Wright State University CORE Scholar Browse all Theses and Dissertations Theses and Dissertations 2007 Distribution of Ground-Layer Plant Species in a Fragmented Landscape in the Corozal District, Belize, Central America Divan Catzim Wright State University Follow this and additional works at: https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/etd_all Part of the Biology Commons Repository Citation Catzim, Divan, "Distribution of Ground-Layer Plant Species in a Fragmented Landscape in the Corozal District, Belize, Central America" (2007). Browse all Theses and Dissertations. 157. https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/etd_all/157 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at CORE Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Browse all Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of CORE Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. DISTRIBUTION OF GROUND-LAYER PLANT SPECIES IN A FRAGMENTED LANDSCAPE IN THE COROZAL DISTRICT, BELIZE, CENTRAL AMERICA A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Science By Divan Catzim B.A., University of Belize, 2004 2007 Wright State University WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES UAugust 13, 2007 I HEREBY RECOMMEND THAT THE THESIS PREPARED UNDER MY SUPERVISION BY UDivan CatzimU ENTITLED UDistribution of ground-layer plant species in a fragmented landscape in the Corozal district, BelizeU BE ACCEPTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF UMasters of Science. ______________________ James R. Runkle, Ph.D. Thesis Advisor ______________________ David L. Goldstein, Ph.D. Department Chair Committee on Final Examination ________________________ James R. Runkle, Ph.D. ________________________ Thomas Rooney, Ph.D. ________________________ James Amon, Ph.D. ________________________ John Stireman, Ph.D. ________________________ Joseph F. Thomas, Jr., Ph.D. Dean, School of Graduate Studies ABSTRACT Catzim, Divan. M.S., Department of Biological sciences, Wright State University, 2006. Distribution of ground-layer plant species in a fragmented landscape in the Corozal district, Belize. In this study, I specifically looked at three major issues regarding 36 target plant species in a fragmented landscape in the Corozal district, Belize: 1) Determine woodlot characteristics that tend to favor the target species. 2) Determine plant characteristics that tend to favor the target species. 3) Determine whether age and size of a woodlot favors the presence of the target species. The study area was divided into three areas and each area had woodlots varying in sizes and ages. 36 plant species were sampled in all woodlots upon which woodlot characteristics and species characteristics were associated with the number and frequency of these plants. Data was analyzed using Correlation techniques, Stepwise Regression analysis and Detrended Correspondence analysis. Woodlot and species characteristics seem to be confounding. Woodlot characteristics that yielded greater species richness for the correlation and regression techniques are older, larger, closer to Shipstern Nature Reserve, farther from sugar cane fields and farther away from papaya fields. Woodlots that are older, closer to Shipstern Nature reserve and farther away from papaya fields had higher Axis 1 values for DECORANA. iii Species were more widespread when they were insect pollinated for the correlations and regression analysis. Species had higher Axis 1 values if they were insect pollinated and higher Axis 2 values if they are perennials. Over all, our data suggest that the Copper Bank area is more species rich because the woodlot and species variables accounted seem to favor the presence of more of the target species in this area, whereas these properties of woodlots are lacking in the other two areas namely San Narciso and Santa Elena. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………...1 II. METHODS……………………………………………………………………….....13 Study area…….……………..……………………………………………………13 Selection of sites..………………………………………………………………..16 Woodlot structure..………………………………………………………………17 Selection of species………………………………………………………………18 Data collection for species distributions……….………………………………...18 Soil collection and analysis……………………………………………………...19 Analytical methods ………………………….......………………………………20 III. RESULTS Diameter breast height distributions……………………………………………26 Soil analyses…………………………………………………………………….26 Woodlot characteristics………………………………………………………….27 Species characteristics…………………………………………………………...28 Relationships among other variables: Woodlot characteristics………………………………………………………….28 Species characteristics…………………………………………………………...29 Ordinations: Woodlot characteristics……………………………………………29 Species characteristics…………………………………………………………...30 v IV. DISCUSSION Diameter breast height…………………………………………………………...31 Size and age of woodlot………………………………………………………….32 Microsite characteristics…………………………………………………………33 Soil analyses……………………………………………………………………...35 Woodlot characteristics…………………………………………………………..36 Species characteristics…………………………………………………………...44 Ordinations: woodlot characteristics…………………………………………….46 Ordinations: species characteristics……………………………………………...47 V. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Conclusion……………………………………………………………………….48 Economics of the Corozal district……………………………………………….49 Constraints……………………………………………………………………….51 VI. LITERATURE CITED……………………………………………………………77 vi LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1) Soil Analysis results…………………………………………………………………..53 2) Kolmorogov-Smirnov test for DBH…………………………………………………..54 vii LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE PAGE 1. Monthly Average rainfall for Consejo and Libertad Weather Stations……….……..55 2. Monthly Average temperature for the Corozal district(1992-2002)…………..……..56 . 3. Map of Belize showing project/research sites in the Corozal District………….……57 4. Distribution of stems at DBH……….……………………………………………….59 5) Species richness for woodlots of different age classes………………………………60 6) Species richness in relation to size and age of woodlots………………………….....61 7) Species richness in relation to distance to Shipstern Nature Reserve……………….62 8) Species richness in relation to sugar cane fields……………………………………..63 9) Species richness in relation to papaya fields………………………………………...64 10) Species richness and woodlot proximity to each other……………………………...65 11) Ordination graph showing the distribution of woodlots…………………………….66 12) Ordination graph showing distribution of species pollinated by insects……………67 13) Ordination graph for Axis 2 values showing lifespan and pollination agents…...….68 viii APPENDIX Table Page 1. Distribution of sizes, ages, elevation and location of the 19 woodlots…………….....69 2. Species used with their family and scientific names…………………………..……..70 3. Raw data obtained while sampling in June of 2006……………………...………….72 4. Codes used for statistical analyses for woodlot characteristics……………………....74 5. Codes used for statistical analyses for species characteristics………………………..75 ix ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I offer my deep appreciation to my committee. In particular to Dr. James Runkle, my advisor, whom I would never have enough words to thank him for everything he has done to support me not only during the process of thesis writing but also along the two years of coursework. He has taught me enough preparing me for a career as an environmental science teacher. Dr. Thomas Rooney who also contributed so much of his knowledge making me realize that the path to success is in the application of good science. Also to Dr. James Amon and Dr. John Stireman for taking part in the challenges of this research paper. Thank you. My parents Hilario and Araceli Catzim, family and friends in Belize were all fundamental in encouraging me to continue pursuing a degree. Especially my dad, who spent all the sweat he had to send me to school. You have taught me the fundamentals of life and most importantly you have taught that everything is possible if we are willing to pursue it. I still remember the days we spent in the cane fields, hard days wasn’t it. My mom always encouraged me to do it the right way and for that, here I present the fruits of those hard days and those words of encouragement. I don’t have all the words in the world to say thanks but I just want to say I love you. Thank you to all those guys that helped me in the sampling process and the collection of information. In particular to Mr. Jose Herrera, Shadier Correa and Dr. Jan Meerman who made my walk on those muddy trails easier. I would also like to thank my grandfather, Mr. Alejandro Avilez for those hard days walking through those dangerous woods. x Special thanks go to Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Gross for providing me with this opportunity to study here in the US. More importantly, I thank you for teaching me that one’s accomplishment is reflected by one’s actions. All those long hours of talking to you has made me realize the importance of global issues such as global warming to developing countries like Belize. Moreover, you made sure that I always had everything I needed and never left me alone. I do not have all the words in the world to thank you and I love you guys. Thank you for everything that you did for me and sorry for cutting your bushes so low. I would also like to thank the community of Lewisburg United Methodist Church, Pastor Mike and all the beautiful people that shared their life with me. Special thanks to Dave Rankin for helping me with recordings of coordinates of the sites on this study. Also I would