Structure and floristic composition of vegetation on Parque Educativo Laguna Bélgica, Chiapas, Mexico

Abstract

THE STUDY WAS CONDUCTED IN THE PARQUE EDUCATIVO LAGUNA BÉLGICA (PELB). THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO CHARACTERIZE THE VEGETAL ASSOCIATIONS TO ESTABLISH BASIS FOR MANAGEMENT. THE VEGETATION MAP WAS ELABORATED ON INTERPRETATION OF ORTOPHOTOS, SUPPORTED WITH FIELD VERIFICATION AND PROCESSED USING A GIS. THE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE VEGETATION USED THE METHOD OF MUELLER-DOMBOIS AND ELLENBERG. FOR FOREST INVENTORIES WE REGISTERED WOODY SPECIES 1 M HEIGHT AND 3 CM DIAMETER BREAST HEIGHT. THE COVERAGE WAS EVALUATED IN QUALITATIVE FORM BASED ON BRAUN-BLANQUET METHOD. FIVE TYPES OF VEGETAL ASSOCIATIONS WERE RECOGNIZED: OAK FOREST OF QUERCUS OLEOIDES, OAK FOREST OF Q. ELLIPTICA, TREE-SECONDARY VEGETATION, GRASSLANDS, AND HERBACEOUS SUCCESSION. WE FIND 159 WOODY SPECIES, AND THROUGH REVISION OF LITERATURE WE COMPLETE A LIST OF 254 SPECIES, WHICH ARE INCLUDED IN 157 GENUS AND 64 FAMILIES. THIS WORK INCLUDED 68 NEW RECORDS OF WOODY SPECIES FOR THE RESERVE. THE FL ORA OF LAGUNA BÉLGICA SHOWS BIGGER FL ORISTIC AFFINITIES WITH THE HUMID FORESTS OF THE SLOPE OF THE GULF THAN THE CENTRAL DEPRESSION. OUR RESULTS EMPHASIZES IN THE HIGH WOODY DIVERSITY AND THE IMPORTANCE TO CONSERVE THIS SMALL PORTION OF NATIVE VEGETATION.