Ecological characterization of plots affected by fires in the southeast of Coahuila, Mexico

Abstract

Among the factors that influence the composition, structure, functioning and dynamics of ecosystems, fire is one of the mostimportant and widespread in the world. Knowledge about the dynamics of post-fire recovery of the vegetation constitutes the basisfor the management of areas impacted by forest fires; the above is more important when it comes to areas with little information onthe response of vegetation to fire, such as the vegetation of semi-arid ecosystems. The objective of this study was to characterize thebiodiversity of the vegetation in experimental plots, which were affected by a forest fire, through the ecological parameters ofabundance (ARi), dominance (DRi), frequency (FRi) and importance value index. (IVI) in order to determine the floristiccomposition of post-fire areas in semi-arid zones. Despite the fact that biodiversity has been affected as shown by the resultsobtained, since these are dominated by a single species (Quercus pringlei Seemen ex Loes.), the tendency they show is to recovernaturally as indicated by the results, values of ecological importance where Yucca carnerosana (Trel.) McKelvey stands out as anelement that gives support and structure to the ecosystem. The study of post-fire recovery dynamics in semi-arid areas of Mexico isof the utmost importance, since it is valuable information that contributes to knowledge to address the risks that may arise during aforest fire, to generate initiatives for its conservation.