Caracterización por cortezas de los fustales de una parcela permanente del Herbario Forestal UDBC en el Centro Experimental Amazónico, (CORPOAMAZONIA)

Abstract

This study developed an innovative methodology for non-destructive taxonomic identification of tree species through morphological analysis of bark in the Colombian Amazon. Conducted in the permanent plot of the UDBC Forest Herbarium at the Amazonian Experimental Center (CEA) of CORPOAMAZONIA (Mocoa, Putumayo), the research addressed identification challenges in hyperdiverse tropical forests where traditional methods prove limited. The work analyzed 46 species from 26 families, focusing on ecologically relevant taxa with DBH ≥ 10 cm, using a standardized protocol that combined high-resolution digital photography with qualitative description of fissuring patterns, exudates and lenticels, complemented by quantitative measurements of bark thickness. Key findings include the documentation of dominant families such as Moraceae (6 species), Euphorbiaceae, Arecaceae and Meliaceae (3 species each), along with the characterization of distinctive attributes like resins in Burseraceae, latex in Moraceae and longitudinal fissures in Fabaceae. The study revealed that 12 of the analyzed species show some threat category. As main outcome, the first illustrated bark catalog for the Colombian Amazon was produced (166 pages with technical sheets), integrating digital image processing technologies with traditional taxonomy and establishing a replicable protocol for non-destructive forest inventories. This research provides threefold significance: scientific, by supplying new morphological data for taxonomic identification; methodological, through developing accessible and standardized techniques; and applied, by offering practical tools for participatory monitoring and conservation of Amazonian biodiversity. The resulting catalog represents a valuable resource for botanists, ecologists and local communities, facilitating species identification without destructive sampling and setting foundations for future functional ecology studies in these strategic ecosystems.