Abstract

CANALES-PEREZ, Rafael et al. Taxodium huegelii C. Lawson natural distribution in the state of Hidalgo. Rev. mex. de cienc. forestales [online]. 2022, vol.13, n.72, pp.112-147.  Epub Aug 22, 2022. ISSN 2007-1132.  https://doi.org/10.29298/rmcf.v13i72.1224.

Taxodium huegelii (synonym: Taxodium mucronatum) is a tree that inhabits gallery forests; its common names are ahuehuete, Tule tree, Montezuma cypress or sabino. The objective of this research was to generate current and potential distribution maps for the species in the state of Hidalgo. The 56 records, obtained from field collections and a database search were used to prepare them. Records were pre-analyzed to avoid provenance errors and repeated data. The documented distribution map was generated with ArcGIS® version 10.3 and the potential distribution map with Maxent version 3.4.1. The biogeographic provinces (Zacatecan-Potosin) Southern Highlands, Eastern Sierra Madre, and the Gulf of Mexico were the only ones with records of presence, located in 23 of the 84 municipalities of Hidalgo; however, according to the results, there is 46 % suitability for the species to be distributed in 63 municipalities in the state. The potential distribution model is satisfactory, as it has a prediction of 92 %. The distribution of T. huegelii is favored in areas where the minimum temperature of the coldest month is not less than 3 °C, and in places with a precipitation range of 100 to 500 mm. The actual and potential distribution maps generated constitute the basis for future research on this emblematic taxon of Mexico.

Keywords : Ahuehuete; Tule tree; known distribution; potential distribution; riparian vegetation; Taxodium mucronatum Ten.