Abstract

TEJERO-DIEZ, J. Daniel; LEDESMA-CORRAL, J. Canek  and  TORRES-DIAZ, Alin N.. Palm (Orbignya guacuyule) vegetation of southern Nayarit, Mexico. Polibotánica [online]. 2008, n.26, pp.67-100. ISSN 1405-2768.

The study area is a microbay of 145 ha located in the coastal zone of southern Nayarit, Mexico, between the towns San Francisco and Lo de Marcos, in Bahía Banderas Municipality. It supports palm vegetation (Orbignya guacuyule), which was characterized for this study using floristic and ecological sampling. We obtained a list of 171 species grouped into 57 families, of which legumes (Fabaceae) are dominant. The floristic richness potential is 40 spp./ha. The presence of about 70% of the species can be considered related to natural disturbance. Two associations are recognized: one with elements of tropical subdeciduous forest (Bursera ovatifolia, Brosimum alicastrum and Ficus spp.) and the other with elements of tropical deciduous forest (Carica mexicana, Lysilo-ma acapulcensis and Tabebuia rosea). The data indicate that this palm vegetation is maintained in part by a disturbance dynamic, which is linked mainly to the strong winds that hit the Nayaritan coasts.

Keywords : palm; Orbignya guacuyule; checklist; vegetation; Nayarit; Mexico.