Ramón Cuevas Guzmán

Scutellaria sipilensis (Lamiaceae), una Especie Nueva para el Occidente de México

Abstract Scutellaria sipilensis Cuevas (Lamiaceae) is proposed as a new species from Jalisco, Mexico, which is accommodated within section Cardinales Epling or in the species group “speciosa” as defined by Paton. The species is related to S. longifolia Benth., S. glabra Leonard, S. saslayensis A. Pool, and S. rosei Fernald, from which it differs by its widely ovate leaves, trichomes of greater size, persistent bracts, and in general by its much smaller floral structures.Scutellaria sipilensis Cuevas (Lamiaceae) is proposed as a new species from Jalisco, Mexico, which is accommodated within section Cardinales Epling or in the species group ‘‘speciosa’’ as defined by Paton. The species is related to S. longifolia Benth., S. glabra Leonard, S. saslayensis A. Pool, and S. rosei Fernald, from which it differs by its widely ovate leaves, trichomes of greater size, persistent bracts, and in general by its much smaller floral structures.

Are changes in remotely sensed canopy cover associated to changes in vegetation structure, diversity, and composition in recovered tropical shrublands?

The recovery of vegetation cover is a process that has important implications for the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Generally, the recovery of vegetation cover is documented over large areas using remote sensing, and it is often assumed that ecosystem properties and processes recover along with remotely sensed canopy cover. Here we analyze and compare the structure, composition, and diversity of trees and shrubs among plots established in a stratified random sampling design over four remotely sensed canopy cover change (CCC) categories defined according to a gradient in the percent of canopy cover. Plots were located in the Lake Cuitzeo basin (Mexico), where canopy recovery associated with agricultural abandonment has occurred in recent decades (1975–2000). We found that diversity measures, basal area, tree and shrub density, ground-truthed canopy cover, and mean plant height increased with increasing CCC category. However, Shannon index (H′) was lower in the CCC category with the most closed canopy cover category than in plots apparently not affected by agriculture. Furthermore, ordination analyses showed that composition of dominant species were not associated with CCC categories. Our results suggest that canopy closure in our study area is not associated with the recovery of species diversity, and does not result in similar species dominance as in sites not affected by agriculture.

Agave manantlanicola (Agavaceae), a new species from western Mexico

Agave manantlanicola, a new endemic species from the high altitude mountains of the Sierra de Manantlán in western Mexico, is described and illustrated. The species belongs to the subgenus Littaea and Gentry’s Amolae group. The new species is compared to other morphologically similar species from western Mexico, including Agave attenuata subsp. attenuata, A. attenuata subsp. dentata, A. bakeri, A. chazaroi, and A. vazquezgarciae. Information about its distribution, habitat, and conservation status is included.ResumenSe describe e ilustra Agave manantlanicola, una especie endémica de las partes de mayor altitud de la Sierra de Manantlán, la cual se propone como nueva. Pertenece al subgénero Littaea y al grupo Amolae de Gentry. Se compara con las especies que morfológicamente está más relacionda: Agave attenuata subsp. attenuata, A. attenuata subsp. dentata, A. bakeri, A. chazaroi y A. vazquezgarciae. Se proporciona información sobre su distribución, hábitat y estado de conservación.