Structural characteristics of a pine forest in Tlalnepantla, Morelos State

Abstract

Temperate forests of pine and pine-oak are the main type of vegetation of Tlalnepantla municipality, located at the northeast of Morelos State. It is part of the buffer zone and recharge mantles of the central area of the state. In the La Correa locality a mensuration description was made of the forest population and a diagnosis of the sanitary state of the trees, as background information to design a local ecotourism project. Systematic sampling was applied through the establishment of 20 plots of 1/10 ha. The sanitary conditions of the crown, trunk and vigor were analyzed by an X² test. Demographic analysis was done using static life tables and survival curves which were designed for each species. A morphometric analysis was performed from crown percentage, crown index, crown size, living space index and the degree of slenderness by natural age class for each taxon, as indicators of competition and site quality of the trees. Four species were identified: Pinus patula, P. ayacahuite, P. leiophylla and P. montezumae. Results indicate that the pine forest that was studied is a regular mixed mass, with an average density of 437 ha^-1, mainly made-up by young individuals that develop in low competition places with healthy and vigorous conditions.