Secondary succession in disturbed Pinus‐Quercus forests in the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico

Abstract We present floristic and structural data on serai plant communities (Old‐Field, Grassland, Shrubland, and Early Successional, Mid‐Successional, and Mature Forest) resulting from the current land use pattern in the Pinus‐Quercus forests in the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. The number of species ranged from 24 in the Old‐Field stage up to 100 in the Mature Forest, and the shrub layer was richest in all the forested stands. An almost complete floristic replacement exists between the open and the forested communities. Quercus and Pinus dominate the canopy of old‐growth stands, but their recruitment does not occur or is very low in the shade. Vigorous seedlings and saplings of these species are found only in the open serai stages or in forest gaps. Demographic and phytosociological data are used to indicate the successional role of dominant species in the forested stages. Some implications of the regional land use patterns for conservation and succession are discussed.