Plant Diversity and Ecology in the Chihuahuan Desert : Emphasis on the Cuatro Ciénegas Basin

Environmental and specific diversity in the Chihuahuan desert in general, and in the Cuatro Ciénegas Basin in particular, has long been recognized as outstanding. This book provides a global ecological overview, together with in-depth studies of specific processes. The Chihuahuan desert is the warmest in North America, and has a complex geologic, climatic and biogeographical history, which affects today’s distribution of vegetation and plants and generates complex phylogeographic patterns. The high number of endemic species reflects this complex set of traits. The modern distribution of environments, including aquatic and subaquatic systems, riparian environments, gypsum dunes and gypsum-rich soils, low levels of phosphorous and organic matter, and high salinity combined with an extreme climate call for a range of adaptations. Plants are distributed in a patchy pattern based on punctual variations, and many of them respond to different resources and conditions with considerable morphological plasticity. In terms of physiological, morphological and ecological variability, cacti were identified as the most important group in specific environments like bajadas, characterized by high diversity values, while gypsophytes and gypsovagues of different phylogenies, including species with restricted distribution and endemics. Foreword 6 Preface 8 Contents 12 Chapter 1: Diversity and Uniqueness at Its Best: Vegetation of the Chihuahuan Desert 15 In the Beginning 16 The Physical Scenario 16 Diversity of Plant Communities 17 The Dynamic Nature of Chihuahuan Desert Communities 25 The Uniqueness of Cacti 26 A Glimpse of the Uniqueness of the Cuatro Ciénegas Basin 27 Diversity and Uniqueness Under Threat 28 References 28 Chapter 2: Phylogeography of the Chihuahuan Desert: Diversification and Evolution Over the Pleistocene 32 Introduction 33 Methods 37 Results 37 Discussion 43 The Chihuahuan Desert 50 Comparative Phylogeography of the Chihuahuan Desert 50 Comparing Patterns in the Chihuahuan Desert 52 Conclusions and Perspectives 53 References 54 Chapter 3: The Evolution of North American Deserts and the Uniqueness of Cuatro Ciénegas 58 Introduction 59 Geologic Origin 59 The Causes of Aridity 61 Desert Sky Islands and Climates of the Past 62 Cycles of Abundance and Scarcity 63 Life-Forms and Adaptations 64 Adaptations of Plants to Aridity 65 Coping with Unpredictability: The Evolution of Serotiny in Deserts 67 Leaf Xeromorphism: Shifting Photosynthesis to Favorable Hours 69 Species Interactions 69 Deserts and Agriculture 70 Concluding Remarks 70 References 71 Chapter 4: Diversity and Distribution of Cacti Species in the Cuatro Ciénegas Basin 74 Introduction 75 Methods 76 Floristic Inventory 76 Cacti Diversity 76 Geographic Expansion Index (GEI) 76 Complementary Index (CI) 78 Results and Discussion 79 Diversity and Richness 79 Geographic Distribution Pattern 79 Geographic Expansion Index (GEI) 81 Complementary Index 81 Conclusions 84 References 84 Chapter 5: Reproductive Biology of Grusonia bradtiana (Cactaceae): A Dominant Species and Endemic Clonal Cactus from Cuatro Ciénegas Basin and Contiguous Areas in the Chihuahuan Desert 87 Reproduction in Plants 88 Grusonia bradtiana 90 Floral Behavior and Flower Production of Grusonia bradtiana in CCB 92 Breeding System and Pollen Viability in Grusonia bradtiana in CCB 94 Mating System and Pollen Limitation in Grusonia bradtiana in CCB 96 Floral Visitors and Nectar Availability Grusonia bradtiana in CCB 98 General Discussion, Conclusions, and Perspectives 101 References 102 Chapter 6: How Did Fouquieria Come to the Chihuahuan Desert? Phylogenetic and Phylogeographic Studies of Fouquieria shrevei and F. splendens and the Role of Vicariance, Selection, and Genetic Drift 107 Introduction 108 The Diversification of an Ancient Lineage 109 The Recent Speciation of Fouquieria in the Chihuahuan Desert 110 Genetic Drift and Low Gene Flow in Fouquieria shrevei 112 On the Origin of Fouquieria shrevei 116 Conclusions 116 References 117 Chapter 7: Between the Arid and the Opulent: Plant Resources of the Mexican Desert 120 Lechuguilla 121 Oregano 122 Mesquite 123 Candelilla Wax 124 Final considerations 125 References 126 Chapter 8: Ecological Importance of bajadas in the Chihuahuan Desert 127 Chihuahuan Desert Region 128 Cuatro Ciénegas Basin 128 Vegetation Census 130 Floristic Composition, Vegetation Structure, and Diversity 130 Species Richness and Diversity 133 Structure and Composition 135 Conclusions 136 References 136 Chapter 9: Gypsum and Plant Species: A Marvel of Cuatro Ciénegas and the Chihuahuan Desert 139 Introduction 140 Species Diversity in Coahuila 140 Gypsum in Cuatro Ciénegas 140 Plant Affinities to Gypsum 141 Plant Diversity on Gypsum in Cuatro Ciénegas and in the Chihuahuan Desert 142 Historical Background of the Cuatro Ciénegas Flora 145 Methods 146 Results 151 Gypsum Outcrops 151 Gypsum Outcrops and Plant Collections 153 Vascular Plant Diversity on Cuatro Ciénegas Gypsum 154 Endemism 157 Discussion 158 Conclusions 159 Appendix 160 Pteridophytas 160 Gymnospermae 160 Angiospermae 161 References 174 Chapter 10: The Ages of Life: The Changing Forms and History of Coryphantha werdermannii Throughout Its Development 176 Of Spiny Bubbles 178 Difficult Beginnings 180 A Long Childhood 182 The Changing Times of Adolescence 183 The Long Wait 185 A Day of Frenzy 186 Searching for a New Beginning 187 New Neighbors with Strange Customs 188 Pending Homework 189 References 189 Chapter 11: Cuatro Ciénegas as a Refuge for the Living Rock Cactus, Ariocarpus fissuratus: Demographic and Conservation Studies 192 The Living Rock Cactus 193 Populations Status and Demographic Traits of Ariocarpus fissuratus 194 Ariocarpus fissuratus and Its Association with Other Species and with Rocky Soils 201 Importance of Cuatro Ciénegas Basin for Conservation of Ariocarpus fissuratus 201 References 202 Chapter 12: Reproductive Biology and Conservation of the Living Rock Ariocarpus fissuratus 205 Introduction 206 Methods 207 Floral Phenology 207 Floral Morphology and Breeding System 208 Pollination Experiments 208 Pollinators and Nectar Production 209 Results 209 Floral Phenology 209 Floral Morphology and Breeding System 209 Pollination Experiments 211 Pollinators and Nectar Production 212 Discussion 214 References 216 Chapter 13: Effect of Reproductive Modes on the Population Dynamics of an Endemic Cactus from Cuatro Ciénegas 218 Introduction 219 Methods 222 Demography and Life History 222 Results and Discussion 226 References 230 Chapter 14: Conservation Status, Germination, and Establishment of the Divine Cactus, Lophophora williamsii (Lem. Ex Salm-Dyck) J. M. Coult., at Cuatro Ciénegas 233 The Search of Peyote 234 Peyote, Lophophora williamsii 235 Germination and Establishment 237 Seed Germination of Different Ages 239 Germination of Seeds Under Different Light Conditions 241 Discussion 242 References 244 Chapter 15: Genetic and Ecological Characterization of the Invasive Wetland Grasses Arundo donax and Phragmites australis in the Cuatro Ciénegas Basin 247 The Biology of Invasive Plants 248 The Protected Area of Cuatro Ciénegas and Two Potentially Invasive Grasses 249 The Complex Case of the Invasive Arundo donax 250 Phragmites australis, an Important Native Species with Invasive Potential 256 Concluding Remarks: A. donax Is an Aggressive Invasive Plant, But P. australis Is Native to CCB 262 References 264 Chapter 16: Disturbance and the Formation and Colonization of New Habitats in a Hydrological System in the Cuatro Ciénegas Basin 270 Introduction 271 Methods 273 Study Site 273 Field Methods 275 Results 276 1. Colonization of Sinkholes 276 2. Colonization of the River Bed 279 3. Colonization of the Lake Bed 279 Discussion 282 References 285 Chapter 17: An Unlikely Movable Feast in a Desert Hydrological System: Why Do Life Cycles Matter 288 Introduction 289 Methods 290 Study Site 290 Species 292 Field Work 293 Results 294 Life Cycle 294 Population Dynamics 296 Discussion 296 Life Cycle 296 Reproduction 297 Growth 298 Survival 298 Population Dynamics 299 References 300 Chapter 18: Morphological and Phenological Variation in Samolus ebracteatus var. coahuilensis in Different Environments in the Churince System, Cuatro Ciénegas Basin (Coahuila) 302 Introduction 303 Methods 304 Study Site 304 Data Analysis 306 Results 306 Discussion 308 References 312 Chapter 19: Germination of Riparian Species in Natural and Experimental Conditions 314 Introduction 315 Methods 316 Study Area 316 Species 316 Effect of Light on Germination 317 Germination in Natural and Controlled Conditions 317 Germination in Greenhouse Conditions 318 Results 318 Effect of Light on Germination 318 Germination in Natural and Controlled Conditions 318 Germination in Greenhouse Conditions 319 Discussion 321 References 323 Index 326 Front Matter ....Pages i-xiii Diversity and Uniqueness at Its Best: Vegetation of the Chihuahuan Desert (José Alejandro Zavala-Hurtado, Monserrat Jiménez)....Pages 1-17 Phylogeography of the Chihuahuan Desert: Diversification and Evolution Over the Pleistocene (Enrique Scheinvar, Niza Gámez, Alejandra Moreno-Letelier, Erika Aguirre-Planter, Luis E. Eguiarte)....Pages 19-44 The Evolution of North American Deserts and the Uniqueness of Cuatro Ciénegas (Exequiel Ezcurra, Alejandra Martínez-Berdeja, Lorena Villanueva-Almanza)....Pages 45-60 Diversity and Distribution of Cacti Species in the Cuatro Ciénegas Basin (José Guadalupe Martínez-Ávalos, Rodolfo Martínez-Gallegos, Antonio Guerra-Pérez, Jorge Ariel Torres Castillo, Christian S. Venegas-Barrera, Ariadna Maía Álvarez-González et al.)....Pages 61-73 Reproductive Biology of Grusonia bradtiana (Cactaceae): A Dominant Species and Endemic Clonal Cactus from Cuatro Ciénegas Basin and Contiguous Areas in the Chihuahuan Desert (Lucía Plasencia-López, Mariana Rojas-Aréchiga, María C. Mandujano)....Pages 75-94 How Did Fouquieria Come to the Chihuahuan Desert? Phylogenetic and Phylogeographic Studies of Fouquieria shrevei and F. splendens and the Role of Vicariance, Selection, and Genetic Drift (José Arturo De-Nova, Jonás A. Aguirre-Liguori, Luis E. Eguiarte)....Pages 95-107 Between the Arid and the Opulent: Plant Resources of the Mexican Desert (Andrea Martínez Ballesté, Thalía Iglesias Chacón, María C. Mandujano)....Pages 109-115 Ecological Importance of bajadas in the Chihuahuan Desert (Juan Carlos Flores Vázquez, María Dolores Rosas Barrera, Jordan Golubov, Irene Sánchez-Gallén, María C. Mandujano)....Pages 117-128 Gypsum and Plant Species: A Marvel of Cuatro Ciénegas and the Chihuahuan Desert (Helga Ochoterena, Hilda Flores-Olvera, Carlos Gómez-Hinostrosa, Michael J. Moore)....Pages 129-165 The Ages of Life: The Changing Forms and History of Coryphantha werdermannii Throughout Its Development (Carlos Martorell, Rosa Maricel Portilla-Alonso)....Pages 167-182 Cuatro Ciénegas as a Refuge for the Living Rock Cactus, Ariocarpus fissuratus: Demographic and Conservation Studies (M. Rosa Mancilla-Ramírez, Juan Carlos Flores-Vázquez, Concepción Martínez-Peralta, Gisela Aguilar Morales, María C. Mandujano)....Pages 183-195 Reproductive Biology and Conservation of the Living Rock Ariocarpus fissuratus (Concepción Martínez-Peralta, Jorge Jiménez-Díaz, Juan Carlos Flores-Vázquez, María C. Mandujano)....Pages 197-209 Effect of Reproductive Modes on the Population Dynamics of an Endemic Cactus from Cuatro Ciénegas (María Dolores Rosas Barrera, Jordan Golubov, Irene Pisanty, Maria C. Mandujano)....Pages 211-225 Conservation Status, Germination, and Establishment of the Divine Cactus, Lophophora williamsii (Lem. Ex Salm-Dyck) J. M. Coult., at Cuatro Ciénegas (Maria C. Mandujano, Alejandra García Naranjo, Mariana Rojas-Aréchiga, Jordan Golubov)....Pages 227-240 Genetic and Ecological Characterization of the Invasive Wetland Grasses Arundo donax and Phragmites australis in the Cuatro Ciénegas Basin (Ricardo Colin, Luis E. Eguiarte)....Pages 241-263 Disturbance and the Formation and Colonization of New Habitats in a Hydrological System in the Cuatro Ciénegas Basin (Irene Pisanty, Mariana Rodríguez-Sánchez, Polenka Torres Orozco, Luisa A. Granados-Hernández, Stéphanie Escobar, María C. Mandujano)....Pages 265-282 An Unlikely Movable Feast in a Desert Hydrological System: Why Do Life Cycles Matter (Mariana Rodríguez-Sánchez, Irene Pisanty, María C. Mandujano, Hilda Flores-Olvera, Ana Karen Almaguer)....Pages 283-296 Morphological and Phenological Variation in Samolus ebracteatus var. coahuilensis in Different Environments in the Churince System, Cuatro Ciénegas Basin (Coahuila) (Gabriel Cervantes-Campero, Irene Pisanty, María C. Mandujano)....Pages 297-308 Germination of Riparian Species in Natural and Experimental Conditions (Cynthia Peralta-García, Irene Pisanty, Alma Orozco-Segovia, Ma. Esther Sánchez-Coronado, Mariana Rodríguez-Sánchez)....Pages 309-320 Back Matter ....Pages 321-327