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- Title
Structure, diversity and the conservation value of tropical dry forests in highly fragmented landscapes.
- Authors
Lanuza, Oscar R; Casanoves, Fernando; Vílchez-Mendoza, Sergio; Espelta, Josep Maria; Peñuelas, Josep; Peguero, Guille
- Abstract
Although tropical dry forests are among the most degraded and fragmented biomes in the world, we still have a poor understanding of their basic ecological features and conservation status, particularly in the Neotropics. Here, we assess the diversity, composition, structure and conservation value of tropical dry forests in a highly fragmented landscape in Nicaragua. We established 31 plots and transects in and along river corridors, secondary forests, living fences and pasture-woodlands. We recorded all trees with diameters at breast height ≥ 2.5 cm using Hill numbers (qD, where q = 0, 1 or 2) and estimated the richness and diversity of trees in each forest type. We calculated the Importance Value Index (IVI) to species and family levels and, finally, performed a Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) ordination and an Analysis of Similarities (ANOSIM) using the Bray–Curtis index of similarity. Diversity (1D, 2D) but not species richness (0D) differed between forest types (P = 0.01 and 0.66, respectively). IVI was highest for the legume family Fabaceae, followed by the Moraceae and Malvaceae (27.8, 11.1 and 10.5, respectively). Vachellia pennatula , Guazuma ulmifolia and Bursera simaruba had IVIs >30%, the former two being the most abundant trees in all forest types. An analysis of community similarity revealed that each forest type had a distinct composition (P < 0.01, R 2 = 0.30), thereby underlining the importance of conserving all these different types of land cover.
- Subjects
NICARAGUA; TROPICAL dry forests; FRAGMENTED landscapes; FOREST biodiversity; SECONDARY forests; MULTIDIMENSIONAL scaling; LANDSCAPE assessment; FENCES; SPECIES diversity
- Publication
Journal of Plant Ecology, 2023, Vol 16, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
1752-9921
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/jpe/rtac046