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Vegetation ecology
CARMEN ISLAND
BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR

Responsible:
José Juan Medellín Vazquez.

Advisor:
Alejandro Ledezma Menxueiro.

Participant Institutions:
Organización Vida Silvestre, A.C.,
Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León.

Starting date: January 2, 1998.

Finish date: June 2000.

The purpose of this study was to explain the interactions that determine the distribution of plants at Carmen Island.

12 sampling areas were established over areas with well defined characteristics.

Eight different plant communities were found. Plant diversity at the island includes 146 species and 13 varieties, in 137 genera:

1- Sarcocaulescent bush, characterized by the presence of species with thick trunks at its base.

2- Sub-inermis microphyle bush of Larrea tridentata (creosote bush) and Jatropha cuneata (matacora) over deep, sandy soils with an inclination less than 5 %. It is only found at Punta Baja.

3- Vegetation of canyons and dry river beds, dominated by Lysiloma candida (palo blanco), over sandy soils.

4- Halophyte vegetation in flatlands and beaches, dominated by Allenrolfea occidentalis (chamizo), deep, sandy and clear soils.

5- Microphyle mesquite forest.

6- Cardon forest, dominated by tall columnar cacti, grown over alluvial soils, dominated by Pachycereus pringlei (cardón) and Lemairocereus thurberi (pitahaya dulce).

7- Coastal, stable dunes vegetation, with Abronia maritima (hierba lopon), Euphorbia pediculifera (golondrina) and Jouvea pilosa (zacate salado).

8- Mangroves, growing over deep, dark and inundated soils subjected to tides. They are found at Puerto Balandras, with three species: Rhizophora mangle (mangle rojo), Avicennia germinans (mangle Negro) and Laguncularia racemosa (mangle blanco).

All three species are placed under the Special Protection category by the NOM.059.ECOL.1994 by the Mexican government.


Toloache, Datura discolor Cardonal Viejita, Cochemiea poselgeri

Checklist:

1. Cardón, Pachycereus pringlei
2. Matacora, Jatropha cuneata
3. Zacate mateado, Bouteloua curtipendula
4. Campanilla, Jaquemontia abutiloides var. eastwodiana
5. Torote, Bursera microphylla
6. Cholla, Opuntia cholla
7. Toji, Phoradendron diguetianum
8. Jojoba, Simmondsia chinensis
9. Hierba del venado, Porophyllum gracile
10. Frutilla, Lycium andersonii
11. Viejito, Mammillaria dioica
12. Uña de gato, Olneya tesota
13. Lechugilla, Agave sobria
14. Haplpappus spinulosus var. scabrellus
15. Manzanilla, Fagonia barclayana
16. Algodón cimarrón, Gossypium harknessii
17. Hierba del pasmo, Greenela ramulosa
18. Nopal, Opuntia tapona
19. Rajamatraca, Wilcoxia striata
20. Porophyllum crassifolium
21. Mariola, Solanum hindsianum
22. Guinagua, Eriogonum inflatum
23. Malva, Hibiscus denudatus
24. Romerillo, Haplopappus sonoriensis
25. Golondrinon Euphorbia magdalenae
26. Ditaxis lanceolata
27. Amole, tinta, Stegnosperma halimifolium
28. Berginia virgata var. glandulifera
29. Santa Lucía, Trixis californica
30. Palo Adan, Fouquieria diguetii
31. Brickellia glabrata
32. Talayote, Cynanchum palmeri
33. Tronadora, Cardiospermum corindum
34. Torote prieto, Bursera hindsiana
35. Malva, Cortón magdalenae
36. Ayenia compacta
37. Pitahaya dulce, Lemairocereus thurberi
38. Carlowrightia californica
39. Pitahaya agria, Machaereocereus gummosus
40. Chicura, Franseria bryantii
41. Casa de Indio, Dalea parryi
42. Orégano, Lippia palmeri
43. Cerive, Opuntia burrageana
44. Palo blanco, Lysiloma candida
45. Vara prieta, guajo, Aeschynomene nivea
46. Chocolatillo, Bourreria sonorae
47. Coreocarpus dissectus
48. Dipúa, Cercidium microphyllum
49. Bachata, Condalia globosa var. globosa
50. Incienso, Encelia farinosa var. radians
51. Mezquite amargo, Prosopis articulata
52. Zacate tres barbas, Aristida adscensionis
53. Garambullo, Lophocereus schottii
54. Hojasen, Cassia confinis
55. Guajillo, Dai, Desmanthus fruticosus
56. Malva rosa, Melochia tomentosa
57. Biznaga, Ferocactus diguetii var. carmenensis
58. Haití, Janusia californica
59. Mezquitillo, Krameria grayi
60. Liga, Euphorbia tomentulosa
61. Alvordia glomerata var. insularis
62. Viejita, Cochemiea poselgeri
63. Huizapol, Cenchrus palmeri
64. Gobernadora, Larrea tridentata
65. Candelilla, Pedilanthus macrocarpus
66. Chamizo, Allenrolfea occidentalis
67. Zacate salado, Sporobolus pyramidatus
68. Heliotrphium curassavicum
69. Rama parda, Ruellia californica
70. Clavellina, Echinocereus brandegeei
71. Abutilon incanum
72. Evolvulus alsinoides
73. Palo hediondo, Atamisquea emarginata
74. Cenizo, chamizo, Atriplex barclayana
75. Palo verde, Cercidium peninsulare
76. Aceitilla, Bouteloua barbata
77. Coldenia canescens
78. Flor de la pasión, Passiflora palmeri
79. Manzanilla de monte, Perityle crassifolia var. robusta
80. Boerhaavia sp.
81. Frijolillo, Phaseolus filiformis
82. Toloache, Datura discolor
83. Amaranthus watsonii
84. Salvia, Hyptis emoryi
85. Golondrina, Euphorbia pediculifera
86. Salvia, Salvia platycheila
87. Zacate salado, Jouvea pilosa
88. Bebbia juncea var. atriplicifolia
89. Huizapol, Vaseyanthus insularis var. brandegei
90. Jumete, Asclepias albicans
91. Viguiera deltoidea var. chenopodina
92. Zalate, Ficus palmeri
93. Aristida sp.
94. Cryptantha spp.
95. Hofmeisteria fasciculata
96. Pega pega, Eucnide urens
97. Pega pega, Eucnide cordata
98. Cyperus dioicus
99. Houstonia spp.
100. Palo colorado, Colubrina viridis
101. Cañita, Heteropogon contortus
102. Brachiaria sp.
103. Setaria setosa
104. Gallinita, Mascagnia macroptera
105. Jazmín de la sierra, Macrosiphonia hesperia
106. Copalquin, Pachycormus discolor var. pubescens
107. Physalis crassifolia
108. Siempreviva, Notholaena californica
109. Euphorbia polycarpa
110. Jauja, Suaeda californica
111. Mangle dulce, Maytenus phyllanthoides
112. Zacate salado, Sporobolus virginicus
113. Mala mujer, Cnidoscolus palmeri
114. Biznaga, Ferocactus diguetii var. diguetii
115. Commicarpus scandens
116. Casa de cochi, Phaulothamnus spinescens
117. Talayote, Matelea cordifolia
118. Canutillo, Ephedra sp.
119. Ciruelo cimarrón, Cyrtocarpa edulis
120. Vinorama, Acacia farnesiana
121. Phacelia scariosa
122. Datilito, Phoenix dactylifera
123. Allionia incarnata
124. Hierba lopón, Abronia maritima
125. Digitaria californica
126. Cardo, Argemone gracilenta
127. Oligomeris linifolia
128. Sarampión, Condalia warnockii
129. Zacate salado, Monanthochlöe littoralis
130. Mangle rojo, Rizophora mangle
131. Mangle blanco, Laguncularia racemosa
132. Mangle negro, Avicennia germinans
133. Deditos, Sesuvium sessile
134. Deditos, Batis marítima
135. Salicornia, Salicornia subterminalis
136. Huitatave, Vallesia glabra
137. Chuparosa, Justicia californica
138. Malva, Cortón californicus
139. Galvezia juncea
140. Marsilea fournieri
141. Dryopetalon sp.
142. Cuscuta spp.
143. Traiga sp.
144. Pelo de ángel, Calliandra californica
145. Psorothamnus emoryi
146. Jícama, Ipomoea sp.
147. Perityle emoryi
148. Cenchrus ciliaris
149. Chenopodium murale
150. Sisymbrium irio
151. Drymaria polystachya
152. Drymaria debilis
153. Toji, Phrygilanthus sonorae
154. Andrachne ciliato-glandulosa
155. Malva, Sphaeralcea hainesii
156. Deditos, Sesuvium verrucosum
157. Chloris sp.
158. Ditaxis brandegei
159. Verdolaga de cochi, Trianthema portulacastrum

CURRENT

Bats.

Herpetofauna.

 

COMPLETED

Ornitofauna.

Diversity and distribution of decapod crustaceans

Terrestrial mammals.

Herpetofauna.

Marine mammals

Bioecology of the brine shrimp

Habitat use of the desert bighorn sheep

Nesting areas of the yellow-footed gull

Cardon, Pachycereus pringlei