Análisis de la Diversidad Funcional a Nivel Comunitario en Dos Áreas de Bosque Estacionalmente Seco en Colombia

Abstract

Tropical dry forests have generally been classified according to their floristic composition, however, a better descriptor of this ecosystem may be related to the ability of species to tolerate the dry periods characteristic of these areas. The present study evaluates 4 traits associated with leaves and 4 associated with wood in two areas of seasonally dry forest: Tambor (Honda, Tolima) and Tuparro (Maypures, Vichada). Measurements were made on leaves and histological assemblages of xylem tissue from branches of 47 species in the areas mentioned above, where the species represented a 75.6% and 57.8% of the Importance Value Index respectively, in addition, taxonomic and functional diversity indexes were calculated for a comparison between zones. It was found that the environmental conditions were similar in both areas although the soil conditions showed strong leaching processes in Tuparro due to the concentration of precipitation in the area, generating a greater stress on the species to the acquisition of resources. Comparing functional traits, although there were no significant differences between the areas (except wood density), a more conservative strategy was observed by the species of the Tuparro plot, investing in support and storage due to the strong environmental pressures. In terms of diversity, it is observed that although the floristic composition between the zones is contrasting, in functional terms, the indexes present close values, showing a similar behavior of the species of the Tuparro plot to those present in an area of tropical dry forest, however, the values obtained for this plot are lower, attributed to the double environmental stress to which the PNN El Tuparro is subjected.