Importance of Local Studies of Vascular Plant Communities in Conservation and Management: A Case Study in Susticacán, Zacatecas, Mexico

Abstract

Some parts of the globe have a deficient vegetation coverage survey causing localized plant community qualities generalized from larger scales, hindering their particular configuration. This process is emphasized in megadiverse countries such as Mexico by transformation and loss of land cover. This can be reflected in the municipality of Susticacán, Zacatecas, settled in a mountainous, scarcely explored area, the Sierra de los Cardos. This study aimed to characterize its plant communities, produce a fine-scale map and compare them to other descriptions. Oak forests, pine forests, grasslands, nopaleras, chaparral, and rock outcrop vegetation were detected through satellite image analysis, sampled, statistically evaluated, and their descriptions supported by the literature. The first two presented a high diversity and endemism, despite a small surface. The chaparral occupied the largest area, and its structure and composition suggest its secondary vegetation in expansion. The presence of exotic–invasive species and human activities threaten the native flora. This study is the first to provide detailed information on the plant communities in Susticacán and is a model for the study of local-scale regions. It highlights the importance of describing and mapping them as a contribution to delineate conservation and management efforts.

From vegetation ecology to vegetation science: current trends and perspectives

“…The recognition of vegetation formations or similar vegetation categories has the strongest foundations in its floristic composition, and structural and functional attributes such as dominant growth forms, canopy height, or leaf phenology (Rzedowski 1978, Keith & Pellow 2015, Mucina et al 2016, Guo et al 2018, Mengist 2019. Examination of these vegetation attributes has helped strengthen and clarify the delimitation of vegetation types previously distinguished based on their physiognomy only (Sánchez-Rodríguez et al 2003, Fashing & Gathua 2004, Castillo-Campos et al 2008, Ramesh et al 2010, Dexter et al 2015, Astudillo-Sánchez et al 2019, Hurtado-Reveles et al 2021.…”

Biodiversity and Conservation of Vascular Flora: A Challenge for the Survival of Humans on Earth

“…Hurtado-Reveles et al [11] focused their attention on the importance of local studies of vascular plant communities for their conservation and management. The authors, who conducted their study on Sierra de los Cardos in the municipality of Susticacán (Mexico), stated that oak and pine forests were characterized by high diversity and endemism, despite a small surface, as compared to grasslands, nopaleras, chaparral and rock outcrop vegetation.…”