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β-Diversity and vegetation structure as influenced by slope aspect and altitude in a seasonally dry tropical landscape

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Abstract

Topography strongly affects the distribution of insolation in the terrain. Patterns of incoming solar radiation affect energy and water balances within a landscape, resulting in changes in vegetation attributes. Unlike other regions, in seasonally dry tropical forest areas the potential contribution of topography-related environmental heterogeneity to β-diversity is unclear. In Mt. Cerro Verde (Oaxaca), S. Mexico, we: (1) modelled potential energy income for N- and S-facing slopes based on a digital elevation model, (2) examined the response of vegetation structure to slope aspect and altitude and (3) related variations in plant diversity to topography-related heterogeneity. Vegetation survey and modelling of potential energy income (SOLEI-32 model) were based on 30 plots equally distributed among three altitudinal belts defined for each slope of the mountain; combining the three altitudinal belts and the two slopes produced six environmental groups, represented by five vegetation plots each. Potential energy income was about 20% larger on the S than on the N slope (9,735 versus 8,138 MJ/m2), but it did not vary with altitude. In addition, the temporal behaviour of potential energy income throughout the year differed greatly between slopes. Vegetation structure did not show significant changes linked to the environmental gradients analysed, but altitude and aspect did affect β-diversity. We argue that the classic model of slope aspect effect on vegetation needs reconsideration for tropical landscapes.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to A. Martínez-Yrízar and P. Balvanera for commenting on a previous draft of this manuscript, and to the people of Nizanda for their hospitality and support. L. Ochoa-Ochoa assisted in the field and M. Romero-Romero helped in database management. This study received financial support from CONACyT-SEMARNAT (2002-C01-0267) and PAPIIT-UNAM (IN-221503 and IN-216007).

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  1. Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510, Mexico, DF, Mexico

    J. Alberto Gallardo-Cruz, Eduardo A. Pérez-García & Jorge A. Meave

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  1. J. Alberto Gallardo-Cruz
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  2. Eduardo A. Pérez-García
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  3. Jorge A. Meave
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Correspondence to J. Alberto Gallardo-Cruz.

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Gallardo-Cruz, J.A., Pérez-García, E.A. & Meave, J.A. β-Diversity and vegetation structure as influenced by slope aspect and altitude in a seasonally dry tropical landscape. Landscape Ecol 24, 473–482 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-009-9332-1

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