David Espinosa

USING PARSIMONY ANALYSIS OF ENDEMICITY TO ANALYZE THE DISTRIBUTION OF MEXICAN LAND MAMMALS

Abstract Patterns of endemism of terrestrial mammals inhabiting México are analyzed by applying Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity (PAE) to 47 ecoregions. The ecoregions were classified in 2 main groups: ecoregions of the Baja California Peninsula and ecoregions of the rest of the country. We found 27 ecoregions with characteristic taxa, and 5 areas of endemism: Northern High Plateau, Baja California, Chiapas, Isthmus, and Yucatán Peninsula. Groups of ecoregions are basically congruent with other regionalization schemes previously proposed for the country.

Geographical patterns and determinants of species richness in Mexico across selected families of vascular plants: implications for conservation

Mexico is considered a megadiverse country containing more than 10% of the worlds biodiversity. The distribution of this species richness and endemism is different among the different Mexican states. We examined the species richness patterns of 13 families of vascular plants (including ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms) in Mexico using political divisions (states) as units of analysis. We analysed the species richness values (absolute richness, endemic richness and restrictive richness) of these plant families using stepwise multiple regression analysis, assessing their relationship with a set of 10 environmental variables (expressed as heterogeneity coefficients). A combined cluster analysis with multidimensional scaling analysis (MDS) and an analysis of similarities were also undertaken to define the spatial–geographical patterns. Additionally, we proposed a methodological strategy to determine which states of Mexico have priorities for conservation. Our results suggested that the three species richness values used were significantly predicted by environmental factors, especially by climatic heterogeneity. Notwithstanding that a linear pattern was recognized, the Mexican states were gathered in four groups, which were confirmed by the MDS and the cluster analysis: (1) the Yucatan Peninsula, (2) arid Mexico, (3) the Mexican Transition Zone and (4) the megadiverse states. We proposed that 12 Mexican states include all the environmental conditions and are candidates for developing conservation programmes: (1) Quintana Roo, Tabasco and Yucatán, (2) Baja California, Chihuahua and Sinaloa, (3) Guerrero, Jalisco and Nuevo León and (4) Chiapas, Oaxaca and Veracruz.

Diversity, endemism and conservation of ferns (Polypodiales) in the Mexican Mountain Component

We analyzed the distributional patterns of 95 selected species of leptosporangiate ferns inhabiting the Mexican Mountain Component, using grid-cells of one geographical degree as unit areas, applying endemism indices and richness and beta diversity analyses. Distributional data were obtained from several herbaria and specialized literature. Five grid-cells appear to be important for fern species richness, as they contain 35 to 49 species. These grid-cells are located in the Sierra Madre Oriental (SMO), Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB) and the Sierra Madre del Sur (SMS). Mean richness by latitudinal belts of one degree showed that the belts with highest values are related to the TMVB and SMS. A total of 13 grid-cells were recognized as important from the perspective of endemism; most of them are located also in the SMO, TMVB and SMS. The richest gridcells coincided with one of the main centres of endemism for ferns obtained in this study, located in the convergence of the southern part of the SMO, the eastern portion of the TMVB and the northern part of the SMS, reflecting the high humidity existing on the mountain slopes facing the Gulf of Mexico. Some important grid-cells recognized from richness and endemism analyses coincide with Mexican Natural Protected Areas. The beta diversity analysis showed a low degree of similarity among grid-cells, implying a high species replacement, as the result of environmental heterogeneity occurring in the Mexican mountain systems. On the other hand, the spatial analysis suggested a pattern of phytogeographical regionalization comprising two main areas: the Mexican Transition Zone and the Mexican Central Plateau. Ferns play an important role in the Mexican biodiversity and contributing to the beta diversity of Mexico.

Venation patterns of Bursera species Jacq. ex L. (Burseraceae) and systematic significance

The taxonomy of the genus Bursera has been traditionally supported by morphological characters such as fruit form, bark and leaves. Nonetheless, leaf architecture, another important source of phylogenetic information, has not been well studied in this group. For this purpose, venation patterns of 30 species of the genus Bursera in Mexico were studied. Clarified leaves allowed finding four types of venation patterns: brochidodromous and eucamptodromous in complex B. simaruba (section Bursera); a cladodromous pattern in fragilis, microphylla and fagaroides groups (herein informally called group Quaxiotea (section Bursera), and semicraspedodromous in section Bullockia species. Only bipinnated species of section Bullockia showed a brochidodromous venation pattern. Furthermore, section Bullockia and complex Simaruba presented reticulate tertiary veins, whereas the group of Quaxiotea species presented a ramified pattern in the tertiary veins and tracheoblasts.