Original paper
Successional vegetation patterns in abandoned pastures of the lower montane cloud forest zone in the Venezuelan Andes
Gutiérrez Beltrán, Néstor; Gärtner, Stefanie; Gaviria R., Juan C.; Meier, Winfried; Reif, Albert
Phytocoenologia Band 42 Heft 3-4 (2012), p. 101 - 132
91 references
published: Dec 1, 2012
DOI: 10.1127/0340-269X/2012/0042-0528
ArtNo. ESP024004273000, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
The recolonization of abandoned pastures by secondary forest in the lower montane cloud forests belt, between 1800 and 2400 m a.s.l. was studied in the Mucujún watershed of the Venezuelan Andes. Using a side-byside approach, 83 relevés were surveyed based on a chronosequence of about 50 years of succession on recently abandoned pastures to advanced secondary forest. A total of 368 vascular plant species were recorded belonging to 205 genera and 82 families. The phytosociological classification based on the estimated species cover discriminated eight successional communities representing a gradient of successional development. The secondary forest communities were characterized by the species group Viburnum tinoides – Palicourea leuconeura which are species that were established during early successional stages and form the main structure of the secondary forest. Time was the best predictor of forest recovery, while land use intensity determined two successional pathways based mainly on floristic differences. The forest recovery is made evident by an increase in biodiversity and structure; however, the secondary forest communities are still in an intermediate successional stage compared to old growth cloud forest in other locations especially when considering the floristic composition.
Keywords
Phytosociology • forest classification • lower montane forest recovery • ecological restoration • Andes • Venezuela.