摘要：Tropical dry forests (TDF) are highly threatened ecosystems that are often fragmented due to land-cover change. Using plot
inventories, we analyzed tree species diversity, community composition and aboveground biomass patterns across mature
(MF) and secondary forests of about 25 years since cattle ranching ceased (SF), 10–20-year-old plantations (PL), and pastures
in a TDF landscape in Ecuador. Tree diversity was highest in MF followed by SF, pastures and PL, but many endemic and
endangered species occurred in both MF and SF, which demonstrates the importance of SF for species conservation. Stem
density was higher in PL, followed by SF, MF and pastures. Community composition differed between MF and SF due to the
presence of different specialist species. Some SF specialists also occurred in pastures, and all species found in pastures were
also recorded in SF indicating a resemblance between these two land-cover types even after 25 years of succession.
Aboveground biomass was highest in MF, but SF and Tectona grandis PL exhibited similar numbers followed by
Schizolobium parahyba PL, Ochroma pyramidale PL and pastures. These findings indicate that although species-poor, some
PL equal or surpass SF in aboveground biomass, which highlights the critical importance of incorporating biodiversity, among
other ecosystem services, to carbon sequestration initiatives. This research contributes to understanding biodiversity
conservation across a mosaic of land-cover types in a TDF landscape.
