Restoring montane cloud forest: establishment of three Fagaceae species in the old fields of central Veracruz, Mexico

Tropical montane cloud forest is rapidly disappearing and our knowledge of how to restore this system is limited. In a cloud forest of central Veracruz, Mexico, we studied seedling survival, growth, and causes of mortality (microenvironment and herbivory) of three native tree species, Fagus grandifolia, Quercus germana, and Q. xalapensis, transplanted into abandoned pastures (<1 year old) and secondary forests (9-17 years old). Microenvironment differed between the two habitats, temperature and photosynthetically active radiation were higher, and humidity was lower in the abandoned pastures than in the secondary forests. Seedling survival was greater in secondary forests than in pastures: F. grandifolia, 94 and 64%; Q. germana, 88 and 68%; and Q. xalapensis, 61 and 57%, respectively. The cause of mortality differed between habitats, with gophers (24.2% mortality) and mice (4.8%) killing the most seedlings in pastures, and damping-off (16%) was the most important cause in secondary forests. The relative growth rate in height and basal area was significantly higher in abandoned pastures than in secondary forests; Q. xalapensis had the highest growth rate, followed by Q. germana and F. grandifolia. The environmental conditions in this mountainous cloud forest region seem less stressful to planted seedlings than the conditions of other lowland systems, as frequent clouds favor their establishment even in open sites. We conclude that Fagaceae species can successfully establish in abandoned pastures in mesic environments. Thus, the species studied can be used to speed cloud forest regeneration in the same area at different successional stages.