Diversidad y estructura de la vegetación herbácea del sotobosque y su relación con la herbivoría y la Luz, en el bosque Amazónico del Pongo de Qoñec, Sur Peruano: Diversity and structure of the herbaceous understory vegetation and its relationship with herbivory and light in the Amazonian forest of Pongo de Qoñec, Southern Peru

Nayshia A.  Huaman-Ovalle; Isau  Huamantupa-Chuquimaco

doi:10.55873/gentryana.v2i1.247

Authors

Nayshia A. Huaman-Ovalle Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5462-5166
Isau Huamantupa-Chuquimaco Universidad Nacional Amazónica de Madre de Dios https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4153-5875

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55873/gentryana.v2i1.247

Keywords:

abundance, coverage, effect, seedlings, richness

Abstract

Herbaceous vegetation populations play a crucial role in ecological balance, especially in the understorey. However, they are little studied in the tropics. We assessed the understory herbaceous populations in a permanent plot in the Amazonian forest of the Kosñipata valley in southern Peru. All herbaceous individuals were evaluated in 10 subplots of (10 x 10 m), evaluating tree seedlings, lianas, shrubs and herbaceous individuals, with diameters less than 1.5 cm. Variables of cover, abundance, herbivory and light were considered. The results reveal the presence of 3 443 herbaceous individuals, distributed in 186 species, 115 genera, belonging to 60 families; the families with the highest species richness were: Fabaceae, Araceae, Acanthaceae and Marantaceae respectively. The most abundant species were: Entada aff. polyphylla, Myroxylon balsamum, Iriartea deltoidea and Polybotrya sp1. At the cover level, the species with the largest area were: Anthurium croatii, Iriartea deltoidea, Dennstaedtia dissecta and Pteridium sp. Abundances, covers and heights of tree, shrub, herb and liana seedlings showed significant differences (Kruskal-Wallis; P< 0.001). Herbivory was more related to plant abundance, cover and height than light incidence (r; P< 0.05). Furthermore, a significantly low effect of light on biological parameters was observed, with R² values < 0.1. We conclude that the diversity of herbaceous plants in the understory of the Pongo de Qoñec is varied, with differences between habits. Light has a limited impact.

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Diversity and structure of the herbaceous understory vegetation and its relationship with herbivory and light in the Amazonian forest of Pongo de Qoñec, Southern Peru