The role of pioneer Mimosa species in secondary succession in Mexican tropical dry forest

Summary

Tropical dry forests are threatened by deforestation and shifting cultivation. In abandoned crop fields, these forests begin to grow back; young forests are often dominated by leguminous pioneer trees that thrive in the harsh conditions (too hot and dry) typical of recently abandoned fields.

I investigated the impact of the dominant pioneer Mimosa acantholoba on the recovery of these forests in southern Mexico. This species’ strong dominance obstructs the development of young trees of other species, particularly those common in mature forests. Removing a fraction of dominant pioneers can accelerate forest recovery. As Mimosa trees age, their stems gradually degrade and break down, eventually causing their death; this process seems to accelerate forest succession. Given its role in shaping the forest recovery, Mimosa acantholoba emerges as an ecosystem engineer, influencing the speed of tropical dry forest recovery and being potentially crucial in efforts to restore and manage these ecosystems.