Analysis of horizontal and vertical structures in a multicohort Pine-Oak ecosystem in north Mexico

Abstract

Knowledge on diverse structural traits in multicohort forests is of paramount importance for developing management plans of natural resources. The aim of this study was to define a protocol to understand the dynamics of trees in a mixed pine-oak ecosystem. The proposed methodology is a combination of global forest ecosystem measurement and the four structural group sample technique. All the information gathered was used to determine the abundance and dominance of tree species. Frequency, diameter and height differentiation index and species mingling index were determined using sampling plots. The above was determined for the population of the tree species defined. To measure the species vertical index, the total height of the individual was used, with a three strata distribution (number of individuals and basal area). This research defines an analysis protocol for vertical and horizontal structures in tree species inside multicohort pine-oak forests.