Caracterización florística-estructural, diversidad, biomasa aérea y dinámica de la vegetación en una parcela permanente de monitoreo, Parque Natural Chicaque

Abstract

Three annual censuses were carried out in a permanent monitoring plot of 0.5 ha in the Chicaque Natural Park, located in the lower montane rain forest life zone. From the information collected for individuals with DBH ≥ 2.5 cm, we found an average of 41 species and 253 individuals per 0.1 ha, and high alpha diversity. The richest families are Lauraceae, Moraceae and Urticaceae. The average height of the upper canopy is 14.49 m, with a marked dominance of the lower canopy layer. The DBH distribution showed the characteristic trend of natural forests. The species with the greatest ecological importance according to the structural indices were Picrasma excelsa, Miconia prasina and Bunchosia armeniaca. The mean mortality rate was 1.33% year-1 and the mean recruitment rate was 2.24% year-1. A total of 247.55 ± 14.79 t ha-1 of abovegrownd biomass, 123.77 ± 7.39 t ha-1 of Carbon and 454.25 ± 27.14 t ha-1 of CO2e was estimated; and the annual diametric growths by species were calculated. The results coincide with those reported for the life zone and suggest a successional state of late-developing forest, highly dynamic and productive. The great importance of the vegetation of the study area in terms of the provision of ecosystem services is highlighted.