Conservation status of the inland aquatic crustaceans in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico: shortcomings of a protection strategy

Mexico has a wealth of Capsicum species, which has led to the development of a large number of chili pepper landraces. A great wealth of Capsicum germplasm can be found in southern Mexico in the Yucatan Peninsula, an important area of diversification of Capsicum annuum. Specifically, in the western Yucatan Peninsula, three of the five domesticated species of Capsicum (C. annuum, C. chinense and C. frutescens) have been reported. However, information on their genetic diversity, conservation status and potential use is lacking. To generate useful information toward the sustainable use, management and conservation of these species, we evaluated the structure, diversity and genetic relationships of nine accessions of Capsicum spp., of major importance cultivated in the western Yucatan Peninsula using 42 ISSR loci. The results indicated that these accessions consisted of three genetic groups that were defined by the respective species of each accession. The level of genetic diversity was moderate and distributed mainly among accessions. The ISSR markers detected a high level of polymorphism and allowed the genetic differentiation of the C. annuum complex. The results indicated that the accessions collected in the western Yucatan Peninsula constitute a valuable genetic resource that can be used in genetic improvement and conservation programs.

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Diversidad, estructura y afinidades florísticas de un bosque temporalmente inundable de la Península de Yucatán

Revista de Biología Tropical ◽

10.15517/rbt.v65i3.26341 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 65 (3) ◽

pp. 868

Author(s):

Cristopher Albor-Pinto ◽

Juan Tun-Garrido ◽

Juan Javier Ortiz-Díaz

Keyword(s):

Yucatan Peninsula ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Mantel Test ◽

Conservation Strategies ◽

Similarity Analysis ◽

Importance Value ◽

Endangered Tree ◽

Floristic Similarity ◽

Yucatán Peninsula ◽

Southeast Mexico

Temporarily flooded forests (TFF’s) are among the most endangered tree communities in Southeast Mexico and in a contradictory way among the least known in terms of their diversity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize the richness, diversity (Shannon-Wiener) and dominance (relative importance value; RIV) of a TFF of the Yucatan Peninsula, and evaluate its floristic affinities with other TFF’s and upland forests (UF’s) of Southeast Mexico. A sampling method based on 10 quadrants of 10 x 20 m (2 000 m2) was used to record all woody individuals with diameter ≥ 1 cm and height ≥ 1.5 m. A floristic similarity analysis was used including 192 genera of woody plants belonging to TFF’s and UF’s of the Yucatan and Tabasco TFF’s. A Mantel correlation test was performed to determine if the geographic distance has effect on the floristic similarities between TFF’s and UF´s of the Yucatan peninsula. The TFF under study was characterized with a low level of diversity (2.79) and species richness (56), and a high dominance level (52.3 % of RIV in five species). Dominant species such as Haematoxylum campechianum, Dalbergia glabra, Cameraria latifolia, Byrsonima crassifolia, Crescentia cujete and Terminalia buceras showed a floristic neotropical affinity typical of floodable habitats. The structure of the community was characterized by an inverted "J" pattern for the distribution of individuals in the diametric and height classes. The high density of woody lianas, mainly of Dalbergia glabra (22 % of the recorded individuals) suggested an optimal state of conservation of the studied area. The floristic similarity analysis revealed that most of TFF’s in Yucatan Peninsula were grouped with high similarity (55 %) independently of the adjacent UF’s; however, TFF´s resulted similar among them (36 % similarity) when compared with TFF’s from other regions (16 % similarity). According to the Mantel test, the similarity between sites is not influenced by its geographical proximity (r = -0.098, p>0.05). This emphasizes the need to generate conservation strategies for the TFF's of the Yucatan peninsula independently from other regions of Southeast Mexico. Our results suggest that the TFF of the studied region has a similar diversity from other TFF’s in Southeast Mexico, a different floristic composition compared with adjacent UF’s and a structure with an optimal conservation status, characteristics that indicate their importance for the regional flora conservation. Further ecological studies are needed to build a solid foundation for management and conservation for the TFF’s.

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Marsdenia calichicola (Apocynaceae), a narrow endemic, endangered new species from the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.270.2.7 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 270 (2) ◽

pp. 146 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

GERMÁN CARNEVALI ◽

JORGE CARLOS TREJO-TORRES ◽

VERÓNICA JUÁREZ-JAIMES ◽

RODRIGO DUNO ◽

JOSÉ LUIS TAPIA-MUÑOZ ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Yucatan Peninsula ◽

Conservation Status ◽

New Taxon ◽

Distribution Map ◽

Narrow Strip ◽

Narrow Endemic ◽

Yucatán Peninsula ◽

Iucn Criteria

Marsdenia (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae, Marsdeniae) is represented by five species in the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula (vs. seven in the whole of the province), one of which is herein proposed as new to science. The new species, Mardenia calichicola Carnevali & Juárez-Jaimes, is only known from a narrow strip of sub-xerophytic forests over calcareous, rocky soils along the northwestern edge in the Yucatán state of Mexico. Marsdenia calichicola is morphologically similar and likely related to M. gallardoae and M. trivirgulata. Among other characters, it differs from Marsdenia gallardoae by the presence of a corona composed of cushion-like calli (corolla lacking calli in M. gallardoae) whereas M. trivirgulata has a glabrous or glabrescent corolla (vs. pubescent in M. calichicola); additional characters are herein discussed. We provide pertinent iconography to aid in the identification of the new species plus a key to diagnose the three species in the M. trivirgulata complex. The conservation status of the new taxon is assessed against the IUCN criteria as CR. A distribution map and a key to the species of Marsdenia from the Yucatan Peninsula Biotic Province are presented.

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Phenotypic diversity and capsaicinoid content of chilli pepper landraces (Capsicum spp.) from the Yucatan Peninsula

Plant Genetic Resources ◽

10.1017/s1479262121000204 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

C. C. Castillo-Aguilar ◽

L. C. López Castilla ◽

N. Pacheco ◽

J. C. Cuevas-Bernardino ◽

R. Garruña ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phenotypic Diversity ◽

Yucatan Peninsula ◽

Plant Genetic Resources ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Chilli Pepper ◽

Southern Mexico ◽

Yucatán Peninsula ◽

Group I ◽

Group Ii

Abstract Mexico has a wealth of plant genetic resources, including Capsicum species. In southern Mexico, specifically in the western part of the Yucatan Peninsula, Maya farmers have preserved a great diversity of chilli pepper landraces of C. annuum, C. frutescens and C. chinense. However, the morphological diversity, capsaicinoid content, conservation status and potential use of these species have not been studied. To fill this gap and generate information to support the conservation and use of these species, we characterized the phenotypic diversity and capsaicinoid content for nine chilli pepper landraces from the western Yucatan Peninsula by assessing 15 quantitative and 39 qualitative traits for 10 plants of each landrace. For quantitative variables, two groups of chilli pepper landraces were obtained by principal component analysis and cluster analysis. Group I was formed by Rosita, Bobo, Dulce, Xcat'ik1, Xcat'ik2 and Verde landraces; Group II included the Maax, Bolita and Pico Paloma landraces. For qualitative variables, three groups of chilli pepper landraces were obtained; Group I included Dulce, Bobo, Xcat'ik1, Xcat'ik2 and Verde landraces, Group II only included the Rosita landrace, and Group III included Maax, Bolita and Pico Paloma landraces. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography–photodiode array (UPLC-PDA) quantification of capsaicinoids indicated higher values in landraces Rosita (14,062.3 μg/g D.W), Bolita (5928.1 μg/g D.W), Maax (3438.4 μg/g D.W) and Pico Paloma (3138.9 μg/g D.W). The Yucatan chilli pepper landraces provide valuable diverse germplasm for morphological characteristics and capsaicinoid content that can be used in breeding and conservation programmes.

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Twice lost, twice found: A new species of Gonolobus (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae) with a reappraisal of the genus in the Yucatan Peninsula Biotic Province

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.530.2.2 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 530 (2) ◽

pp. 141-162

Author(s):

GERMÁN CARNEVALI ◽

GUSTAVO A. ROMERO-GONZÁLEZ ◽

JOSÉ LUIS TAPIA-MUÑOZ ◽

IVÓN M. RAMÍREZ-MORILLO ◽

CLAUDIA J. RAMÍREZ-DÍAZ ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Yucatan Peninsula ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Color Pattern ◽

New Combination ◽

Yucatán Peninsula ◽

Black Band ◽

Different Color ◽

The Right ◽

A New Species

Gonolobus is reassessed in the Yucatan Peninsula Biotic Province (YPBP). The genus consists of seven taxa in the area: six species and two subspecies. These include a taxon that we propose here as a new species and the treatment of G. yucatanensis as a subspecies of G. stenanthus and the new combination G. stenanthus subsp. yucatanensis is proposed. These two taxa are endemic to the YPBP. The other species are G. barbatus (for which we propose a lectotype), G. cteniophorus, G. fraternus, G. glaberrimus, and G. leianthus. The new species is G. caamalii Carnevali & R. Duno, restricted to the Yucatán state in Mexico and distinguished by its corolla lobes with a dark purple (almost black) longitudinal, callose band along the proximal 2/3 on the right side of the lobes and a 1.1–1.3 mm broad, annular, continuous dark purple-black band surrounding the gynostemium and corona at the base of the corolla lobes. It appears related to G. leianthus from southern Megamexico, a species from humid forests at higher elevations and that differs in its larger flowers with broader corolla lobes and a strikingly different color pattern in the flowers. The new species is described, illustrated, and discussed. Entries for all Gonolobus species from the YPBP include a brief discussion and specimen citations. The conservation status of the Gonolobus taxa endemic to the YPBP are assessed either as as Endangered (EN) or as Near threatened (NT). Distributional maps for all Gonolobus from the area covered are presented. Finally, we offer a key to Gonolobus of the YPBP.

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