Classification and ordination of main plant communities along an altitudinal gradient in the arid and temperate climates of northeastern Mexico

Estrada–Castillón, Eduardo; Arévalo, J. R.; Quintanilla, José Ángel Villarreal; Rodríguez, María Magdalena Salinas; Encina-Domínguez, Juan A.; Rodríguez, Humberto González; Ayala, César Martín Cantú

doi:10.1007/s00114-015-1306-3

Cited by 19 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…In this context, mountain regions are good models to assess whether taxa respond differently to environmental filters (Jiménez-Alfaro et al 2014). Plant species distribution over elevational gradients can be affected in diverse ways by climate, relief (i.e., slope aspect and inclination) or soil characteristics (i.e., soil water retention and heterogeneous distribution of fertility) (Pickering & Green 2009, Scherrer & Körner 2011, Jiménez-Alfaro et al 2014, Estrada-Castillón et al 2015. In our study, the soil and climatic variables explained the most of the variance in the different groups of species analyzed.…”

Section: Group Of Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental filters determine the distribution of tree species in a threatened biodiversity hotspot in western Mexico

et al. 2020

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Background: Analyzing interactions between vegetation and environmental factors at regional scales provide information for the understanding of species assemblages. Hypotheses: Environmental restrictions at higher elevations produce a decreasing species richness pattern along an elevational gradient and the climatic variables related to temperature and precipitation are the main filters of species distribution. Objectives: (1) To identify the different assemblages of tree species occurring in a biodiversity hotspot; (2) to analyze the pattern of tree species richness along an elevational gradient; and (3) to analyze the environmental filters that determine the species distribution. Study site: Serranías Meridionales of Jalisco in western Mexico. Period of study: 2016-2018. Methods: Thirty-three rectangular 0.1 ha plots were established for vegetation and environmental characterization. Cluster and canonical correspondence analyses were conducted to analyze tree species composition. We defined three groups of variables (climatic, relief and soil) to evaluate the influence of environmental filters. We used generalized linear models to assess the contribution of each group to the spatial variation in species richness. Results: A total of 63 tree species were recorded. The cluster analysis defined eight groups within three forest types. The species richness showed a hump-shaped pattern along the elevational gradient and the climatic and soil variables explained a considerable amount of variation in the species richness. Conclusions: The tree species richness in the Serranías Meridionales de Jalisco is dominated by a striking number of Pinus and Quercus species. This biodiversity hotspot is an important site for the understanding of tree ecological diversification in Mexico.

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Section: Group Of Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental filters determine the distribution of tree species in a threatened biodiversity hotspot in western Mexico

et al. 2020

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“…To characterize soil properties in each X. strumarium-invaded stand, we obtained 3-kg soil from two opposite corners and at a mid-position of each stand with auger borings. Soil top layer is generally rich in nutrients, and consequently, samples were obtained over a depth of 0-30 cm [50], bulked, and mixed thoroughly to reduce heterogeneity following standard pedological procedures [46,51]. Soil pH was immediately determined in soilwater suspension (1:5 ratio) in the field by a digital pH meter and electrical conductivity by EC-meter.…”

Section: Soil Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invasive Species as Rivals: Invasive Potential and Distribution Pattern of Xanthium strumarium L.

et al. 2022

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Xanthium strumarium L. is a globally successful invasive herb that has had significant negative ecological, economic and social impacts in many world regions. The present study was therefore conducted to evaluate the invasive potential and spatial distribution patterns of X. strumarium in heavily invaded plant communities of the semiarid regions of northern Pakistan. Investigations were based on data from 20 plants grown in the Herbarium at the University of Malakand, and from observations in 450 plots distributed across 45 stands representing habitats across Northern Province including open fields, hillocks and abandoned areas in both urban and rural areas. Multivariate analysis identified elevation, organic matter and organic carbon as the environmental variables most associated with communities invaded by X. strumarium. Increased soil silt was positively associated and available water was negatively associated with X. strumarium–invaded communities. These key environmental characteristics allowed us to identify four main associations: Group I: X. strumarium-C. sativa, Group II: X. strumarium-P. hysterophorus, Group III: X. strumarium-A. aspera and Group IV: X. strumarium-C. sativa. Other invasive species were observed, either exotic, such as P. hysterophorus, or indigenous, such as C. sativa and D. inoxia, often co-occurring and responding similarly to these factors. The results suggest that high temperature with drought stress could be a determinant of increasing population at lower elevations, whereas colder climates with adequate moisture are related to reduced populations at higher elevations, near the species’ upper range limits. It is recommend that the inclusion of appropriate, additional soil and climatic variables in species distribution models be implemented in order to better explain species’ ecological niches and help guide conservation and protection plans for native plant communities.

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“…In general, the top layer of soil is nutrient-rich. As a result, samples were collected between 0 and 30 cm deep [33], bagged, and carefully mixed to minimize variability [28,34]. A digital pH meter and an EC meter were used in the field to measure electrical conductivity and soil pH in a soil-water solution (1:5).…”

Section: Environmental Variables and Soil Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Pattern and Key Environmental Determinants of Vegetation in Sand Mining and Non-Mining Sites along the Panjkora River Basin

Ali

Khan

Ullah

et al. 2022

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A specific set of environmental conditions characterizes plant species patterns and distribution on Earth. Similarly, riparian vegetation can be impacted by anthropogenic activities like mining practices involving the removal of vegetation cover, which destroys the structure and diversity of the habitat, adversely affecting the ecosystem services. In this study, we explored the role of environmental variables and biotic intervention in deriving spatial patterns and distribution of riparian vegetation at mining and non-mining sites along the most depleted Panjkora River basin in NW Pakistan. Vegetation data and its determining factors at 28 mining and non-mining sites (14 each) were sampled using 10 m × 10 m (100 m2) systematic plots at 50 m intervals along transects in a downstream direction from the upper catchments to the bottom junction with the Swat River. We recorded 186 species in both mining and non-mining sites, belonging to 70 families comprising 174 angiosperms, 3 gymnosperms, and 9 Pteridophytes. Results show that annual or perennial therophytic life forms predominated in the Panjkora River system, indicating anthropogenic disturbances. At the same time, the aggressively invasive species, such as Xanthium strumarium and Cannabis sativa, further heightened plant community disturbances. Generally, the species diversity was higher in non-mining sites and may be attributed to habitat fragmentation. Likewise, the Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA-ordination) revealed that geographic coordinate (i.e., latitude r = 0.80; longitude r = 0.75) and elevation (r = 0.95) were more meaningful predictors than soil texture (i.e., silt%, r = −0.30), nutrients (i.e., potassium, r = −0.35; phosphorus, r = 0.38) and soil pH (r = −0.50) in shaping the spatial pattern and vegetation structure. Our result implies that the present vegetation composition and spatial assemblages are due to heavy anthropogenic interventions, especially mining activities. Therefore, the heavily degraded fragile riparian system of the Panjkora River and its tributaries needed to be conserved and restored by predicting the composition of communities in response to changing climatic conditions.

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Classification and ordination of main plant communities along an altitudinal gradient in the arid and temperate climates of northeastern Mexico

Cited by 19 publications

References 32 publications

Environmental filters determine the distribution of tree species in a threatened biodiversity hotspot in western Mexico

Environmental filters determine the distribution of tree species in a threatened biodiversity hotspot in western Mexico

Invasive Species as Rivals: Invasive Potential and Distribution Pattern of Xanthium strumarium L.

Spatial Pattern and Key Environmental Determinants of Vegetation in Sand Mining and Non-Mining Sites along the Panjkora River Basin

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