ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. For. Glob. Change
Sec. Tropical Forests
Biodiversity and Structural Analysis of Forests at the Altitudinal Boundary Between Dry and Montane Forests: Response of Tree Diversity to Altitudinal Variation in the Northeastern Peruvian Andes
Elver Coronel-Castro 1
ELI PARIENTE MONDRAGON 1,2,3
Rosalynn Y. Rivera 1,4
Junior Chacón 1,5
Aldair Delgado 1,5
MANUEL OLIVA-CRUZ 1
Angel Pilco 1
1. Instituto de Investigación para el Desarrollo Sustentable de Ceja de Selva, Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza de Amazonas, Chachapoyas, Peru
2. Departamento Académico de Agronomía, Agroindustria, Forestal y Agroecología, Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza de Amazonas, Chachapoyas, Amazonas, Perú, Chachapoyas, Peru
3. Instituto de Investigación en Forestería y Ecosistemas Tropicales - INIFET, Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza de Amazonas, Chachapoyas, Amazonas, Perú, Chachapoyas, Peru
4. Escuela de Posgrado, Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza de Amazonas, Chachapoyas, Peru
5. Escuela Profesional de Ingeniería Forestal, Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza de Amazonas, Chachapoyas, Amazonas, Perú, Chachapoyas, Peru
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Abstract
Forests at the altitudinal limits between seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTF) and montane forests in northeastern Peru are key for biodiversity and ecological connectivity. Sixteen 0.1-ha plots were surveyed along a 1900–2700 m a.s.l. gradient, recording 133 species, 76 genera, and 47 families, reflecting high floristic heterogeneity. Diversity indices showed a unimodal pattern, peaking in the transition zone between 2300 and 2500 m (Hill_q1 = 22.36; Hill_q2 = 15.92; estimated richness = 49 species). Diversity decreased at lower SDTF elevations (1900–2100 m) and higher montane sites (>2500 m), likely due to thermal and water limitations. Species dominance shifted along the gradient: Vachellia aroma and Inga adenophylla dominated SDTF, whereas Aiouea montana, Clethra revoluta, and Ilex scopulorum characterized montane forests. Beta diversity revealed pronounced species replacement and highlighted plot S08 as an ecotone with species from both ecosystems. Diameter-class distributions followed an inverted "J" pattern, indicating active regeneration in both ecosystems, with higher recruitment in SDTF. Altitude drives species replacement and shapes a unimodal diversity pattern. We recommend restoring dominant SDTF species, such as Vachellia aroma and Inga adenophylla, in degraded lower-elevation areas, and conserving ecotonal belts as altitudinal corridors to enhance biodiversity and climate resilience.
Summary
Keywords
altitudinal gradient, Chachapoyas, Diversity indices, Floristic diversity, Montane forests, Seasonally dry tropical forest
Received
11 December 2025
Accepted
03 February 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Coronel-Castro, PARIENTE MONDRAGON, Rivera, Chacón, Delgado, OLIVA-CRUZ and Pilco. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Elver Coronel-Castro; MANUEL OLIVA-CRUZ
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