Gypsum in the desert landscape: Floristic variations within the Cuatro Ciénegas basin in Coahuila, Mexico

Rodríguez‐Sánchez, Mariana; Ochoterena, Helga; Pisanty, Irene; Ezcurra, Exequiel; Flores‐Olvera, Hilda

doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2022.104828

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Fieldwork was conducted with permission from the directorate of the Cuatrociénegas flora and fauna protection area, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. Plant communities are characterised by sparse vegetation, generally grouped in multispecific patches mainly composed of camephytes and shrubs (Rodríguez‐Sánchez et al., 2022). These communities develop in an arid environment with an average annual rainfall of 211 mm, most of which falls along the summer (June–September).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Throughout the year, the region experiences strong temperature fluctuations ranging between 0°C and 50°C (Montiel‐González et al., 2018). Besides the arid conditions, plants face critical physical and chemical edaphic limitations due to extremely high concentrations of gypsum in the soils (CaSO 4 ·2H 2 O; Rodríguez‐Sánchez et al., 2022). In this type of environment, Ca and S excess have been proven to interfere with the acquisition of other macronutrients and to become toxic for plants (Duvigneaud & Denaeyer‐de Smet, 1966; Guerrero‐Campo et al., 1999; Romão & Escudero, 2005; Ruiz et al., 2003).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Homogeneous microenvironmental conditions under nurses promote facilitation

Sánchez‐Martín,

Montesinos‐Navarro,

Ochoterena

et al. 2023

Functional Ecology

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Biotic interactions are highly affected by species traits and micro‐environmental variability. Research on facilitation has primarily focused on how nurse species alleviate abiotic stress for beneficiary species, while the impact of the micro‐environmental variability generated by nurse plants in shaping facilitation outcomes is poorly understood. This study has two objectives: (i) To evaluate which traits define beneficiary species and (ii) to evaluate whether nurse and non‐nurse species differ in their ability to reduce abiotic stress and its variability under their canopy. We sampled recruits in two arid and stressful environments to assess (i) which species accumulate more juveniles beneath their canopy controlling for their coverage (nurse vs. non‐nurse species) and (ii) which species benefited from facilitation by determining whether they tend to recruit more beneath other species or on the bare ground (beneficiary/non‐beneficiary). First, we compared how nurse and non‐nurse species modify the physical and chemical microenvironments underneath their canopy, both in terms of magnitude and variation. Second, we compared root growth, water retention and nutrient accumulation in juvenile plants of beneficiary and non‐beneficiary species. We found that facilitation is enhanced by species that provide a more homogeneous microenvironment rather than an intense reduction of microenvironmental stress under their canopy. In addition, the juveniles of beneficiary species invest more in root development, accumulate Ca and S in their shoot tissues, and show a higher water content than non‐beneficiary species. Our findings indicate that the homogeneity of microenvironments plays a crucial role in facilitative interactions, and the juveniles of beneficiary species show a less conservative strategy, investing more in resource acquisition than juveniles of non‐beneficiary species. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Homogeneous microenvironmental conditions under nurses promote facilitation

Sánchez‐Martín,

Montesinos‐Navarro,

Ochoterena

et al. 2023

Functional Ecology

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Patterns of Richness and Endemism in the Gypsicolous Flora of Mexico

Ortíz-Brunel

Ochoterena²,

Moore

et al. 2023

Diversity

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Gypsum soils occur around the world, mainly in arid regions. These harsh environments promote unusual flora with high degrees of endemism. Mexico has extensive gypsum outcrops, but their flora has been poorly studied. However, the highest species richness and endemism are expected to be concentrated in Mexico’s northern dry regions. To promote the study of this flora and its conservation, we estimate how well sampled it is, quantify species richness, identify centers of endemism, and detect which gypsum outcrops lie within federal protected natural areas (PNA). We conducted exhaustive literature and herbaria reviews to generate a database of botanical records on gypsum soils. The total species and gypsophyte richness were calculated using cell grids. Centers of endemism were identified using the corrected weighted endemism index (CWE). We mapped the gypsum outcrops within PNA polygons. The most collected sites are Cuatro Ciénegas (Coahuila) and Santo Domingo Tonalá (Oaxaca), which also had the highest total species richness. Nevertheless, gypsophyte richness was higher in Cuatro Ciénegas and Nuevo León. The CWE identified seven gypsophyte centers of endemism. Mexico hosts the most diverse gypsophile flora in the world, despite having been only partially studied and collected. The regions with the highest species richness and endemism are unprotected.

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Gypsum in the desert landscape: Floristic variations within the Cuatro Ciénegas basin in Coahuila, Mexico

Cited by 2 publications

References 24 publications

Homogeneous microenvironmental conditions under nurses promote facilitation

Homogeneous microenvironmental conditions under nurses promote facilitation

Patterns of Richness and Endemism in the Gypsicolous Flora of Mexico

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