution of height and diameter
classes. Species diversity for each site was
estimated using the Shannon Wiener Index,
and the floristic similarity between sites
was evaluated using the Morisita Index. A
total of 128 species and 3 847 individuals
≥ 3 cm were recorded. The families best
represented were Fabaceae (13 genera, 14
species) and Rubiaceae (6 genera, 10 species). The genera with the largest number of
species were Diospyros and Lonchocarpus.
The number of species per site varied from
36 to 58, the majority of sites containing
around 47 to 48 species. Bursera simaruba,
Croton reflexifolius, Diospyros cuneata and
Gymnanthes lucida presented the greatest
density per hectare. The most important
species in the upper stratum (≥ 14 m) were
Lysiloma latisiliquum, Gymnanthes lucida,
Manilkara zapota, Thouinia paucidentata,
Vitex gaumeri, and Bursera simaruba among
others. The diameter classes demonstrated
that there existed sufficient individuals
for forest regeneration. The species that
showed the greatest importance values were
Gymnanthes lucida, Lysiloma latisiliquum,
Bursera simaruba and Diospyros cuneata.
The diversity values showed that site 7 was
the tallest and site 5 the lowest with 3.5. In
accordance with the index of similarity sites
3 and 4 were most similar to one another,
whereas sites 5 and 9 demonstrated the
greatest floristic disimilarity in comparison
to the rest.