Current distribution and coverage of Mexican beech forests Fagus grandifolia subsp. mexicana in Mexico

Abstract

Fagus grandifolia subsp. mexicana (Fagaceae) is a taxon endemic to Mexico and is currently considered to be in danger of extinction. It dominates the canopy at the sites where it grows, forming the plant association known as Mexican beech forest. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the area currently occupied by beech forests in Mexico, based on a literature review; (2) generate maps showing the distribution and area occupied by the less known beech forests in Mexico (which are located in the state of Hidalgo) based on field observations and using geographic information systems; and (3) propose measures that can be taken to protect and manage this plant association. The results show that the beech forests of Mexico currently cover an area of 155.54 ha, and several fragments have recently disappeared. The largest patches of beech forest are located at 5 sites in the state of Hidalgo and occupy a total area of 106.79 ha (73.9%). Each of the sites is different in size, connectedness, and degree of fragmentation and disturbance. The Mexican beech forests urgently require management and conservation programs, as some of them will otherwise soon disappear due to changes in land use, logging, and climate change. To preserve these forests the following measures are suggested in the short term: increase connectedness between beech forest patches, create core areas, reforest with native species, create seed concentrations, regulate the consumption of beechnuts by humans, and include this plant association in the National System of Natural Protected Areas.

Distribution and diversity of Fagaceae in Hidalgo, Mexico

“…mexicana is distributed in the Sierra Madre Oriental, in the states of Hidalgo, Nuevo León, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas and Veracruz. Recently, Rodríguez-Ramírez et al (2013) mentioned that it is extinct in Puebla and San Luis Potosí. It grows in level terrain, but more frequently on steep slopes up to 30°, on slopes with North exposition and obsidian derived, deep soils, with abundant organic matter.…”

Population structure of Fagus grandifolia subsp. mexicana in the cloud forest of Hidalgo State, Mexico

“…At this site, the size structure was different, with a predominance of trees exceeding 17 m in height. It is likely that the increase in the number and size of clearings at this site in the past decade due to tree felling is related to the survival of a large number of beech seedlings that germinated in the 2012 seed year (Rodríguez-Ramírez et al 2013) and of small saplings whose seeds germinated in the 2005 seed year (Godínez-Ibarra et al 2007). A similar explanation has been given for other beech forests in Mexico and in North America subject to different sources of high or frequent disturbance (Peters 1995, Williams-Linera et al 2003, Busby et al 2008.…”

“…mexicana (Martínez) A. E. Murray. They are restricted to the Sierra Madre Oriental in the states of Hidalgo, Nuevo León, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas and Veracruz (Rodríguez-Ramírez et al 2013, Rodríguez-Ramírez 2014.…”

“…Most populations of Fagus grandifolia subsp. mexicana are currently at risk of extinction, mainly due to disturbance caused by human activity (Williams-Linera et al 2003, Rowden et al 2004, Rodríguez-Ramírez et al 2013. The restricted distribution of this taxon, its small population size, and the limited biological information available about it increase its level of vulnerability.…”

Estructura poblacional y características del hábitat de dos especies de Cyatheaceae del estado de Hidalgo

“…La precipitación promedio anual es de aproximadamente 1,655.9 mm y la temperatura promedio de 17.2 ºC. Los principales tipos de vegetación son BHM (33%), bosque tropical (13%) y pastizal (5%), mientras que el 49% restante es ocupado por cultivos y zonas urbanas (Rzedowski, 2006;Pavón y Meza, 2009;Rodríguez-Ramírez et al, 2013).…”