Composition and floristic diversity of dry forests in the Meseta de Cacaxtla, Sinaloa, Mexico

Abstract

The floristic composition, richness (S), heterogeneity (H’), evenness (J’) and similarity were studied inside and between the tropical deciduous forest (BTC) and thorn scrub (BE) of four sites from the Area of Protection of Flora and Fauna Meseta de Cacaxtla, Sinaloa, Mexico from June to November 2016. In this area are located the southernmost patches of thorn scrub in northwest Mexico, comparing for the first time in the region both dry forests. Linear transects measured 50 x 2 meters were replicated 10 times adding to 0.1 ha, then each of the registered individuals were ordered by families, genera, species and growth forms and at last the values were obtained by the Shannon-Wiener, Pielou and Jaccard coefficients. There were found 28 families, 68 genera and 92 species of arboreal, shrub and climbing forms. The families with higher richness of genera, species and forms of growth were Fabaceae, Cactaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Malvaceae; the most diverse genera in species were: Bursera, Caesalpinia and Randia. The BTC registered 83 species and the BE 69. The heterogeneity values (H’) were high, and varied from 3.20 to 3.65 bits/ind. The evenness values (J’) ranged between 0.74 and 0.86. The similarity generate values between 0.338 and 0.479. The comparison between Las Labradas (BE) and El Rancho Las Palomas resulted in a lower number of shared species, presenting the highest rate of species turnover between both dry forests. The floristic composition and diversity were high in the representative dry forests of the Meseta de Cacaxtla.