FUNCTIONAL GROUPS AND TRAITS AS GUIDELINES FOR FOREST RESTORATION IN A SEASONALLY DRY TROPICAL FOREST OF THE UPPER BALSAS BASIN, MEXICO
Por:
Montoya-Reyes, F, Valdez-Hernández, JI, Cortés-Flores, J, Hernández-De La Rosa, P, Gonzáles-Martínez, TM, Beltrán-Rodríguez, L
Publicada:
1 ene 2026
Resumen:
Background: Seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTF) have been degraded by human activities, negatively affecting their biodiversity and functioning. Therefore, approaches that integrate ecological functions and sociocultural knowledge are required for their restoration. Questions and Hypotheses: Do the functional traits of SDTF species reflect acquisitive and conservative strategies that guide their selection in restoration? It is proposed that identifying these functional strategies facilitates the selection of taxa with greater ecological relevance, strengthening their role as key species in the recovery processes of SDTF. Data description: Fourteen functional traits were evaluated in 21 woody species from a SDTF to determine the relevance of functional attributes in the formation and selection of species groups. Study site and dates: Sierra de Huautla Biosphere Reserve, Upper Balsas, Mexico; 2024. Methods: Functional traits were measured in 15 individuals per species. Functional groups were identified based on trait similarity. Results: Four functional groups were identified. Two exhibited acquisitive strategies, one showed a conservative strategy, and another displayed a mixed strategy. Wood density and bark thickness were the traits that statistically determined the definition of the functional groups. Conclusions: The identification of functional groups provides a robust criterion for selecting species with restoration potential in SDTF. Moreover, when integrated with information on the cultural value of plants, it enhances their acceptance in restoration programs. However, these findings require validation in broader operational contexts.
Filiaciones:
Inst Nacl Invest Forestales Agr & Pecuarias, Campo Expt Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Colegio Postgrad, Postgrad Ciencias Forestales, Campus Montecillo, Texcoco, Mexico
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Jardin Bot, Inst Biol, Sede Tlaxcala, Santa Cruz Tlaxcala, Mexico
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Lab Etnobot Ecol, Jardin Bot, Inst Biol, Mexico City, Mexico
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