in a floristic refuge in the Mexican central highland plateau (State of Quertaro)

Alberto Ruiz Herranz1, Jos Alejandro Cabrera Luna2 & Beln Estbanez Prez1 1: Universidad Autnoma de Madrid, Fac. Ciencias, C/ Darwin, 2, E-28049 Madrid, Spain (almusgo@gmail.com) 2: Universidad Autnoma de Quertaro, Fac. de Ciencias Naturales. Quertaro, Mexico.

Los Ziga Canyon: bryophyte and vascular plant communities

I N T R O D U C T I O N

Mexico is a megadiverse country. However, extensive agriculture and livestock production result in deep alterations in the natural vegetation and in a loss of biodiversity in many areas. A great part of the State of Quertaro shows clearly the environmental cost of these activities. Los Ziga Canyon (SW Quertaro) is an isolated spot, with difficult access and low anthropic activity. These kind of areas, although poorly investigated, are known to play an important role as local biodiversity refuges for many species, and their plant communities are considered as the last remants of an extremely interesting floristic zone (Zamudio et al., 1992). This research is the first attempt to make a floristic and ecological study in the area, considering the diversity and community structure of vascular plants and bryophytes.

Fig. 1: Study area in the State of Quertaro and in Mexico Fig. 2: Los Ziga Canyon

O B J E C T I V E S

In order to describe the plant diversity and communities of Los Ziga Canyon, and to highlight its floristic importance, we present: - An initial checklist of vascular plants and bryophytes (from both our own and previous collections). A preliminary description and distribution analysis of the dominant woody vascular plant formations in the Canyon. - An analysis of the main floristic elements in the area. - A description of the main bryophyte communities in the different subenvironments of the Canyon.

References - Zamudio, S., J. Rzedowski, E. Carranza & G. Caldern de Rzedowski. 1992. La vegetacin del estado de Quertaro, panorama preliminar. Instituto de Ecologa A.C., Mxico. 92 pp.

7 1 23 4 5 6

Study area
Los Ziga is a deep, 25 km-long canyon in the hydrological basin of San Juan River (Mexican Neovolcanic Transverse Axis), between 20 21 and 20 24 N & 100 15 and 100 05 W, and with an altitudinal range of 600 meters (flowing between 2500 and 1900 m).

METHODS

Sampling of vascular plants

Fig. 3. Sampling localities: source of the river (1), upper course (2, 3 and 4), middle course (5 and 6), and river mouth (7).

- Five collecting campaigns in an annual cycle (2009-10) were performed. - Seven localities representing the diversity of plant formations were selected (Fig. 3) and vascular perennials were collected.

Sampling of bryophytes
After observing the diversity in all 7 localities in the Canyon, sites with bryophyte communities representative of the different subenvironments were selected and sampled.

3 1
VASCULAR PLANTS

- In the best preserved area (loc. 6), a systematic sampling was performed along 3 transects, 50 m x 2 m (Fig. 4). All vascular perennial plants were identified and the structure of plant communities was recorded in detail.

Fig. 4. Transects established in Loc. 6.

Preliminary checklist: no. taxa

BRYOPHYTES

Floristic analysis
(Fig. 5) -95% of vascular plants collected in the area are native to Mexico. - The Tropical American element is best represented (61%). The Mexican Endemism element reaches 29%.

Tropical America (61%) Mexican Endemism (29%) Pantropical (4%) Widely spread in America (3%) Others (3%)

RESULTS

FAMILIES GENERA SPECIES

55 106 147

25 31 34

(see Appendix for the list of names)

Fig. 5. Main floristic elements

Main formations of woody plants

A

Vegetation analysis: summary

A B

C
Source (loc. 1): area with NW-SE orientation, with livestock activities, without riparian communities. A) Oak forest, B) Evergreen shrubby oak (community not reported previously in the Canyon), and C) Eupatorium petiolare

Upper course (locs. 2, 3 & 4)

NW-SE orientation. Narrow area with oak forest in the hillsides. A) Riparian community of Salix bonplandiana and S. aeruginosa in Loc. 2. B) Riparian community of Alnus jorullensis in Locs. 3 and 4.

R E S U L T S

A B
SW NE

Medium course (locs. 5 & 6): open areas with SE orientation. Hillsides dominated by A) oak forest, or B) xerophilous scrubland, with Karwinskia humboltiana (C) and Dodonaea viscosa(D). Mixed riparian forest (Taxodium mucronatum, Alnus jorullensis, Salix bonplandiana y S. aeruginosa).

River mouth (loc. 7): area of low inclination, with SE orientation. Hillsides with dominant xerophilous scrubland. Riparian forest of Alnus jorullensis and Taxodium mucronatum, with sporadic presences of Salix bonplandiana and S. aeruginosa

Schematic representations: A) hillside vegetation and, B) riparian communitie

Main bryophytic communities

Terricolous bryophytes
Campylopus pilifer

Saxicolous bryophytes
Braunia secunda is the most abundant moss along the Canyon

R E S U L T S

Asterella lateralis community Other terricolous bryophytes: -Thuidium delicatulum var. delicatulum -Marchantia paleacea Entodon beyrichii mats -Pogonatum comosum Grimmia pilifera cushions Braunia secunda (1) and Hedwigia ciliata (2) mats

The communities of bryophytes in the Canyon form a heterogeneous mosaic with a high terricolous, saxicolous and epiphytic cover. The completion of the checklist must result in a high number of new records for Quertaro (where there is only available a previous study on mosses: Herrera-Paniagua, 2004) and for Mexico, particularly in the poorly study group of liverworts.

New records for the State of Quertaro

B A C

Epiphytic bryophytes
A A
Salix aeruginosa Carranza, only known before from the State of Michoacn

B Pogonatum comosum (Mll. Hal.) Mitt. Wide distribution. A) Dry habit, B) Moist habit, C) Leaf and D) Leaf transverse section.

Asterella lateralis Howe. Wide distribution. A) Archegoniophore, B) Detail of the hyaline pseudoperianth.

1. Epiphytic mosses on Arbutus xalapensis - Lejeunea sp. -Homomalium mexicanum - Braunia secunda - Metzgeria sp.

2. Epiphytic mosses on evergreen shrubby oak (Quercus spp.) - Syntrichia amphidiacea - Fabronia ciliaris var. wrightii - Orthotrichum pycnophyllum

References - Herrera-Paniagua, P., C. Delgadillo-Moya, J. L. Villaseor-Ros & I. LunaVega. 2008. Floristics and biogeography of the mosses of the state of Quertaro, Mexico. The Bryologist 111(1): 41-56. FI 1.112

C O N C L U S I O N S

-The preliminary checklist yields 147 species of vascular plants and 34 of bryophytes. -Almost all are native to Mexico, and most of them belong to the Tropical American element. Endemisms are well represented. - Four new records have been obtained for the State of Quertaro: Salix aeruginosa, Tillandsia dugesii, Pogonatum comosum and Asterella lateralis. Both bryophytes are
widespread in America, emphasizing the lack of floristic studies in this group. A greater number of new records is to be expected.

-Some corrections to the current vegetation map are suggested:

. Formations not reported previously in the area: evergreen shrubby oak and riparian forest communities. . Re-interpretations of already described formations: The xerophilous scrubland had been interpreted as crassicaule, although cactaceae are not dominant.

Taxa (spp./subspp.)

APPENDIX: PLANT CHECKLIST

Taxa (spp./subspp.) Seed plants Stenandrium dulce (Cav.) Nees Gomphrena decumbens Jacq. Iresine grandis Standl. Iresine latifolia Benth. & Hook. f. Sprekelia formosissima (L.) Herb. Toxicodendron radicans (L.) Kuntze Asclepias linaria Cav. Mandevilla foliosa (Mll. Arg.) Hemsl. Matelea pilosa (Benth.) Woodson Ostrya sp. Ageratina espinosarum (A. Gray) R. M. King & H. Rob. Ageratina pazcuarense Kunth Aster subulatus Michx. Baccharis heterophylla Kunth Baccharis silicifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers. Cosmos bipinnatus Cav. Dahlia coccinea Cav. Erigeron janivultus G. L. Nesom Eupatorium petiolare Moc. ex DC. Gnaphalium purpurascens DC. Grindelia squarrosa (Pursh) Dunal Piqueria trinervia Cav. Senecio sp. Senecio salignus DC. Stevia serrata Cav. Begonia gracilis Kunth Alnus acuminata subsp. glabrata (Fernald) Furlow Alnus jorullensis Kunth Brassica rapa L. Lepidium virginicum L. Tillandsia dugesii Baker Tillandsia recurvata (L.) L. Viridantha lepidosepala ( B. Sm.) Espejo Bursera cuneata (Schltdl.) Engl. Bursera fagaroides (Kunth) Engl. Mammillaria rodantha subsp. pringlei D. R. Hunt Mammillaria rodantha Link & Otto. subsp. rodantha Opuntia robusta J.C. Wendl. Opuntia tomentosa Salm-Dyck Lobelia laxiflora Kunth Helianthemum glomeratum (Lag.) Lag. ex DC. Commelina diffusa Burm. f. Tradescantia crassifolia Cav. Cuscuta sp. Acanthaceae Amaranthaceae Amaranthaceae Amaranthaceae Amarylidaceae Anacardiaceae Apocynaceae Apocynaceae Apocynaceae Apocynaceae Asteraceae Asteraceae Asteraceae Asteraceae Asteraceae Asteraceae Asteraceae Asteraceae Asteraceae Asteraceae Asteraceae Asteraceae Asteraceae Asteraceae Asteraceae Begoniaceae Betulaceae Betulaceae Brassicaceae Brassicaceae Bromeliaceae Bromeliaceae Bromeliaceae Burseraceae Burseraceae Cactaceae Cactaceae Cactaceae Cactaceae Campanulaceae Cistaceae Commelinaceae Commelinaceae Convolvulaceae Family Seed plants Ipomoea pubescens Lam. Echeveria mucronata Schltdl. Echeveria secunda Booth Sedum greggii Hemsl Cyperus seslerioides Kunth Arbutus xalapensis Kunth Arctostaphylos pungens Kunth Croton ciliatoglandulifer Ortega Croton fruticulosus Engelm. ex Torr. Croton morifolius Willd. Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd. Acacia schaffneri (S. Watson) F.J. Herm. Calliandra grandiflora (L'Hr.) Benth. Desmodium amplifolium Hemsl. Eysenhardtia polystachya (Ortega) Sarg. Harpalyce arborescens A. Gray Macroptilium atropurpureum (Mo. & Sess ex DC.) Urb. Mimosa biuncifera Benth. Mimosa aculeaticarpa Ortega Mimosa sp. Phaseolus coccineus L. Phaseolus pauciflorus Sess & Mo. ex G. Don Senna septemtrionalis (Viv.) H. S. Irwin & Barneby Zornia thymifolia Kunth Quercus affinis Scheidw. Quercus castanea Ne Quercus laurina Bonpl. Quercus mexicana Benth. Quercus rugosa Ne Quercus texcocana Trel. Sisyrinchium sp. Juglans sp. Salvia amarissima Ortega Salvia mexicana L. Salvia regla Cav. Salvia tiliifolia Vahl Salvia sp. Stachys agraria Schltdl. & Cham. Stachys coccinea Ortega Cinnamomum pachypodum (Nees) Kosterm. Litsea glauscescens Kunth Heimia salicifolia Link Allowissadula holosericea (Scheele) D.M. Bates Sida rhombifolia L. Forestiera sp. Fraxinus uhdei (Wenz.) Lingelsh. Oenothera rosea L'Hr. ex Aiton Taxa (spp./subspp.)

Pteridophytes Asplenium monanthes L. Selaginella lepidophylla (Hook. & Grev.) Selaginella pallescens (C. Presl) Spring Family Seed plants Convolvulaceae Crassulaceae Crassulaceae Crassulaceae Cyperaceae Ericaceae Ericaceae Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae Fabaceae Fabaceae Fabaceae Fabaceae Fabaceae Fabaceae Fabaceae Fabaceae Fabaceae Fabaceae Fabaceae Fabaceae Fabaceae Fabaceae Fagaceae Fagaceae Fagaceae Fagaceae Fagaceae Fagaceae Iridiaceae Juglandaceae Lamiaceae Lamiaceae Lamiaceae Lamiaceae Lamiaceae Lamiaceae Lamiaceae Lauraceae Lauraceae Lythraceae Malvaceae Malvaceae Oleaceae Oleaceae Onagraceae Oxalis decaphylla Kunth Oxalis lunulata Zucc. Argemone ochroleuca Sweet Passiflora subpeltata Ortega Plumbago pulchella Boiss. Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv. Eragrostis mexicana (Hornem.) Link Melinis repens (Willd.) Zizka Muehlenbergia sp. Paspalum distichum L. Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv. Loeselia mexicana (Lam.) Brand Polygonum mexicanum Small Rumex obtusifolius L. Heteranthera reniformis Ruiz & Pav. Thalictrum strigillosum Hemsl. Condalia mexicana Schltdl. Condalia velutina I.M. Johnst. Karwinskia humboldtiana (Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.) Zucc. Amelanchier denticulata (Kunth) K. Koch Crataegus mexicana Moc. & Sess ex DC. Bouvardia longiflora Cav.) Kunth Bouvardia multiflora (Cav.) Schult. & Schult. f. Salix aeruginosa E. Carranza Salix bonplandiana Kunth Dodonaea viscosa (L.) Jacq. Bacopa procumbens (Mill.) Greenm. Buddleja cordata Kunth Buddleja sessiliflora Kunth Penstemon roseus (Cerv. ex Sweet) G. Don Nicotiana glauca Graham Solanum americanum Mill. Solanum cervantesii Lag. Solanum suaveolens Kunth & C.D. Bouch Taxodium mucronatum Ten. Glandularia bipinnatifida (Nutt.) Nutt. Lantana hirsuta M. Martens & Galeotti Lantana hirta Graham Verbena menthifolia Benth. Phoradendron robinsonii Urb. Cissus tiliacea Kunth Cissus trifoliata (L.) L. Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch. Taxa (spp./subspp.)

Taxa (spp./subspp.) Family Pteridophytes Aspleniaceae Polypodium thyssandepis A. Braun ex Klotzsch Polypodiaceae Spring Selaginellaceae Adiantum capillus-veneris L. Pteridaceae Selaginellaceae Adiantum tenerum Sw. Pteridaceae Astrolepis sinuata Pteridaceae Cheilanthes bonariensis (Willd.) Proctor Pteridaceae Family Cheilanthes kaulfussii Kunze Pteridaceae Cheilanthes lendigera (Cav.) Sw. Pteridaceae Cheilanthes myriophylla Desv. Pteridaceae Oxalidaceae Mildella intramarginalis (Kaulf. ex Link) Trevis. Pteridaceae Oxalidaceae Pellaea sagittata (Cav.) Link Pteridaceae Papaveraceae Pellaea ternifolia var. ternifolia (Cav.) Link Pteridaceae Passifloraceae Plumbaginaceae Bryophytes Taxa (spp./subspp.) Family Poaceae Gongylanthus sp. Arnelliaceae Poaceae Asterella lateralis M. Howe Aytoniaceae Poaceae Brachythecium occidentale (Hampe.) A. Brachytheciaceae Poaceae Jaeger Poaceae Brachythecium stereopoma (Spruce ex Brachytheciaceae Poaceae Mitt.) A. Jaeger Polemoniaceae Bryum billarderi Schwgr. Bryaceae Polygonaceae Bryum chryseum Mitt. Bryaceae Polygonaceae Pohlia elongata Hedw. Bryaceae Pontederiaceae Campylopus nivalis (Brid.) Brid. Dicranaceae Ranunculaceae Campylopus pilifer Brid. Dicranaceae Rhamnaceae Entodon beyrichii (Schwgr.) Mll. Hal. Entodontaceae Rhamnaceae Erithordontium longisetum (Hook.) Paris Entodontaceae Rhamnaceae Fabronia ciliaris var. wrightii (Sull.) Grout Fabroniaceae Fissidens crispus Mont. Fissidentaceae Rosaceae Grimmia longirostris Hook. Grimmiaceae Grimmia pilifera P. Beauv. Grimmiaceae Rosaceae Braunia secunda (Hook.) Bruch & Schimp. Hedwigiaceae Hedwigia ciliata (Hedw.) P. Beauv. Hedwigiaceae Rubiaceae Hookeriaceae Curviramea mexicana (Thr.) H.A. Crum Rubiaceae Homomallium mexicanum Cardot Hypnaceae Lejeunea sp. Lejeuneaceae Salicaceae Marchantia paleacea Marchantiaceae Salicaceae Metzgeria sp. Metzgeriaceae Sapindaceae Orthotrichum pycnophyllum Schimp. Orthotrichaceae Scrophulariaceae Plagiochila sp. (Dumort.) Dumort. Plagiochilaceae Scrophulariaceae Atrichum muelleri Schimp. Polytrichaceae Scrophulariaceae Pogotamun comosum (C.M.) Mitt Polytrichaceae Scrophulariaceae Barbula orizabensis Mll. Hal. Pottiaceae Molendoa sendtneriana (Bruch & Schimp.) Pottiaceae Solanaceae Limpr. Solanaceae Pseudocrossidium replicatum (Taylor) R.H. Pottiaceae Solanaceae Zander Solanaceae Syntrichia amphidiacea (Mll. Hal.) R.H. Pottiaceae Zander Taxodiaceae Trichostomum brachydontium Bruch Pottiaceae Verbenaceae Trichostomun tenuirostre (Hook. & Taylor) Pottiaceae Verbenaceae Lindb. Timmiella anomala (Bruch & Schimp.) Pottiaceae Verbenaceae Verbenaceae Limpr Viscaceae Tortella humilis (Hedw.) Jenn. Pottiaceae Vitaceae Tortella tortuosa (Hedw.) Limpr. Pottiaceae Vitaceae Ptychomitrium serratum Bruch & Schimp. Ptychomitriaceae Vitaceae Riccia sp. Ricciaceae Thuidium delicatulum var. peruvianum (Mitt.) Thuidiaceae

Family