POPULATION STRUCTURE AND ECOLOGY OF A HIGH ANDEAN FOREST: POLYLEPIS RUGULOSA (ROSACEAE) FROM PERU
Abstract
Thirteen plots of 500m2 were established in the forest of quenoa at Muylaque, district of San Cristóbal (Moquegua), southern of Peru. The population structure showed a predominance of saplings (239 individuals), followed by adults (217 individuals), and seedlings (164 individuals). The average of individuals per plot was higher for the seedlings (18.4 ± 3.6), followed by adults (16.7 ± 4.3) and saplings (12.6 ± 4.5). It was estimated 334 adult individuals per hectare. P. rugulosa yielded floral buds during the wet season (December to February), while in the dry season (July to September) individuals in a vegetative stage predominate. The fruiting stage predominated at the end of the wet season (February to April). The plants affected by anthropogenic activities were accounted up to 13% of the plants evaluated. The associated flora to the P. rugulosa forest is composed of 72 species of herbaceous and shrubby plants distributed in 28 families.