Abstract

LOPEZ-ACOSTA, Juan Carlos; ZAMORA-PEDRAZA, Gregoria; MENDOZA-RAMIREZ, Eduardo  and  MACSWINEY, M. Cristina. Recovery of floristic diversity in abandoned citrus plantations in southern Veracruz, Mexico: implications for conservation. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2018, vol.89, n.4, pp.1212-1233. ISSN 2007-8706.  https://doi.org/10.22201/ib.20078706e.2018.4.2565.

The Uxpanapa region at south of Veracruz, is one of the centers of plant diversity in Mexico, where the transformation by human activities have caused the disappearance of about 80% of the original vegetation. Currently, citrus plantations are a common component of the landscape, however, due to low profitability, many plantations have been abandoned, turning into areas of secondary vegetation. The composition, diversity and turnover of plant species in a chronosequence of abandoned orange groves was characterized, also considering establishment strategies, life forms and species dispersal strategies. We sampled 0.1 ha in 6 plantations with different time of abandonment (3, 8, 17, 26, 36 and 48 months), for a total of 0.6 ha sampled. In each transect, 2 contingents were considered: adult and regenerating plants. A total of 191 species were recorded (57 families and 122 genera). The floristic diversity increased as the time of abandonment increased. Plants with zoocoric dispersion and trees dominated in all stages of abandonment. The characteristics of the abandoned citrus plantations are attractive for vertebrate dispersers and their proximity to sources of propagules allow an accelerated regeneration process.

Keywords : Chronosequence; Plant diversity; Fruit plantations; Secondary succession; Uxpanapa.