Diversity and forest structure in forests of the Piedra Escalera community, Tlacoapa, Guerrero

Abstract

In this study, tree composition and forest structure
were determined in two stratum: primary and
secondary forest, from the Piedra Escalera
community, Tlacoapa, Guerrero. Sampling plots of
30 x 30 were randomly located in each stratum to
estimate forest composition and structure.
According to the results, 13 species distributed in 7
genera and 6 families were reported, the species
with the highest importance value index (IVI) was
the elite (Alnus acuminata) with 79.14% in both
strata, in contrast to tila tea (Tillia mexicana)
reached only 3.52%. Regarding the forest structure,
the distance index (Di), averaged that the majority
of the species in the primary forest are spatially
dispersed in intervals of Di = 1-2 m, 2-4 and 4-6 m;
however for the secondary forest Di values were: 8-
10 m and 10-12 m; Likewise, both strata have a
high degree of species mixing (Mi=0.75, Mi =1.00).
Therefore they urge restoration and conservation
actions to curb the deterioration of the forest in the
community, caused in great way by the irrational
use and the implementation of illicit crops.