Biodiversity relationships in three structural components in a beech forest of Fagus grandifolia subsp. mexicana

Background: Several studies have called attention to beech forest conservation and restoration in Mexico. Human activities ( e.g ., logging and grazing) have perturbed the few beech forests that persist in the Sierra Madre Oriental, Mexico. However, basic information about ecological relationship in beech forests are scarce. Questions: How are the relationship among structural components in a forest with high dominance of Fagus grandiflora subsp. mexicana ? Species study: Fagus grandiflora subsp. mexicana an endangered tree species. Study site and dates: During 2015-2016 in a beech forest of Fagus grandiflora subsp. mexicana in San Bartolo Tutotepec, Hidalgo, Mexico. Methods: In four circular plots (11.28 m diameter), all tree species were recorded. For seed bank sampling five circular subplots were established in each plot. Two soil samples (50 × 50 cm and 5 cm deep) were collected and seedlings were recorded in five subplots (two meters in diameter) in each plot. All species of seeds, seedlings and trees were identified. Results: Seed bank was composed of 32 species while 17 and 9 species were registered for seedlings and trees, respectively. F . grandifolia subsp. mexicana and Quercus delgadoana were abundant both in seedling bank and tree canopy. Species compositions among the three beech forest structural components were significantly different. Conclusions: The relationship among structural components were low. Quercus delgadoana in a future scenario would replace F . grandiflora subsp. mexicana as the dominant species in the forest.