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First typology of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) systems in Colombian Amazonia, based on tree species richness, canopy structure and light availability

AIM AND BACKGROUND: We present a typology of cacao agroforest systems in Colombian Amazonia. These systems had yet to be described in the literature, especially their potential in terms of biodiversity conservation. The systems studied are located in a post-conflict area, and a deforestation front i...

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Autores principales: Suárez Salazar, Juan Carlos, Ngo Bieng, Marie Ange, Melgarejo, Luz Marina, Di Rienzo, Julio A., Casanoves, Fernando
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Public Library of Science 2018
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5798779/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29401499
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0191003
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author Suárez Salazar, Juan Carlos
Ngo Bieng, Marie Ange
Melgarejo, Luz Marina
Di Rienzo, Julio A.
Casanoves, Fernando
author_facet Suárez Salazar, Juan Carlos
Ngo Bieng, Marie Ange
Melgarejo, Luz Marina
Di Rienzo, Julio A.
Casanoves, Fernando
author_sort Suárez Salazar, Juan Carlos
collection PubMed
description AIM AND BACKGROUND: We present a typology of cacao agroforest systems in Colombian Amazonia. These systems had yet to be described in the literature, especially their potential in terms of biodiversity conservation. The systems studied are located in a post-conflict area, and a deforestation front in Colombian Amazonia. Cacao cropping systems are of key importance in Colombia: cacao plays a prime role in post conflict resolution, as cacao is a legal crop to replace illegal crops; cacao agroforests are expected to be a sustainable practice, promoting forest-friendly land use. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We worked in 50 x 2000 m(2) agroforest plots, in Colombian Amazonia. A cluster analysis was used to build a typology based on 28 variables characterised in each plot, and related to diversity, composition, spatial structure and light availability for the cacao trees. We included variables related to light availability to evaluate the amount of transmitted radiation to the cacao trees in each type, and its suitability for cacao ecophysiological development. MAIN RESULTS: We identified 4 types of cacao agroforests based on differences concerning tree species diversity and the impact of canopy spatial structure on light availability for the cacao trees in the understorey. We found 127 tree species in the dataset, with some exclusive species in each type. We also found that 3 out of the 4 types identified displayed an erosion of tree species diversity. This reduction in shade tree species may have been linked to the desire to reduce shade, but we also found that all the types described were compatible with good ecophysiological development of the cacao trees. MAIN CONCLUSIONS AND PROSPECTS: Cacao agroforest systems may actually be achieving biodiversity conservation goals in Colombian Amazonia. One challenging prospect will be to monitor and encourage the conservation of tree species diversity in cacao agroforest systems during the development of these cropping systems, as a form of forest-friendly management enhancing sustainable peace building in Colombia.
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spelling pubmed-57987792018-02-23 First typology of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) systems in Colombian Amazonia, based on tree species richness, canopy structure and light availability Suárez Salazar, Juan Carlos Ngo Bieng, Marie Ange Melgarejo, Luz Marina Di Rienzo, Julio A. Casanoves, Fernando PLoS One Research Article AIM AND BACKGROUND: We present a typology of cacao agroforest systems in Colombian Amazonia. These systems had yet to be described in the literature, especially their potential in terms of biodiversity conservation. The systems studied are located in a post-conflict area, and a deforestation front in Colombian Amazonia. Cacao cropping systems are of key importance in Colombia: cacao plays a prime role in post conflict resolution, as cacao is a legal crop to replace illegal crops; cacao agroforests are expected to be a sustainable practice, promoting forest-friendly land use. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We worked in 50 x 2000 m(2) agroforest plots, in Colombian Amazonia. A cluster analysis was used to build a typology based on 28 variables characterised in each plot, and related to diversity, composition, spatial structure and light availability for the cacao trees. We included variables related to light availability to evaluate the amount of transmitted radiation to the cacao trees in each type, and its suitability for cacao ecophysiological development. MAIN RESULTS: We identified 4 types of cacao agroforests based on differences concerning tree species diversity and the impact of canopy spatial structure on light availability for the cacao trees in the understorey. We found 127 tree species in the dataset, with some exclusive species in each type. We also found that 3 out of the 4 types identified displayed an erosion of tree species diversity. This reduction in shade tree species may have been linked to the desire to reduce shade, but we also found that all the types described were compatible with good ecophysiological development of the cacao trees. MAIN CONCLUSIONS AND PROSPECTS: Cacao agroforest systems may actually be achieving biodiversity conservation goals in Colombian Amazonia. One challenging prospect will be to monitor and encourage the conservation of tree species diversity in cacao agroforest systems during the development of these cropping systems, as a form of forest-friendly management enhancing sustainable peace building in Colombia. Public Library of Science 2018-02-05 /pmc/articles/PMC5798779/ /pubmed/29401499 http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0191003 Text en © 2018 Suárez Salazar et al http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
spellingShingle Research Article
Suárez Salazar, Juan Carlos
Ngo Bieng, Marie Ange
Melgarejo, Luz Marina
Di Rienzo, Julio A.
Casanoves, Fernando
First typology of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) systems in Colombian Amazonia, based on tree species richness, canopy structure and light availability
title First typology of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) systems in Colombian Amazonia, based on tree species richness, canopy structure and light availability
title_full First typology of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) systems in Colombian Amazonia, based on tree species richness, canopy structure and light availability
title_fullStr First typology of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) systems in Colombian Amazonia, based on tree species richness, canopy structure and light availability
title_full_unstemmed First typology of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) systems in Colombian Amazonia, based on tree species richness, canopy structure and light availability
title_short First typology of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) systems in Colombian Amazonia, based on tree species richness, canopy structure and light availability
title_sort first typology of cacao (theobroma cacao l.) systems in colombian amazonia, based on tree species richness, canopy structure and light availability
topic Research Article
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5798779/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29401499
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0191003
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