Abstract

LOPEZ, Lidio; GIMENEZ, Melisa  and  VILLALBA, Ricardo. Dendrochronology as a useful tool to assess the variability of radial growth in 11 tropical species from Bolivia. Ecología en Bolivia [online]. 2023, vol.58, n.1, pp.7-14.  Epub Apr 31, 2023. ISSN 1605-2528.

Dendrochronological methods have allowed to determine variations in radial tree growth in the tropical dry forests of the Chiquitania in Bolivia. To date, growth ring analyses have been applied to 11 species from 12 sites in the region. As expected, diameter generally increases with tree age, but growth rates differ between species, and for the same species between sites with different site conditions. Thus, to reach 40 cm in diameter, fast-growing species such as Ficus boliviana requires on average approximately 38 years, while slow-growing species such as Aspidosperma tomentosum requires on average 150 years to reach this diameter. Fast-growing species, located mostly in the more humid environments, register radial growth rates close to 1.20 cm/year, while, in the drier environments, high- density woods show increases close to 0.25 cm/year. The contrasting growth rates among different species in the Chiquitania indicate the importance of considering these differences in radial growth rates, and apply management plans designed for each species and site. New criteria for forest use and conservation should take into account these variations in growth rates among species, recognizing differences in the time required for a stand to reach maturity and maximize the ecosystem services it provides to the community.

Keywords : Chiquitanian forests; Diametric growth; Forest management.

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