A. Cano-Ortiz

Contribution to the biogeography of the Hispaniola (Dominican Republic, Haiti)

Abstract This paper, which deals with the geological history of Hispaniola in the general framework of Central America and particularly the Caribbean Sea, aims at revealing the influence of it on other areas. The paper studies the distribution of 675 species of Melastomataceae family, a family which has been used to establish the biogeographical ranges of Superprovince and biogeographical Province. The research also carried out a floristic and distributional study of 1.582 endemic species on Hispaniola. Nineteen working areas were defined and plant samples were taken in most of them following the Central European phy- tosociological method. With these datas, we plotted a map with the biogeogra- phical Subprovinces and another one with the Sectors. The Superprovinces of Western Antilles, Central—Eastern Antilles have been established. This latter includes the Provinces of Eastern Antilles and Hispaniola. We propose a comprehensive biogeographical typology of the island. Due to its high endemicity and the great diversity of its habitats is moved to a upper range called biogeographical Province encompassing two Subprovinces: Central (one Sector) and Caribbean—Atlantic (Bahoruco-Hottense, Neiba-Metheux-Noroeste, Azua—San Juan—Hoya Henriquillo—Puerto Príncipe—Artiobonite—Gonaives, Caribbean- Cibense and North).

Distribution of Central American Melastomataceae: biogeographical analysis of the Caribbean islands

Abstract We have studied the geological history of Central America, particularly the Caribbean, in order to discover the impact of other areas on the islands in the Caribbean Sea. The study of the distribution of 675 Melastomataceae species led us to establish the biogeographical ranks of Subregion, Superprovince, Province and Subprovince. We also suggest a biogeographical typology for the Caribbean Islands. In order to discover the relationships between the 16 territories under study, we collected the endemic Melastomataceae taxa occurring in each of them and applied the Jaccard index. Finally, we establish the Caribbean Subregion, with the Western Antilles Superprovince, which in turn includes the Provinces of Florida and Cuba. In this latter, we define two subprovinces, Cuba and Jamaica. The Central—Eastern Antilles Superprovince includes the provinces of Eastern Antilles and Hispaniola. The research involved the implementation of a floristic and distributional study of the Melastomataceae endemic taxa of the Caribbean Islands, particularly on Hispaniola; for this latter, finally the study revealed the existence of two large areas, one siliceous and another of a carbonated character.

Phytosociological study of the Pinus occidentalis forests in the Dominican Republic

Abstract The article deals both with the Pinus occidentalis pine tree forests growing on high mountain limestones and siliceous substrates, and with the copses growing on serpentines in Dajabón (Cibao Valley), Dominican Republic. The samplings carried out in these forests reveal the occurrence of numerous endemic species and, consequently, the habitats can be considered as endemic, priority habitats of the Antilles. The article relies on some previous surveys carried out by us, Cano E, Velóz Ramirez A, Cano-Ortiz A, Esteban FJ. (2009b). Analysis of the Pterocarpus officinalis forests in the Gran Estero (Dominican Republic). Acta Botanica Gallica 156(4):559–570, that made use of the data provided by 87 weather stations of the Dominican Republic. With the values of the Ci, Oi, Cti, etc. indexes, we make a bioclimatical proposal for Hispaniola. Our preliminary analysis of the studies published on the vegetation of the Island of Hispaniola and nearby islands, along with the samples taken by us, lead us to propose two new alliances: Ilici tuerckheimi–Pinion occidentalis and Phyllario mummularioidi–Leptogonion buchi, and three new associations: Dendropemon phycnophylli–Pinetum occidentalis, Cocotrino scopari–Pinetum occidentalis and Leptogono buchi–Pinetum occidentalis.

Analysis of the Pterocarpus officinalis forests in the Gran Estero (Dominican Republic)

Abstract This paper deals with the geological, historical, bioclimatic and floristic aspects of the northern sector of the Caribbean—Atlantic Subprovince. By means of phytosociological vegetation samples, we focussed our attention on the edaphohygrophilous Pterocarpus officinalis forests and megaforbic plant communities formed by large helophytes. Our paper presents a new endemic association for Hispaniola, the Roystoneo hispaniolanae—Pterocarpetum officinalis nova. Since this association cannot be included in any of the alliances belonging to the class Chrysobalano-Annonetea glabrae Borhidi & Muñiz in Borhidi, Muñiz & Del—Risco 1979, order Tabebuio-Bucidetalia (Lvov 1967) Borhidi & Del- Risco in Borhidi, Muñiz & Del—Risco 1979, we propose a new alliance, Marcgravio rubrae—Pterocarpion officinalis nova, floristically characterised by Pterocarpus officinalis, Philodendron angustatum, Cecropia schreberiana, Cissus verticillata, Dalbergia berterii, Ficus velutina, Inga vera, Palicourea crocea. All the edaphohigrophilous and occasionally hygrophilous forests found in swampy sites either with fresh or slightly saline water should be included in this endemic alliance.

Comparative analysis between the mangrove swamps of the Caribbean and those of the State of Guerrero (Mexico)

Abstract The aim of this study is to know the diversity and state of conservation of the mangrove swamps of Central America. The study area is the State of Guerrero and the Dominican Republic and more precisely the sites of Tres Palos, Laguna de Coyuca, Majagua, Punta Arena (Sabana de la Mar), Barracote, Bahía de Samaná, Playa Las Cejas, Playa Morón, Playa El Alemán, Portillo, Laguna Redonda, Boca de Nisibón, Playa del Macao, Laguna de Bávaro, Punta Aljibe (Bahía Catalina), Isla Catalinita, Boca del Soco and Laguna de Oviedo. With the plant samples taken in the above mentioned sites, we created a synthetic table out of 16 phytosociological tables belonging to 6 original associations and 9 associations obtained from the bibliographical study. With the purpose of obtaining a similarity gradient (matching) between the associations under study, we carried out a statistical analysis (clustering, principal component analysis and Jaccard similarity/dissimilarity analysis). Our phytosociological approach relied on criteria such as biogreography and dynamic-catenal contact. Our sampling analysis has led us to propose the following syntaxa: Machaerio lunati-Rhizophoretum manglis; Rhabdadenio biflorae-Laguncularietum racemosae; Sthalio monospermae-Laguncularietum racemosae; Lonchocarpo pycnifolii-Conocarpetum erecatae; Lonchocarpo sericei-Laguncularietum racemosae; Crataevo tapiae-Conocarpetum erectae. We also propose a new alliance and a change of status: Phyllantho elsiae-Laguncurion racemosae; Dalbergio-Rhizophorion manglis (Borhidi 1991) status novo. The mangrove swamps of Central America are arranged in three vegetation bands corresponding to different plant associations. The analysis of the three sampled area not only revealed the degradation of the vegetation but also the causative factors.

The habitats of Leptochloopsis virgata in the Dominican Republic

Abstract This paper deals with the Leptochloopsis virgata esparto patches growing in the Dominican Republic. These communities thrive mostly in shaded areas, as happens in the southwest of the island and the Cibao valley, where xericity records are high and vegetative inactivity lasts for over 7 months. The Leptochloopsis virgata esparto patches tend to be located in the Caribbean- Atlantic Subprovince, on the Quaternary marls of the Cibao valley, Azua, Bani, Lago Enriquillo, and on the serpentines of Puerto Plata, with an ombrotype ranging from semiarid to subhumid, but with a semiarid and dry character in the areas colonized by the espartillo and a thermotype which always remains infra- tropical. The high percentage of endemic species and media give rise to a high number of endemic, ecologically and geobotanically, highly valuable habitats. This paper suggests two new alliances and four associations. These latter, at least, present an endemic character and, consequently, should be considered as priority habitats for preservation purposes, since they are located in man—altered areas and the risk of species extinction cannot be ignored.

Distribution patterns of endemic flora to define hotspots on Hispaniola

Nineteen areas on the island of Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic) were studied with the aim of determining the distribution pattern of the endemic flora in these areas, and their variability with altitude. The main concentration of endemic species occurs in mountains with a medium altitude and in certain mountain sites (palaeo-islands), which coincide with hotspots; a lower number of endemics are found in low-lying areas (coldspots), due to the degradation of their habitats. A total of 1,582 endemic species were studied and were distributed in 19 areas. The whole island is of outstanding interest for its richness in endemics; it has 2,050 endemic species, representing 34.16% of its total flora. The territory in the study is home to 1,284 genera of which 31 are endemic to the island, including monotypical genera such as Tortuella abietifolia Urb. & Ekman, and endemic genera such as Hottea, containing seven endemic species. The sites with the highest rate of endemics are area A16 in the central range with a total of 440 endemic species, of which 278 are exclusive to the territory; and the Sierra de Bahoruco, la Selle, La Hotte and Tiburón in area A12, where we found 699 plants of which 482 are endemic and exclusive to the area; and A13 with 173 and 129 respectively. This work highlights the exceptional floristic diversity in endemic species and genera and analyses their distribution patterns as a tool for conservation in this area of the world, whose high endemicity rate makes it one of the most significant hotspots in the Caribbean.

Analysis of the Juniperus oxycedrus L. communities in the centre and south of the Iberian peninsula (Spain and Portugal)

Abstract The survey deals with juniper groves of Juniperus oxycedrus, i. e. the edaphoxerophilous communities dominated by J. oxycedrus subsp. oxycedrus and J. oxycedrus subsp. lagunae in the centre and south of the Iberian Peninsula. The study of the vegetation has been carried out using the phytosociological method, complemented by a multivariate analysis to statistically process both bibliographical and field relevés. As a result, a new phytosociological alliance (Juniperion oxycedro-lagunae) encompassing four new associations (Pistacio terebinthi—Juniperetum lagunae, Stipo tenacissimae—Juniperetum lagunae, Echinosparto iberici—Juniperetum lagunae and Cytiso eriocarpi—Juniperetum lagunae) and the community of Phlomis purpurea and J. oxycedrus subsp. lagunae is proposed. These juniper groves are plant formations of general interest for the European Union and exhibit interesting endemic flora and vegetation.

Biodiversity of Hordeion leporini in Portugal : a phytosociological and edaphic analysis

Abstract This paper deals with the biodiversity of the Hordeum leporinum communities in Portugal. The sampling of the communities was carried out in a region which extends from the Alentejo to Castelo-Branco. In this region the Hordeum leporinum communities grow on the neutro—basic substrates of decarbonated soils with pH—values close to 7. Our research concentrates on three associations of the Hordeion leporini: Anacyclo radiati—Hordeetum leporini, Ancyclo radiati—Chrysanthemetum coronarii and Anacyclo radiati—Papaveretum rhoeadis. The survey studies their respective floristic composition, structure and ecology. The results of the phytosociological study, as shown in a synthetic table and analysed by means of a statistical cluster analysis, have not only revealed the status novo character of the Anacyclo-Chrysanthemetum, but also led us to suggest the new Anacyclo-Papaveretum rhoeadis association. The research also included an edaphic analysis of the sampled plots. However, these results revealed that there were no significant differences between the associations as far as the edaphic attributes under study were concerned.

Vegetation of the dry bioclimatic areas in the Dominican Republic

We conduct a study of the dry forest in areas of scant rainfall in the Dominican Republic; these are sites with particular endemic habitats, as the samples reveal a high rate of local and insular endemic species, with 84 (24.85%) endemisms. This work covers dry forests rich in coarse spiny plants and includes a statistical (multivariate analysis), phytosociological and catenal study of the vegetation. We analyse the floristic composition, ecology, distribution and richness in endemisms of each association. The bioclimatic analysis reveals the different thermotypes and ombrotypes on the island, and locates the proposed plant associations in the infra- and thermotropical thermotypes, and in the arid, semiarid and dry ombrotypes. As a result of this phytosociological analysis, we propose the new alliance Harrio nashii–Acacion skleroxylae and four plant associations: Harrisio nashii–Prosopidetum juliflorae, Crotono poitaei–Erythroxyletum rotundifolii, Lonchocarpo pycnophylli–Cylindropuntietum caribaeae and Neoabbottio paniculatae–Guaiacetum officinali; these associations connect catenally with the subhumid forest and mangrove swamps.