Resumen
- Scattered trees in pastures are important agroecosystems in the livestock landscapes of the Colombian Caribbean, for his contribution to the conservation and protection of tree species. The objective of the study was to characterize the composition and floristic diversity of trees scattered in pastures, in tropical dry forest conditions in the Caribbean region of Colombia. The study area was located in the municipality of Agustín Codazzi, Cesar and corresponded to wooded pastures with a prevalence of naturalized grasses. All trees with DBH > 10 cm were taxonomically classified and measured for diameter at breast height (DBH), total height and reiterative height. The horizontal structure was estimated by the importance value index (IVI) and the vertical structure by the crown scatter diagram method (OGAWA), in addition, diversity was calculated through the Shannon (H') and Simpson (D) indices. A total of 750 individuals were registered, belonging to nine botanical families, 22 genres and 28 species, the Fabaceae family had the highest representation with 12 species. The species Albizia saman (82.3 %), Guazuma ulmifolia (77.8 %) and Maclura tinctoria (17.2 %) presented the largest IVI and 50.87% of the censused individuals had an average total and reiteration height of 10.93 + 3.3 m and 5.43 + 2.1 m, respectively, the crown scatter diagram presented a distribution without stratification, the diametric classes showed a trend in L or J inverted where most of the trees were concentrated in the first classes. Tree diversity in the study area was low, according to the results obtained in the Shannon 1.4 + 0.4 and Simpson 0.6 + 0.1 indices, possibly due to constant anthropic intervention, however, its importance is evident at the landscape level, contributing to the conservation of endangered species and natural regeneration processes. Also, scattered trees can provide ecosystem services, such as soil health improvement, water regulation, carbon sequestration, fodder and fruit production, food source for pollinating insects, availability of firewood and wood, which are functions and attributes, necessary for the sustainability of the system and the protection of natural resources