Community structure of endemic Mimosa species and environmental heterogeneity in a semi-arid Mexican valley

Abstract

Abstract. In this paper we analyse six communities with seven Mimosa species in the Tehuacán‐Cuicatlán valley, Mexico. All species are endemic to Mexico and four are endemic to the valley. Mimosa species are found in (1) the ‘matorral xerófilo’ (arid tropical scrub): Mimosa calcicola, M. lacerata, M. luisana, M. polyantha and M. purpusii, and (2) the ‘selva baja caducifolia’ (tropical deciduous forest): M. adenantheroides, Mimosa texana var. filipes. Most of them occur in similar soil environments, while M. polyantha and M. calcicola establish in particular soil conditions and only M. luisana establishes in two different sites showing a wider range of adaptation to soil characteristics. The communities studied include 24 plant families, 51 genera and ca. 70 species (5% of the total flora estimated in the valley). Heterogeneity was found among the communities. Our results point to the replacement of ‘matorral xerófilo’ and ‘selva baja caducifolia’ by ‘matorral espinoso’ (thorny scrub). Thorny species (e.g. Acacia cochliacantha, Mimosa spp.) are becoming the dominant/codominant elements in the communities. Within the communities, Mimosa species have a significant influence on soil pH, organic matter and electrical conductivity values. These species contribute to ameliorate soil nutrient conditions (OM, Ntot, P, Ca, Mg, Na and K contents) as well as other environmental factors (e.g. temperature, shade) under their canopy in degraded plant communities and may serve as ‘resource islands’.

Effect of scarification and temperature on seed germination of two Mexican species of Mimosa (Leguminosae-Mimosoideae)

“…110 species, 60 % endemic to the country, many of them occurring as dominant or co-dominant elements in arid ecosystems, widely distributed in tropical vegetation, and few species growing in temperate forests (Grether et al, 1996;Camargo-Ricalde et al, 2002). Within arid and semi-arid environments, some Mimosa species are resource-island formers, enriching the soil with organic matter and nutrients (Camargo-Ricalde et al, 2002, 2010a, and as reservoirs of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal spores (Camargo-Ricalde and Dhillion, 2003), and nitrogen-fi xing bacteria (CamargoRicalde et al, 2010a, b). In addition, the nurse effect is very clear between Mimosa luisana Brandegee and Neobuxbaumia tetetzo (F.A.…”

“…In general, in Mimosa species, temperature is not a limiting factor for seed germination, showing, as well, a fast GR, a high PG, and a fast growth (Camargo-Ricalde and Grether, 1998). These characteristics may explain why Mimosa species may be dominant or co-dominant elements within the plant communities where they occur; for instance, within arid and semi-arid ecosystems (Camargo-Ricalde et al, 2002). Since ecosystems could expand or contract in reaction to plant species tolerance to an increase or decrease in temperature, the response of seed germination to scarifi cation and temperature fl uctuation is important to determine (Parmesan and Yohe, 2003).…”

Diversidad vegetal a lo largo de un gradiente de perturbación en un ecosistema semi-árido en el Centro de México

“…Examples include goat grazing and wood extraction, both of which have a stronger effect over habitat composition than other factors such as littering or hiking due to their capacity to alter plant communities over long periods of time as has been documented in other habitats in North America (Ripple and Beschta, 2008). Additionally, several plants that act as nurse plants (Castillo Landero and Valiente-Banuet, 2010) or create resource islands (Camargo-Ricalde et al 2002) in the region are heavily exploited (Pérez-Negrón and Casas, 2007), which can promote long-term effects over species compositions.…”

Florística E Taxonomia Do Clado Mimosoide (Fabaceae, Caesalpinioideae) No Município De São João Do Sóter, Maranhão, Brasil

“…Muitos representantes do gênero Mimosa L. têm sido descritas como úteis em restauração e conservação ecológica, devido a sua capacidade de recuperação e preparação dos solos pelo controle de erosões (CAMARGO-RICALDE et al, 2001). São conhecidas como plantas de múltiplas funções, pois possuem a capacidade de usar suas copas para formar microclimas, engrandecendo a fauna, micorrizas são observadas, possuem também princípios ativos com propriedades medicinais que podem ser extraídos (CAMARGO-RICALDE et al, 2002). A pesquisa teve como objetivo listar as espécies do clado mimosoide (Fabaceae, Caesalpinioideae) para o município de São João do Sóter/Maranhão.…”