RESUMO
An area of endemism is defined by the spatial congruence among two or more species with distributions that are limited by barriers. In this study, we explored and discussed the use of the network analysis method (NAM) and neighbor-joining (NJ) to analyze the areas of endemism of Quercus sect. Lobatae (red oak species) in Mexico and Central America. We compared the NAM and NJ with other methods commonly used in biogeographic studies to show the advantages of these new approaches and to identify the shortcomings of other approaches. The NAM used in this study is based on notions of centrality measures, such as betweenness. We incorporated the strength of the ties within the internal networks through p-cores and aggregate constraints in iterative analyses. The NAM based on betweenness is ideal for recognizing completely allopatric areas of endemism. The iterative NAMs increase the number of possible areas of endemism because they minimize the effect of minimal overlap, and the p-core is efficient at identifying the closest relationships among species in the cases in which betweenness is not informative. The number of areas of endemism increases when the sympatry matrix minimizes the dispersal effect and the sample effort is maximized, allowing the identification of the greatest number of these areas. The NJ method supports the idea that areas diverge among themselves in a differential way; the long branches correspond to zones with high speciation rates and complex histories (biotic and tectonic), and the short branches correspond to zones with low speciation rates and simple histories. In a classification scheme, NJ was capable of identifying the areas that are considered biotically complex because of their high speciation rates. The results obtained with the NAM and NJ showed that the physiographic regions of Mexico are not natural units and that many of them are composed of at least two different biotic components.
Assuntos
Geografia/métodos , Modelos Biológicos , Dispersão Vegetal , Quercus/fisiologia , Biodiversidade , América Central , MéxicoRESUMO
PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Oaks are dominant trees and key species in many temperate and subtropical forests in the world. In this study, we analyzed patterns of distribution of red oaks (Quercus, section Lobatae) occurring in Mexico and Central America to determine areas of species richness and endemism to propose areas of conservation. METHODS: Patterns of richness and endemism of 75 red oak species were analyzed using three different units. Two complementarity algorithms based on species richness and three algorithms based on species rarity were used to identify important areas for conservation. A simulated annealing analysis was performed to evaluate and formulate effective new reserves for red oaks that are useful for conserving the ecosystems associated with them after the systematic conservation planning approach. KEY RESULTS: Two main centers of species richness were detected. The northern Sierra Madre Oriental and Serranías Meridionales of Jalisco had the highest values of endemism. Fourteen areas were considered as priorities for conservation of red oak species based on the 26 priority political entities, 11 floristic units and the priority grid-cells obtained in the complementarity analysis. In the present network of Natural Protected Areas in Mexico and Central America, only 41.3% (31 species) of the red oak species are protected. The simulated annealing analysis indicated that to protect all 75 species of red oaks, 12 current natural protected areas need to be expanded by 120000 ha of additional land, and 26 new natural protected areas with 512500 ha need to be created. CONCLUSIONS: Red oaks are a useful model to identify areas for conservation based on species richness and endemism as a result of their wide geographic distribution and a high number of species. We evaluated and reformulated new reserves for red oaks that are also useful for the conservation of ecosystems associated with them.
Assuntos
Biodiversidade , Conservação dos Recursos Naturais , Ecossistema , Quercus , Árvores , Algoritmos , América Central , México , Modelos Teóricos , Especificidade da EspécieRESUMO
La Faja Volcánica Transmexicana es reconocida como una provincia, basada en rasgos geológicos, tectónicos, geomorfológicos y biogeográficos. La Faja es un arco volcánico que se extiende desde las costas del Pacífico en los estados de Jalisco y Nayarit hasta las costas del Golfo de México en Veracruz. La formación de esta provincia comenzó en el Mioceno medio, con un último episodio en el Plioceno tardío-Cuaternario donde se formaron la mayor parte de los complejos volcánicos actuales. Se realizó un análisis de trazos con 136 organismos (aves, mamíferos, reptiles, helechos y encinos) presentes en la Faja, encontrándose 8 trazos generalizados y 15 nodos; 6 de estos últimos se encuentran en la región de las Cuencas de Toluca-México-Puebla. Varios de los nodos encontrados en este trabajo ya habían sido reportados en trabajos previos, y muchos de ellos tienen correspondencia con Regiones Terrestres Prioritarias y Áreas de Importancia para la Conservación de las Aves. Mediante un análisis de complementariedad se proponen cuatro áreas prioritarias para la conservación de ecosistemas y especies, siguiendo el criterio de conservar el menor número de áreas que alberguen el mayor número de especies. Estas áreas son, en orden de importancia: corredor Valle de México-Sierra de Chichinautzin-Sierra Nevada, corredor Cofre de Perote-Cañón de Río Blanco, nodo Volcán de San Juan y nodo Pátzcuaro