Natural and Artificial Occurrence, Structure, and Abundance of <i>Juglans neotropica</i> Diels in Southern Ecuador
This study investigated the presence and characteristics of <i>Juglans neotropica</i> in three ecosystems in Southern Ecuador: Montane Evergreen Forest, Evergreen Seasonal Lower Montane Forest, and Semideciduous Foot Montane Forest. The main focus was the species’ multipurpose nature as...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/10/2531 |
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| author | Byron Palacios-Herrera Santiago Pereira-Lorenzo Darwin Pucha-Cofrep |
| author_facet | Byron Palacios-Herrera Santiago Pereira-Lorenzo Darwin Pucha-Cofrep |
| author_sort | Byron Palacios-Herrera |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigated the presence and characteristics of <i>Juglans neotropica</i> in three ecosystems in Southern Ecuador: Montane Evergreen Forest, Evergreen Seasonal Lower Montane Forest, and Semideciduous Foot Montane Forest. The main focus was the species’ multipurpose nature as both a fruit and timber source. Six study sites, totaling at least 0.5 hectares each, were established, with four in Loja province and two in Zamora Chinchipe province. The results showed significant differences in dendrometric variables across the sites, with the most favorable growth recorded in The Tundo, where trees exhibited an average diameter at breast height (DBH) of 45.16 cm, basal area (G) of 1.41 m<sup>2</sup>, total height (TH) of 19.22 m, canopy height (CH) of 13 m, cubic volume (CV) of 3.55 m<sup>3</sup>, and total volume (TV) of 5.22 m<sup>3</sup>. The species displayed a clumped distribution pattern, as indicated by a Morisita index greater than 1. Regarding abundance, the highest density of 297 trees per hectare was found in Argelia, while Victoria had the lowest density of 46 trees per hectare. The research provides a better insight into the occurrence, forest structure characteristics, and distribution of <i>Juglans neotropica</i>, an important multipurpose species, in Southern Ecuador. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:30:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f5ca21c3b40d46b98d06696c1ad8e4f8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:30:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-f5ca21c3b40d46b98d06696c1ad8e4f82023-11-19T15:21:30ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952023-09-011310253110.3390/agronomy13102531Natural and Artificial Occurrence, Structure, and Abundance of <i>Juglans neotropica</i> Diels in Southern EcuadorByron Palacios-Herrera0Santiago Pereira-Lorenzo1Darwin Pucha-Cofrep2Doctoral Program in Environmental Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15705 A Coruna, SpainDepartamento de Produccion Vegetal y Proyectos de Ingenieria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Terra, 27002 Lugo, SpainCarrera de Ingenieria Forestal, Facultad Agropecuaria y de Recursos Naturales Renovables, Universidad Nacional de Loja, Loja 110103, EcuadorThis study investigated the presence and characteristics of <i>Juglans neotropica</i> in three ecosystems in Southern Ecuador: Montane Evergreen Forest, Evergreen Seasonal Lower Montane Forest, and Semideciduous Foot Montane Forest. The main focus was the species’ multipurpose nature as both a fruit and timber source. Six study sites, totaling at least 0.5 hectares each, were established, with four in Loja province and two in Zamora Chinchipe province. The results showed significant differences in dendrometric variables across the sites, with the most favorable growth recorded in The Tundo, where trees exhibited an average diameter at breast height (DBH) of 45.16 cm, basal area (G) of 1.41 m<sup>2</sup>, total height (TH) of 19.22 m, canopy height (CH) of 13 m, cubic volume (CV) of 3.55 m<sup>3</sup>, and total volume (TV) of 5.22 m<sup>3</sup>. The species displayed a clumped distribution pattern, as indicated by a Morisita index greater than 1. Regarding abundance, the highest density of 297 trees per hectare was found in Argelia, while Victoria had the lowest density of 46 trees per hectare. The research provides a better insight into the occurrence, forest structure characteristics, and distribution of <i>Juglans neotropica</i>, an important multipurpose species, in Southern Ecuador.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/10/2531fruitforestecosystemwoodnativeEcuador |
| spellingShingle | Byron Palacios-Herrera Santiago Pereira-Lorenzo Darwin Pucha-Cofrep Natural and Artificial Occurrence, Structure, and Abundance of <i>Juglans neotropica</i> Diels in Southern Ecuador Agronomy fruit forest ecosystem wood native Ecuador |
| title | Natural and Artificial Occurrence, Structure, and Abundance of <i>Juglans neotropica</i> Diels in Southern Ecuador |
| title_full | Natural and Artificial Occurrence, Structure, and Abundance of <i>Juglans neotropica</i> Diels in Southern Ecuador |
| title_fullStr | Natural and Artificial Occurrence, Structure, and Abundance of <i>Juglans neotropica</i> Diels in Southern Ecuador |
| title_full_unstemmed | Natural and Artificial Occurrence, Structure, and Abundance of <i>Juglans neotropica</i> Diels in Southern Ecuador |
| title_short | Natural and Artificial Occurrence, Structure, and Abundance of <i>Juglans neotropica</i> Diels in Southern Ecuador |
| title_sort | natural and artificial occurrence structure and abundance of i juglans neotropica i diels in southern ecuador |
| topic | fruit forest ecosystem wood native Ecuador |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/10/2531 |
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