Current Research Projects (in Los Tuxtlas)
Our Restoration Plantings Experiment is composed of 24 30x30m plots separated by 35 m of actively-grazed pasture in Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico (established 2006). The plots are divided into three treatments:
- Eight fenced plots planted with 12 animal-dispersed species. - Eight fenced plots planted with 12 wind-dispersed species. - Eight fenced plots that were left unplanted to simulate natural succession. The main research question is: How does planting composition influence tropical forest restoration? The main prediction is: Plantings of animal-dispersed species will attract more dispersal agents, which will enhance seed dispersal and seedling establishment of non-pioneer plant species. This will bring the animal-plantings to approximate the forest most in forest structure, biodiversity, and ecological functioning, followed by wind-plantings, and lastly the natural succession plots. In my dissertation I compared the three treatments in the following manners: - CH1: Forest Structure and Plant Abundance. - CH2: Invasibility to the Understory Exotic Fern, Nephrolepis brownii. - CH3: Soil Nutrients and Stable Isotopes - CH4: Seed Foraging Intensity from Rodents I also wrote a perspective piece on the differential roles that dispersal agents play in these developing forest islands separated by actively-grazed or other agricultural activities. As I publish the other chapters I will update this website to provide the links. The ultimate purpose of my research is to provide as much information as possible about this restoration strategy. My dream and goal is to take this information back to my home country (Colombia), establish an NGO dedicated to forest restoration, and provide work opportunities to local communities through forest restoration, wildlife photography, and ecotourism. |
PUBLICATIONS
- Beltrán, L. C., Aguilar-Dorantes, K. M., & Howe, H. F. (2020). Effects of a recalcitrant understory fern layer in an enclosed tropical restoration experiment. NeoBiota, (59) 99-118.
- Beltrán, L. C., & Howe, H. F. (2019). The frailty of tropical restoration plantings. Restoration Ecology, 28(1), 16-21.
- Beltrán, L. C., & Tepos-Ramirez, M. (2020). Microlophus delanonis (Hood Lava Lizard) Cannibalism. Herpetological Review Natural History Notes, 50(4) 787-788