Cloud forest ecosystems contain unique flora and fauna characterized by high levels of richness and endemism. However, this ecosystem is one of the most threatened because of land-use changes stemming from anthropogenic activities. Therefore, biological inventories are necessary to adequately assess the effects of land-use changes on species now and in the future. In this study, we conducted an inventory of plants and terrestrial vertebrates (amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals) in three fragments of cloud forest in southwestern Mexico. Field work was carried out for 15 days per biological group during distinct time periods (2005-2008). Conventional methods of species capture and observation were employed to record species. Recorded species were then categorized based on their endemism and risk category. A total of 67 species of plants, 17 species of amphibians, 25 species of reptiles, 93 species of birds, and 46 species of mammals were recorded. The species accumulation curves for most taxa, except for birds and mammals, showed an asymptotic trend. A total of 56 species endemic to Mexico and four quasi-endemic species were recorded. Plants, amphibians, and reptiles presented the greatest number of species exclusive to Mexico (13 species). Six species of herpetofauna endemic to Guerrero were recorded. According to Mexican laws, 24 of the encountered species are under special protection, while 16 are categorized as threatened and seven as endangered. Reptiles and birds presented the greatest number of at-risk species (14 species). Bird and mammal richness in this study is high in comparison to that recorded in the cloud forests of the entire Mexican state of Guerrero (157 and 75 species, respectively). This data highlights the importance of cloud forests in the study area for local and regional biodiversity. Effective conservation strategies should be prioritized in cloud forests, as this ecosystem is poorly represented in natural protected areas.
Presentamos información de nuevos registros de presencia y distribución sobresaliente de 14 especies de aves en el estado de Guerrero, México. Dos especies son nuevos registros (Rallus obsoletus, Dumetella carolinensis) para el estado. Siete especies son poco comunes debido a que su presencia ha sido poco evidenciada en la entidad (Nyctibius jamaicensis, Lophornis brachylophus, Campylopterus hemileucurus, Aramus guarauna, Sarcoramphus papa, Helmitheros vermivorum, Piranga leucoptera), y cinco especies amplían su distribución a otras provincias bióticas del estado de Guerrero donde no había evidencias de su presencia (Amazilia rutila, Aramides cajaneus, Thryomanes bewickii, Euphagus cyanocephalus, Thraupis episcopus). Nuestros registros confirman que los estudios locales son de importancia para comprender de forma detallada la distribución geográfica y ecológica de la biodiversidad de las aves.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.