Chronicle of Bioresource Management 2017, 1(2):060-064

Structure and Floristic Compositions of Ecosystems of Northeast of

Foroughbakhch Rahim* and Ngangyo Heya Maginot

Dept. of Botany, Autonomus University of Nuevo Leon, Mexico

Corresponding Author Article History Foroughbakhch Rahim Article ID: CBM15 e-mail: [email protected] Received in: 17th March, 2017 Received in revised form: 24th May, 2017 Accepted in final form: 05th June, 2017

True solutions to the problems of arid and semiarid zones such as cactus, although the general physiognomy has been throughout the world require a mandatory previous maintained (Maldonado, 1992; Návar, 2004, Foroughbakhch evaluation of the natural resources from the study areas. et al., 2006). Our main approach is driven to the structure and functioning of the vegetal ecosystems which intimately involves various 1. Environmental Factors and Vegetation types of interrelated elements such as flora, cattle, and other fauna, Northeastern Mexico taking also into account management and commercialization According to the Koppen climatic classification this region of wooden and non-wooden products. is located under the influence of a climate ranging from hot Structurally, a great part of the semiarid ecosystems is semidry, semiarid, subhumid, and temperate to a very dry composed of wooden shrubs somehow called “matorral” and desert climate with an average annual temperature of or thornscrub growing under diverse climatic conditions all 22−26 °C and a mean precipitation of 600−800 mm. Thus, over from stony or rocky soils, saline and non-saline areas the climate is extreme. with accelerated erosion to areas located at the base of Precipitation intensity (amount per unit time period), soil the mountains (Palacios, 2000). This type of vegetation is characteristics (e.g., texture and antecedent moisture characterized by the occurrence of diverse structures (Follett, conditions), and soil-surface features together determine 2001), biological forms and floristic diversity (WWF, 2001). whether precipitation events result in infiltration or runoff The current scrubs could be occurring as secondary or (Whitford, 2002; Breshears et al., 2003). If precipitation disclimax vegetation as a consequence of the anthropogenic intensity exceeds the soil infiltration rate, runoff will be activities and overgrazing of savanna scrubs. Similar generated – increasing the potential for soil erosion. circumstances have occurred in the invasion process of shrubs Soils in northeastern Mexico vary according to the FAO/ and woody vegetation over great extensions ofpasture and UNESCO/ISRIC classification from vertisol, chesnut towards open savanna throughout the southwest of the the south, good for agriculture, and leptosol in mountain of America (Hastings, 1965; Jacoby, 1985) which is believed forests, to regosol, calcisol and greyzem in the North area. In that extended up to the borders of the Tamaulipan Biotic the Mountain chain areas litosol and xerosol with superficial Province (Archer et al., 1988). hard rock occurs. Soil resources, including mineral nutrients, Rojas Mendoza (1965) mentioned that the vegetation of organic matter (including litter), water, and soil biota, are the northeast of Mexico has the typical scrub physiognomy fundamental determinants of ecosystem structure and with more or less abundant grass in the clear open spaces function (Vitousek, 1994; Reynolds et al., 2003). of the matorral. The climax pasture occurs in southeastern In general, water has been described as the soil resource that Mexico only in limited portions of the most commonly limits the productivity of dryland ecosystems Mountains or in other certain areas of the North. Regarding (Ehleringer et al., 2000). Water resources in northeastern to those changes caused to the original vegetation by cattle Mexico have been considered as low or scarce. It is important it is mentioned that certain groups of plants have remarkably to remark that there are interconnections between the surface decreased, such as herbs and grasses, while others have and subterranean water bodies and that the former integrate increased in density: shrubs, dwarf trees and some succulents hydrologic basins which represent ecological systems where

© 2017 PP House 060 Rahim and Maginot, 2017 main streams are interconnected. Colubrina texensis, Cordia boissieri, Shaefferia cuneifolia, The retention of limiting water and nutrient resources is Lantana camara, Parkinsonia aculeata, , essential for sustaining the structure and functioning of Lycium berlandieri, Lysium pallidum, Viguiera stenoloba, dryland ecosystems (Ludwig and Tongway, 2000). Dynamic soil Bumelia lanuginosa, Yucca rostrata, Opuntia lindheimeri, properties important for water and nutrient retention include , Sophora secundiflora, Leucophyllum soil structure, infiltration capacity, soil-surface roughness, minus, Salvia balloteaflora, Celtis pallida, Opuntia leptocaulis, organic matter content, soil aggregate stability, and soil biotic Condalia lyciodes, Jatropha dioca, Koeberlinia spinosa, Opuntia activity (Herrick et al., 2002). imbricada, Agave lechuguilla, Condalia hookeri, Leucophyllum frutescens, Bernardia myricaefolia, Forestiera angustifolia, At a broad level, vegetation is generally recognized as the Citharexylum berlandieri, Karwinskia humboldtiana and dominant functional type in terrestrial ecosystems. In addition Microrhammus ericoides. to conducting photosynthesis, aboveground structures of vascular plants protect soil from erosive raindrops, obstruct It is important to notice that in the Tamaulipan thornscrub is erosive wind and overland water flow, and enhance the possible to find small patches of Quercus (, capture and retention of soil resources (Miller & Thomas, Q. fusiformis) in alluvial soils and humid habitats at the mid 2004). Vegetation provides fuel for fire, as well as resources north of the State living together with some other species and habitat structure for belowground and aboveground such as Sapindus saponaria. organisms ranging from fungi and bacteria to birds and large 5. Caducifolious Prosopis Forest mammals (Wardle, 2002). Finally, carbon storage and the mediation of earth-atmosphere energy/water balances are This type of vegetation is dominated by mesquite species additional plant functions that are increasingly emphasized by with arboreal components 4 to 10 meters high with well- researchers investigating global-change processes (Breshears defined trunks wider than 60 cm in diameter. This type of and Allen, 2002; Asner et al., 2003). Small trees, shrubs, dwarf vegetation is surrounded by the high thorny matorral which shrubs, and perennial grasses are the vegetative life forms is characterized by the predominance of leguminosae species. with the greatest effects on the structure and functioning of The most important representatives areProsopis glandulosa, dryland ecosystems. Acacia berlandieri, Acacia wrigthii, Acacia rigidula, Celtis The vegetation types occurring in northeastern Mexico have pallida; , Opuntia engelmannii, Randia been classified according to their botanical and ecological rhagocarpa, Yucca filifera, and Zanthoxylum fagara. The characteristics in the following groups: most abundant graminae are Bouteloua trífida, Aristida spp. and Setaria macrostachya. 2. Semiarid Ecosystems with Tall Shrubs It is common in northeastern Mexico to find mixtures of Structurally the following types of vegetation dominate in mesquite with Olneya tesota and Cercidium spp being these ecosystems: the latter the dominant species. Due to technical and methodological characteristics, these two species and part 3. High Thornscrub of the thorny forest or lower thorny forest are joined in this group. This type of vegetation is characterized by the predominance of tall shrubs or small trees 3 to 5 meter high. The dominant 6. Submountain Matorral species in the area are Helietta parvifolia, Diospyros palmeri, Acacia berlandieri, Celtis pallida, Zanthoxylum fagara, This community is mainly composed of inermis and Acacia rigidula, Cordia boissieri, Leucophyllum texanum, caducifolious elements of short duration. It grows between Pithecellobium pallens, and Schaefferia cuneifolia.The most the borders of the arid matorral, oak forest and lower abundant graminae are: Bouteloua filiformis, Leptochloa caducifolious forest, especially both lower sides of the Sierra dubia, Bouteloua trífida, Setaria marcostachya and Cenchrus Madre Oriental in their northern portion. pauciflorus. The occurring dominant biological forms are shrubs or trees 4 to 6-meter-high with short leaves, caducifolious and 4. Tamaulipan Thornscrub subthorny. It is located in the lower slopes of the Sierra Madre This community from the historical point of view the Oriental mountain chain. description of the biotic unit of the Tamaulipan thornscrub Despite the existence of some morphological and ecological which is owed to Muller (1974) defining it as an ecological variations the most representative species in general are: system of a great floristic diversity with tall thorny arboreal Helietta parvifolia, Cordia boissieri, Gochnatia hypoleuca, species including abundant herbaceous and grass species. The Neopringlea integrifolia, Decatropis bicolor, Fraxinus greggii, dominant species are Acacia rigidula, Cercidium texanum, Havardia pallens, Leucophylum frutescens, Acacia amentacea, Acacia berlandieri, Lippia ligustriana, Guaiacum angustifolum, Acacia berlandieri, Acacia farnesiana, Caesalpinia mexicana, Acacia farnesiana, Castela teaxana, Prosopis glandulosa, Prosopis spp. Dyospiros palmeri, D. texana, Zanthoxylum

© 2017 PP House 061 Chronicle of Bioresource Management 2017, 1(2):060-064 fagara, Flourencia laurifolia, Karwinskia humboldtiana, Oriental chain and adjacent to the pine-oak forest and to the Leucophyllum sp and Pithecellobium pallens. high subinerm matorral. It is characterized by the presence of In this type of vegetation, the Chinese palm presence is mid-size trees 8 to18 meters high. It is a forest inhabited by remarkable due to its aspect. Other species occurring in individuals of the genus Quercus in highly diverse ecological this matorral are Solanum erianthum, Mascagnia macroptera, conditions at altitudes from 600 to nearby 2000 masl. The main Jacobinia spicigera, Hibiscus cardiophyllus and Rubus species in this type of vegetation are the following: Quercus afftriviales. fusiformis, Q. laceyi, Quercus canbyi, Quercus glaucoides, Juglans spp., Hicoria pecan, Ungnadia speciosa, Arbutus 7. Herbaceous Vegetation – Grazing Lands arizonica , Quercus rysophylla, Quercus polymorpha, Quercus canbyi, Quercus mexicana, Quercus cupreata and different Grazing lands are vegetal communities characterized by the species of pines such as Pinus pseudostrobus, P. montezumae, dominance of herbaceous species with long and narrow P. teocote, Arbutus xalapensis and Ugnadia speciosa. The most leaves specially graminae although some other families important graminae species are: Bouteloua curtipendula, may also be present such as Compositae, Leguminosae and Setaria texana, and Poa mulleri.. The most abundant graminae Chenopodiaceae. are: Setaria texana, Bouteloua curtipendula, B. hirsuta, and In the northeast of Mexico there is a partial open grazing land diverse species of Bromus spp. which is characterized by the presence of such species as 10. Lower Caducifolious Jungle Bouteloua gracilis, Boutelova curtipendula, Boutelova irsuta and Tridens muticus. In gypsum, calcareous soil Bouteloua It is a jungle which may reach 10 to 15 m (in tropical and chasei is also found. This gypsophilous grazing land can be subtropical ecosystems of State) growing in found mixed with the desert microphyllous scrubland. warm subhumid, semidry or dry climate where most of the In saline soils and closed basins, it is found an open halophyte individuals (75-100%) throw their leaves during the dry season graze land with the following typical species: Hilaria mutica, which is long lasting. It is frequent to find communities of Hilaria jamesii, Sporobolus tiroides and S. pyramidatus. Bursera spp, Lysilomia spp, Jacaratia mexicana, Ipomoea spp, Besides, there may be mixtures of halophyte shrubby scrub Pseudoborbax palmeri, Erithryna sp., Ceiba sp. and Cordia sp. species such as Atriplex canescens, A. confertifolia and (Table 1) succulent species such as Sauceda spp. A variant of this type Table 1: List of the occurring flora in the matorral of of graze land is located in small sites in open areas of the northeast of Mexico thorny tamaulipan like scrubland. Family Genus Species Cate- Distribu- The open bunch grazing land located in shallow soils of gory tion colluvial origin occurs in the transition zone between the halophyte grazing land and the mountainous zone. This Agava- Agave Bracteosa T Not en- graminae community is characterized by the presence of ceae demic plants with thin, narrow and long leaves; botanically these Agave Victoria- E Endemic leaves are fasciculate which confer a bunchy aspect to the reginae grazing land. The species belonging to this community are Cacta- Ariocarpus Kotschoubey- Pr Not en- Bouteloua gracilis, Boutelova curtipendula, B.uniflora, Tridens ceae anus demic muticus, Eragrostis hagens, Heteropogon contortus and Muhlenbergia mundula. Ariocarpus Retusus Pr Not en- demic 8. Semiarid Ecosystems with Median Size Shrubs: Subinerm Ariocarpus Scapha- E Endemic Matorral rostrus It is found adjacent to the high subinerm matorral and the high Ariocarpus Trigonus T Endemic thorny matorral and it is characterized by the predominance Astrophy- Asterias E Endemic of middle size shrubs 1 to 2 meters high. The most important tum components are Acacia rigidula, Cercidium floridium, Celtis Astrophy- Capricorne T Endemic pallida, Prosopis glandulosa, Condalia obovata, Acacia tum farnesiana; while the most important graminae species are: Bouteloua trifida, Cenchrus pauciflorus and Leptoloma Astrophy- Myriostigma T Endemic cognatum. tum Astrophy- Ornatum T Endemic 9. Sclerophyll Oak and Pine Forest tum It is located in the mountainsides; east to the Sierra Madre Aztekium Hintonii Pr Endemic Continue... © 2017 PP House 062 Rahim and Maginot, 2017

Family Genus Species Category Distribution Aztekium Ritteri T Endemic Coryphantha Poselgeriana T Endemic Coryphantha Pseudoechinus Pr Endemic Echinocactus Platyacanthus Pr Not endemic Echinocereus Knippelianus T Endemic Echinocereus Longisetus Pr Endemic Echinocereus Poselgeri Pr Not endemic Echinomastus Mariposensis T Endemic Epithelantha Micromeris Pr Not endemic Ferocactus Pilosus Pr Not endemic Geohintonia Mexicana Pr Endemic Leuchtembergia Principis T Endemic Mammillaria Carretii Pr Endemic Mammillaria Klissingiana T Endemic Mammillaria Lenta T Endemic Mammillaria Plumosa T Endemic Mammillaria Sanchez-mejoradae E Endemic Pelecyphora Strobiliformis T Not endemic Peniocereus Greggii Pr Not endemic Thelocactus Macdowellii T Endemic Thelocactus Tulensis T Endemic Turbinicarpus Beguinii Pr Not endemic Turbinicarpus Hoferi T Endemic Turbinicarpus Mandrágora T Endemic Turbinicarpus Pseudopectinatus Pr Not endemic Turbinicarpus Schmiedickeanus T Endemic Turbinicarpus Subterraneus T Endemic Turbinicarpus Swobodae T Endemic Turbinicarpus Valdezianus Pr Not endemic Frankeniaceae Frankenia Johnstonii E Not endemic Nolinaceae Calibanus Hookeri Pr Not endemic Dasylirion Longissimum T Not endemic Palmae Brahea Berlandieri Pr Endemic Zamiaceae Dioon Edule T Endemic T= threatened, Pr= protected, E= endangered

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