Análisis de la vegetación sucesional en un fragmento de bosque seco tropical en toluviejo-sucre (Colombia)

Abstract

The successional vegetation of a fragment of tropical dry forest in Toluviejo-Sucre (Colombia) was analyzed based on its structure and floristic composition. Three states of succession were found, in which determined diversity index, then compared using a detrended correspondence analysis. There were 138 species distributed in 111 genera and 42 families. The Fabaceae family showed higher richness with 21 species and 18 genera, followed by Sapindaceae and Rubiaceae. The habit or lifestyle better represented in terms of species richness at the scrub (early stage) were shrubs (37.6%), in the edge of the forest (intermediate stage) trees (58.8%) and in the forest (late stage) trees (67.5%). In terms of diversity the intermediate stage presents highest species diversity than the late stage. The early stage showed higher dominance due to the high degree of human disturbance and colonization of species. According to correspondence analysis (DCA), the states showing the greatest similarity are EI and ETA, this is due to the similarities in climate, soil conditions and biotic factors. This study provides important information for the conservation of areas, as well as plans for vegetation management.