Environmental history of the dry forest biome of Guerrero, Mexico, and human impact during the last c. 2700 years

The Holocene ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Carlos Berrío ◽  
Henry Hooghiemstra ◽  
Bas van Geel ◽  
Beatriz Ludlow-Wiechers
Keyword(s):  
Environmental History ◽  
Human Impact ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Forest Harvesting ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Coprophilous Fungi ◽  
Crop Cultivation ◽  
Dry Deciduous Forest ◽  
Forest Biome

Two lake sediment cores from Madre del Sur mountain range,Guerrero State, west-central Mexico were studied to examine the pastdynamics of the dry forest biome. Pollen, spores of coprophilousfungi, cyanobacteria and lithological changes are presented. The390-cm Tixtla core (1730'N, 99°24W, 1400 maltitude) represents the last 2700 cal. yr; the 340-cm Huitziltepeccore (17°45N, 99°28W, 1430 m altitude) representsthe last 2050 cal. yr. Pollen shows climate-dependent competitionbetween dry deciduous forest (with Asteraceae, Chamaesyce-type,Bursera, Euphorbia, Myrica and Lysiloma-Pithecellobium-type as main components) and moister(mesophyllous) forest (with Pinus, Quercus, Alnus and Juglans). Human impact on the environment is apparent duringthe entire record, as evidenced by crop cultivation (Zea mays,Amaranthus, Capsicum, Chenopodium), coprophilous fungi (Podospora-type and Sporormiella-type), deforestation (at Tixtla in particular) and lake eutrophication, ie, cyanobacteria blooms. Environmental change at both sites is summarized as follows. Period 1 (2700-2450 cal. yr BP): abundant dry deciduous forest and climate conditions drier than today. Period 2 (2450-1950 cal. yr BP): little change in proportions of dry deciduous and mesophyllous forest but floral composition of the forests differed between sites. Human occupation was low. Period 3 (1950-1550 cal. yr BP): dry deciduous forest decreased while mesophyllous forest increased, indicating more humid climatic conditions. Populations expanded significantly around 1950 cal. yr BP. Period 4 (1550-1070 cal. yr BP): maximum expansion of mesophyllous forest. Climate was more humid than today. Pre-Hispanic populations at Tixtla reached high numbers leading to deforestation and eutrophication. Period 5 (1070-c. 750 cal. yr BP): shows abundant mesophyllous forest and lowest proportions of dry deciduous forest. Climate continued to be humid. There is evidence of forest harvesting, crop cultivation and dense human population. Period 6 (c. 750-225 cal. yr BP): dry deciduous forest expanded and mesophyllous forest decreased. There was significant deforestation by pre-Hispanic people around Lake Tixtla. High population densities and frequent fires at both sites caused eutrophication of the lakes. Domesticated herbivores were introduced ∼ad 1500 and the presence of dung is reflected in the record of coprophilous fungi. Period 7 (the last 225 calendar years): the basins were used intensively by local people and their cattle. Dry deciduous forest continued to increase while mesophyllous forest decreased.

scholarly journals Reptile diversity and community composition in the Puyango dry forest

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Acosta Vásconez Ana ◽  
Cisneros-Heredia Diego ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Tropical Dry Forests ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Phylogenetic Groups ◽  
Dry Forests ◽  
History Of ◽  
Dry Deciduous Forest

Reptiles are key animals in vertebrate communities in most ecosystems. However, there is little information on their diversity and abundance in dry forests of Ecuador. Between 2013 and 2014 we studied the reptile diversity and natural history of the Puyango Protected Forest, on the border between the province of Loja and El Oro, Ecuador. This area protects relicts of dry deciduous forest in hills and patches of semi-deciduous forest around ravines. We used belt transects in three different streams and irregular band transects in trails, together with pitfall traps, funnel traps, and litter quadrants. The richness of the Puyango Protected Forest represents a small percentage of the Ecuadorian reptile diversity, but covers much of the representative phylogenetic groups of tropical dry forests of the world. Sampling was effective to determine saurian diversity, but more sampling is needed to estimate snake diversity. Evidence of the presence of 21 species, divided into 10 families, was obtained; of which 14 are snakes (including a potential new species of the genus Epictia) and seven are lizards. Natural history is described for each species, including time and space use, and their conservation status is analyzed. The reptile community is characterized by a relative homogeneity over the vegetation remnants and the highest abundances correspond to saurian species.

scholarly journals Diversity pattern of butterfly communities (Lepidoptera) in different habitat types of Nahan, Himachal Pradesh, India

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 19137-19143
Author(s):  
Suveena Thakur ◽  
Suneet Bahrdwaj ◽  
Amar Paul Singh
Keyword(s):  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Shannon Index ◽  
Himachal Pradesh ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Plant Distribution ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Diversity Pattern ◽  
Dry Deciduous Forest ◽  
Butterfly Communities ◽  
Deciduous Dry Forest

Diversity and similarity of butterfly communities were assessed in three different habitat types in the mountains of Nahan, Himachal Pradesh, from May 2012 to April 2013. A total of 75 species and five families were reported. Proportion of species was highest in deciduous dry forest (49%), followed by Shorea (Saal) forest (34%), and Pinus (Cheer) forest (17%). Family Pieridae was dominant followed by Nymphalidae in all three habitat types. Cluster analysis revealed that Cheer forest  stood out clearly from Dry and Saal forest which represents the different species composition. We found significant differences in butterfly diversity in the three forest types based on Shannon index, Simpson dominance index, and Buzas & Gibson’s evenness. These differences may be attributable to variations in host and nectar plant distribution. Of the habitats surveyed, dry deciduous forest appeared to be the most suitable for butterfly conservation.

scholarly journals Reptile diversity and community composition in the Puyango dry forest

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Acosta Vásconez Ana ◽  
Cisneros-Heredia Diego ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Tropical Dry Forests ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Phylogenetic Groups ◽  
Dry Forests ◽  
History Of ◽  
Dry Deciduous Forest

Reptiles are key animals in vertebrate communities in most ecosystems. However, there is little information on their diversity and abundance in dry forests of Ecuador. Between 2013 and 2014 we studied the reptile diversity and natural history of the Puyango Protected Forest, on the border between the province of Loja and El Oro, Ecuador. This area protects relicts of dry deciduous forest in hills and patches of semi-deciduous forest around ravines. We used belt transects in three different streams and irregular band transects in trails, together with pitfall traps, funnel traps, and litter quadrants. The richness of the Puyango Protected Forest represents a small percentage of the Ecuadorian reptile diversity, but covers much of the representative phylogenetic groups of tropical dry forests of the world. Sampling was effective to determine saurian diversity, but more sampling is needed to estimate snake diversity. Evidence of the presence of 21 species, divided into 10 families, was obtained; of which 14 are snakes (including a potential new species of the genus Epictia) and seven are lizards. Natural history is described for each species, including time and space use, and their conservation status is analyzed. The reptile community is characterized by a relative homogeneity over the vegetation remnants and the highest abundances correspond to saurian species.

Multi-year eddy covariance measurements of net ecosystem exchange in tropical dry deciduous forest of India

2021 ◽  
Vol 301-302 ◽  
pp. 108351
Author(s):  
Suraj Reddy Rodda ◽  
Kiran Chand Thumaty ◽  
MSS Praveen ◽  
Chandra Shekhar Jha ◽  
Vinay Kumar Dadhwal
Keyword(s):  
Eddy Covariance ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Net Ecosystem Exchange ◽  
Dry Deciduous Forest ◽  
Eddy Covariance Measurements

A new species of Lophopogon (Poaceae) from Ananthapuramu of Andhra Pradesh, India

Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 500 (3) ◽  
pp. 234-240
Author(s):  
KOTHAREDDY PRASAD ◽  
NAGARAJU SIDDABATHULA ◽  
ANGAJALA NARAYANA SWAMY ◽  
ARAVEETI MADHUSUDHANA REDDY ◽  
MUDADLA SANKARA RAO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Andhra Pradesh ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Taxonomic Key ◽  
Dry Deciduous Forest ◽  
A New Species

A new species of Lophopogon (Poaceae), L. prasannae is described from dry deciduous forest of Ananthapuramu district, Andhra Pradesh, India. This new species shows morphological similarities with L. tridentatus and L. kingii but differs in certain characters, which are discussed below. A detailed description, photographs and taxonomic key are provided for easy identification of the species.

Wood Specific Gravity in Species from Two Tropical Forests in Mexico

IAWA Journal ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josefina Barajas-Morales
Keyword(s):  
Specific Gravity ◽  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Tropical Rainforest ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
T Test ◽  
Tropical Deciduous Forest ◽  
Wood Specific Gravity ◽  
Dry Deciduous Forest

The specific gravity of 220 woody species, half of them from a tropical rainforest, half from a tropical deciduous forest was measured. The two groups were compared using a Student t-test. The results show highly significant differences in specific gravity between the species from the two areas: woods from the dry deciduous forest tend to be much heavier than those from the rainforest.

scholarly journals Molecular edge effects in the Endangered golden-brown mouse lemur Microcebus ravelobensis

Oryx ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 716-726 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Radespiel ◽  
J. Schulte ◽  
R. J. Burke ◽  
S. M. Lehman
Keyword(s):  
Edge Effects ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Mitochondrial Control Region ◽  
Mouse Lemur ◽  
Continuous Forest ◽  
Ecological Changes ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Geographical Distances ◽  
Dry Deciduous Forest ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

AbstractHabitat fragmentation creates habitat edges, and ecological edge effects can cause major changes in the ecology and distribution of many taxa. However, these ecological changes may in turn influence animal movements and lead to molecular edge effects and edge-related genetic structure, matters that are largely unexplored. This study aims to infer molecular edge effects and to test three possible underlying mechanisms in the Endangered golden-brown mouse lemur Microcebus ravelobensis, a nocturnal species in the dry deciduous forest of the Ankarafantsika National Park in north-western Madagascar. Mouse lemurs were sampled in one edge and two interior habitats in close proximity to each other (500–1,400 m) in a continuous forest. A total of 41 mouse lemur samples were genotyped with seven nuclear microsatellites, and a fragment of the mitochondrial control region was sequenced for all samples. The overall genetic diversity (allelic richness, heterozygosity, haplotype richness, nucleotide diversity) was lower in the edge habitat compared to the two interior sites and all subpopulations showed signals of relatively low genetic exchange and significant genetic differentiation between them despite the short geographical distances, supporting the local preference model. These findings can be interpreted as preliminary signals of a molecular edge effect and suggest the potential for local adaptation. They are highly relevant for the conservation of fragmented populations, because a further subdivision of already small populations may increase their vulnerability to stochastic demographic changes and collapse.

scholarly journals Madrigueras de Liomys pictus en dos selvas tropicales del Pacífico mexicano.

2009 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yolanda Domínguez-Castellanos ◽  
Beatriz Hernandez Meza ◽  
Angeles Mendoza D. ◽  
Gerardo Ceballos González
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Tropical Forests ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Mexican Pacific ◽  
La Selva

Resumen: Se determinó la estructura y el contenido de las madrigueras de Liomys pictus por tipo de vegetación y temporada del año, en dos selvas tropicales del Pacífico Mexicano. Se encontraron 24 madrigueras: en la selva baja la mayoría son complejas, mientras que  en la selva mediana son lineales, por consiguiente y de acuerdo a la clasificación de las madrigueras, en selva baja se presentaron madrigueras múltiples y en selva mediana madrigueras simples. De acuerdo al contenido, las de selva baja tienen en promedio una mayor cantidad de materiales en comparación a las de selva mediana. Se catalogaron un total de 248 especies de plantas de estas 50 se comparten en ambos sitios, del total de las especies se llegaron a identificar sólo 77. Las familias más representativas fueron Leguminoseae, Euphorbiaceae y Convolvulaceae. La estructura de las madrigueras no esta determinada por la temporalidad, sin embargo el contenido esta determinado con la cantidad de material almacenado aunque la producción de semillas esta definido por el patrón de fructificación que esta dado a lo largo del año.Palabras clave: Madrigueras, estructura, contenido, Liomys pictus, Jalisco, México.Abstract: We determined the structure and contents of burrows of Liomys pictus by vegetation type and season in two tropical forests of the Mexican Pacific. 24 burrows were found in the tropical dry forest and most complex, in the semi deciduous forest is linear, and therefore according to the classification of the burrows in the tropical dry forest are more numerous and simple in the semi deciduous forest. According to the content, of the tropical dry forest have on average a greater amount of material compared to the semi deciduous forest. Were categorized a total of 248 plant species of these 50 sites are shared in both the total number of species is to determine 77. The most representative families were Leguminoseae, Euphorbiaceae and Convulvolaceae. The structure of the burrows is not affected by the timing, but the content is determined with the amount of stored material but seed production is defined by the pattern of fruit that is given throughout the year.Key words: Burrows, structure, food hoarding, Liomys pictus, Jalisco, Mexico.

scholarly journals Mammals in tropical dry forest on the central coast of Oaxaca, Mexico

Check List ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 1862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Briones-Salas ◽  
Natalia Martín-Regalado ◽  
Mario C. Lavariega
Keyword(s):  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Tropical Dry Forest ◽  
Similarity Index ◽  
Dry Forest ◽  
Central Coast ◽  
Semideciduous Forest ◽  
Southern Mexico ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Mammal Diversity

The tropical dry forests of Mexico are one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. To contribute to the knowledge of mammal diversity and conservation of the central coast of Oaxaca State, southern Mexico, we conducted field surveys in the area. Additional information was obtained from literature and museum databases. In order to compare the taxonomic similitude between areas along the Planicie Costera del Pacífico province we performed a taxonomic similarity analysis using data from the literature and the present study. A total of 49 species of mammals belonging to 19 families and eight orders were recorded. The maximum number of species was recorded in deciduous forest (n = 46), followed by semideciduous forest (n = 11). The similarity index was low (<50%) between areas along the Planicie costera del Pacífico, indicating higher species turnover. The high mammal diversity, the presence of endemic (8%), threatened species (16%), and voluntary conservation areas highlight the importance of this region.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document