Long-term forest dynamics in the Sierra de Manantlan Biosphere Reserve, Mexico
Additional researchers:
Dr. Blanca Figueroa-Rangel
Funding:
Conacyt - Mexican National Council for Science and Technology; Promep; NERC Radiocarbon Laboratory; Linacre College; St Hugh's College; The Vaughan Cornish Bequest from the University of Oxford
Country:
Mexico 
The Sierra de Manantlan was made a biosphere reserve because of the incredibly high biodiversity of its forest mosaics and because it contains the wild ancestor of maize. However, it is not known if the present forest compostition and structure is part of a successional stage due to intensive utilisation by indigenous human populations in the past or if it is due to natural processes. The long-term forest dynamics are being reconstructed using tree rings and fossil pollen and microfossil charcoal analylises of sediments with the aim to help inform managers and contribute to the biodiversity conservation debate.
Further information for Dr. Blanca Figueroa-Rangel can be found on her departmental site