Nurses for Brosimum alicastrum reintroduction in secondary tropical dry forest

Abstract

Brosimum alicastrum Sw. is a multi-purpose species and it is dominant in some American tropical forests. In Western Mexico, forests dominated by B. alicastrum, called mojoteras, have been dramatically altered. The present work aims to supply basic elements for the reintroduction of mojoteras in the Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve. The question we posed was: Are there nursing species for the reintroduction of B. alicastrum seedlings in secondary tropical dry forest? A hundred randomly chosen 2-year-old B. alicastrum seedlings were planted in five treatments: under the covering of 80 individuals belonging to four species ( Tabebuia chrysantha (Jacq.) G. Nicolson, Thouinia serrata Radlk., Acacia macilenta Rose and Acalypha cincta Muell. Arg.) and 20 on open ground. After 1 year, the survival of Brosimum alicastrum seedlings was significantly different among the treatments ( G 2=12.11, P<0.05 ). The treatments with the highest significant B. alicastrum seedling survival rate were under the covering of Acalypha cincta and Thouinia serrata (55 and 40%, respectively), whereas under the covering of Acacia macilenta, Tabebuia chrysantha and on open ground, the survival rate was the lowest (<5%).