Structural characterization and carbon stored in a cold temperate forest surveyed in northwestern Mexico

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to define the diversity, composition, structure and content of carbon stored in the non-coeval tree mass of a research plot in northwestern Mexico. A census of the tree component was carried out in an area of 11.44 ha in the Aboreachi Ejido, Guachochi, Chihuahua. Each individual was labeled consecutively to record its normal diameter, total height and species. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index and Margalef's richness index were estimated. The horizontal structure was characterized according to the importance value index. The Pretzsch index (A) was determined in order to evaluate the vertical structure. The total tree volume of each individual and its respective biomass were calculated using allometric equations. The aerial carbon content was determined by applying a biomass conversion factor of 0.5. The tree mass is made up of 16 species, belonging to six genera of five families. The species with the highest importance value index, of 55.93 %, was Pinus durangensis. Regarding the vertical structure, P. durangensis was the only species present in the three evaluated strata, in 49.86 % of the observations made. The species of the Pinus and Quercus genera are the ones that provide the largest volumes (155.53 m3 ha-1). A total of 93.22 Mg ha-1 of aerial biomass was calculated, of which P. durangensis represents 64.46 %; Pinus ayacahuite, 14.13 %, and Quercus sideroxyla, 12.33 %. The species with the highest carbon accumulation turned out to be P. durangensis, with a total of 30.04 Mg ha-1.