Abstract

ZACARIAS-ESLAVA, Luis Eduardo et al. Composition, structure and diversity of the cerro El Águila, Michoacán, Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2011, vol.82, n.3, pp.854-869. ISSN 2007-8706.

This study describes composition, structure and diversity of vegetation in the Cerro El Águila, Michoacán. Five plant communities were recognized and for each one all woody individuals ≥10 cm DBH were tallied in sixteen 400 m² circular plots, whereas individuals between 2.5 and 9.9 cm DBH were measured in a 100 m² circular sub-plot centered within each larger plot. A total of 46 species, 33 genera and 21 families were recorded. The tropical deciduous forest and Quercus deserticola forest had low values of mean plant height (< 5 m) and basal area (17.8 and 26 m²/ha, respectively), but these communities showed the higher density. Forests dominated by Q. rugosa and Quercus-Pinus had the lowest density but the highest mean height (> 11 m) and basal area (> 40 m²/ha). Diversity was greater in the tropical deciduous forest (S= 23 and α= 5.4, respectively) and lower in the oak-pine forest (S= 13 and α= 2.71). All communities displayed different dominant species and high beta diversity. Our results suggest that composition and structure could be affected by altitude and human activities. Nevertheless, the Cerro El Águila still has well conservation areas, mainly temperate forests located toward summit zone and we recommend their inclusion in a near future within the state reserve system.

Keywords : alfa-Fisher index; trees, basal area; density; beta diversity; Simpson index; Quercus.