Diversidad vegetal a lo largo de un gradiente de perturbación en un ecosistema semi-árido en el Centro de México

Acta Botanica Mexicana

Osvaldo Eric Ramírez-Bravo¹  Lorna Hernández-Santin² 

[1] University of Kent, Durrell Institute for Conservation Ecology, Marlowe Building, CT2 7NR, Canterbury, Kent, EnglandCurrent address: Benemérita UniversidadAutónoma de Puebla, Instituto de Ciencias, Departamento Universitario para el Desarrollo Sustentable, 14 Sur 6301, Colonia San Manuel, Ciudad Universitaria, 72570 Puebla, Puebla, México.;University of Queensland, School of Biological Sciences, Brisbane St Lucia, QLD 4072 Queensland, Australia

关键词: conservación;    Valle de Tehuacán-Cuicatlán;    zonas áridas;   

DOI  :  10.21829/abm117.2016.1164

学科分类：植物学

来源: Acta Botanica Mexicana

【 摘 要 】

Background and Aims:Habitat fragmentation and other human disturbances can cause loss of soil fertility, erosion, biodiversity, among others; however, available information in arid regions is limited. Our aim was to determine the effects of a disturbance gradient on species composition in two vegetation types in a semi-arid area of central Mexico. Methods:We selected six patches, three of shrubland and three of tropical dry forest, in the area of Cerro Colorado. We quantified the species and generic diversity of ten quadrats per patch (60 in total), placed randomly, during the months May-June 2011. We developed a disturbance index based on disturbances such as grazing and wood use among others. High, medium and low disturbance areas were identified in both tropical dry forest and shrubland. Key results:Results indicate that tropical dry forest is more diverse than shrubland. The shrubsCnidoscolus tehuacanensisandMimosa luisanawere indicators of disturbance as they are found in higher relative abundance in highly disturbed quadrats. In tropical dry forest, three genera ( Thevetia ,AcaciaandBursera ) showed higher relative abundance in conserved patches while in shrubland only one ( Parkinsonia ) shows this pattern, hence they could serve as indicator species. Conclusions:Our results provide evidence that disturbance in semi-arid areas of central Mexico plays an important role in species composition, facilitating the establishment of certain native species that can be considered colonizer species. These native species could be used as indicators of disturbance in assessing habitat suitability for different species.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-SA