Traditional Agroforestry Systems and Conservation of Native Plant Diversity of Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests
Por:
Rendon-Sandoval, Francisco J., CASAS, ALEJANDRO, Moreno-Calles, Ana I., Torres-Garcia, Ignacio, Garcia-Frapolli, Eduardo
Publicada:
1 jun 2020
Resumen:
Traditional agroforestry systems (TAFS), which integrate crops with
wildlife, are important reservoirs of human culture and technical
experiences with a high capacity for biodiversity conservation. Our
study aimed to evaluate the capacity of TAFS to conserve the floristic
diversity of tropical dry forests (TDF) in the Tehuacan-Cuicatlan
Valley, Mexico. We compared TAFS and TDF by measuring their forest
cover, floristic composition, and structure, in addition to documenting
the motivations of people to maintain native vegetation in their
agricultural fields. We conducted a restricted randomized sampling of
perennial plant species, including nine sites of TAFS and nine of TDF to
determine the alpha, beta, and gamma diversity. Furthermore, we
conducted semi-structured interviews with peasants who managed the
agricultural plots we studied. We also performed workshops with people
of the communities where surveys were performed. Our findings show that
TAFS can maintain, on average, 68% of the species (95% of them native
to the region) and 53% of the abundance of individuals occurring in the
adjacent TDF. TAFS harbour 30% (39 species) of plants endemic to
Mexico. Total species richness of TDF and TAFS were similar, as well as
the effective number of species or communities estimated for the alpha,
beta, and gamma diversity, but differed in the abundance of individuals.
The high species turnover recorded in TDF (72%) and TAFS (74%) has
profound implications for conservation, suggesting that it would be
necessary to maintain several sites in order to conserve the regional
diversity of native vegetation. Material, non-material, and regulatory
contributions were reported to be the reason that peasants take into
account maintaining natural vegetation. TAFS associated with TDF in the
region (also called ``Apancles'') contain an important richness,
diversity, and endemism of components of natural ecosystems, as well as
provide multiple socio-ecological contributions. These systems could
represent a viable alternative to reconcile biological conservation with
social well-being.
Filiaciones:
Rendon-Sandoval, Francisco J.:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Inst Invest Ecosistemas & Sustentabilidad IIES, Antigua Carretera Patzcuaro 8701, Morelia 58190, Michoacan, Mexico
CASAS, ALEJANDRO:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Inst Invest Ecosistemas & Sustentabilidad IIES, Antigua Carretera Patzcuaro 8701, Morelia 58190, Michoacan, Mexico
Moreno-Calles, Ana I.:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Escuela Nacl Estudios Super ENES, Antigua Carretera Patzcuaro 8701, Morelia 58190, Michoacan, Mexico
Torres-Garcia, Ignacio:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Escuela Nacl Estudios Super ENES, Antigua Carretera Patzcuaro 8701, Morelia 58190, Michoacan, Mexico
Garcia-Frapolli, Eduardo:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Inst Invest Ecosistemas & Sustentabilidad IIES, Antigua Carretera Patzcuaro 8701, Morelia 58190, Michoacan, Mexico
|