Article
Environmental Sciences
Francisco J. Rendon-Sandoval, Alejandro Casas, Perla G. Sinco-Ramos, Eduardo Garcia-Frapolli, Ana I. Moreno-Calles
Summary: Traditional rural communities maintain wild vegetation within their agricultural fields to obtain material, regulating, and nonmaterial contributions that meet their fundamental needs. Peasant agriculture with higher forest cover and species diversity provides broader socio-ecological contributions and potential to satisfy human needs. Agroecological management in traditional agroforestry systems is crucial for ensuring essential environmental functions and people's well-being.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gabriel Brito Costa, Keila Rego Mendes, Losany Branches Viana, Gabriele Vieira Almeida, Pedro Rodrigues Mutti, Claudio Moises Santos e Silva, Bergson Guedes Bezerra, Thiago Valentim Marques, Rosaria Rodrigues Ferreira, Cristiano Prestelo Oliveira, Weber Andrade Goncalves, Pablo Eli Oliveira, Suany Campos, Maria Uilhiana Gomes Andrade, Antonio Celso Dantas Antonino, Romulo Simoes Cezar Menezes
Summary: This study evaluated the seasonality of ecosystem productivity in the Caatinga dry forest in northeast Brazil. The results show that ecosystem productivity is mainly limited by evapotranspiration, with higher values during wetter months. Vegetation indices are positively correlated with gross primary production, and consecutive dry days strongly affect water use efficiency.
Article
Environmental Studies
Neyra Sosa, Alejandro Torres, Valerio Castro-Lopez, Alejandro Velazquez
Summary: Participatory landscape conservation is an innovative approach that combines theoretical models and practical applications. In the State of Michoacan, Mexico, this approach was used to address challenges in regional governance, social justice, and nature conservation. The use of participatory mapping and landcover/use analyses helped reach consensus among stakeholders and establish a Biosphere Reserve to safeguard a biodiverse and delicate ecosystem in a disputed region.
Article
Forestry
Clemir Candeia de Oliveira, Fernando Roberto Martins, Bruno Cruz Souza, Everardo Valadares de Sa Barretto Sampaio, Maria Iracema Bezerra Loiola, Arlete Aparecida Soares
Summary: Understanding the recovery time of vegetation structure and species composition is important for the conservation of seasonally deciduous tropical forests, especially for the semi-arid Brazilian Caatinga. This study estimated that it takes more than 35 years for the forest to recover and return to a composition and structure similar to the original one. Therefore, management plans should restrict destructive uses before at least 35 years of regeneration have been reached.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Darwin Valle, Daniel M. Griffith, Andrea Jara-Guerrero, Diego Armijos-Ojeda, Carlos I. Espinosa
Summary: Research suggests that the family Phyllostomidae is a more effective bioindicator of human disturbance in seasonally dry tropical forests compared to the larger bat community. Phyllostomid species are more sensitive to disturbance and likely to be lost, especially in highly disturbed forest habitats.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jorge Maximiliano Uuh-Sonda, Bernardo Figueroa-Espinoza, Hugo Alberto Gutierrez-Jurado, Luis Arturo Mendez-Barroso
Summary: Tropical forests, which play an important role in the global carbon and water cycles, are at great risk. The Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico is home to nearly 30% of these forests. A study conducted in a tropical dry forest in this region shows that the dynamics of carbon and water fluxes in the ecosystem are strongly influenced by seasonal precipitation patterns. Furthermore, the productivity of the ecosystem is affected by the availability of water and energy.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Ecology
J. A. Castro-Lopez, A. Robles-Morua, L. A. Mendez-Barroso, J. Garatuza-Payan, O. A. Rojas-Robles, E. A. Yepez
Summary: The study found that ecohydrologic separation was evident during the dry season but exhibited different patterns during the wet season. Different tree species showed variations in isotopic composition, indicating seasonal changes.
JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jose Luis Villarruel-Ordaz, Roberto Garibay-Orijel, Luis David Maldonado-Bonilla, Julieta Alvarez-Manjarrez, Ana Claudia Sanchez-Espinosa, Sergio Machorro-Samano, Gricelda Valera-Venegas, Perla Guadalupe Marin-Gonzalez
Summary: A taxonomic review of 225 specimens of macromycetes collected in a tropical dry forest in the coastal region of Oaxaca revealed 160 morphospecies, with 57 determined at species level. The Agaricales order was best represented, and genetic barcodes were obtained from 33 specimens. Species accumulation analysis showed that the knowledge of macromycetes diversity in the study area exceeds the estimated value by around 6%.
REVISTA MEXICANA DE BIODIVERSIDAD
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Rivera-Rios Angel, Lopez-Mata Lauro, Cruz-Rodriguez Juan Antonio
Summary: The study found that seedlings associated with rocks or nurse plants had higher survival rates compared to those in open areas. Seedlings associated with rocks had a 58% longer survival time than those in open areas, and stem diameter had a 20 times greater impact on survival compared to height. Rocks were concluded to be safer and more suitable sites for recruitment of the three Bursera species.
JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shiqin Yu, Emma J. Sayer, Zhian Li, Qifeng Mo, Mei Wang, Yingwen Li, Yongxing Li, Guoliang Xu, Zhongmin Hu, Faming Wang
Summary: The seasonal timing of rainfall can significantly impact nutrient dynamics in tropical forests, with a delayed wet season having a greater effect on soil microbial communities and net nitrogen mineralization rates compared to increased precipitation during the wet season.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Eliziane Garcia Oliveira, Milton Cezar Ribeiro, Paul Roe, Renata S. Sousa-Lima
Summary: Advances in technologies for data acquisition, storage and analysis have boosted Acoustic Ecology studies, but protocols are still lacking. More research is needed to understand which methodologies can be applied to answer ecological questions in different environments. This study successfully applied passive acoustics to monitor the soundscape of a threatened biome in Northeast Brazil, revealing distinctive patterns of sound sources and their acoustic activities.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Israel Valencia-Esquivel, Lynna Marie Kiere, Marcela Osorio-Beristain
Summary: In seasonally dry ecosystems, loss of vegetation cover can threaten lizard performance by increasing their body temperatures. Establishing protected areas to preserve vegetation may mitigate these effects. Using remote sensing and modelling, we found that the Sierra de Huautla Biosphere Reserve (REBIOSH) provided cooler microclimates and greater thermal safety margins for lizards compared to adjacent unprotected areas. Vegetation cover increased in all three areas from 1999 to 2020, with REBIOSH having the highest cover. These results highlight the importance of protected areas and preserving vegetation to mitigate climate change impacts.
JOURNAL OF THERMAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lilin Zheng, Xiaolong Wang, Dahui Li, Guoyu Xu, Yufei Guo
Summary: The study in Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China, reveals that vegetation extent of different wetland types has shown varying growth trends in recent years, influenced by hydrological variables. However, prolonged floods and extreme droughts, natural and anthropogenic factors, may pose a risk of degradation to the wetland ecosystem.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Ulisses A. Bezerra, John Cunha, Fernanda Valente, Rodolfo L. B. Nobrega, Joao M. Andrade, Magna S. B. Moura, Anne Verhoef, Aldrin M. Perez-Marin, Carlos O. Galvao
Summary: Improvement in ET estimates, particularly in Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTF), has been achieved through the use of remote sensing (RS) products based on multispectral and thermal sensors. The development of a RS-based SEB model called STEEP has addressed the limitations of existing models by considering the specificities of SDTF, such as contrasting phenological phases and soil-water availability. The STEEP model demonstrated enhanced accuracy in ET estimates during the dry season, outperforming traditional SEB models and comparable to global ET products.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Moabe F. Fernandes, Domingos Cardoso, R. Toby Pennington, Luciano P. de Queiroz
Summary: This study integrates molecular phylogenies and estimations of ancestral areas to investigate the forces driving diversification and historical assembly in the Caatinga, a rich nucleus of the Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests (SDTF) in Brazil. The results show floristic exchange between the Caatinga and other neotropical regions, with most dry-adapted endemic plant lineages in the region emerging from the middle to late Miocene until the Pleistocene. Climate-induced vegetation shifts and newly opened habitats have contributed to in situ diversification in the region. The findings also suggest that the ancient plant assembly and long-term biome stability in the Caatinga have been influenced by global aridification processes and regional-scale geological history.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Aleida Diaz-Castellanos, Jorge A. Meave, Flor Vega-Ramos, Fernando Pineda-Garcia, Consuelo Bonfil, Horacio Paz
Summary: Tropical dry forests are environmentally complex ecosystems with highly heterogeneous water availability, leading to functional heterogeneity among plant communities. Differences in water and light availability result in functional differentiation both aboveground and belowground.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Tommaso Jucker, Fabian Jorg Fischer, Jerome Chave, David A. Coomes, John Caspersen, Arshad Ali, Grace Jopaul Loubota Panzou, Ted R. Feldpausch, Daniel Falster, Vladimir A. Usoltsev, Stephen Adu-Bredu, Luciana F. Alves, Mohammad Aminpour, Ilondea B. Angoboy, Niels P. R. Anten, Cecile Antin, Yousef Askari, Rodrigo Munoz, Narayanan Ayyappan, Patricia Balvanera, Lindsay Banin, Nicolas Barbier, John J. Battles, Hans Beeckman, Yannick E. Bocko, Ben Bond-Lamberty, Frans Bongers, Samuel Bowers, Thomas Brade, Michiel van Breugel, Arthur Chantrain, Rajeev Chaudhary, Jingyu Dai, Michele Dalponte, Kangbeni Dimobe, Jean-Christophe Domec, Jean-Louis Doucet, Remko A. Duursma, Moises Enriquez, Karin Y. van Ewijk, William Farfan-Rios, Adeline Fayolle, Eric Forni, David Forrester, Hammad Gilani, John L. Godlee, Sylvie Gourlet-Fleury, Matthias Haeni, Jefferson S. Hall, Jie-Kun He, Andreas Hemp, Jose L. Hernandez-Stefanoni, Steven Higgins, Robert J. Holdaway, Kiramat Hussain, Lindsay B. Hutley, Tomoaki Ichie, Yoshiko Iida, Hai-sheng Jiang, Puspa Raj Joshi, Hasan Kaboli, Maryam Kazempour Larsary, Tanaka Kenzo, Brian D. Kloeppel, Takashi Kohyama, Suwash Kunwar, Shem Kuyah, Jakub Kvasnica, Siliang Lin, Emily R. Lines, Hongyan Liu, Craig Lorimer, Jean-Joel Loumeto, Yadvinder Malhi, Peter L. Marshall, Eskil Mattsson, Radim Matula, Jorge A. Meave, Sylvanus Mensah, Xiangcheng Mi, Stephane Momo, Glenn R. Moncrieff, Francisco Mora, Sarath P. Nissanka, Kevin L. O'Hara, Steven Pearce, Raphael Pelissier, Pablo L. Peri, Pierre Ploton, Lourens Poorter, Mohsen Javanmiri Pour, Hassan Pourbabaei, Juan Manuel Dupuy-Rada, Sabina C. Ribeiro, Casey Ryan, Anvar Sanaei, Jennifer Sanger, Michael Schlund, Giacomo Sellan, Alexander Shenkin, Bonaventure Sonke, Frank J. Sterck, Martin Svatek, Kentaro Takagi, Anna T. Trugman, Farman Ullah, Matthew A. Vadeboncoeur, Ahmad Valipour, Mark C. Vanderwel, Alejandra G. Vovides, Weiwei Wang, Li-Qiu Wang, Christian Wirth, Murray Woods, Wenhua Xiang, Fabiano de Aquino Ximenes, Yaozhan Xu, Toshihiro Yamada, Miguel A. Zavala
Summary: Data capturing multiple axes of tree size and shape are crucial for ecological research. To overcome the challenge of obtaining such data, researchers have developed the Tallo database, which includes georeferenced and taxonomically standardized records of individual trees from around the world.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Catarina C. Jakovac, Jorge A. Meave, Frans Bongers, Susan G. Letcher, Juan Manuel Dupuy, Daniel Piotto, Danae M. A. Rozendaal, Marielos Pena-Claros, Dylan Craven, Braulio A. Santos, Alexandre Siminski, Alfredo C. Fantini, Alice C. Rodrigues, Alma Hernandez-Jaramillo, Alvaro Idarraga, Andre B. Junqueira, Angelica Maria Almeyda Zambrano, Ben H. J. de Jong, Bruno Ximenes Pinho, Bryan Finegan, Carolina Castellano-Castro, Daisy Christiane Zambiazi, Daisy H. Dent, Daniel Hernan Garcia, Deborah Kennard, Diego Delgado, Eben N. Broadbent, Edgar Ortiz-Malavassi, Eduardo A. Perez-Garcia, Edwin Lebrija-Trejos, Erika Berenguer, Erika Marin-Spiotta, Esteban Alvarez-Davila, Everardo Valadares de Sa Sampaio, Felipe Melo, Fernando Elias, Filipe Franca, Florian Oberleitner, Francisco Mora, G. Bruce Williamson, Gabriel Dalla Colletta, George A. L. Cabral, Geraldine Derroire, Geraldo Wilson Fernandes, Hans van Der Wal, Heitor Mancini Teixeira, Henricus F. M. Vester, Hernando Garcia, Ima C. G. Vieira, Jaider Jimenez-Montoya, Jarcilene S. De Almeida-Cortez, Jefferson S. Hall, Jerome Chave, Jess K. Zimmerman, Jhon Edison Nieto, Joice Ferreira, Jorge Rodriguez-Velazquez, Jorge Ruiz, Jos Barlow, Jose Aguilar-Cano, Jose Luis Hernandez-Stefanoni, Julien Engel, Justin M. Becknell, Katia Zanini, Madelon Lohbeck, Marcelo Tabarelli, Marco Antonio Romero-Romero, Maria Uriarte, Maria D. M. Veloso, Mario M. Espirito-Santo, Masha T. van Der Sande, Michiel van Breugel, Miguel Martinez-Ramos, Naomi B. Schwartz, Natalia Norden, Nathalia Perez-Cardenas, Noel Gonzalez-Valdivia, Pascal Petronelli, Patricia Balvanera, Paulo Massoca, Pedro H. S. Brancalion, Pedro M. Villa, Peter Hietz, Rebecca Ostertag, Rene Lopez-Camacho, Ricardo G. Cesar, Rita Mesquita, Robin L. Chazdon, Rodrigo Munoz, Saara J. DeWalt, Sandra C. Muller, Sandra M. Duran, Sebastiao Venancio Martins, Susana Ochoa-Gaona, Susana Rodriguez-Buritica, T. Mitchell Aide, Tony Vizcarra Bentos, Vanessa de S. Moreno, Vanessa Granda, Wayt Thomas, Whendee L. Silver, Yule R. F. Nunes, Lourens Poorter
Summary: The study revealed large continental-scale variation in the species composition of early successional forests, mainly associated with biogeographic and environmental factors rather than human disturbance indicators. The uniqueness of the floristic composition is partially driven by regionally restricted species belonging to widespread genera, and early secondary forests contribute to restoring and conserving the distinctiveness of bioregions across the Neotropical realm.
Article
Ecology
Jingjing Liang, Javier G. P. Gamarra, Nicolas Picard, Mo Zhou, Bryan Pijanowski, Douglass F. Jacobs, Peter B. Reich, Thomas W. Crowther, Gert-Jan Nabuurs, Sergio De-Miguel, Jingyun Fang, Christopher W. Woodall, Jens-Christian Svenning, Tommaso Jucker, Jean-Francois Bastin, Susan K. Wiser, Ferry Slik, Bruno Herault, Giorgio Alberti, Gunnar Keppel, Geerten M. Hengeveld, Pierre L. Ibisch, Carlos A. Silva, Hans Ter Steege, Pablo L. Peri, David A. Coomes, Eric B. Searle, Klaus Von Gadow, Bogdan Jaroszewicz, Akane O. Abbasi, Meinrad Abegg, Yves C. Adou Yao, Jesus Aguirre-Gutierrez, Angelica M. Almeyda Zambrano, Jan Altman, Esteban Alvarez-Davila, Juan Gabriel Alvarez-Gonzalez, Luciana F. Alves, Bienvenu H. K. Amani, Christian A. Amani, Christian Ammer, Bhely Angoboy Ilondea, Clara Anton-Fernandez, Valerio Avitabile, Gerardo A. Aymard, Akomian F. Azihou, Johan A. Baard, Timothy R. Baker, Radomir Balazy, Meredith L. Bastian, Rodrigue Batumike, Marijn Bauters, Hans Beeckman, Nithanel Mikael Hendrik Benu, Robert Bitariho, Pascal Boeckx, Jan Bogaert, Frans Bongers, Olivier Bouriaud, Pedro H. S. Brancalion, Susanne Brandl, Francis Q. Brearley, Jaime Briseno-Reyes, Eben N. Broadbent, Helge Bruelheide, Erwin Bulte, Ann Christine Catlin, Roberto Cazzolla Gatti, Ricardo G. Cesar, Han Y. H. Chen, Chelsea Chisholm, Emil Cienciala, Gabriel D. Colletta, Jose Javier Corral-Rivas, Anibal Cuchietti, Aida Cuni-Sanchez, Javid A. Dar, Selvadurai Dayanandan, Thales De Haulleville, Mathieu Decuyper, Sylvain Delabye, Geraldine Derroire, Ben Devries, John Diisi, Tran Van Do, Jiri Dolezal, Aurelie Dourdain, Graham P. Durrheim, Nestor Laurier Engone Obiang, Corneille E. N. Ewango, Teresa J. Eyre, Tom M. Fayle, Lethicia Flavine N. Feunang, Leena Finer, Markus Fischer, Jonas Fridman, Lorenzo Frizzera, Andre L. De Gasper, Damiano Gianelle, Henry B. Glick, Maria Socorro Gonzalez-Elizondo, Lev Gorenstein, Richard Habonayo, Olivier J. Hardy, David J. Harris, Andrew Hector, Andreas Hemp, Martin Herold, Annika Hillers, Wannes Hubau, Thomas Ibanez, Nobuo Imai, Gerard Imani, Andrzej M. Jagodzinski, Stepan Janecek, Vivian Kvist Johannsen, Carlos A. Joly, Blaise Jumbam, Banoho L. P. R. Kabelong, Goytom Abraha Kahsay, Viktor Karminov, Kuswata Kartawinata, Justin N. Kassi, Elizabeth Kearsley, Deborah K. Kennard, Sebastian Kepfer-Rojas, Mohammed Latif Khan, John N. Kigomo, Hyun Seok Kim, Carine Klauberg, Yannick Klomberg, Henn Korjus, Subashree Kothandaraman, Florian Kraxner, Amit Kumar, Relawan Kuswandi, Mait Lang, Michael J. Lawes, Rodrigo Leite, Geoffrey Lentner, Simon L. Lewis, Moses B. Libalah, Janvier Lisingo, Pablito Marcelo Lopez-Serrano, Huicui Lu, Natalia Lukina, Anne Mette Lykke, Vincent Maicher, Brian S. Maitner, Eric Marcon, Andrew R. Marshall, Emanuel H. Martin, Olga Martynenko, Faustin M. Mbayu, Musingo T. E. Mbuvi, Jorge A. Meave, Cory Merow, Stanislaw Miscicki, Vanessa S. Moreno, Albert Morera, Sharif A. Mukul, Jorg C. Muller, Agustinus Murdjoko, Maria Guadalupe Nava-Miranda, Litonga Elias Ndive, Victor J. Neldner, Radovan Nevenic, Louis N. Nforbelie, Michael L. Ngoh, Anny E. N'Guessan, Michael R. Ngugi, Alain S. K. Ngute, Emile Narcisse N. Njila, Melanie C. Nyako, Thomas O. Ochuodho, Jacek Oleksyn, Alain Paquette, Elena Parfenova, Minjee Park, Marc Parren, Narayanaswamy Parthasarathy, Sebastian Pfautsch, Oliver L. Phillips, Maria T. F. Piedade, Daniel Piotto, Martina Pollastrini, Lourens Poorter, John R. Poulsen, Axel Dalberg Poulsen, Hans Pretzsch, Mirco Rodeghiero, Samir G. Rolim, Francesco Rovero, Ervan Rutishauser, Khosro Sagheb-Talebi, Purabi Saikia, Moses Nsanyi Sainge, Christian Salas-Eljatib, Antonello Salis, Peter Schall, Dmitry Schepaschenko, Michael Scherer-Lorenzen, Bernhard Schmid, Vladimir Seben, Jochen Schongart, Giacomo Sellan, Federico Selvi, Josep M. Serra-Diaz, Douglas Sheil, Anatoly Z. Shvidenko, Plinio Sist, Alexandre F. Souza, Martin J. P. Sullivan, Somaiah Sundarapandian, Miroslav Svoboda, Mike D. Swaine, Natalia Targhetta, Nadja Tchebakova, Liam A. Trethowan, Robert Tropek, John Tshibamba Mukendi, Peter Mbanda Umunay, Vladimir A. Usoltsev, Gaia Vaglio Laurin, Riccardo Valentini, Fernando Valladares, Fons Van der Plas, Daniel Jose Vega-Nieva, Hans Verbeeck, Helder Viana, Alexander C. Vibrans, Simone A. Vieira, Jason Vleminckx, Catherine E. Waite, Hua-Feng Wang, Eric Katembo Wasingya, Chemuku Wekesa, Bertil Westerlund, Florian Wittmann, Verginia Wortel, Tomasz Zawila-Niedziwiecki, Chunyu Zhang, Xiuhai Zhao, Jun Zhu, Xiao Zhu, Zhi-Xin Zhu, Irie C. Zo-Bi, Cang Hui
Summary: The latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) is a recognized global pattern of species richness. This study used high-resolution mapping and global forest inventory data to quantify the drivers of local tree species richness patterns across latitudes. The results showed that annual mean temperature was the dominant predictor of tree species richness, but in the tropics, high species richness was also influenced by local factors such as topography, soil, and human activity.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Eunice Romero, Teresa Terrazas, Edgar J. Gonzalez, Jorge A. Meave
Summary: The wood anatomy of 13 frequently occurring species in successional tropical dry forests was described in this study. The anatomical features of these species suggest different coping mechanisms for water scarcity, including drought tolerance and drought avoidance strategies. However, there is a large variation in wood features among species, indicating the complexity of the relationship between wood anatomy, function, and ecological performance.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jorge A. Meave, Ken Oyama, Victoria Sosa, Jose Arturo De-Nova
Summary: Botanical Sciences, as a scientific periodical of the Botanical Society of Mexico, has played a significant role in the dissemination of botanical knowledge, particularly in the study of Mexican plants and vegetation. This essay reviews the trajectory of the periodical over the past eight decades and reflects on the challenges it faces and the need to adapt to emerging circumstances. Additionally, it provides an overview of the Special Issue's contents and highlights the main conclusions drawn by the authors.
BOTANICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jose Luis Villasenor, Jorge A. Meave
Summary: Advancing our knowledge on Mexico's floristic richness requires access to various sources. However, the lack of protocols and standards for organization, analysis, and synthesis hinder the integration of these sources. Despite this challenge, floristic knowledge in Mexico continues to grow, and this synthesis highlights the relevance of this knowledge to other fields of study.
BOTANICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biology
Masha T. van der Sande, Jennifer S. Powers, Thom W. Kuyper, Natalia Norden, Beatriz Salgado-Negret, Jarcilene Silva de Almeida, Frans Bongers, Diego Delgado, Daisy H. Dent, Geraldine Derroire, Mario Marcos do Espirito Santo, Juan Manuel Dupuy, Geraldo Wilson Fernandes, Bryan Finegan, Mayra E. Gavito, Jose Luis Hernandez-Stefanoni, Catarina C. Jakovac, Isabel L. Jones, Maria das Dores Magalhaes Veloso, Jorge A. Meave, Francisco Mora, Rodrigo Munoz, Nathalia Perez-Cardenas, Daniel Piotto, Esteban Alvarez-Davila, Yasmani Caceres-Siani, Coralie Dalban-Pilon, Aurelie Dourdain, Dan Du, Daniel Garcia Villalobos, Yule Roberta Ferreira Nunes, Arturo Sanchez-Azofeifa, Lourens Poorter
Summary: The recovery of soil conditions is crucial for successful ecosystem restoration, and research reveals that soil resistance and recovery depend on local conditions such as climate, soil type, and land-use history.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Maiara Bezerra Ramos, Maria Gracielle Rodrigues Maciel, Sonaly Silva da Cunha, Stefanny Martins de Souza, Kamila Marques Pedrosa, Jose Joao Lelis Leal de Souza, Edgar J. Gonzalez, Jorge A. Meave, Sergio de Faria Lopes
Summary: The effects of anthropogenic disturbances on the structure and function of seasonally dry tropical forests are influenced by disturbance type, intensity, and environmental conditions. In a climate change scenario, the interaction between low water availability and chronic anthropogenic disturbances may have drastic consequences on these forests. Our study found that in naturally stressed systems, the effects of human disturbance are strongest in the most water-stressed sites, leading to a less developed community structure and reduced diversity.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Beatriz Arguelles-Marron, Jorge A. Meave, Isolda Luna-Vega, Doris B. Crispin-DelaCruz, Paul Szejner, Fressia N. Ames-Martinez, Ernesto C. Rodriguez-Ramirez
Summary: Climate and water availability drive adaptive variation and plasticity in the hydraulic architecture of TMCF tree species. This study evaluated the effects of temperature, precipitation, and evapotranspiration on oak species in a Mexican TMCF. The results showed that these species have high resilience and adaptability to drought events.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Nadja Rueger, Markus E. Schorn, Stephan Kambach, Robin L. Chazdon, Caroline E. Farrior, Jorge A. Meave, Rodrigo Munoz, Michiel van Breugel, Lucy Amissah, Frans Bongers, Dylan Craven, Bruno Herault, Catarina C. Jakovac, Natalia Norden, Lourens Poorter, Masha T. van der Sande, Christian Wirth, Diego Delgado, Daisy H. Dent, Saara J. DeWalt, Juan M. Dupuy, Bryan Finegan, Jefferson S. Hall, Jose L. Hernandez-Stefanoni, Omar R. Lopez
Summary: By analyzing repeated forest inventory data from wet and dry forests in Mexico and Central America, we discovered two demographic trade-offs and identified five demographic strategies for tree species. Our findings challenge the current conceptual model of Neotropical forest succession by showing the dominance of long-lived pioneers throughout the successional gradient. These findings have significant implications for understanding and predicting the mechanisms of tropical forest succession.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Derio Antonio Jimenez-Lopez, Jose Alberto Gallardo-Cruz, Mario Esteban Veliz, Ruben Martinez-Camilo, Claudio Mendez, Jonathan V. Solorzano, Luis Velazquez-Mendez, Julia Carabias, Gabriela Garcia-Hidalgo, Candelario Peralta-Carreta, Miguelina Sanchez-Gonzalez, Ofelia Castillo-Acosta, Nikolay Marievich Luna-Kamyshev, Jose Luis Villasenor, Jorge A. Meave
Summary: The Usumacinta River Basin is a crucial region for plant biodiversity conservation in Mesoamerica, hosting nearly one third of all vascular plant species and about 6% of the entire flora in the Americas. Further botanical exploration should prioritize areas with limited information to enhance our understanding of the flora in this region.
BOTANICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Rodrigo Munoz, Moises Enriquez, Frans Bongers, Rey David Lopez-Mendoza, Cesar Miguel-Talonia, Jorge A. Meave
Summary: This study examined the effects of two different lithological substrates on the structure, diversity, and species composition of tropical dry forests (TDF), as well as the temporal dynamics of TDF attributes. The results showed that limestone TDF had higher structure and diversity attributes, while phyllite TDF had higher canopy height. The substrates caused differentiation in species composition but did not affect the temporal behavior of composition. This suggests that limestone provides a more favorable environment for TDF development, but the flora on phyllite is better adapted to harsher conditions, resulting in spatially homogeneous TDF dynamics at the landscape level.
FRONTIERS IN FORESTS AND GLOBAL CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jaime Acosta-Arreola, Elisa Dominguez-Hilttinger, Pablo Aguirre, Nicolas Gonzalez, Jorge A. Meave
Summary: Using data-based modelling, a family of dynamic models was constructed to reconstruct the interactions among three tree species and predict future scenarios in an ecological reserve. The models indicate a shift in dominant species and propose intervention strategies to protect native species.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Derio Antonio Jimenez-Lopez, Jose Alberto Gallardo-Cruz, Mario Esteban Veliz, Ruben Martinez-Camilo, Claudio Mendez, Jonathan V. Solorzano, Luis Velazquez-Mendez, Julia Carabias, Gabriela Garcia-Hidalgo, Candelario Peralta-Carreta, Miguelina Sanchez-Gonzalez, Ofelia Castillo-Acosta, Nikolay Marievich Luna-Kamyshev, Jose Luis Villasenor, Jorge A. Meave
Summary: Despite significant efforts to contribute to the knowledge of flora in Mesoamerica, our understanding of the region's biodiversity is still limited. This study compiled information from various sources, finding 6,977 plant species in the Usumacinta River Basin.
BOTANICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
