Figure 1 . Flowchart of the modeling of vital processes of the dominant species Mimosa acantholoba var. eurycarpa in successional tropical dry forest of Oaxaca State, southern Mexico. Data from three sources (green) were filtered (unframed text), variables were extracted (yellow), and models were fitted to these data (red).

Figure 2 . Vital rates models of Mimosa acantholoba var.eurycarpa through succession. (A) Probability of survival (s ). Background color and isoclines represent values predicted by the fitted model. The color and size of circles represent observed values and sample size, respectively. (B) Average change in height along succession (y – x ). The color and size of circles represent observed values and sample size, respectively. (C) Fecundity (total number of seeds produced per tree). Circles represent observed values; grey circles represent non reproductive trees. (D) Probability histograms and density functions of the heights of recruits and resprouts. (E) Establishment probability of a seed along succession. (F) Number of resprouts introduced each year.

Figure 3. Population dynamics attributes over succession. (A) Population size: predicted (black), observed at both canopy and understory (solid blue), and only canopy (dotted blue). (B) Population growth rate. The large blue circle represents the observed value at age 100 yr; the line is dotted beyond the time for which the model predicts less than one individual, indicating extinction. (C) Predicted population size structures.