Floristic Composition, Structure, and Aboveground Biomass of the Moraceae Family in an Evergreen Andean Amazon Forest, Ecuador
The current study determined the floristic composition, structure, and aboveground biomass (AGB) of the individuals of the Moraceae family. This occurred in order to value them as a source of biomass carbon, which itself is dependent on the altitudinal gradient (601–1000 m.a.s.l.) in the evergreen f...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/7/1406 |
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| author | Walter García-Cox Rolando López-Tobar Robinson J. Herrera-Feijoo Aracely Tapia Marco Heredia-R Theofilos Toulkeridis Bolier Torres |
| author_facet | Walter García-Cox Rolando López-Tobar Robinson J. Herrera-Feijoo Aracely Tapia Marco Heredia-R Theofilos Toulkeridis Bolier Torres |
| author_sort | Walter García-Cox |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The current study determined the floristic composition, structure, and aboveground biomass (AGB) of the individuals of the Moraceae family. This occurred in order to value them as a source of biomass carbon, which itself is dependent on the altitudinal gradient (601–1000 m.a.s.l.) in the evergreen foothill forest of the Ecuadorian Amazon. The study encountered 117 individuals belonging to the Moraceae family, which was grouped into 32 species. Hereby, the most abundant were the genus Ficus sp., with 9.40% relative abundance, <i>Brosimun alicastrum</i> with 6.84%, and <i>Aucleopsis</i> sp. with 5.98%. Forest structural characteristics, such as the horizontal and vertical structure, diameter at breast height (DBH), and the diameter of the tree crown, were considered for the analysis. The horizontal profile determined that the crowns of the species of the Moraceae family cover approximately 16.43% of the upper canopy within the sampling unit area. The trees of the Moraceae family have a carbon capture capacity in the projected AGB per hectare of 35.09 (Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>), with the <i>Ficus cuatracasana</i> Dugand species being the species with the highest projected capture per hectare, with 15.737 (Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>). These results highlight the relevance of similar studies assessing the carbon accumulation capacity of species from other families, emphasizing high commercial value species due to their timber resource. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:03:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b6ce2684f238435e8400392cd80d0281 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:03:59Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-b6ce2684f238435e8400392cd80d02812023-11-18T19:23:50ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072023-07-01147140610.3390/f14071406Floristic Composition, Structure, and Aboveground Biomass of the Moraceae Family in an Evergreen Andean Amazon Forest, EcuadorWalter García-Cox0Rolando López-Tobar1Robinson J. Herrera-Feijoo2Aracely Tapia3Marco Heredia-R4Theofilos Toulkeridis5Bolier Torres6Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo (UTEQ), Quevedo Av. Quito km, 1 1/2 Vía a Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Quevedo 120550, EcuadorFacultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo (UTEQ), Quevedo Av. Quito km, 1 1/2 Vía a Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Quevedo 120550, EcuadorFacultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo (UTEQ), Quevedo Av. Quito km, 1 1/2 Vía a Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Quevedo 120550, EcuadorGobierno Autónomo Descentralizado Provincial de Napo (GADPN), Tena 150150, EcuadorFacultad de Ciencias Pecuarias y Biológicas, Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo (UTEQ), Quevedo Av. Quito km, 1 1/2 Vía a Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Quevedo 120550, EcuadorDepartment of Earth Sciences and Construction, University of the Armed Forces ESPE, Av. General Rumiñahui S/N, Sangolquí 171103, EcuadorFacultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Estatal Amazónica (UEA), Puyo 160101, EcuadorThe current study determined the floristic composition, structure, and aboveground biomass (AGB) of the individuals of the Moraceae family. This occurred in order to value them as a source of biomass carbon, which itself is dependent on the altitudinal gradient (601–1000 m.a.s.l.) in the evergreen foothill forest of the Ecuadorian Amazon. The study encountered 117 individuals belonging to the Moraceae family, which was grouped into 32 species. Hereby, the most abundant were the genus Ficus sp., with 9.40% relative abundance, <i>Brosimun alicastrum</i> with 6.84%, and <i>Aucleopsis</i> sp. with 5.98%. Forest structural characteristics, such as the horizontal and vertical structure, diameter at breast height (DBH), and the diameter of the tree crown, were considered for the analysis. The horizontal profile determined that the crowns of the species of the Moraceae family cover approximately 16.43% of the upper canopy within the sampling unit area. The trees of the Moraceae family have a carbon capture capacity in the projected AGB per hectare of 35.09 (Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>), with the <i>Ficus cuatracasana</i> Dugand species being the species with the highest projected capture per hectare, with 15.737 (Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>). These results highlight the relevance of similar studies assessing the carbon accumulation capacity of species from other families, emphasizing high commercial value species due to their timber resource.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/7/1406floristic diversityhorizontal structureAGBMoraceaeEcuadorian Amazon |
| spellingShingle | Walter García-Cox Rolando López-Tobar Robinson J. Herrera-Feijoo Aracely Tapia Marco Heredia-R Theofilos Toulkeridis Bolier Torres Floristic Composition, Structure, and Aboveground Biomass of the Moraceae Family in an Evergreen Andean Amazon Forest, Ecuador Forests floristic diversity horizontal structure AGB Moraceae Ecuadorian Amazon |
| title | Floristic Composition, Structure, and Aboveground Biomass of the Moraceae Family in an Evergreen Andean Amazon Forest, Ecuador |
| title_full | Floristic Composition, Structure, and Aboveground Biomass of the Moraceae Family in an Evergreen Andean Amazon Forest, Ecuador |
| title_fullStr | Floristic Composition, Structure, and Aboveground Biomass of the Moraceae Family in an Evergreen Andean Amazon Forest, Ecuador |
| title_full_unstemmed | Floristic Composition, Structure, and Aboveground Biomass of the Moraceae Family in an Evergreen Andean Amazon Forest, Ecuador |
| title_short | Floristic Composition, Structure, and Aboveground Biomass of the Moraceae Family in an Evergreen Andean Amazon Forest, Ecuador |
| title_sort | floristic composition structure and aboveground biomass of the moraceae family in an evergreen andean amazon forest ecuador |
| topic | floristic diversity horizontal structure AGB Moraceae Ecuadorian Amazon |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/7/1406 |
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