Patterns of Richness and Endemism in the Gypsicolous Flora of Mexico
Juan Pablo Ortiz-Brunel,
Helga Ochoterena,
Michael J. Moore,
Juvenal Aragón-Parada,
Joel Flores,
Guadalupe Munguía-Lino,
Aarón Rodríguez,
María Magdalena Salinas-Rodríguez,
Hilda Flores-Olvera
Affiliations
Juan Pablo Ortiz-Brunel
Departamento de Botánica y Zoología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan 45200, Mexico
Helga Ochoterena
Departamento de Botánica, Instituto de Biología, Circuito Exterior s.n., Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
Michael J. Moore
Department of Biology, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH 44074, USA
Juvenal Aragón-Parada
Departamento de Botánica y Zoología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan 45200, Mexico
Joel Flores
IPICYT/División de Ciencias Ambientales, San Luis Potosí 78216, Mexico
Guadalupe Munguía-Lino
Cátedras CONACyT-Universidad de Guadalajara, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan 45132, Mexico
Aarón Rodríguez
Departamento de Botánica y Zoología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan 45200, Mexico
María Magdalena Salinas-Rodríguez
Herbario Jorge Marroquín, Facultad de Ciencia Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Avenida Pedro de Alva, s/n, San Nicolas de los Garza 66451, Mexico
Hilda Flores-Olvera
Departamento de Botánica, Instituto de Biología, Circuito Exterior s.n., Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico
Gypsum soils occur around the world, mainly in arid regions. These harsh environments promote unusual flora with high degrees of endemism. Mexico has extensive gypsum outcrops, but their flora has been poorly studied. However, the highest species richness and endemism are expected to be concentrated in Mexico’s northern dry regions. To promote the study of this flora and its conservation, we estimate how well sampled it is, quantify species richness, identify centers of endemism, and detect which gypsum outcrops lie within federal protected natural areas (PNA). We conducted exhaustive literature and herbaria reviews to generate a database of botanical records on gypsum soils. The total species and gypsophyte richness were calculated using cell grids. Centers of endemism were identified using the corrected weighted endemism index (CWE). We mapped the gypsum outcrops within PNA polygons. The most collected sites are Cuatro Ciénegas (Coahuila) and Santo Domingo Tonalá (Oaxaca), which also had the highest total species richness. Nevertheless, gypsophyte richness was higher in Cuatro Ciénegas and Nuevo León. The CWE identified seven gypsophyte centers of endemism. Mexico hosts the most diverse gypsophile flora in the world, despite having been only partially studied and collected. The regions with the highest species richness and endemism are unprotected.
