Composición florística a lo largo del gradiente altitudinal de los bosques de niebla de Chámeza, Casanare

Abstract

The floristic composition of the cloud forests was carried out according to the hydrometeorological gradient described for the municipality of Chámeza, Casanare, to evaluate the variation of the species composition across several levels. Four plots of 5 x 50 m (0.1 ha) were set up every 100 m of elevation from 1.700 to 2.200 m. In total, there were six groups of four plots for a total area of 0.6 ha. In these plots, all plant individuals with a 6 diameter at breast height (DBH) greater than or equal to 5 cm were recorded, the collection of these species was carried out for their identification. The effect of the elevation gradient on plant composition and structure (diameter, height, biomass, and carbon) were calculated using boxplot diagrams, the Bray Curtis index and the analysis of main components. Thirty- four botanical families, 63 genera, and 140 morphospecies were found, for 952 evaluated individuals. Seventy samples were identified up to species, 44 to genus and 14 to family. Of the 100% of the identified species, 71.6% are new records for the department. Regarding the species composition of cloud forests, the most abundant species is Croizatia brevipetiolata and the species with the highest IVI are Alchornea bogotensis and Cyathea nigripes. The families with the highest IVI were Euphorbiaceae and Phyllanthaceae. The most representative families with the highest number of individuals were Phyllanthaceae, Lauraceae, and Melastomataceae and the families with the highest number of species were Lauraceae and Melastomataceae. We found two patterns, one at 1.700-2.000 m and the other at 2.100-2.200 m. However, our data did not show a trend related to elevation gradient, suggesting the influence of additional factors.