Hyperdominant tree species in Yungas forests of Northwestern Argentina
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25260/EA.26.36.2.0.2671Keywords:
forest aboveground biomass, BIV, forest monitoring, ecological dynamics, permanent plots, RedSPP, AndesAbstract
1. Species abundance distribution is usually markedly skewed, with few very common or hyperdominant species. In this study, we evaluated the relative importance of tree species in the Yungas through the biomass importance value (BIV), as a direct measure of their contribution to forest biomass and ecosystem functioning.
2. We analyzed hyperdominance patterns by integrating data from permanent plots of the Second National Forest Inventory (INBN2) and the Subtropical Plot Network (RedSPP). We identified hyperdominant species at a regional scale, evaluated their spatial variability across latitudinal and altitudinal gradients, and analyzed BIV changes over the last thirty years.
3. We recorded 196 tree species, of which 22 were regionally hyperdominant, representing ≥50% of the total BIV. The identity and number of hyperdominant species varied according to the database, with 11 species in INBN2 and 20 in RedSPP.
4. Eight species were shared by both databases, forming the hyperdominance core of the Yungas.Hyperdominance showed a marked spatial dependence, with a higher concentration of species in the northern sector and in the Selva Pedemontana and Selva Montana. Most of the hyperdominant species with historical monitoring data showed low temporal variability in their BIV, although some understory species showed significant increases in the last 30 years.
5. Implications. This study provides a detailed quantification of tree hyperdominance in the Argentine Yungas and highlights the central role of a small set of species in aboveground biomass accumulation and carbon sequestration. The spatial and temporal stability of these species reinforces their importance for the structural and functional integrity of the forests, providing key information for the design of management and conservation strategies aimed at sustaining these ecosystem services at a regional scale.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Oriana Osinaga Acosta, H. Ricardo Grau, Sergio J. Ceballos, Julieta Carilla, Agustina Malizia, Yohana G. Jimenez, Lucio R. Malizia, Cecilia Blundo
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