Estructura y composición primaria y secundaria de Selva Baja Espinosa Caducifolia en San Carlos, Tamaulipas

Abstract

Ecosystems are subject to alterations due to anthropogenic activities, the regeneration of which could be affected in their structure and composition, threatening the environmental services they provide and the biodiversity they safeguard. In Tamaulipas, the Low Deciduous Thorny Forest (SBEC) has not been widely studied, and the areas in which it is distributed await special interest for the establishment of grasslands and agriculture. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the structure, composition, and similarity of the vegetation of the Low Deciduous Thorny Forest in two successional states (primary or conserved vegetation and secondary arboreal vegetation) in the municipality of San Carlos, Tamaulipas. Sampling sites were stratified according to soil type, and rectangular plots of 50 x 2 m (100 m2) were established to calculate the relative abundance, dominance, and frequency of the species found there, as well as the importance value index (IVI). Finally, vegetation types were compared using the Jaccard index. The results showed a 47.62% similarity between vegetation variants. The highest IVI value in primary vegetation is found in the Neltuma laevigata species, while in secondary vegetation the highest value for this index corresponds to the Leucophyllum frutescens. Furthermore, this vegetation type recorded the highest species richness. The differences found suggest further research that could address ecological succession, especially that which occurs after a disturbance to generate restoration and conservation programs for the SBEC.