Sierra De Quila Research Articles

Taxonomic diversity of terrestrial vertebrates in west-central Mexico: Conservation from a multi-taxa perspective.

Multi-taxa approaches are increasingly used because they describe complementary aspects of ecosystem dynamics from a community ecology perspective. In west-central Mexico, the complex biogeography and topography have created an environment where temperate and tropical forests converge, resulting in great biological diversity. Within this region, the Sierra de Quila Natural Protected Area (SQPA) offers an important example for understanding ecological community dynamics. We analyze the taxonomic diversity of terrestrial vertebrates in the SQPA by incorporating taxonomic levels associated with species. We evaluated the taxonomic diversity with i) an average taxonomic distinctiveness analysis (alpha diversity) and ii) an analysis of taxonomic dissimilarity and partitioning of turnover and differences in richness components (beta diversity). Tropical forests boast the highest taxonomic diversity of amphibians, reptiles, and birds, while temperate gallery forests exhibit lower values. Our results showed that terrestrial vertebrate alpha and beta diversity patterns respond mainly to contrasting vegetation types (tropical vs. temperate). Regarding beta diversity, the multi-vegetation type analysis showed the highest values for reptiles, followed by amphibians, birds, and mammals. Turnover had the highest contribution to beta diversity, while differences in richness were relevant for amphibians and reptiles, which could be related to their low mobility and sensitivity to environmental conditions. Despite the local scale, the SQPA presented high beta diversity, reflecting historical ecological processes in taxonomic composition derived from contrasting environments and constraints imposed on species. Evaluating taxonomic structure from a multi-taxa perspective is essential for conservation efforts because it allows the spatial recognition of biological assemblages as a first step for local interventions.

Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) diversity and synanthropy in a protected natural area and its influence zone in western Mexico

Abstract Mexico’s wild bee richness includes 1,800 species, however, there is a lack of studies on this group in the country. Therefore, it is of extreme importance to intensify the study on this group of insects, so this research aimed to compile an inventory of the melittofauna of Sierra de Quila, Jalisco, Mexico, to evaluate alpha diversity in different types of vegetation, and assess which of the most abundant bee species are synanthropic (organisms that live near and benefit from humans and their environmental modifications). Bees were collected and recorded over two years between 10:00 and 16:00 h, in the flora and fauna protection area of Sierra de Quila and its region of influence, using entomological nets. A total of 15,641 individuals of 233 species belonging to 66 genera and five families were recorded, of which Apidae is the best represented family with 88 species, followed by Halictidae with 54 species, Megachilidae with 49 species, Andrenidae with 24 species, and Colletidae with 18 species. Tropical dry forest showed a higher richness of wild bees than the pine-oak forest, eight species were asynanthropic and only five species were eusynanthropic. Our results show that Sierra de Quila is one of the richest areas in bee species for the state of Jalisco, making it an important area for the conservation of this group of native pollinators.

Forest Canopy Fuel Loads Mapping Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle High-Resolution Red, Green, Blue and Multispectral Imagery

Canopy fuels determine the characteristics of the entire complex of forest fuels due to their constant changes triggered by the environment; therefore, the development of appropriate strategies for fire management and fire risk reduction requires an accurate description of canopy forest fuels. This paper presents a method for mapping the spatial distribution of canopy fuel loads (CFLs) in alignment with their natural variability and three-dimensional spatial distribution. The approach leverages an object-based machine learning framework with UAV multispectral data and photogrammetric point clouds. The proposed method was developed in the mixed forest of the natural protected area of “Sierra de Quila”, Jalisco, Mexico. Structural variables derived from photogrammetric point clouds, along with spectral information, were used in an object-based Random Forest model to accurately estimate CFLs, yielding R2 = 0.75, RMSE = 1.78 Mg, and an average Biasrel = 18.62%. Canopy volume was the most significant explanatory variable, achieving a mean decrease in impurity values greater than 80%, while the combination of texture and vegetation indices presented importance values close to 20%. Our modelling approach enables the accurate estimation of CFLs, accounting for the ecological context that governs their dynamics and spatial variability. The high precision achieved, at a relatively low cost, encourages constant updating of forest fuels maps to enable researchers and forest managers to streamline decision making on fuel and forest fire management.

A new species of 𝑉𝑎𝑒𝑗𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑠 from the mountains of west Mexico (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae)

One new species of scorpion is described from the high lands of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt province in the Mexican state of Jalisco; this species inhabit the pine forest of the Sierra de Quila mountain range. It is assigned to the “𝑚𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑢𝑠” group and compared with other species geographically closer or morphologically similar, besides biology. The species honors Dr. Tila María Pérez Ortiz for its great career in arachnology.

Linajes de angiospermas endémicas en México: zonas de alto endemismo para la conservación

México está considerado como uno de los países megadiversos y en su territorio se encuentran entre 4 y 8% del número de total de especies de plantas del mundo, de las cuales 51% son endémicas. Existe una gran preocupación sobre la conservación de la flora mexicana, ya que se han detectado varias actividades y factores que la amenazan. En este trabajo se identifican áreas de endemismo para las angiospermas de México con el objetivo de priorizar regiones para conservación. Para categorizar estas zonas se sigue el enfoque que toma en cuenta la biodiversidad, el índice de endemismo ponderado y la historia evolutiva. Se identificaron los linajes de angiospermas, ya sean familias, géneros, o grupos infragenéricos con o sin estatus taxonómico que previamente se habían determinado como monofiléticos para representar la historia evolutiva en unidades espaciales equivalentes. Se construyó una base de datos de 9416 registros de especies de 259 grupos monofiléticos de angiospermas restringidas a México y se registró su presencia en estas áreas. Para cada una se calculó la riqueza de taxones y el índice de endemismo ponderado. Los resultados muestran que la mayoría de las zonas de más alto endemismo están en climas secos, con vegetación xérica, con dos excepciones de vegetación tropical y templada. Los índices de endemismo ponderado más altos se localizaron en: el área norte de matorral rosetófilo en Nuevo León y Coahuila, matorrales gipsófilos en San Luis Potosí, la Sierra Gorda en Querérato, Tolantongo en Hidalgo, el Valle de Tehuacán-Cuicatlán en Puebla y Oaxaca, El Salto en Durango, la Sierra de Quila en Jalisco, la zona oeste de la Depresión del Balsas en Michoacán, Guerrero, Morelos y el Estado de México, la zona de Tehuantepec en Oaxaca y El Triunfo en Chiapas. Algunas áreas de endemismo en el Desierto Chihuahuense, en la Cuenca del Balsas y en la Depresión de Chiapas, así como del sur de Oaxaca no están suficientemente protegidas. Se registraron aproximadamente 340 especies con distribución restringida a un solo cuadrante y de éstas la mayoría de las que se incluyen en la lista de taxones amenazados de México pertenecen a las Cactaceae.

Mapping Homogeneous Response Areas for Forest Fuel Management Using Geospatial Data, K-Means, and Random Forest Classification

Accurate description of forest fuels is necessary for developing appropriate fire management strategies aimed at reducing fire risk. Although field surveys provide accurate measurements of forest fuel load estimations, they are time consuming, expensive, and may fail to capture the inherent spatial heterogeneity of forest fuels. Previous efforts were carried out to solve this issue by estimating homogeneous response areas (HRAs), representing a promising alternative. However, previous methods suffer from a high degree of subjectivity and are difficult to validate. This paper presents a method, which allows eliminating subjectivity in estimating HRAs spatial distribution, using artificial intelligence machine learning techniques. The proposed method was developed in the natural protected area of “Sierra de Quila,” Jalisco, and was replicated in “Sierra de Álvarez,” San Luis Potosí and “Selva El Ocote,” Chiapas, Mexico, to prove its robustness. Input data encompassed a set of environmental variables including altitude, average annual precipitation, enhanced vegetation index, and forest canopy height. Four, three, and five HRAs with overall accuracy of 97.78%, 98.06%, and 98.92% were identified at “Sierra de Quila,” “Sierra de Álvarez,” and “Selva El Ocote,” respectively. Altitude and average annual precipitation were identified as the most explanatory variables in all locations, achieving a mean decrease in impurity values greater than 52.51% for altitude and up to 36.02% for average annual precipitation. HRAs showed statistically significant differences in all study sites according to the Kruskal–Wallis test (p-value < 0.05). Differences among groups were also significant based on the Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney (p-value < 0.05) for all variables but EVI in “Selva El Ocote.” These results show the potential of our approach to objectively identify distinct homogeneous areas in terms of their fuel properties. This allows the adequate management of fire and forest fuels in decision-making processes.

Estimation of regeneration using environmental variables and spectral indices in ecosystems with forest fires

The problem of forest fires requires creating methodologies that allow evaluating and predicting the response that the ecosystem willhave to the impact of fire, in order to direct restoration actions in the areas that most require it. However, evaluating these areasdirectly in the field implies investment of resources (financial and personnel) which, along with time, are generally limited. For this,satellite images are a practical tool for the evaluation of large areas, or inaccessible areas, impacted by forest fires. In this work, thecorrelation presented by different variables measured in the field and derived from remote sensors, in relation to the naturalregeneration of pine that occurs in the La Primavera forest and in Sierra de Quila, Jalisco, was evaluated. The results showeddifferent variables to determine the predictive models of the natural regeneration of pine after the occurrence of a forest fire, beingthe fuels of 100 hours and 1000 hours, bark thickness and depth of burning, the variables taken directly in the field. that wereincluded in the models. While the burn area index, the regeneration index and the exposure, the variables taken by remote censorswere included in the predictive models. The models that showed a higher R² are those obtained by field variables for the tworegions. However, the model obtained only with remote sensor variables for La Primavera obtained an R² of 0.6083, Contrary toSierra de Quila where the model does not take any spectral index for the model, therefore it is advisable to establish a greaternumber of Sampling sites evenly distributed throughout the area affected by the fire, to improve the accuracy of the remote sensingmodels

First Record of Jaguar (Panthera onca) and Potential Prey Species in Sierra de Quila, Jalisco, Mexico

The jaguar (Panthera onca) is considered a keystone species for neotropical ecosystems. Jaguar records in natural protected areas (NPAs) are important to manage and maintain the long-term occupancy of the species in a region. The objectives of this study are to report the first jaguar records in the Sierra de Quila, Jalisco, Mexico, and to report observations of potential prey items. Between February 2018 and January 2019, 24 camera traps were placed for 180 days during 3 seasons, with a total capture effort of 3216 trap nights. Four hundred and two independent records were obtained from 17 species of wild mammals and 3 domestic species. In February, 2 photographs of a jaguar were recorded at a single sampling point in the Sierra de Quila Flora and Fauna Protection Area. They correspond to the same individual, presumably an adult male. Subsequently, in July, a photograph of a jaguar was recorded at another sampling point. These records represent a 69-km extension of the known jaguar distribution, to the center of Jalisco, and increase the number of mammal species known for this NPA.

¿La severidad de un incendio forestal modifica la composición, diversidad y estructura de los bosques templados de Jalisco?

Introduction: Forest fires are natural disturbances that influence structure, dynamics, performance, composition and diversity of species. Objective: To compare composition, structure and diversity of temperate forest vegetation affected by different levels of severity of a forest fire in Jalisco. Materials and methods: Composition, horizontal structure, importance value index (IVI), diameter class, diversity indexes of Shannon, Simpson, Margalef richness and Bray-Curtis similarity were evaluated in three regions (Bosque La Primavera and Sierra de Tapalpa and Sierra de Quila) of temperate forest with three levels of severity (no fire, moderate and extreme). Results: Twelve species from six families were recorded. Pinaceae and Fagaceae were the most dominant. Dominance ranged from 0.2 to 50 m2∙ha-1 in moderate and extreme severity sites. Pinus devoniana recorded the highest IVI (71 %) in Sierra de Tapalpa. The highest number of trees was recorded in diameter class ≤30 cm. Diversity and richness indices showed significant differences (P < 0.05) for Sierra de Tapalpa and Sierra de Quila and among fire levels; the highest indices were recorded in sites of moderate severity. Tree composition similarity between regions was low (<33 %). Conclusions: Moderate severity of forest fire favored composition, structure and diversity of vegetation in temperate forests of Jalisco, indicating that the level of severity influences resilience of forest ecosystem communities.

Encounter of a cyanistic Mexican Parrotlet (Forpus cyanopygius) in west-central Mexico

The green plumage of parrots confers a degree of camouflage amidst the canopy foliage the birds frequent. In parrots, green feather colors result from the juxtaposition of endogenously produced yellow pigments, termed psittacofulvins, and spongy structures in the feather barbs that produce a blue color. In rare individuals, the yellow pigments are missing, resulting in a blue phenotype, a variant plumage coloration. The Mexican Parrotlet (Forpus cyanopygius) is endemic to Mexico and the male sports a largely green body with turquoise-blue color on the underwing coverts, lower back, and rump. While inventorying the avifauna of the tropical dry forest at Sierra de Quila, Jalisco, in west-central Mexico, we captured a blue individual with no hint of green. Typically, in parrots, a blue phenotype results from a recessive mutation that prevents the production of yellow pigments thus revealing the underlying blue structural color. As far as we know, this is the first documented record of a blue (or cyanistic) Mexican Parrotlet. Declining numbers of parrotlets in Mexico could potentially increase the probability of birds becoming homozygous for the recessive mutation.

On the verge of extinction in Mexico today: Field observations of Ambystoma ordinarium and Ambystoma flavipiperatum with remarks on their habitat and conservation

Mexico is a hotspot of salamander diversity and harbours 18 species of the genus Ambystoma (Amphibia: Urodela) widely distributed from the Sierra Madre Occidental to the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. These species are highly threatened by various factors and some of them are considered nearly extinct in the wild. The Michoacán stream salamander, Ambystoma ordinarium and the yellow-peppered salamander, A. flavipiperatum are two endemic and scarce species from Mexico living in isolated and declining populations. Few observations have been made on them in their natural habitat since their original description. Here we report new data regarding the biology and habitats of A. ordinarium observed at Rio Bello, 2,120 m a.s.l., Morelia city, Michoacán state, and for A. flavipiperatum at Sierra de Quila, 2,165 m a.s.l., 100 km south from Guadalajara city, Jalisco state. For A. ordinarium we found one neotenic adult male and two dead adult females in a small shallow stream located within a fragmented fir, oak and pine forest. For A. flavipiperatum we recorded an adult male and a female both neotenic, one clutch of eggs, and eleven larvae inhabiting a slow-moving stream located through a riparian habitat surrounded by large pineoak forest. Our observations confirm that both species are highly endangered, capable of facultative neoteny and occur in small slow-moving streams surrounded by coniferous forests. We discuss their morphology, geographical distribution and conservation status.

TAMAÑO DE FRAGMENTOS FORESTALES EN EL BOSQUE DE PINO-ENCINO, SIERRA DE QUILA, JALISCO


 
 
 Se evaluó la riqueza, la composición y la abundancia de especies de árboles en función del tamaño de fragmentos del bosque de pino-encino del área natural protegida Sierra de Quila. Se seleccionaron dos tipos de fragmento (10-50 ha y >50 ha) en bosque cerrado (BC, cobertura de copa >40%) y bosque abierto (BA, <40%). Se hizo el inventario del arbolado (DAP ≥ 7 cm) en 76 sitios concéntricos (0.05 ha), distribuidos en una red sistemática de muestreo. En los BA se registraron de 11 a 17 especies y en los BC de 16 a 24. Aun cuando la diferencia en riqueza de especies no fue significativa (p>0.06) entre tipos de cobertura y tamaño de fragmentos, si existe una mayor uniformidad en la abundancia en los BA. Destacan seis taxa que no se observaron en ninguna de las condiciones menores a 50 ha: Alnus acuminata, Clethra hartwegii, Pinus herrerae, Quercus candicans, Quercus excelsa y Tilia mexicana. Mediante técnicas de ordenación se identificó que en ambos tamaños de fragmentos las variables altitud, tipo de suelo y abundancia de hojosas correlacionaron de forma significativa con las asociaciones de especies arbóreas. La exposición y la abundancia de pinos fueron relevantes en los BA; mientras que, el diámetro promedio y la densidad de árboles se correlacionaron con los BC. Los patrones de distribución son elementos clave para la conservación integral del paisaje y de las diferentes condiciones en las que se desarrollan las coberturas forestales.
 
 

Changes in bee community structure (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) under three different land-use conditions

Bee communities were studied with three different conditions of land-use: 1) urban area; 2) crops and livestock; and, 3) preserved vegetation. All three conditions have elements of tropical dry forest and are in the "Sierra de Quila" Flora and Fauna Protection Area and its influence zone. Sampling was carried out throughout the year (three days per month) for each land-use condition. Bee species and their abundance were registered with the intention of knowing how changes in the vegetation are related to bee community structure (richness, abundance, and α and β diversity).A total of 14,054 individuals from 160 species were registered. A rarefaction analysis, showed that the preserved areas had significantly greater richness and diversity. Beta diversity analysis revealed a species turnover of nearly 32% among each pair of conditions. It is concluded that the changes in land-use negatively affect richness and diversity and causes major changes in species composition of the bee community. For this reason, it is recommended that the protection of the tropical dry forest, both for this study area but also in general for Mexico, is essential to guarantee the conservation of this group of insects, which are required for the reproduction of a great number wild and cultivated plant specie.

RIQUEZA DE EPÍFITAS VASCULARES EN TRES SITIOS DE JALISCO, MÉXICO


 
 
 La composición de la flora epífita de Jalisco se conoce solo de manera parcial, por lo cual, en este trabajo se presenta un inventario preliminar de tres sitios: San Sebastián del Oeste y dos áreas naturales protegidas, Sierra de Quila y bosque La Primavera. La información se obtuvo mediante la recolecta e identificación de ejemplares botánicos y la revisión de literatura; se calculó la similitud en la composición de epífitas entre las distintas áreas con el Índice de Sorensen. Se registraron 1 familias, 49 géneros y 95 especies, la familia con mayor riqueza fue Orchidaceae, con 51 especies, seguida por Bromeliaceae (19) y Polypodiaceae (1), los géneros mejor representados fueron Tillandsia (14 especies) y Encyclia, Oncidium, Prostechea, Pleopeltis, Polypodium y Thelypteris (con cuatro cada uno). La localidad más diversa fue Sebastián del Oeste (34 géneros y 62 especies), en la Sierra de Quila hubo 16 géneros con 35 especies y por último, el bosque La Primavera cuenta con siete géneros y 11 especies; las dos últimas localidades presentaron la similitud más alta. Seis de los taxa observados se incluyen en la Norma Oficial Mexicana, NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010 en alguna categoría de riesgo, lo cual implica que su protección es fundamental.
 
 

DISTRIBUCIÓN POTENCIAL DE Pinus herrerae Martínez EN EL OCCIDENTE DEL ESTADO DE JALISCO


 
 
 Con base en su endemismo y área natural restringida en el occidente de Jalisco, se delimitaron las zonas potenciales de distribución de Pinus herrerae. Se georreferenciaron 391 árboles que se tradujeron en el mismo número de accesiones de la especie para realizar una caracterización ambiental; se consideraron ocho variables climáticas interpoladas, además de nueve ambientales. Con esta información se utilizó el modelo MaxEnt para categorizar de manera probabilística su distribución potencial. El área de estudio se ubicó al oeste de la Sierra de Quila. La validación del modelo se determinó con la técnica Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) aplicada en modelos de distribución basados en algoritmos de solo presencia. Para determinar las variables climáticas y ambientales más importantes que influyen en la distribución de la especie se utilizó la prueba de Jackknife. De acuerdo a la curva operativa área bajo la curva (AUC) del ROC, ambas interpolaciones en las curvas de entrenamiento y de prueba se situaron lo más juntas posible, lo que significó alcanzar un ajuste en el modelo utilizando las variables climáticas de 0.959 y 0.958; por otra parte, con la interpolación de los datos climáticos junto con las variables ambientales se obtuvieron los valores más altos para los datos de entrenamiento (0.973) y de prueba (0.971). Se concluye que la distribución potencial de P. herrerae se favorece cuando se desarrolla sobre un suelo Cambisol húmico, un intervalo altitudinal de 1 985 a 2 227 m; un promedio anual de precipitación de 882 mm y temperatura media anual de 18 °C.
 
 

Primer registro de crotalus polystictus (squamata: viperidae) en el área natural protegida sierra de Quila, Jalisco, México

Crotalus polystictus es Una serpiente de cascabel endémica de México. Se considera bajo protección especial de acuerdo a la NOM-059-2010-SEMARNAT. Crotalus polystictus fue registrada por primera vez en el área Natural protegida Sierra de Quila, Jalisco. Este registro se encuentra a por lo mneos 31 km al noroeste del punto más cercano de su distribución conocida.

<I>Polianthes quilae</I> (Poliantheae, Agavaceae), a New and Endemic Species to Western Mexico

Abstract The floristic inventory of the Sierra de Quila Natural Reserve, in western Mexico, resulted in the discovery of Polianthes quilae (Polianthes subgen. Bravoa). The novelty is related to P. cernua and P. geminiflora var. clivicola but is distinguished by the erect lanceolate leaves, glauous inflorescence with 4–21 floral nodes, 0.9–2.1 cm long pedicels, tubular-ventricose and bicolorous perigone with ascending lobes, and filament insertion site 3–5 mm above ovary apex. Data on geographic distribution and ecology, phenology, and conservation status are presented. Lastly, a key to all species of Polianthes is provided.

Depredación de Lithobates psilonota (Anura: Ranidae) por Leptodeira splendida bressoni (Squamata: Colubridae) en arroyos del área natural protegida Sierra de Quila, Jalisco, México

Photographic evidence shows the first record of predation in Mexico of Lithobates psilonota by Leptodeira splendida bressoni in the natural protected area Sierra de Quila, Jalisco.

Carnívoros del Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Sierra de Quila, Jalisco

Introduction . A central strategy for conservation in Mexico is the creation of natural protected areas. Their management requires providing adequate information on wildlife to guide the management decision process. Within the 17 protected areas that exist in Jalisco, mammal knowledge is scarce, except for three of the most studied areas in the state: Manantlan, Chamela-Cuixmala, and Primavera forest. Because of their taxonomic and ecological diversity, carnivores are an important group to evaluate protected areas and management and conservation actions. Our aim is to provide basic information on carnivores of the Sierra de Quila Flora and Fauna Protection Area, in the State of Jalisco. Method. The Sierra de Quila is part of the Physiographic Province Neo-volcanic Axis and the sub-province Sierras de Jalisco located in the central part of the state and bordered to the north by the Sierra Madre Occidental, on the northwest by the Mesa Central, and west and south by the Sierra Madre del Sur. A total of 10 field trips were performed from November 2008 to February 2010, lasting three days each. Five vegetation types were sampled using both direct and indirect methods: track searching, scent stations, and trap-cameras. Results. Of the 16 potential carnivore species for the area, 13 species of this order were recorded (81% of potential species, Table 2). The other three carnivores reported for the area were included, but they were not recorded in our study. The richest family was Felidae with four species; two of them are classified as endangered. Depending on the sampling method, gray fox (tracks), coyote (scent stations), or puma (trapcameras) was the most abundant carnivore in the area. Activity patterns shown that four species were mainly nocturnal; two of them were diurnal and two were cathemeral (day / night; Figure 2). Discussion and Conclusion. Despite the deterioration shown in some vegetation types within the area, the presence of a number of species of carnivores gives us an idea of ecosystem resilience where even species with the priority to establish conservation programs are found as the case of two cat species recorded with endangered category (P) according to NOM-ECOL-059-2010 (DOF 2010). It is necessary to continue inventory work on carnivores of this protected area, especially in the lower part of the altitudinal range and evaluate the impact of human activities in their presence and abundance.

Nuevo registro de Aphaenogaster punctaticeps Mackay, 1989 para México y primer registro de Aphaenogaster mexicana (Pergande, 1896) para Jalisco (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae)

We present a new record of Aphaenogaster punctaticeps Mackay, 1989 from Mexico and the first record of Aphaenogaster mexicana (Pergande, 1896) from Jalisco State. The specimens were collected in Sierra de Quila, Jalisco, Mexico. With the new records now, there are 13 species of the genus Aphaenogaster from Mexico and three from Jalisco: Aphaenogaster ensifera Forel, 1899, A. mexicana (Pergande, 1896) and A. punctaticeps (Mackay, 1989).