Analysis of spatial distribution patterns of individuals of Inga thibaudiana andCedrelinga cateniformis in the Amazon region - Peru

Abstract

Various authors show that, to carry out adequate sustainable management of forest ecosystems, it is vitally important to have the ability to know the spatial structure of forests with precision and the modifications that forest exploitation can cause to said structure. Thus, the objectives of this study were: to examine and characterize the spatial pattern of the tornillo (Cedrelinga cateniformis (Ducke) Ducke) and guabilla (Inga thibaudiana DC.) and analyze its relationship with the altitude

(m) above sea level, distance (m) from the usable trees to a river and the distance (m) of the usable trees to a seed tree. The statistical analysis was carried out through the tools of analysis of spatial point patterns, which provide a set of methods, which based on the georeferenced location of the species allowed estimating: the intensity of points, the function K(r) and L(r) and perform hypothesis tests of the underlying specific process in the study area. Likewise, based on the formulation of models, the relationships with a set of spatial covariates were evaluated. The methods used show a non-homogeneous spatial pattern of all the tornillo and guabilla trees present in the study areas, clearly perceiving the aggregation of points at short distances (approximately 15 meters) and significant throughout the range studied. Also, it was determined that the intensity of guabilla is related to the distance to the seedbed, while the tornillo is also related to the altitude above sea level and the distance to the rivers, which could be seen in at least one of the four study areas.