The tropical dry forest (TDF) biome has undergone a diversity of severe disturbances, with resulting transformations and continued pressures making this type one the Earth’s most threatened. Supporting large numbers native, often endemic species, fragments TDF serve as important but precarious refugia. There are global efforts to restore once extensive type, impact restoration on biodiversity ecosystem function is poorly understood. Here, we present results from an analysis 187 unique...

Abstract The effect of precipitation regime on the C cycle tropical forests is poorly understood, despite existence models that suggest a drier climate may substantially alter source‐sink function these ecosystems. Along gradient containing 12 mature seasonally dry growing under otherwise similar conditions (similar annual temperature, rainfall seasonality, and geological substrate), we analyzed influence variation in (1240 to 642 mm) duration seasonal drought soil C. We investigated...

ABSTRACT Identifying how limited resources, such as nutrients, are allocated across plant organs can provide new insights into ecophysiological strategies, well ecosystem nutrient cycles. Plants may allocate different nutrients within a specific organ or the same among organs. In this study, we explored allocation strategies of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in leaves, stems, roots nine dominant tree species secondary tropical dry forests using scaling analysis. The results showing that N P...

Ecological restoration has become an important strategy to conserve biodiversity and ecosystems services. To restore 15% of degraded as stipulated by the Convention on Biological Diversity Aichi target 15, we developed a prioritization framework identify potential priority sites for in Mexico, megadiverse country. We used most current biological environmental data Mexico assess areas importance feasibility at national scale engaged stakeholders experts throughout process. integrated 8...

ABSTRACT Experimental restoration may both accelerate and elucidate natural processes of succession on degraded agricultural land by offering insight into factors that influence rates the composition resulting communities. A novel study in tropical coexistence with cattle ranching activities was established southern Veracruz, Mexico. The experimental planting 16 mixed‐species stands 18 pioneer late‐successional tree species from September to November 2006 an eroded hillside pasture...

Abstract Soil degradation by deforestation and introduction of exotic grasses is a grave consequence land‐use change in tropical regions during the last decades. restoration following natural succession (i.e., passive restoration) slow because low tree establishment. Introduction plantings human intervention active results promising strategy to accelerate forest soil recovery region. The present research was carried out explore properties after cattle exclusion grazing combined with native...

Summary Nutrient allocation is central to understanding plant ecological strategies and forest roles in biogeochemical cycles. Thought be mainly driven by environmental conditions, nutrient woody organs, especially living tissues, poorly understood. To examine the role of differences tissues (sapwood, SW, vs inner bark, IB), strategies, conditions driving scaling plants, we quantified nitrogen phosphorus main stems coarse roots 45 species from three tropical ecosystems with contrasting...

Abstract Urban green spaces provide ecosystem services that directly or indirectly benefit people, however, urban growth (especially in developing countries) generates the loss of these areas and consequently their services. This paper aims to present effects land use cover changes last 30 years on two basic services, water flow regulation local regional climate main Latin American megacities (São Paulo Mexico City). The study focuses because they reduce heat island effects, improve air...

Summary Along their lengths, stems experience different functional demands. Because bark and wood traits are usually studied at single points on stems, it remains unclear how carbon allocation changes along tip‐to‐base trajectories across species. We examined vs by measuring cross‐sectional areas of outer inner (OB IB), IB regions (secondary phloem, cortex, phelloderm), from stem tips to bases 35 woody angiosperm species diverse phylogenetic lineages, climates, fire regimes, morphologies....

Background: Forest mulch is the habitat of decomposer organisms and protects soil from erosion. In seasonally dry tropical forest, this organic layer lost due to elimination vegetation cover resulting agricultural activities but could be recovered through restoration intervention. Prediction: The seasonality rainfall, composition species richness plantings recruitment in areas under explain accumulation mass. Study site dates: Four-year-old forest Quilamula, Sierra de Huautla, Morelos....

Several studies have shown that rainfall seasonality, soil heterogeneity, and increased nitrogen (N) deposition may important effects on tropical forest function. However, the of these environmental controls microbial communities in seasonally dry forests are poorly understood. In a Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico), we investigated influence heterogeneity (which results two different types, black red soils), seasonality (in successive seasons, wet dry), 3 years repeated N enrichment chemical...

The sub-humid native rainforest in Yucatan is one of the most endangered Mexico. Cattle production main causes land use change and silvopastoral systems are a feasible alternative. This work compares sustainable performance (native intensive) monoculture cattle farms state using Sustainability Assessment for Food Agriculture (SAFA) framework. Questionnaires semi-structured interviews were applied 9 farms. Responses fed to SAFA Tool obtain sustainability polygons. Percentages themes...

Leaf quality (nutrient concentration) and herbivory were studied in a set of dominant tree species regenerating, secondary tropical dry forests growing on limestone the Yucatán Peninsula. The study's objective was to assess how variation nutrient availability affects leaf nitrogen phosphorus concentrations herbivory. Our study included an area young forest (10 y old), with phosphorus-poor soils, old (∼60 which soil P comparatively less limiting. foliage representative each site studied,...

Global burned area has declined by nearly one quarter between 1998 and 2015. Drylands contain a large proportion of these global fires but there are important differences within the drylands, for example, savannas tropical dry forests (TDF). Savannas, biome fire-prone fire-adapted, have reduced area, while fire in TDF is most critical factors impacting biodiversity carbon emissions. Moreover, under climate change scenarios expected to increase its current extent raise risk fires. Despite...

The effect of precipitation regime on N and P cycles in tropical forests is poorly understood, despite global climate models project total reductions during the 21st Century. I investigated influence variation annual (1240–642 mm yr−1) intra-system cycling along a gradient at Yucatan including 12 mature, dry (TDFs) growing under otherwise similar conditions (similar temperature, rainfall seasonality geological substrate). analyzed storage turnover forest floor mineral soil explored...