¿Es un bosque maduro?: determinando criterios de composición y estructura en un remanente de bosque esclerófilo costero presente en la península de Hualpén, Región del Biobío-Chile.
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Date
2024
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Universidad de Concepción
Abstract
Para caracterizar e identificar la etapa de crecimiento de un bosque mediante criterios de composición y estructura, se utilizaron variables como la riqueza de especies, el área basal (m2/ha), la densidad (N/ha) y edad. Este enfoque permite la comparación con datos de otros bosques maduros. Dada la escasez de información sobre los bosques maduros de clima mediterráneo en Chile, esta investigación busca ser un aporte en el vacío del conocimiento. El estudio se realizó en un remanente de bosque esclerófilo costero ubicado en la Estación Biológica Terrestre (EBT), Península de Hualpén, provincia Concepción, Chile, donde se establecieron 34 parcelas de 500 m2 cada una, registrando el diámetro a la altura del pecho (DAP) de todos los árboles con un diámetro de tronco mayor o igual a 5 cm. Para medir su altura, se seleccionaron al menos cinco árboles por parcela, y para estimar la edad, se extrajeron tarugos de crecimiento a individuos de las especies dominantes con los mayores diámetros de tronco. Los resultados demuestran que el bosque de la EBT presenta valores de composición y estructura que se encuentran dentro del rango de valores establecidos para otros bosques maduros. La distribución de tamaños es exponencial negativa, con predominio de individuos tolerantes a la sombra que constituyen las capas del dosel dominante. La presencia de individuos de más de 200 años es una evidencia de la antigüedad de los árboles dominantes del bosque, lo que apoya la hipótesis de que el bosque se encuentra en una etapa sucesional avanzada. La caracterización del bosque de la EBT lo posiciona como un ecosistema de referencia para futuros proyectos de restauración ecológica.
To characterize and identify the growth stage of a forest using composition and structure criteria, variables such as species richness, basal area (m²/ha), density (N/ha), and age were used. This approach allows comparison with data from other mature forests. Given the lack of information on mature Mediterranean climate forests in Chile, this research aims to contribute to the knowledge gap. The study was conducted in a remnant of coastal sclerophyllous forest located at the Terrestrial Biological Station (EBT), Hualpén Peninsula, Concepción Province, Chile, where 34 plots of 500 m² each were established, recording the diameter at breast height (DBH) of all trees with a trunk diameter greater than or equal to 5 cm. To measure their height, at least five trees were selected per plot, and to estimate age, growth cores were extracted from individuals of the dominant species with the largest trunk diameters. The results show that the EBT forest exhibits composition and structure values that fall within the range of values established for other mature forests. It presents a negatively exponential size distribution, with a predominance of shade-tolerant individuals that make up the dominant canopy layers. The presence of individuals over 200 years old can be considered evidence of the age of the dominant trees in the forest, supporting the hypothesis that the forest is in an advanced successional stage. The characterization of the EBT forest positions it as a reference ecosystem for future ecological restoration projects.
To characterize and identify the growth stage of a forest using composition and structure criteria, variables such as species richness, basal area (m²/ha), density (N/ha), and age were used. This approach allows comparison with data from other mature forests. Given the lack of information on mature Mediterranean climate forests in Chile, this research aims to contribute to the knowledge gap. The study was conducted in a remnant of coastal sclerophyllous forest located at the Terrestrial Biological Station (EBT), Hualpén Peninsula, Concepción Province, Chile, where 34 plots of 500 m² each were established, recording the diameter at breast height (DBH) of all trees with a trunk diameter greater than or equal to 5 cm. To measure their height, at least five trees were selected per plot, and to estimate age, growth cores were extracted from individuals of the dominant species with the largest trunk diameters. The results show that the EBT forest exhibits composition and structure values that fall within the range of values established for other mature forests. It presents a negatively exponential size distribution, with a predominance of shade-tolerant individuals that make up the dominant canopy layers. The presence of individuals over 200 years old can be considered evidence of the age of the dominant trees in the forest, supporting the hypothesis that the forest is in an advanced successional stage. The characterization of the EBT forest positions it as a reference ecosystem for future ecological restoration projects.
Description
Tesis presentada para optar título de Bióloga
Keywords
Bosque nativo, Ecosistemas