Phytogeography and Floristic Affinities of Woody Plants in “Los Montes de María”, a Tropical Dry Forest Fragment in the Colombian Caribbean

Abstract

The phytogeographic and floristic connections of the “Montes de Maria” (MM: north of Colombia) were analyzed through Geographic Information Systems, at worldwide, Neotropical and in Colombia scales in order to determine its geographical origin and floristic affinities. We estimated that genera are mostly of the Neotropical (74%) and Nearctic (26%) origin. At the Neotropical level, MM is located at the Pacific dominion and shares species with the Mesoamerican dominion. In addition, shares species with the Chaquena, Antilles subregions, and the South American and Mexican transition zones. At the regional level, the MM is located between Guajira and Magdalena provinces, although is floristically more similar to Guajira province. MM shape a floristic unit together with other fragments of dry forest in the Colombian Caribbean, which is highly related to dry forests of the inter-Andean valleys. In addition, the floristic origin of MM is associated to dry flora of Mesoamerica, nonetheless it was also influenced by the Amazonian and the Sabana province.