Crecimiento y rasgos funcionales de la regeneración natural de especies nativas leñosas y su relación con variables ambientales, plantadas en rodales de Pinus patula en la provincia del Azuay

Abstract

Forest plantations with exotic species negatively affect different components of the ecosystem. To mitigate these effects, active ecological restoration activities can be applied. For this, investigative processes must be undertaken that allow knowing the adaptation of native species within plantations with exotic species. The objectives of this research were the following: 1) Evaluate the survival and growth in diameter and height of native woody species. 2) Quantitatively describe the foliar functional traits of the species. 3) Determine the relationship between climate, soil and tree cover variables (50%, 75%, 100%) on growth and functional traits. The research was developed in the province of Azuay in the Irquis and Nero Farms. The native species were established in 2018 and the data for this study were obtained three years later. To evaluate survival, the number of individuals was counted, and their percentage was calculated based on the initial population. To describe the functional traits, 10 leaf samples per species were collected in each plot. To establish relationships, the data of the environmental variables of the WorldClim digital database were obtained, the soil data were taken from composite samples of each plot, the variables measured in objectives one and two were also considered. Pearson and Spearman correlations were used. Myrcianthes rhopaloides presented the highest values of survival and growth in diameter. Height growth was higher in Oreocallis grandiflora. The functional traits of foliar thickness and dry matter were higher in Ocotea heterochroma; leaf area and specific leaf area were higher for Oreopanax andreanus. The variables of survival, diameter and height showed a high correlation with the variables of Potassium, Zinc and the precipitation of the warmest quarter. It was concluded that, with adequate management of the coverage in pine plantations, regeneration turns out to be an adequate strategy to recover diversity in ecosystems affected by exotic species.