Environmental conditions and disturbances are important factors that could influence ecological processes. For this reason, it is essential to know the relationship between them. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of environmental conditions and disturbance on three growth stages (adults, germinated individuals, and seeds) of conifers, oaks, and other broadleaf species that compose the temperate forests of the highlands of the Sierra Norte of Oaxaca, Mexico. For this purpose, we established 0.1 ha plots along an altitudinal gradient ranging from 1950 m to 3250 m asl where we sampled vegetation, placed traps for seed rain, and quantified seed germination. We recorded climatic, edaphic, topographic, light, and disturbance conditions. We recorded a positive influence of anthropogenic disturbances on conifers in all their growth stages analyzed. For oaks and other broadleaf species, climatic variables such as temperature and precipitation showed a negative effect on adults and seeds, while disturbance showed no effect. Our results indicate that environmental conditions and anthropogenic disturbances have a differential effect on the biological groups that compose these forests and depending on the growth stage of the biological groups.

Although the dispersal is important for riparian plants, few studies have evaluated the patterns in species richness and composition of propagules deposited by different dispersal types. In the present study we evaluate the temporal and spatial patterns in the diversity of propagules deposited by hydrochory and by other types of dispersal along mountain rivers. To do this, we sampled the propagules deposited in the riparian zone in a distance gradient with respect to the site of origin of the rivers in two seasons. Regarding the temporal analyses, we found no differences in the number of propagules between seasons. In the rainy season we observed a greater number of species deposited by hydrochory, while for other types of dispersal there was a greater number of species in the dry season. Differences in composition were observed for hydrochory but not for other types of dispersal. Regarding the spatial analyses, there were no changes in the number of propagules deposited along the river by hydrochory, while for other types of dispersal an increase was observed in the dry season. A lower number of species deposited by hydrochory along the river in the rainy season was observed. Finally, we observed that turnover increases by other types of dispersal in the dry season but not for hydrochory. The results underline the importance of types of dispersal other than hydrochory in the contribution of propagules dispersed and the temporal and spatial particularities of the hydrochory in mountain rivers.