Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

In Colombia, dry tropical forests represents one of the most degraded, fragmented and less studied ecosystems, constituting a priority research element, therefore, in this paper, we defined the list of plants for dry forests in the department of Tolima supported by TOLI Herbarium collections and records of the authors, which were obtained in botanical expeditions over the last 4 years at these forests. The best sampled municipalities and the places without collections were defined. For the first time for this ecosystem, we registered in Colombia and South America Ophellantha spinosa Standl in The Neme Reserve in Coello, in dry forest in Tolima to Anthodon decussatum Ruiz & Pav., Gustavia santanderiensis R.Knuth and Simira rubescens (Benth.) Bremek. ex Steyerm. During curatorial process of collection, two isotypes were found to be determined, corresponding to Trichilia oligofoliolata M. E. Morales and Trichilia carinata M. E. Morales, these were considered endemic to the dry forests of northern Tolima. We conclude that the best collected places are agricultural research centers and they have generally historical collections including mainly species associated with crops such as weeds and grassland. Thus, forests that are not part of large monocultures in the fertile terraces are partly unexplored and could harbor important and unknown species to the area.

The ant assemblages of a fragment of secondary tropical dry forest located in the Botanical Garden of Cali are presented. Two habitats were chosen: a fragment of forest and a pasture matrix. Samples were taken monthly for six months, using a linear transect of 100 m, with 10 stations spaced 10 m. At each station pitfall traps, epigeal bait and arboreal, sifting and removal of 1 m2 of litter and manual capture survey techniques were applied. Richness, abundance and diversity of ant habitats were determined. Correlation coefficients and regression between temperature, relative humidity and richness of ants were calculated. A total of 13 170 ants representing 55 species, 35 genera and six subfamilies were collected. The forest had the highest species richness with 90.9%. This wealth of diversity indicates the conservation value of the Valle del Cauca myrmecofauna. Although the forest is in the process of regeneration, strongly disturbed by constant fire and human intervention, the ant species richness shows that it remains an invaluable source of biological resources for the conservation of species.

The role of animals as seed dispersal vectors is widely acknowledged, including dispersal by reptiles (saurochory). Most reports of saurochory have been via endozoochory, through feces deposition. We present the first evidence of epizoochory in Iguanas from a dry forest in Colombia via seeds attached to the snout. Our results show that seeds of a cactus Melocactus curvispinus ingested by iguana suffers from their passage through the digestive tract while seeds transported while attached to the snout germinate faster and in higher numbers. Our data suggest that we may have overlooked an alternative means of seed dispersal by lizards that does not comprise a passage through their digestive tract, and that deserves further attention for the understanding of dry forest ecology.

Floristic composition of vascular plants and their distribution is reported for growth habits in a low montane rain forest (2600 m and 2500 mm/yr mean annual precipitation) in the northern Andes, based on a plot of 1 ha. The samples collected represented 318 species/morphospecies, 82 families (nine of which were pteridophytes) and 173 genera. 78% of the samples were identified to species. Groups with most species are pteridophytes (sensu lato), Orchidaceae, Asteraceae, Rubiaceae, Melastomataceae and Piperaceae, that represented 44% of all species recorded. The most diverse genera arePeperomia, Elaphoglossum, Mikania, Anthurium, and Miconia. Three species endemic to Antioquia (Brunellia trianae, Meriania antioquiensis and Mikania fragrans) were found. The individuals found in the plot represent 47% of the species, 48% of the genera and 60% of the families found in Arví Park, a reserve of 11400 hectares in which the plot was located. The plot had 108 species, 30 genera and one family not previously reported for Arvi Park. The number of common taxa between the plot and the Arví Park was 144 species, 142 genera and 69 families. Species richness/family in the plot accounts for 89% of the variation of species richness/family in the Arví Park, and 75% of the generic richness. We conclude that detailed floristic inventory of known area plots provide information representative of the regional flora and permit a rapid approximation of its biodiversity.

Characterization of long-term vegetation in a tropical dry forest (TDF) that is in the process of regeneration permits establishment of patterns of composition, structure and dynamics of plant communities and sheds light on the different stages of plant succession. In this study, the plant community of ecoparque Bataclán, Cali, Colombia was evaluated by determining its structure and composition in two regeneration strategies. One strategy consisted of natural regeneration with bamboo barriers and the other of natural regeneration without bamboo barriers. Three permanent plots of 500 m2 were established in each regeneration strategy (six plots in total). Composition and structure was determined, taking into account all the growth habits, with different sampling methods. We found no significant differences between vegetation structure and composition of the two strategies for forest regeneration. forty-one species belonging to 27 families were recorded (trees and shrubs 58.5 %, herbs 24.4 %, climbers or scandents 14.6 %, epiphytes 2.4 %). The dominant family was Melastomataceae and the dominant species was Miconia prasina. The orchidCatasetum ochraceum and the grass Thrasya petrosa were indicator species for high luminosity. We conclude that the plant community is in an early successional stage, where there is a mixture of planted and naturally regenerated species in the zone, characterized by pioneer species from TDF and other nearby life zones.

The floristic composition of trees and shrubs in tropical dry forest fragments in Río Hato, Panama was studied. We established 61 plots of 100 m2 distributed randomly, totaling 0.61 hectares. In each sampling unit we measured all individuals above 5.0 cm DAP. We found a total of 52 tree species represented in 25 families, of which Fabaceae, Burseraceae, Myrtaceae and Rubiaceae account for 35% of the species. The species Sloanea terniflora was found in more than 60.6% of the quadrants. This species also proved to be the one with the highest relative dominance (23%) followed by Anacardium excelsum, with only 15 individuals of large diameters, showing a relative dominance of 10%. Mean diversity indices revealed intermediate values (Shannon index 3.13). While the number of tree species is relatively low when compared to other tropical dry forests in the region, the fragments in Río Hato preserve floristic elements of ecological importance for the conservation of tropical dry forests. Garcinia madruno, the most abundant species is a key species in fruit production for wildlife and other species have been overexploited as timber resources, e.g., Manilkara sapota and Copaifera aromatica. Establishing conservation strategies to safeguard these fragments as a source of tropical dry forest species and as wildlife refuges should be a priority for Panama.

In the management of forest plantations decisions on tree bucking are important as they directly affect profitability. Proper and efficient use of stems is necessary in order to maximize the economic benefits derived from the forestry sector. There are various possible combinations for sizing and assigning different forest products according to market requirements. This study aims to develop a methodology based on heuristics and dynamic programming for bucking optimization of individual stems to maximize the economic value of the tree. The evaluation of bucking models was conducted through a practical application on stems of Eucalyptus tereticornis growing on the Colombian Atlantic coast. An algorithm for generating potential points along the commercial bole of the tree was used and an algorithm based on dynamic programming determined the optimal combination of products to be obtained in the evaluated stem, by imposing constraints on the model based on the size of the demanded products. A comparison of the results obtained with a simulation of sequential bucking did not find any difference between the two methods, mainly due to the marked differentiation between products used in the practical example. This methodology can be used to optimize the bucking of any species that has taper functions to predict upper-stem diameters and heights and commercial volumes along the stem.

Based on the floristic composition and structural aspects, the formation tropical dry forest of the reserve "Los Besotes" (Valledupar, Cesar; 248 y 1046m of altitude) was characterized. In 35 individuals from nine dominant tree species in two forest types, the phenological characteristics were assessed. Seven monitoring were performed along one year according to the scheme of distribution of rainfall. The leaf fall in the forests of Myrcianthes aff. fragrans and Brosimum alicastrum did not exceed 20% regardless of the climatic period (drought or rainy seasons). In others dominant understory species the leaf fall was less than 40%, thus species of the canopy are classified as evergreen while those of the understory as semideciduous. Blooming peaked during the dry season while fruit production peaked during the two rainy seasons. In the forest ofBursera simaruba and Pterocarpus acapulcensis the leaf fall exceeded 60% in the dry season, while in the rainy season was only 30%. The leaf fall increased to 60% in others dominant understory species. Both canopy as well as understory species are deciduous. Blooming was observed during the dry season (December to March, and July), but it is also likely to occur in October; fruit production was observed at the end of the rainy season. In the tropical dry forest formation evergreen plant communities with low values of leaf fall (40%) and deciduous communities with values greater than 60% are recognized.

Information on the flora of the dry forests of southern Huila province was revised, with emphasis on intermediate pioneer species that can support processes of ecological restoration and conservation of biodiversity, these data were compared with those obtained in the field over the past 30 years. According to literature, 203 intermediate pioneer species distributed in 123 genera and 45 botanical families were identified for Huila, while for La Jagua field data recorded 155 species grouped in 111 genera and 45 families among which Leguminosae, Rubiaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Malvaceae, Melastomataceae and Moraceae are the most important families. The main types of hedges in the landscape of La Jagua are described, with notes on major plant species, conservation status and representative fauna. A list of 155 intermediate pioneer species is proposed, with the most important attributes for use in processes of conservation and ecological restoration of dry forests in the region. This type of species is key in generating habitat, connectivity, resources for wildlife and production of resources such as firewood and wood for communities, within a model of landscape management tools.

The urban forest of the municipalities of the Aburra Valley, Colombia, is deteriorating as a result of drought and heat stress, air pollution, urbanization, pests and diseases. In order to record the symptoms of progressive deterioration (DP) of trees such as wilting of branches and downward drying, a sample of 11 710 individuals from 25 tree species and palms in the metropolitan area of the Aburrá Valley was carried out. A multivariate logit model was estimated to relate the incidence ofDP with dasometric characteristics of individuals, the planting site and the extent of damage. 720 individuals with DP(incidence 6.1%) were found. The logit model had a satisfactory fit to the data and showed that there is a statistically significant relationship between the incidence of tree deterioration and tree diameter, location (municipality), species, planting site (green, hard floor, container ) and other damaging factors.