Dinámica espacial de Handroanthus Chrysanthus en un bosque seco al sur del Ecuador

Abstract

Abstract:Fragmentation and overgrazing by goats in dry ecosystems can influence the regeneration of trees, and therefore modify the structure and composition of plant species, causing the loss of biodiversity at a local, regional and global level. We evaluate the impact of grazing on the regeneration and spatial pattern of Handroanthus chrysanthus. Specifically, we compared the presence of regeneration, density, height, and spatial pattern of Handroanthus chrysanthus in two plots of one hectare in an area fenced and not fenced. The spatial structure of the adults was random in the area without fenced and added in the fenced area, which shows that, in the area outside, in addition to grazing pressure, the populations of Handroanthus chrysanthus are being affected by other pressures such as the felling. On the contrary, we found 729 minors in the fenced plot, but none in the grazing areas. Juveniles appear clustering patterns, and their distribution and growth were negatively influenced by both the presence and height of adult trees. These results show that fencing is a viable tool for rapid regeneration and conservation of dry forests, as well as allowing the restoration of the mechanisms that govern tree population dynamics in tropical dry forests.