Biogeographical identity of the Mesoamerican dominion with emphasis on seasonally dry tropical forests

Phytotaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 376 (6) ◽  
pp. 277 ◽  
Author(s):  
GENARO MONTAÑO-ARIAS ◽  
ISOLDA LUNA-VEGA ◽  
JUAN J. MORRONE ◽  
DAVID ESPINOSA
Keyword(s):  
Central America ◽  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Greater Antilles ◽  
Southern Mexico ◽  
Mexican Pacific ◽  
Seasonally Dry ◽  
South Central ◽  
Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests ◽  
Dry Tropical Forests

Several studies on the geographical limits and regionalization of the Neotropics have recognized this region as a biogeographical unit. Recent regionalization proposals recognize the existence of a Mesoamerican dominion within the Neotropics, extending from the northern portion of the Mexican Pacific coast into the lowlands of south-central Mexico and most of northern Central America (Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua). In this study, we assessed the biogeographical identity of the Mesoamerican dominion through the analysis of the geographical patterns of diversity of 356 species included in 28 genera and 16 families of plants, with a preferential distribution in the seasonally dry tropical forests of Mexico and Central America. Occurrence data were obtained from online databases (e.g., GBIF, SNIB, MEXU and TROPICOS) and refined using taxonomic and geographical information. We used the Biodiverse 2.0 program to obtain maps of species richness, centres of endemism and conducted analyses of similarity among areas. The analyses led to corroborate the geographical limits of the Mesoamerican dominion. With respect to the species with distributions that extend to America arid, the Brazilian sub-region and Florida and the Greater Antilles. From these analyses, we could identify for the Mesoamerican dominion two highly diverse areas in southern Mexico: the Balsas Basin (more than 60 species) and the Central Valleys of Oaxaca (28). We also identified seven areas of higher dissimilarity corresponding to river basins throughout the study area: Grande de Santiago, Armería-Coahuayana, Tepalcatepec (western Balsas), Eastern Balsas, Papagayo, Verde, higth Papaloapan (Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley) and Tehuantepec. The high values of dissimilarity in the Pacific watershed of southern Mexico are responsible for the high species turnover observed for the seasonally dry tropical forests in the Mesoamerican dominion.

scholarly journals Phytosociology of a Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest in the State of Michoacán, Mexico

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (4) ◽  
pp. 441-467
Author(s):  
Consuelo Medina-García ◽  
Alejandro Velázquez ◽  
Joaquin Giménez de Azcárate ◽  
Miguel Ángel Macías-Rodríguez ◽  
Alejandra Larrazábal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forest ◽  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest ◽  
Mexican Pacific ◽  
Dry Tropical Forest ◽  
Seasonally Dry ◽  
Plant Associations ◽  
Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests ◽  
Dry Tropical Forests

Background: seasonally dry tropical forests are considered critical and important ecosystems because they harbor exceptional biological diversity. Mexico lacks sound phytosociological studies of Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest and Michoacán is no exception. The present study may be regarded the first phytosociological in most of the Mexican pacific coast where seasonally dry tropical forests occurs. Questions/Objective: We aimed at describing the representative plant associations of the seasonally dry tropical forest, distributed on western Michoacán and to provide a sintaxonomic classification framework based on the floristic differentiation of the recognized communities and highlight its phytocenotic diversity. Study site and dates: Estado de Michoacán; 20 years. Methods: A total of 82 phytosociological inventories were conducted. Data were submitted to multivariate two-way indicator species analyses to depict plant communities and their ecological affinities. Results: From its analysis and interpretation, nine plant groups were differentiated, of which all but one was given the rank of association, which are Lysilomo acapulcensis–Heliocarpetum terebinthinacei, Ceibo aesculifoliae–Lysilometum divaricatae, Caesalpinio platylobae-Cordietum elaeagnoidis, Cochlospermo vitifolii-Lueheetum candidae, Lysilomo divaricatae-Cordietum elaeagnoidis; Stenocereo quevedonis-Cordietum selerianae, Guazumo ulmifoliae-Cordietum elaeagnoidis¸ Lonchocarpo huetamoensis-Cordietum elaeagnoidis and the community of Spondias purpurea-Cochlospermum vitifolium. Conclusions: Comparative floristic and structural profiles among plant communities permitted us to distinguish their bioclimatic relationships. Diagnostic species representative of all plant associations were selected and used for sintaxonomic nomenclature.  Plant associations were finally array along bioclimatic and altitudinal gradients and showed in arranged phytosociological tables. The plant association/community’descriptions permitted to compare structural physiognomy, floristic composition, ecological affinities, distribution patterns and bioclimatic liaison among them.

Ditaxis (Euphorbiaceae) from the Brazilian Caatinga, including a new species

Phytotaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 455 (2) ◽  
pp. 152-160
Author(s):  
JOSIMAR KÜLKAMP ◽  
JOÃO R. V. IGANCI ◽  
INÊS CORDEIRO ◽  
JOSÉ FERNANDO A. BAUMGRATZ
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
South America ◽  
Central America ◽  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
Habitat Distribution ◽  
Seasonally Dry ◽  
Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests ◽  
Dry Tropical Forests ◽  
A New Species

Ditaxis is a Neotropical genus with approximately 50 species, most of them in seasonally dry tropical forests of Brazil, Central America and the Antilles. The Brazilian Caatinga, the largest area of SDTF in South America, harbors three endemic species of Ditaxis, including the new Ditaxis grazielae, hereby described and illustrated. The new species is known from a few localities in the state of Bahia. We provide an identification key for the species occurring in the Caatinga, as well as comments on habitat, distribution and phenology. We also present amended descriptions and typifications for Ditaxis desertorum and D. malpighiacea, and propose D. gardneri as synonym of D. desertorum.

scholarly journals El Niño-Southern Oscillation affects the water relations of tree species in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Palomo-Kumul ◽  
Mirna Valdez-Hernández ◽  
Gerald A. Islebe ◽  
Manuel J. Cach-Pérez ◽  
José Luis Andrade
Keyword(s):  
Water Potential ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Specific Leaf Area ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Deciduous Species ◽  
Mature Trees ◽  
Seasonally Dry ◽  
Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests ◽  
Dry Tropical Forests

AbstractWe evaluated the effect of ENSO 2015/16 on the water relations of eight tree species in seasonally dry tropical forests of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. The functional traits: wood density, relative water content in wood, xylem water potential and specific leaf area were recorded during the rainy season and compared in three consecutive years: 2015 (pre-ENSO conditions), 2016 (ENSO conditions) and 2017 (post-ENSO conditions). We analyzed tree size on the capacity to respond to water deficit, considering young and mature trees, and if this response is distinctive in species with different leaf patterns in seasonally dry tropical forests distributed along a precipitation gradient (700–1200 mm year−1). These traits showed a strong decrease in all species in response to water stress in 2016, mainly in the driest site. Deciduous species had lower wood density, higher predawn water potential and higher specific leaf area than evergreen species. In all cases, mature trees were more tolerant to drought. In the driest site, there was a significant reduction in water status, regardless of their leaf phenology, indicating that seasonally dry tropical forests are highly vulnerable to ENSO. Vulnerability of deciduous species is intensified in the driest areas and in the youngest trees.

scholarly journals Taxonomic revision of Amorimia W.R. Anderson (Malpighiaceae)

Hoehnea ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 238-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Felipe de Almeida
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Identification Key ◽  
Risk Assessments ◽  
Distribution Maps ◽  
Seasonally Dry ◽  
Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests ◽  
Dry Tropical Forests

ABSTRACT The taxonomic revision of Amorimia (Malpighiaceae) is presented, including typifications, and descriptions for all accepted species. The genus is endemic to Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests and Rainforests of South America, and its species can be distinguished by morphological details of leaves, indumenta, inflorescences, flowers, and fruits. This study includes an identification key for the subgenera and species of Amorimia, illustrations, distribution maps, conservation risk assessments, and comments on ecology, nomenclature, and taxonomy for all species. Additionally, I provide a key to differentiate Amorimia from the remaining genera of the Malpighioid clade.

scholarly journals Insights into the historical construction of species-rich Mesoamerican seasonally dry tropical forests: the diversification of Bursera (Burseraceae, Sapindales)

2011 ◽  
Vol 193 (1) ◽  
pp. 276-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Arturo De-Nova ◽  
Rosalinda Medina ◽  
Juan Carlos Montero ◽  
Andrea Weeks ◽  
Julieta A. Rosell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Seasonally Dry ◽  
Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests ◽  
Dry Tropical Forests
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