Authors : D. Grande, F. de Leon, J. Nahed and F. Perez-Gil
Abstract: Scattered Trees in Pastures (STP) are common in the Sierra Region of Tabasco (SRT) but currently are little known to researchers. The objective of this study was to identify and characterize STP of the SRT. In 23 selected pastures, all trees were inventoried and identified; their density, abundance and diversity were determined and Shannon and Simpson indexes were obtained. Also, diameter at Breast Height (DBH) and height were recorded for the trees and information was obtained regarding uses of the principal tree species. The 1600 STP recorded belonged to 31 botanical families and 75 species. Average density was 38 trees ha>-1, with a range of 12-146 trees ha>-1. Shannon and Simpson indexes were 2.8 and 0.09, respectively. The majority of individuals (1458) belonged to only 24 species. The most abundant species were Cordia alliodora, Cedrela odorata, Tabebuia rosea, Zanthoxhyllum riedelianum and Blepharidium mexicanum, all of which are used as timber, the principal use for most STP. Many species (51) showed a reduced number of individuals in the pastures; 28 of the species only appeared once or twice. A majority of the trees had heights of 5-10 m and DBH of 10-29 cm with an average height of 10.1 m and an average DBH of 27 cm.
D. Grande, F. de Leon, J. Nahed and F. Perez-Gil, 2010. Importance and Function of Scattered Trees in Pastures in the Sierra Region of Tabasco, Mexico. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 5: 75-87.