Abstract

CANALES SPRINGETT, Ayling Wetzell; CERONI STUVA, Aldo; DOMINGUEZ TORREJON, Gilberto  and  CASTILLO QUILIANO, Andrés. The effect of light on the natural regeneration of Uncaria tomentosa (Willd) DC "Cat's Claw", in a forest ecosystem at the "Bosque Nacional Alexander Von Humboldt", Pucallpa - Peru. Ecol. apl. [online]. 2013, vol.12, n.2, pp.99-109. ISSN 1726-2216.

The following research was carried out at the Alexander Von Humboldt National Forest BNAVH, belonging to the districts of Irazola, Tournavista and Puerto Inca in the provinces of Padre Abad and Puerto Inca at Huánuco and Ucayali regions respectively. The aim was to evaluate how climatic factors, specifically light, influence the natural regeneration of Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC (Cat's Claw) in natural primary disturbed forests, located in the BNAVH. The evaluation was conducted in six forest types of primary forest characterized by the upper canopy opening caused by the effect of mechanized timber extraction and their orientation relative to the direction of solar illumination, inside which semi-permanent plots were established. In each one, Uncaria biological variables were measured with respect to how much light reached the understory. In these forest types more than 900 individuals of natural regeneration in good phytosanitary conditions can be found per ha, with average diameters of 14 mm. Regarding height, 211 individuals ranged from 30 to 90 cm; 89 ranged from 90 to 150 cm; 210 ranged from 150 to 210 cm and 430 ranged over 2 m. The average light percentage found in these forests is very similar, but exceeds by almost 6% the value reported by other authors for rainforests. To evaluate the average light percentage reaching the understory, data were taken in 10 Secondary Roads (CS) with North-South orientation, 11 CS with east-west, 12 Main Road (VP) with northsouth orientation, 12 VP with east-west, 12 High Road (VS) with north-south and 12 VS with eastwest. These roads were also classified by age since the younger ones got highest light percentages (%) in the understory. Road opening ages ranged from 1 year (youngest) to 5 years.

Keywords : National Forest; lighting; Uncaria tomentosa; cat's claw; natural regeneration.

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