Abstract

LEAL ELIZONDO, Carlos Eduardo et al. Structure, composition and diversity of the urban forest of Linares, Nuevo León. Rev. mex. de cienc. forestales [online]. 2018, vol.9, n.48, pp.252-270. ISSN 2007-1132.  https://doi.org/10.29298/rmcf.v8i48.129.

The urban forests and green areas of the cities provide direct benefits to the population such as improving the temperature and air quality, protect the soil and allow the permeability of water to the subsoil. The aim of this study was to determine the structure, composition and diversity of the urban trees of Linares, Nuevo León. Dasometric information was collected from urban green areas and public parks, counting 6 ridges, 14 parks and 25 public spaces with a total area of 273 904 m2. The variables of diameter (d1.30), total height (h) and diameter of the crown (dcrown) were recorded. The density of plant species by urban green area and the total number of species was calculated. Diversity was assessed using the Shannon-Weiner and Margalef indices. The total number of trees registered was 2 066 belonging to 41 species, 34 genera and 25 families. The most representative was Fabaceae with six species; Fraxinus americana (ash) is outstanding from the ecological point of view, with 25.67 N ha-1, which represents 34.03 % of total abundance and 1 225.38 m2 ha-1 which is equivalent to 46.93 % of dominance and 30.91 % of IVI, followed by Quercus virginiana with 22.46 % and Washingtonia robusta with 11.56 %. The Shannon-Weiner Index recorded H'= 1.99 and H'max = 3.17, and the Margalef Index DMg = 5.24. It is concluded that the urban trees described here are mainly composed of introduced species, the most important of which is ash.

Keywords : Abundance; green areas; urban forest; dominance; Margalef index; Shannon index.

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