Evaluation of population parameters and natural regeneration of Podocarpus oleifolius D. Don (Podocarpaceae) in two wooded relicts of southern Ecuador

Abstract

Knowledge of the structure and dynamics of the population of a species are basic aspects to boost its management. Podocarpus oleifolius D. Don (Podocarpaceae) is ecologically and economically important at local and national levels and its populations have undergone drastic changes due to the overexploitation of their populations. Therefore, the spatial distribution, age structure, sex ratio, population density and natural regeneration in two wooded relics of southern Ecuador were studied. Six plots of 50 x 50 m were installed in each forest relic to collect data from the tree stratum and five nested subplots of 10 x 10 m to assess natural regeneration using three categories: brinzal, low latizal and high latizal. In the Angashcola (Amaluza) forest, the spatial distribution pattern according to the Morisita index (0.50) is grouped; density of 136 individuals / ha; 29 female and 12 male individuals were identified; in natural regeneration, the brinzales with 91 individuals predominate. On the grounds of the Rainbow Ecological Foundation (San Francisco) the spatial arrangement pattern according to the Morisita index (1), is uniform; the density is 22.66 individuals / ha; two female and two male individuals were identified. The high latizal category predominates with 16 individuals. There is dissimilarity of the population dynamics of Podocarpus oleifolius in the two forest relics, evidenced in their population parameters and in natural regeneration, important data to propose recovery proposals for the ecological stability of the species.