Diversity and Origin of the Central Mexican Alpine Flora
Alpine vegetation is scarce in central Mexico (≈150 km<sup>2</sup>) and occurs on the 11 highest peaks of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB). Timberline occurs at (3700) 3900 m, and at 4750 m vascular plants cease to exist. The alpine vascular flora comprises 237 species from 46 fami...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/1/31 |
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| author | Victor W. Steinmann Libertad Arredondo-Amezcua Rodrigo Alejandro Hernández-Cárdenas Yocupitzia Ramírez-Amezcua |
| author_facet | Victor W. Steinmann Libertad Arredondo-Amezcua Rodrigo Alejandro Hernández-Cárdenas Yocupitzia Ramírez-Amezcua |
| author_sort | Victor W. Steinmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Alpine vegetation is scarce in central Mexico (≈150 km<sup>2</sup>) and occurs on the 11 highest peaks of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB). Timberline occurs at (3700) 3900 m, and at 4750 m vascular plants cease to exist. The alpine vascular flora comprises 237 species from 46 families and 130 genera. Asteraceae (44), Poaceae (42), and Caryophyllaceae (21) possess 45% of the species; none of the remaining families have more than 10 species. Four species are strict endemics, and eight others are near endemics. Thirteen species are restricted to alpine vegetation but also occur outside the study area. Seventy-seven species are endemic to Mexico, 35 of which are endemic to the TMVB. In terms of biogeography, the strongest affinities are with Central or South America. Fifteen species are also native to the Old World. Size of the alpine area seems to not be the determining factor for its floristic diversity. Instead, the time since and extent of the last volcanic activity, in addition to the distance from other alpine islands, appear to be important factors affecting diversity. There is evidence for upward vegetational shifts having occurred during the last century. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:37:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-144ffb709b7a4fc591824b8b3f8d36f1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:37:41Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-144ffb709b7a4fc591824b8b3f8d36f12023-12-03T13:24:54ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182021-01-011313110.3390/d13010031Diversity and Origin of the Central Mexican Alpine FloraVictor W. Steinmann0Libertad Arredondo-Amezcua1Rodrigo Alejandro Hernández-Cárdenas2Yocupitzia Ramírez-Amezcua3Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Av. de las Ciencias s/n, Del. Sta. Rosa Jáuregui, Querétaro 76230, MexicoPrivate Practice, Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 61600, MexicoHerbario Metropolitano, División de Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Avenida San Rafael Atlixco #186, Colonia Vicentina, Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México 09340, MexicoPrivate Practice, Pátzcuaro, Michoacán 61600, MexicoAlpine vegetation is scarce in central Mexico (≈150 km<sup>2</sup>) and occurs on the 11 highest peaks of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB). Timberline occurs at (3700) 3900 m, and at 4750 m vascular plants cease to exist. The alpine vascular flora comprises 237 species from 46 families and 130 genera. Asteraceae (44), Poaceae (42), and Caryophyllaceae (21) possess 45% of the species; none of the remaining families have more than 10 species. Four species are strict endemics, and eight others are near endemics. Thirteen species are restricted to alpine vegetation but also occur outside the study area. Seventy-seven species are endemic to Mexico, 35 of which are endemic to the TMVB. In terms of biogeography, the strongest affinities are with Central or South America. Fifteen species are also native to the Old World. Size of the alpine area seems to not be the determining factor for its floristic diversity. Instead, the time since and extent of the last volcanic activity, in addition to the distance from other alpine islands, appear to be important factors affecting diversity. There is evidence for upward vegetational shifts having occurred during the last century.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/1/31floristicsTrans-Mexican Volcanic Belttropical alpine vegetationvascular plantsupward vegetational shifts |
| spellingShingle | Victor W. Steinmann Libertad Arredondo-Amezcua Rodrigo Alejandro Hernández-Cárdenas Yocupitzia Ramírez-Amezcua Diversity and Origin of the Central Mexican Alpine Flora Diversity floristics Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt tropical alpine vegetation vascular plants upward vegetational shifts |
| title | Diversity and Origin of the Central Mexican Alpine Flora |
| title_full | Diversity and Origin of the Central Mexican Alpine Flora |
| title_fullStr | Diversity and Origin of the Central Mexican Alpine Flora |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diversity and Origin of the Central Mexican Alpine Flora |
| title_short | Diversity and Origin of the Central Mexican Alpine Flora |
| title_sort | diversity and origin of the central mexican alpine flora |
| topic | floristics Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt tropical alpine vegetation vascular plants upward vegetational shifts |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/1/31 |
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