13 1 2045 the journal of biodiversity data 14 February 2017 Check List LISTS OF SPECIES Check List 13(1): 2045, 14 February 2017 doi: https://doi.org/10.15560/13.1.2045 ISSN 1809-127X © 2017 Check List and Authors Checklist of the genus Quercus (Fagaceae) of Aguascalientes, México Víctor Manuel Martínez-Calderón, María Elena Siqueiros-Delgado1 & Julio Martínez-Ramírez Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Departamento de Biología, Herbario HUAA, Avenida Universidad 940, Ciudad Universitaria, Código Postal 20131, Aguascalientes, AG, México 1 Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract: Twenty-five species of Quercus were collected in none occur in Yucatán (Rzedowski 2006). the state of Aguascalientes, 11 members of Quercus sect. In Aguascalientes, one of the smallest of the Mexican Lobatae (red oak) and 14 members of Quercus sect. Quercus states, two major physiographic units are recognized: (white oak). Ten species were newly recorded. Quercus xerophytic and temperate. The eastern half of the state potosina is the commonest and most widely distributed is a semiarid region where drier conditions predominate. species in the state. Eight species were found only in a single This portion of the state consists of a broad valley bounded municipality, Calvillo or San José de Gracia. The species of by a system of plateaus and low hills in the far east. Plant Quercus are mainly distributed in oak and pine-oak forest communities of this region are typical of a semi-arid in the western part of Aguascalientes. The municipalities climate and include crasicaules or thorny scrub, mesquite with the greatest numbers of species are San José de forests, and grasslands. The western half of the state is Gracia, Calvillo and Jesús María, while Aguascalientes, mountainous with a complex topography of mountains, Asientos, Cosío, El Llano, Rincón de Romos, Pabellón de plateaus, and canyons. This region is dominated by oak Arteaga, and Tepezalá have the fewest representatives. San and oak-pine forests in the higher mountains, while in the Francisco de los Romo is the only municipality without any extreme southwest there are tropical elements represented Quercus records. by a small portion of tropical deciduous forest in the valley of Calvillo. Key words: oaks; species inventory; new records Botanically, Aguascalientes was barely explored until 1980, when the “Flora del Estado de Aguascalientes” project INTRODUCTION was initiated. Since that time, floras have been published The genus Quercus L. is among the most ecologically impor- on aquatic plants, cacti, grasses, medicinal plants, tant forest species because Quercus species are dominant legumes, oaks, pines, and composites among others (De in many plant communities (Nixon 2006). Quercus for- la Cerda 1996, 1999a; García 1999a, 1999b; Siqueiros ests are the most characteristic plant communities of the 1996, 1999a, 1999b). McVaugh (1974) published previous mountainous areas of México. Along with pine forests, oak floristic records about the Quercus of Aguascalientes in forests are the most widespread vegetation found in these “Flora Novogaliciana”. This region includes the states temperate and semi-humid climates. But, Quercus species of Jalisco, Colima and Aguascalientes, and portions of are not limited to these climates. Their extensive ecological Nayarit, Durango, Guanajuato, Zacatecas and Michoacán. amplitude is associated with the mountain cloud forests, McVaugh reported 44 species of oak in New Galicia, 11 as well as various types of tropical forests and grasslands of which were from Aguascalientes. Later, De la Cerda (Rzedowski 2006). (1989, 1999b) reported 15 and 17 species, respectively. The The highlands of central and eastern México are an goal of this study is to present a complete checklist and important center for genus diversity of the genus (Nixon to update the floristic inventory of Quercus species in the 1993b). According to Zavala (1998), due to environmental state of Aguascalientes. characteristics, oak species are not evenly distributed within México. Oaks occur from sea level up to 3100 m, MATERIALS AND METHODS although more than 95% of Mexican Quercus species are found between 1200 and 2800 m. Oaks are found in all Study site Mexican states, including the smaller and less diverse At 5,680 km2, Aguascalientes is the third smallest state in states, such as Aguascalientes, with the exception that México. It is located between 21°38ʹ03ʺ N and 102°07ʹ06ʺ W 1 Martínez-Calderón et al. | Quercus of Aguascalientes, México Figure 1. Map and location of Aguascalientes, México. 1: Aguascalientes. 2: Asientos. 3: Calvillo. 4: Cosío. 5: El Llano. 6: Jesús María. 7: Pabellón de Arteaga. 8: Rincón de Romos. 9: San Francisco de los Romo. 10: San José de Gracia. 11: Tepezalá. in the central part of México. It is bordered by Zacatecas dry tropical forest where these dominant taxa are found: to the north, east and west, and by Jalisco to the south. Bursera fagaroides (Kunth) Engl., Ficus petiolaris Kunth, Aguascalientes is divided into 11 municipalities: Aguasca- Leucaena esculenta Benth., Lysiloma microphyllum Benth., lientes, Asientos, Calvillo, Cosío, El Llano, Jesús María, and Myrtillocactus geometrizans Console (De la Cerda Pablo de Arteaga, Rincón de Romos, San Francisco de los & Siqueiros 1985). The annual average temperature is Romo, San José de Gracia, and Tepezalá (Figure 1). The between 20.0–22.0°C. Most of the state is semiarid (86%); state is included within three physiographic provinces: the remaining 14% is temperate (CONABIO 2008). Western Mother Mountains (to the northwest), Central plateau (central part from north to south), and Trans- Data collection Mexican volcan belt (southwest) (CONABIO 2008). The predominant physiography of Aguascalientes is a great The study included plants collected throughout the state central plain, with some lower elevations, covered with from 2010 to 2015, collections from the herbarium HUAA xerophytic thorny scrub. The more common species found were also included. One hundred and twenty sites were are Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd., Prosopis laevigata (Humb. sampled to cover the whole Quercus forest distribution in & Bonpl. ex Willd.) M.C.Johnst., Mimosa biuncifera Benth., Aguascalientes (Figure 2). Vegetation types of Aguascali- and Opuntia streptacantha Lem., among others. A moun- entes are according to Siqueiros et al. (2016) (Figure 3). tainous region covered with coniferous and oak forest is Species of Quercus were identified using specialized lit- located in the northwest portion of the state at elevations erature (De la Cerda 1999b; Espinosa 2001; González that range from 1570–3020 m, with an average tempera- 1986; McVaugh 1974; Romero et al. 2014). The Quercus ture range between 16.0–18.0°C. To the southwest of the checklist is organized alphabetically by species; material state, there is a disturbed subtropical area covered with examined includes localities organized alphabetically by Check List | www.biotaxa.org/cl 2 Volume 13 | Issue 1 | Article 2045 Martínez-Calderón et al. | Quercus of Aguascalientes, México Figure 2. Map of elevation and sampling sites of genus Quercus in Aguascalientes, México. Borders of municipalities are shown. (Map by Victor M. Mtz. Calderón). municipality, plant communities, elevation, collection Q. mexicana are the scarcest. Quercus potosina is the more number, collector, and voucher. Samples lacking a collection widely distributed oak, usually forming forests in asso- number are labeled s/n (Table 1.). Additional information ciation with Q. eduardii, Q. rugosa and Juniperus deppeana was extracted from collected materials from Aguascali- Steud. Quercus candicans, Q. deserticola, Q. durifolia, Q. greg- entes and specialized literature. All specimens are from gii, Q. laurina, Q. magnoliifolia, Q. mexicana and Q. viminea, Aguascalientes and are deposited at herbarium HUAA. are distributed in temperate or subtropical environments in San José de Gracia and Calvillo, respectivelly (Table 2). The temperate area possesses the greatest number of RESULTS oaks species in the state; it is located in the western part This study recorded 25 species of oaks from Aguascalien- of Aguascalientes and possesses the highest elevations. tes, including 11 members of Quercus sect. Lobatae (red The central plain with xerophytic vegetation, including oak) and 14 members of Quercus sect. Quercus (white the Asientos, Cosío, El Llano and Tepezalá municipalities, oak) according to the infrageneric classification of Nixon have the fewest number of species with a dominance of Q. (1993a) (Table 1). Ten species were newly recorded from potosina. Species of Quercus are found in all municipalities the state: Q. depressipes, Q. deserticola, Q. durifolia, Q. greg- of Aguascalientes, except San Francisco de los Romo. Oaks gii, Q. magnoliifolia, Q. mexicana, Q. obtusata, Q. praeco, Q. in Aguascalientes inhabit mainly oak forest and pine-oak repanda and Q. striatula. forest but are also found in temperate grassland and areas Quercus chihuahuensis, Q. eduardii, Q. grisea, Q. laeta, Q. with a climate that is transitional between subtropical and potosina, and Q. resinosa are the most-represented spe- arid; oaks occur at an average elevation of 2000–2600 m cies in Aguascalientes, while Q. candicans, Q. greggii and (Figure 2). Check List | www.biotaxa.org/cl 3 Volume 13 | Issue 1 | Article 2045 Martínez-Calderón et al. | Quercus of Aguascalientes, México Figure 3. Vegetation of Aguascalietes, Mexico. AU: Agriculture-urban.