Hummingbird Conservation in Mexico: The Natural Protected Areas System Author(s): M.C. Arizmendi, H. Berlanga, C. Rodríguez-Flores, V. Vargas-Canales, L. Montes-Leyva and R. Lira Source: Natural Areas Journal, 36(4):366-376. Published By: Natural Areas Association DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3375/043.036.0404 URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.3375/043.036.0404
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BioOne sees sustainable scholarly publishing as an inherently collaborative enterprise connecting authors, nonprofit publishers, academic institutions, research libraries, and research funders in the common goal of maximizing access to critical research. ABSTRACT: Hummingbirds represent an avian family restricted to the Americas that feeds mainly on nectar obtained from ornithophilous plants. In North America (Mexico-USA-Canada), 58 species have been reported out of the 330 total hummingbird species, all of them occurring in Mexico. In this work • we analyzed the distribution of hummingbirds in relation to the coverage of the natural protected area system in Mexico using a complementarity analysis to assess the minimum set of areas needed to protect all species. We focused our search mainly to biosphere reserves, as these areas have complete bird lists. Hummingbird Six biosphere reserves included 93% of the hummingbird species. Four species were not included in any biosphere reserve or other natural protected area. To preserve those species, three important bird areas Conservation in (AICAs as they are known in Spanish) are needed. With these nine areas, all hummingbird species are included. Hummingbird distributions can be classified in six groups that distribute following the major biogeographic regions described for Mexico, including groups using; (1) the main mountain ranges, Mexico: The Natural (2) the Pacific tropical dry forests, (3) the Gulf of Mexico slopes with tropical dry forest, (4) the humid tropical forest in southern Mexico, and both (5) Yucatan and (6) Baja California peninsulas. Protected Areas Index terms: AICA, biosphere reserves, endemic species, hummingbird conservation, Mexico System INTRODUCTION hummingbird fauna of North America. From these nine are Neotropical migrants M.C. Arizmendi1,3 that breed in the United States and Canada Hummingbirds represent a New World and have their wintering grounds in Mex- 1Unidad de Biología Tecnología bird family comprising approximately 330 ico, including, for example, Selasphorus y Prototipos species. They are small birds (2.5–24 g) that rufus Gmelin, JF, S. platycercus Swainson, FES Iztacala, UNAM. Av. De los feed on nectar obtained from flowers using and Archilochus colubris L. Tropical spe- Barrios 1 long bills and protrusible tongues and also cies, such as hermits (Phaethornis spp.) Los Reyes Iztacala México 54090 feed to some extent on insects (Arizmendi and mangos (Colibri thalassinus Swain- México and Berlanga 2014). Hummingbirds visit a son, Anthracotorax prevostii Lesson) are large number of wildflowers and pollinate distributed mainly in Mexican southern many of them (Arizmendi and Rodriguez tropical forests. Endemic species com- H. Berlanga2 Flores 2012). They also pollinate some prise an important group with species of cultivated plants that are important both very small distribution, such as Lophornis C. Rodríguez-Flores1 ecologically and economically for humans, brachylophus Moore, RT, distributed only 2 V. Vargas-Canales such as pineapples (Cabral et al. 2000; in 50 km2 of temperate forests at Guerrero, L. Montes-Leyva1 Carlier et al. 2007). For some plant species, or Eupherusa polyocerca Elliot and Eu- such as some Heliconia, Datura, Fuchsia pherusa cyanophrys Rowley & Orr with R. Lira1 species, hummingbirds are the exclusive 4000 and 4100 km2 in Guerrero and Oaxaca pollinators, being the only ones responsible México (del Hoyo et al. 2014). Of the 58 2NABCI CONABIO for their sexual reproduction (i.e., Altshuler species represented in Mexico, six are Liga Periférico - Insurgentes Sur and Clark 2003). For others, they repre- considered endangered at the global level Núm. 4903 sent part of a wider array of pollinators (IUCN 2015)—all of them endemics with a Col. Parques del Pedregal (Arizmendi and Rodríguez-Flores 2012). restricted range (Berlanga et al. 2008). The Delegación Tlalpan, 14010 However, for other plants, hummingbirds main threat for Mexican hummingbirds is México, D.F. may not represent a benefit as pollinators; habitat loss and fragmentation (Arizmendi in some cases, they can rob nectar without and Berlanga 2014). contacting plant reproductive structures • (i.e., Arizmendi et al. 1996; Arizmendi Mexico has a national Natural Protected 2001). In addition to their ecological Areas System that includes biosphere 3 Corresponding author: [email protected]; importance, hummingbirds have always reserves, national monuments, national 521-5556237002 been important to human culture (i.e., parks, as well as other state protected areas Mazariegos 2010), representing gods, soul (SINAP www.conanp.gob.mx). The whole carriers, and fecundity among prehispanic system comprises 177 areas and 25,628,239 societies, as well as good luck, love, and ha of the country’s territory. wellness, even in modern societies. The purpose of this work was to analyze In Mexico, 58 species have been described the opportunities and threats to humming- Natural Areas Journal 36:366–376 (Arbelaez and Navarro 2014; Arizmendi bird conservation in México considering and Berlanga 2014) representing all the protection provided by the Mexican Natural
366 Natural Areas Journal Volume 36 (4), 2016 Protected Areas System, and in the context dangered, such as Atthis eliotti Ridgway, 2). Selva el Ocote is a big area situated in of both national and international laws. mainly because they can be considered Central Chiapas in southern Mexico. It is locally abundant. Ten species are migrants an area with an altitudinal range from 180 (17.2%), of which five are long distance to 1500 m and with 10 vegetation types METHODS migrants that breed in the northern United represented, mainly Tropical Deciduous States and Canada and spend the winter in Forest, Tropical Semi-deciduous Forest, Conservation status both at the national and Mexico and Central America. Humid Forest, Oak and Pine-Oak Forests, international level for hummingbird species and Cloud Forest (SEMARNAT/CONANP was assessed using available information Hummingbirds are widely distributed in 2001). Its hummingbird fauna reflects at avesmx (Berlanga et al. 2008). For the the country, being reported in 146 (out of this habitat variation. Species present 58 Mexican species, the distributional the 171) Natural Protected Areas, includ- include the tropical humid forest related status (endemic, quasiendemic, resident, or ing all the biosphere reserves (41). Of the species such as Campylopterus excellens migrant) was determined using literature 58 species, only three are not included in Wetmore, C. rufus Lesson, Lamprolaima (Howell and Webb 1995; Arizmendi and any biosphere reserve or natural protected rhami Lesson, Abeillia abeillei Lesson Berlanga 2014), distributional databases area: Lophornis brachylophus, Eupherusa & Delattre, and Florisuga mellivora L., (averAves, eBird), and personal data. Bio- cyanophrys, and Eupherusa poliocerca. sub-humid and dry forest species such as sphere reserves and Important Bird Areas These three species are highly restricted Heliomaster constantii Delattre or Amazilia were included as they have complete bird (Figure 1) and, therefore, threatened by yucatanensis Cabot, but also species typical lists. Complementarity analysis for com- habitat destruction and fragmentation. They of the temperate forests (Pine-oak, Pine pletion of the minimum set of protected are included in two declared Important and Cloud forests) such as Amazilia be- areas needed to achieve all hummingbird Bird Areas: Sierra de Atoyac (Lophornis ryllina Deppe, Eugenes fulgens Swainson, conservation was carried out. We used the brachylophus and Eupherusa poliocerca), Hylocharis leucotis Vieillot, and Colibri method proposed by Possingham et al. and Sierra de Miahuatlán (Eupherusa thalassinus. In this area it is possible to find (1993) and performed by other authors cyanophrys). 55% of all the species found in Mexico. The for different plant groups from Mexico next area chosen by the complementarity (i.e., Lira et al. 2002; Villaseñor et al. Complementarity analysis showed that it is analysis is Sierra de Manantlán, which 1998). A data matrix was prepared with enough to preserve six biosphere reserves contributed 15 additional species. Sierra presence/absence data of the 58 humming- and three Mexican IBAs (AICAs) to have de Manantlán is a biosphere reserve sit- bird species in the 51 protected areas (41 all hummingbird species (58 species) at uated in western Mexico in the mountain biosphere reserves and 10 Important Bird least represented in one area. These ar- ranges that go from north to south along Areas (AICAs in Mexico)); the comple- eas are Selva el Ocote (32 hummingbird the Pacific slope (Sierra Madre Occiden- mentarity algorithm was performed using species), Manantlán (23), Montes Azules tal) and is covered mainly with temperate the tool SOLVER (Excel® 2010, Microsoft (22), Sian Ka´an (10), Sierra La Laguna forests (Pine-oak, Oak, and Cloud), with Corp., 2010). Finally, distribution was an- (4), Tehuacán-Cuicatlán (18), and the IBAs dry and sub-humid forests in the lowlands alyzed using a cluster ordination method are Cozumel (4), Sierra de Atoyac (25), (SEMARNAT/CONANP 2000) (Figure (JMP SAS Inc.) in order to find groups of and Sierra de Miahuatlan (23) (Table 2). 2). This area contributes species typical hummingbirds with common conservation There were species represented only in one of mountain ranges such as Atthis heloisa needs based on their distribution. area (18 species, Table 3), in two areas (11 Lesson & Delattre, Amazilia violiceps species), in three areas (10 species), and Gould, Lampornis clemenciae Lesson, RESULTS between four and eight areas (19 species). and long distance migrants as Selaspho- From the endemic species (13), two were rus rufus, S. platycercus, and Archilochus From the 58 hummingbird species reported not represented in any area, eight were alexandri Bourcier & Mulsant. Montes for Mexico, six (10.3%) are listed in the represented in one area, two in two areas, Azules, an area covered by humid tropical IUCN red list of threatened species (two and one in three areas (Table 3). From the forest situated in south central Chiapas, Almost Threatened, two Vulnerable, one nine areas detected as the minimum set for contributed two tropical species, Heliothryx Endangered, and one Critically Endan- hummingbird conservation, only Montes barroti Bourcier and Phaeochroa cuvierii gered), and 17 within Mexican law (six Azules did not represent any endemic Delattre & Bourcier, at their northernmost under Special Protection, nine Threatened, species (Figure 2). distribution. Sierra de Atoyac, an area cov- two Endangered) (Table 1). All of six glob- ered by temperate forests (Pine-oak, Oak, ally threatened species are also Mexican Two protected areas hold 81% of the Mexi- and Cloud forest) and dry to semi-humid endemics with restricted distributions in can hummingbird species—Selva el Ocote, forests in the lower parts in the southern the country, while seven of the 17 species with 32 species, and Sierra de Manantlán state of Guerrero, contributed two more listed in Mexican laws are also endemics with 15 more—for a total of 47 out of the 58 restricted endemic species, Eupherusa (Table 1). There are another six endemic found in Mexico (Figure 2). The remaining poliocerca and Lophornis brachylophus. species that, in spite of having a restricted seven areas contributed either one or two Tehuacán-Cuicatlán biosphere reserve is an distributional range, are not listed as en- species to complete the entire set (Figure area representing a dry central desert cov-
Volume 36 (4), 2016 Natural Areas Journal 367 El Ocote, Montes Azules El Ocote, Montes Azules Manantlán, Atoyac, Tehuacán, Miahuatlán Manantlán, Tehuacán, Miahuatlán Tehuacán-Cuicatlán El Ocote, Atoyac, Miahuatlán El Ocote El Ocote Manantlán, Atoyac, Miahuatlán Cozumel Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Sian Ka´an Sian Ka´an Miahuatlán Atoyac Montes Azules, El Ocote, Atoyac, Miahuatlán Continued 5 6 8 8 2 2 5 3 1 2 4 2 1 1 9 10 Found Areas of the Minimum Set Where Can Be Number of Areas Endemic & restricted Endemic & restricted Endemic & restricted Endemic & restricted Endemic & restricted Least Concern Least Concern Endemic Least Concern Least Concern Endemic Least Concern Least Concern Endemic Almost threatened Least Concern Least ConcernLeast Endemic Concern Almost threatened Least Concern Endemic Least Concern Least Concern Under Special Protection Under Special Protection Under Special Protection Endangered Under special protection Wine-throated Hummingbird (Zumbador Guatemalteco) Threatened Bumblebee Hummingbird (Zumbador Mexicano) Emerald-chinned Hummingbird (Colibrí Pico Corto) Green Fronted Hummingbird (Colibrí Frente Verde) Threatened Common Name NOM-059 IUCN Distribution Lucifer Hummingbird (Colibrí Lucifer) Beautiful Hummingbird (Colibrí Oaxaqueño) Long Tailed Sabrewing (Fandanguero Cola Larga) Rufous Sabrewing (Fandanguero Canelo) Golden Crowned Emerald (Esmeralda Mexicana) Esmeralda de Cozumel (Cozumel Emerald) Dusky Hummingbird (Colibrí Oscuro) Mexican Sheartail (Colibrí Cola Hendida) Slender Sheartail (Colibrí Tijereta Guatemalteco)Blue Capped Hummingbird (Colibrí Oaxaqueño) Threatened Threatened Endangered White Tailed Hummingbird (Colibrí Cola Blanca)Long-billed Starthroat (Colibrí picudo garganta azul) Threatened Vulnerable Atthis ellioti Atthis heloisa Abeillia abeillei Amazilia viridifrons Species Calothorax lucifer Calothorax pulcher Campylopterus excellens Campylopterus rufus Chlorostilbon auriceps Chlorostilbon forficatus Cynanthus sordidus Doricha eliza Doricha enicura Eupherusa cyanophrys Eupherusa poliocerca Heliomaster longirostris Table 1. Endemic hummingbird species considered in danger in Mexican laws (NOM-059), at the global level (IUCN), and number of areas of the minimum set found in this analysis where they they where analysis this in found set minimum the of areas of number and (IUCN), level global the at (NOM-059), laws Mexican in danger in considered species hummingbird Endemic 1. Table found. be can
368 Natural Areas Journal Volume 36 (4), 2016 ered with dry shrubs and columnar cacti, and dry forest, mainly with short Pine-Oak forests in the higher parts. It contributed two typical dryland species, Calothorax pulcher and Cynanthus sordidus. Sierra de la Laguna, situated in the Baja Cali- fornia peninsula, represents a mountain range surrounded by a dry desert. This is the habitat of an endemic hummingbird, Hylocharis xanthusii Lawrence, found in these lands. In its low dry shrub lands and Montes Azules, El Ocote Manantlán, Atoyac, Miahuatlán Manantlán, Tehuacán, Atoyac, Miahuatlán Montes Azules, El Ocote El Ocote, Tehuacán, Atoyac, Miahuatlán La Laguna Montes Azules Manantlán, Tehuacán, Atoyac, Miahuatlán Montes Azules, El Ocote, Manantlán Atoyac in the oak land, Calypte anna Lesson can be found. Two more areas contributed one species each: Cozumel with the endemic species Chlorostilbon forficatus Ridgway, 6 4 5 6 2 1 2 1 12 14 and Sierra de Miahuatlán with Eupherusa Found Areas of the Minimum Set cyanophrys. Where Can Be Number of Areas Analyzing the distribution of humming- birds using a Cluster Analysis (Figure 3), six different groups were formed. From the bottom, a group formed by the more widespread species, all from the tropical Endemic & restricted Endemic & restricted dry forests that cover the Pacific and Gulf slopes of Mexico, such as Amazilia rutila Delattre. Another one formed by the spe- cies that are distributed in the Gulf slope extending to the Yucatan Peninsula, such Least Concern Least Concern Endemic Least Concern Critically Endangered Least Concern Least Concern Least Concern Least Concern Endemic Least Concern as Amazilia candida Bourcier & Mulsant and A. yucatanensis. Another group com- prised species of the dry lands of western Mexico, such as Calypte anna. Another big group contained species that distrib- ute along mountain ranges of the Sierra Threatened Endangered Under special protection Vulnerable Under special protection Madre Oriental and Occidental extending to Sierra Madre del Sur, such as Amazilia beryllina and Hylocharis leucotis. Next, another big group was composed of re- stricted range species represented only in one area, such as Lophornis brachylophus, or species that were more widespread but represented here in only one area, such as Phaethonis mexicanus Hartert, E. Finally, at the top, are tropical species that follow the distribution of the tropical humid for- Mexican Woodnymph (Ninfa Mexicana) Sparkling-tailed Woodstar (Colibrí Cola Pinta) Threatened Black Crested Coquette (Coqueta Cresta Negra) Short Crested Coquette (Coqueta Cresta Corta) Green-throated Moutain-gem (Colibrí garganta verde) Garnet-throated Hummigbird (Colibrí multicolor) Threatened Common Name NOM-059 IUCN Distribution Blue-throated Hummingbird Xantus’s Hummingbird (Zafiro de Xantus) Purple-crowned Fairy (Colibrí Hada Enmascarada) Threatened ests in Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Veracruz to southern Tamaulipas, such as Lamprolaima rhami Lesson. Long distance migrants were clustered with similar residents that share distribution with them, except for Selasphorus sasin Lesson, which clustered with species with restricted distribution. This is a result of deficient data regarding its winter distribution derived mainly from identification problems that, in many cases, Phaethornis mexicanus Thalurania ridgwayi Tilmatura dupontii Lophornis helenae Lophornis brachylophus Lampornis viridipallens Lamprolaima rhami Lampornis clemenciae Hylocharis xantusii Species Heliothryx barroti Table 1. (Continued) Endemic hummingbird species considered in danger in Mexican laws (NOM-059), at the global level (IUCN), and number of areas of the minimum set found in this this in found set minimum the of areas of number and (IUCN), level global the at (NOM-059), laws Mexican in danger in considered species hummingbird Endemic (Continued) 1. Table found. be can they where analysis lead to its misidentification asS. rufous.
Volume 36 (4), 2016 Natural Areas Journal 369 Figure 1. Distribution of the endemic species of hummingbirds found in Mexico, including (a) restricted range species, and (b) more widespread ones. Note that Phaethornis mexicanus is not included as more work is needed in this recently recognized species.
370 Natural Areas Journal Volume 36 (4), 2016 Table 2. Minimum set of areas needed to preserve at least one site of occurrence for each species of Mexican hummingbird.
Protected Area Area (ha) Bird Species Hummingbird Species Montes Azules 331,200 464 22 El Ocote 101,288 353 32 Sian Ka´an 528,148 385 10 Manantlán 139,577 341 23 Sierra La Laguna 112,437 110 4 Tehuacán-Cuicatlán 490,187 144 18 AICA Cozumel 17,565 271 4 AICA Sierra de Atoyac 171,673 347 25 AICA Sierra de Miahuatlán 248,802 297 23 Total Area 2,140,877
DISCUSSION four endemic, restricted, and endangered range. The Sierra de Miahuatlán must be species were still not covered. In order to protected if conservation of this endemic Hummingbirds represent an American fulfill this goal, AICAs (Important Bird species is a priority. Two more species, family of birds that depend on nectar Areas) were included in the analysis. distributed only at the Sierra de Atoyac, offered by plants to survive (Schuchmann These areas are not protected areas, but Guerrero, México, are not included in 1999; Arizmendi and Berlanga 2014). In are recognized as areas important and any other protected area (Navarro 1992). Mexico, a diverse array of hummingbird needed for bird conservation (Arizmendi One of them is Eupherusa poliocerca, an species can be found, including tropical and Márquez Valdelamar 2000; Aguirre et endemic species of the humid temperate species that reach their northern distri- al. 2006; Berlanga et al. 2008). The four forests (Pine, pine-oak, and cloud) of the butional range (some Hermits, Mangos, species not included in areas of the Natural Sierra de Atoyac, Guerrero. So far, only Topazes, and Coquettes), and a diverse Protected Areas system are in urgent need one nest was described in 1894, and ap- and numerous variety of classical species of protection. First, Chlorostilbon forficatus parently, breeding time is from February of North America, including the Mountain is endemic to Cozumel Island, which has to May and from September to October gems, Emeralds, and Bees of McGuire et been declared a national park (Arrecifes de (Arizmendi et al. 2013c). It is also consid- al. (2009). Hummingbirds move both lati- Cozumel) that includes coastal vegetation ered a highly vulnerable species by Partners tudinally and attitudinally following floral and is an Important Bird Area (Arizmendi in Flight (Berlanga et al. 2010). Based on resources that experience huge seasonal et al. 2013b). This species uses the dry determinations of habitat loss, Berlanga variations (Johnsgard 1997; Schuchmann tropical forest and its edges to forage. et al. (2010) estimated that 15–49% of its 1999). This can explain the big contri- Breeding biology and foraging ecology population has been lost during the last bution of reserves such as El Ocote and of this species are not known, and no century. Population declines are mainly due Manantlán in preserving hummingbird further details on its abundance are known to habitat loss, making it very important to diversity, where long gradients of altitude as far as considering it locally abundant formally protect its distributional area. The and vegetation cover may support large (Arizmendi et al. 2013b). Eupherusa cy- second species is Lophornis brachylophus, arrays of hummingbirds—81% of all anophrys is an endemic species of Sierra a critically endangered species because it is hummingbird species between the two de Miahuatlán, Oaxaca, in an altitudinal only known from a 25-km transect between areas. However, to achieve representation range between 700 and 2600 m (Collar Paraiso and Nueva Delhi at the Sierra de of the 11 remaining species, the model et al. 1992; Howell and Webb 1995). It Atoyac mountain range (Arizmendi et added seven more areas. Four of these is considered a species at greatest risk of al. 2010). Very little is known about its were biosphere reserves, added to include extinction by Partners in Flight (Berlanga feeding ecology and breeding biology. The species of specific habitats, such as desert et al. 2010), and based on determinations protection of Sierra de Atoyac is urgent, as enclaves (Tehuacán-Cuicatlán), or specific of habitat loss, Berlanga et al. (2010) these two endemic and restricted species habitat in peninsular ecosystems (Sierra estimated that 15–49% of its population depend on it for their preservation. la Laguna and Sian Ka´an), or habitat for has been lost during the last century. The tropical species not included in a tropical main risk associated with this decline is Hummingbird distributions seem to follow humid forest of El Ocote, (Montes Azules). habitat loss (Arizmendi et al. 2013a). No closely the biogeographical regionalization Nevertheless, despite adding these areas, protected area is within its distributional proposed by Morrone (2005). There is
Volume 36 (4), 2016 Natural Areas Journal 371 Table 3. Presence of hummingbirds in the minimum area set to preserve Mexican hummingbird species.
Species Montes Azules El Ocote Ka´an Sian Manantlán Laguna La Sierra Tehuacán-Cuicatlám AICA Cozumel AICA Sierra de Atoyac AICA Sierra de Miahuatlán Abeillia abeillei 11 Amazilia beryllina 111111 Amazilia candida 111 Amazilia cyanocephala 11 Amazilia cyanura 1 Amazilia rutila 11 111 Amazilia tzacatl 111 1 Amazilia violiceps 1111 Amazilia viridifrons 1 11 Amazilia yucatanensis 111 Anthracothorax prevostii 111 111 Archilochus alexandri 11 Archilochus colubris 1111 1111 Atthis ellioti 11 Atthis heloisa 1111 Calothorax lucifer 11 1 Calothorax pulcher 1 Calypte anna 1 Calypte costae 11 Campylopterus curvipennis 111 Campylopterus excellens 1 Campylopterus hemileucurus 11 1 Campylopterus rufus 1 Chlorostilbon auriceps 1 11 Chlorostilbon canivetii 111 Chlorostilbon forficatus 1 Colibri thalassinus 11111 Cynanthus latirostris 11111 Cynanthus sordidus 1 Doricha eliza 1 Doricha enicura 1 Eugenes fulgens 11111 Eupherusa cyanophrys 1 Eupherusa eximia 11
Continued
372 Natural Areas Journal Volume 36 (4), 2016 Table 3 (Continued). Presence of hummingbirds in the minimum area set to preserve Mexican hummingbird species.
Species Montes Azules El Ocote Ka´an Sian Manantlán Laguna La Sierra Tehuacán-Cuicatlám AICA Cozumel AICA Sierra de Atoyac AICA Sierra de Miahuatlán Eupherusa poliocerca 1 Florisuga mellivora 11 Heliomaster constantii 1 1 11 Heliomaster longirostris 11 11 Heliothryx barroti 1 Hylocharis eliciae 1 Hylocharis leucotis 11111 Hylocharis xantusii 1 Lampornis amethystinus 1111 Lampornis clemenciae 1111 Lampornis viridipallens 11 Lamprolaima rhami 1 1 11 Lophornis brachylophus 1 Lophornis helenae 11 Phaeochroa cuvierii 1 Phaethornis longirostris 11 Phaethornis mexicanus 1 11 Phaethornis striigularis 111 Selasphorus calliope 11 Selasphorus platycercus 1111 Selasphorus rufus 11 11 Selasphorus sasin 1 Thalurania ridgwayi 1 Tilmatura dupontii 111111 a group that distributes in the Montane species distribute along the Gulf slope and those big vegetation types as well as the Region comprising the Sierra Madre its continuation into central Chiapas and clustering. However, it has been shown Occcidental, Sierra Madre Oriental, Eje Oaxaca, where well-preserved extensions that especially montane forests (Hernán- Neovolcanico transversal, and Sierra of humid forests still persist. Species dis- dez-Baños et al. 1995; Toledo-Aceves et al. Madre del Sur (also Rzedowski 1978). tributed in the Yucatan and Baja California 2011) and tropical forests (Quesada et al. This region is what Cabrera and Willink peninsulas form two other groups. 2009; Miles et al. 2006) represent highly (1973) proposed as the Mesoamerican threatened habitats in Mexico, with heavy montane region. Another group distributes Hummingbirds in Mexico distribute in all rates of deforestation and fragmentation. along the tropical dry forest in the Pacific vegetation types (Rzwedoski 1978). The Because 81% of the hummingbird species Gulf slopes. In more humid forests, such short set of protected areas needed for their distribute on those threatened and frag- as tropical evergreen or humid forest, some conservation reflect the representation of mented habitats, their continuity must be
Volume 36 (4), 2016 Natural Areas Journal 373 Figure 2. Minimum set of areas needed to preserve at least one site of occurrence for each species of Mexican hummingbird. added as a national conservation priority. de México. She has a BS from Universidad María del Coro Arizmendi is currently a Nacional de Colombia and a MSc at Uni- full time professor at Universidad Nacional The addition of three IBAs (AICAs) as versidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Autónoma de México. She has a BS and a natural protected areas will ensure the Her research interests include humming- PhD in Ecology from Universidad Nacional bird–plant interactions and hummingbird conservation of very restricted humming- Autónoma de México. Her research inter- conservation. bird endemic species. Protection of those ests include pollination ecology, especially areas is strongly needed and they should hummingbirds as plant pollinators and Víctor Vargas-Canales is currently a data be included in the national system of hummingbird conservation ecology. base manager and mapping specialist at protected areas. Humberto Berlanga is currently the Mex- the North American Bird Conservation ican National Coordinator of the North Initiative, CONABIO, México. He has a Along with it, environmental education on BS in Biology from Universidad Nacio- the importance of bird conservation and American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI), working at CONABIO. He has nal Autónoma de México. His research on the benefits of community involvement a BS in Biology from the Universidad Na- interests include bird conservation, bird in conservation is of primary importance cional Autónoma de México. His research monitoring, and community monitoring (Berlanga et al. 2008). Hummingbirds interests include bird conservation, bird efforts, as well as international cooperation represent a good group for this, as they monitoring, and community monitoring for bird conservation. are loved by people that recognize them efforts, as well as international cooperation as carriers of good feelings, which also for bird conservation. L. Montes-Leyva is currently a BS student makes their protection important. Using at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de hummingbirds as flagship species can Claudia Rodriguez-Flores is currently a México, interested in the study of plant ensure the conservation of their habitats, PhD student at Posgrado en Ciencias Bi- pollination, plant conservation, and eth- which also preserves many other species. ológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma nobotany.
374 Natural Areas Journal Volume 36 (4), 2016 En: Pagina de la red de Conocimientos sobre las Aves de México (AVESMX). NABCI/ CONABIO, BIRDLIFE INTL. 2008. Altshuler, D.L., and C.J. Clark. 2003. Darwin´s Hummingbirds. Science 300:588-589. Arbelaéz-Cortés, E., and A. Navarro-Siguenza. 2014. Molecular evidence of the taxonomic status of western Mexican populations of Phaethornis longirostris (Aves: Trochilidae). Zootaxa 3716:81-97. Arizmendi, M.C. 2001. Multiple ecological interactions: The case of the hummingbird pollination and the nectar robber Diglossa baritula. Canadian Journal of Zoology 79:997-1006. Arizmendi M.C., and H. Berlanga. 2014. Colibríes de México y NorteAmérica/Hum- mingbirds of Mexico and North America. CONABIO. México. Arizmendi, M.C., C. Domínguez, and R. Dirzo. 1996. The role of an avian nectar robber and of hummingbird pollinators in the re- production of two plant species. Functional Ecology 10:119-127. Arizmendi, M.C., and L. Márquez-Valdelamar. 2000. Areas de Importancia para la Con- servación de las Aves en México. CIPA- MEX-Fondo Mexicano para la Conservación de la Naturaleza, México. Arizmendi M.C., and C. Rodríguez-Flores. 2012. How many plant species do hum- mingbirds visit? Ornitología Neotropical 23 (Supplement):71-77. Arizmendi, M.C., C. Rodríguez-Flores, and C. Soberanes-González. 2010. Short-crested Coquette (Lophornis brachylophus). Neo- tropical Birds Online, T.S. Schulenberg, ed. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY.
Volume 36 (4), 2016 Natural Areas Journal 375 of Ornithology.
376 Natural Areas Journal Volume 36 (4), 2016