Identification of areas of endemism in the Mexican cloud forests based on the distribution of endemic epiphytic bromeliads and orchids

Abstract

To identify areas of endemism (AEs) in the Mexican cloud forests based on the distribution of endemic epiphytic bromeliads and orchids species and to propose a hypothesis about the current biogeographical relationship of the Mexican cloud forests. The AEs were identified using 1007 records corresponding to 205 species and the endemicity analysis as is implemented in the NDM/VNDM programs. To obtain the consensus areas a strict consensus analysis was carried out considering 60% of shared species as the lower limit; those that presented an Endemicity Index ≥ 3.0 were recognized as AEs. A parsimony analysis of endemicity was performed with WINCLADA/NONA programs to infer their biogeographical relationships. Five AEs were recognized: 1) Western Mexico (supported by six species), 2) Southern Mexico (eight species), 3) Northern Gulf of Mexico, and 4) Central Gulf of Mexico (with nine species each), and 5) Northern Oaxaca (four species). The spatial homology hypothesis suggests that the areas of endemism from the Pacific Ocean Slope and from the Gulf of Mexico Slope has a different evolutionary history. Each AEs has a different species composition; the greatest species diversity is presented in the Gulf of Mexico slope AEs, while the greatest diversity of exclusive species is presented in the Pacific Ocean slope AEs. There is no a spatial homology hypothesis between the AEs of the Gulf of Mexico and the AEs of the Pacific Ocean, therefore, our results do not support the hypothesis of a cloud forest with continuous distribution in the past. The divergence times of the bromeliads and orchids and ecological succession theory could explain our results.

Biogeografía y evaluaciones de conservación de las especies de Lamourouxia (Orobanchaceae)

“…The same pattern occurs in the Mexican woody bamboos (Ruiz-Sanchez et al, 2020). The largest area of endemism of Lamourouxia matches with that obtained for Mexican endemic epiphytic bromeliads and orchids (Estrada-Sánchez et al, 2019). The smaller endemism areas of Lamourouxia include El Salto, Durango and Sierra de Quila, Jalisco, which are areas of endemism of Mexican angiosperms (Sosa and De-Nova, 2012).…”

Phylogenetic endemism of the orchids of Megamexico reveals complementary areas for conservation

“…The highest estimates of species richness, weighted endemism, phylogenetic diversity, and phylogenetic endemism were similarly distributed in mountainous terrain, mostly in areas associated with the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, the Sierra Madre Occidental, the Sierra Madre Oriental, Chiapas Highlands, Sierra Madre del Sur, and the Sierra de Guatemala. Previous estimates either with the entire vascular flora of Mexico ( Sosa et al, 2018 ), or of specific taxonomic or functional groups identified similar areas of endemism (ferns: Sanginés–Franco et al., 2015 ; gymnosperms: Contreras–Medina and Luna–Vega, 2007 ; oaks: Rodríguez–Correa et al., 2015 ; grasses: Dávila–Aranda et al., 2004 ; bromeliads and orchids: Estrada–Sánchez et al., 2019 ; geophytes: Cuéllar–Martínez and Sosa, 2016 ).…”

Diversidad y conservación de orquídeas comercializadas en Tenango, Puebla, México

“…De hecho, México pertenece a los países con biomas que poseen las condiciones propicias para el desarrollo de las orquídeas (Sánchez et al, 2019). Pero debido a la gran variedad de colores, aromas, tamaños y forma, las orquídeas silvestres son aún más codiciadas por coleccionistas, lo cual incentiva la extracción ilegal de su medio natural por parte de los comerciantes (Espejo-Cruz et al, 2023).…”