Examining functional diversity in two plant communities under ecological restoration in Farallones de Cali, Colombia

Introduction: Functional diversity is crucial in understanding species performance and monitoring ecological restoration processes. In Valle del Cauca, Colombia, where only a small percentage of tropical dry forest remains, ongoing ecological restoration efforts are vital. However, monitoring of restoration efforts is typically not conducted. Objective: To compare the functional diversity of two plant communities, restored two and eight years ago, in the Loma Larga reserve, Colombia. Methods: We assessed nine functional traits in the five most significant species of each community. The analysis included contrast tests for functional trait differences, as well as functional diversity indices. Results: The 8-year community displayed greater values for maximum height, diameter at breast height, and specific leaf area. Conversely, the 2-year community exhibited higher leaf thickness. Moreover, the 8-year community presented the highest values in the functional indices: richness, evenness, divergence, dispersion, and specialization. Conclusions: Ecological restoration had a positive impact on plant communities, as evidenced by increased functional diversity and structural complexity in the 8-year community compared to the 2-year community. This suggests that ecological succession processes advance significantly over time, leading to more resilient and functionally diverse communities. The analysis of functional traits stands out as an effective tool for monitoring the success of restoration and guiding future efforts in critically threatened ecosystems such as tropical dry forests.