Soil geochemistry characterization and climate vulnerability projections to bark beetle-pine dynamics at “Volcán Nevado de Colima”, Mexico. A high elevation forest study case

Abstract

Characterization of soil components and a weather and climate vulnerability analysis at the Volcanic Complex of Colima, Mexico was conducted. The study was performed through varying forest structures and altitudes for the Dendroctonus Adjuntus-Pinus Hartwegii natural dynamic. Three main forest structures were defined according to the outbreak and post-migration times. (green: no beetle outbreak at the site; yellow and red: not long ago beetle outbreak resulting in yellow and red needles in pines; and grey: long ago post-outbreak, deriving in pines with no more needles and fallen branches). Geochemical components varied across these structures and altitudes in different ways. Main results tell that organic matter, potassium ion, sodium ion, and humidity content had greater concentrations across the yellow and red forest structures, while nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium ion, and magnesium ion had the greatest concentrations across grey structures. The study exhibited that weather parameters appear to be drivers for this natural dynamic at the VCC, where a decrease in precipitation and relative humidity, along with increases in air temperature and radiation correlated to the late outbreaks and high forest vegetation transitions. The cumulative generated data indicates that the dynamic occurs mostly in the altitudinal range comprehended between 3400 and 3800 masl.