DIVERSITY AND STRUCTURE OF TREE STRIPS IN AN AGRICULTURAL MATRIX (TOLCHES) IN RELATION TO THE FOREST USE INTENSITY IN YAXCABA, YUCATAN

Background: Tolches are tree strips within agricultural matrix in Yucatan; they provide ecosystem services, including woody material supply. Questions and Hypotheses: Are there differences in the structure of the woody vegetation of the tolches throughout the distance of the town and intensity of use? We hypothesize that structural attributes of the tolches are negatively affectedby the intensity of forest use that is decreasing, from the margins of the town to the agricultural area, until reaching the mature vegetation. Data description: The structural attributes of tolches and mature vegetation (VM) were evaluated, a rarefaction analysis was performed to standardize the sampling effort, and a univariate linear model followed by ex post tests were used. Site and years of study: The study was carried out in tolches and VM of Yaxcaba, Yucatan, from February to July 2019. Methods: 42 sampling units (MUs) were established: 32 MUs were located in tolches, from 3 groups differentiated by their distance from the town and 8 MUs were located in VM. All woody individuals > 2.5 cm dbh were recorded and the differences in the structural values both condi tions were evaluated. Results: The diversity of the tolches were significantly higher than that achieved by the VM related to the distance to the town. Conclusions: The influence of a harvesting pattern based on the distance to the town was determined. Intermediate levels of use favor the wealth and diversity of the tolches.