Above-ground phytomass of a tropical deciduous forest on the coast of Jalisco, México

Abstract

ABSTRACT Phytomass was determined for a tropical deciduous forest in Chamela, Jalisco, México. The mean canopy height was 6.9 m, and the total basal area was 25.6 m 2 ha −1 (dbh > 3.0 cm). The estimated phytomass for this forest (85 Mg ha −1 ) is among the highest values for tropical dry forests with similar seasonal climates. A stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that phytomass can be predicted firstly by basal area (R 2 = 0.88), then by wood specific gravity (R 2 = 0.91), and finally by the inclusion of tree height in the regression (R 2 = 0.92). Each new independent variable explained significant variance in the phytomass estimation.