Appraising forest diversity in the seasonally dry tropical region of the Gulf of Mexico

Seasonally dry tropical regions in the Neotropics are remarkably biodiverse and provide valuable ecosystem services. Thus, it is crucial to increase and update our information on the biodiversity still preserved within them, particularly in poorly studied areas such as the central coastal plain of...

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Main Authors: Natalia Mesa-Sierra, Federico Escobar, Javier Laborde
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México 2020-07-01
Series:Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
Subjects:
Online Access:https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/3175
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author Natalia Mesa-Sierra
Federico Escobar
Javier Laborde
author_facet Natalia Mesa-Sierra
Federico Escobar
Javier Laborde
author_sort Natalia Mesa-Sierra
collection DOAJ
description Seasonally dry tropical regions in the Neotropics are remarkably biodiverse and provide valuable ecosystem services. Thus, it is crucial to increase and update our information on the biodiversity still preserved within them, particularly in poorly studied areas such as the central coastal plain of the Gulf of Mexico, our study area. A total of 5,583 individuals belonging to 157 species, 113 genera, and 43 families were recorded in 29 forest patches (total sampling area = 8.7 ha). From the floristic composition of these patches, 6 vegetation types were identified: Tropical Dry Oak Forest, Tropical Deciduous Forest, Semi-deciduous Forest, Late Secondary Forest, Intermediate Secondary Forest and Early Secondary Forest. Spatial variation in composition was strongly related to edaphic variables (pH, organic matter, carbon content). Some patches had high local (α) diversity, but even more noteworthy was the distinctively high regional (β) diversity of all the patches together. In spite of the high degree of forest fragmentation in central Veracruz, our results show that it is essential to acknowledge the value of this region to biodiversity and the urgency of developing and implementing protection and management policies that ensure the ecological functions of the landscape and the sustainable development of human activities.
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publisher Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
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spelling doaj-art-e47480bec2994a24941579b4583cedc12025-08-20T01:49:22ZengUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoRevista Mexicana de Biodiversidad1870-34532007-87062020-07-019110.22201/ib.20078706e.2020.91.3175Appraising forest diversity in the seasonally dry tropical region of the Gulf of MexicoNatalia Mesa-Sierra0Federico Escobar1Javier Laborde2Instituto de Ecología, A.C.Instituto de Ecología, A.C.Instituto de Ecología, A.C. Seasonally dry tropical regions in the Neotropics are remarkably biodiverse and provide valuable ecosystem services. Thus, it is crucial to increase and update our information on the biodiversity still preserved within them, particularly in poorly studied areas such as the central coastal plain of the Gulf of Mexico, our study area. A total of 5,583 individuals belonging to 157 species, 113 genera, and 43 families were recorded in 29 forest patches (total sampling area = 8.7 ha). From the floristic composition of these patches, 6 vegetation types were identified: Tropical Dry Oak Forest, Tropical Deciduous Forest, Semi-deciduous Forest, Late Secondary Forest, Intermediate Secondary Forest and Early Secondary Forest. Spatial variation in composition was strongly related to edaphic variables (pH, organic matter, carbon content). Some patches had high local (α) diversity, but even more noteworthy was the distinctively high regional (β) diversity of all the patches together. In spite of the high degree of forest fragmentation in central Veracruz, our results show that it is essential to acknowledge the value of this region to biodiversity and the urgency of developing and implementing protection and management policies that ensure the ecological functions of the landscape and the sustainable development of human activities. https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/3175Forest managementLandscape ecologyPlant diversitySeasonally Dry Tropical ForestSecondary Forest
spellingShingle Natalia Mesa-Sierra
Federico Escobar
Javier Laborde
Appraising forest diversity in the seasonally dry tropical region of the Gulf of Mexico
Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad
Forest management
Landscape ecology
Plant diversity
Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest
Secondary Forest
title Appraising forest diversity in the seasonally dry tropical region of the Gulf of Mexico
title_full Appraising forest diversity in the seasonally dry tropical region of the Gulf of Mexico
title_fullStr Appraising forest diversity in the seasonally dry tropical region of the Gulf of Mexico
title_full_unstemmed Appraising forest diversity in the seasonally dry tropical region of the Gulf of Mexico
title_short Appraising forest diversity in the seasonally dry tropical region of the Gulf of Mexico
title_sort appraising forest diversity in the seasonally dry tropical region of the gulf of mexico
topic Forest management
Landscape ecology
Plant diversity
Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest
Secondary Forest
url https://revista.ib.unam.mx/index.php/bio/article/view/3175
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