Diversity and distribution of Araceae of the Reserva de la Biosfera Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico

Abstract

THIS STUDY DOCUMENTS THE DIVERSITY, ALTITUDINAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF ARACEAE IN THE REGION OF LOS TUXTLAS, VERACRUZ. AN ALTITUDINAL TRANSECT WAS SELECTED IN MATURE TROPICAL RAIN AND CLOUD FOREST FROM 100 M ELEVATION TO THE SUMMIT OF THE SAN MARTÍN TUXTLA VOLCANO AT 1 700 M. IN EACH RANGE OF 100 M ELEVATION WE CARRIED OUT INVENTORIES OF ARACEAE IN 3-4 PLOTS OF 400 M². THE LIST OF AROIDS PRESENTED FOR THE REGION OF THE RESERVA DE LA BIOSFERA LOS TUXTLAS IS BASED ON OUR OWN DATA, SUPPLEMENTED WITH INFORMATION FROM PUBLISHED SOURCES, DATA BASES AND REVISION OF HERBARIUM SPECIMENS. WE RECORDED A TOTAL OF 34 SPECIES IN 9 GENERA, OF WHICH 5 ARE ENDEMIC TO MEXICO. THE (HEMI-) EPIPHYTIC AROIDS REPRESENT ABOUT 11% OF THE EPIPHYTIC FLORA AT THE BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH STATION LOS TUXTLAS. A CONSTANT DECLINE OF THE NUMBER OF SPECIES WAS OBSERVED WITH INCREASING ELEVATION ALONG THE ALTITUDINAL GRADIENT. THE DISCOVERY OF 3 NEW RECORDS OF AROID SPECIES FOR THE REGION OF LOS TUXTLAS AND THE STATE OF VERACRUZ SHOWS THAT IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO CARRY OUT MORE FLORISTIC INVENTORIES