Effect of Fire Severity on the Species Diversity and Structure of a Temperate Forest in Northern Mexico

Forests experience disturbances, such as fire, that affect their functioning, structure, and species composition. The objective of this work was to compare the diversity forest structure at sites affected by different degrees fire severity, 9 years after a event. We used differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR) index. Vegetation sampled in three severity levels: high (HS), moderate (MS), low (LS) included unburned (U) level control. In addition, we calculated richness (S), Shannon index (H), Evenness Index (E). structural tree diameters heights measured applying indices H, E, coefficient variation (CV). differences across levels were determined through analyses variance (ANOVA) Tukey’s multiple comparison tests. results showed no significant (p ? 0.05) between levels. lower HS level. dNBR negatively related diversity; thus, it is concluded tends reduce variability terms diameter, height, age. These provide baseline understand how can modify diversity.