What are the Terrestrial Ecosystems of Mexico? (Types and 47 Zones)

Some of the Terrestrial ecosystems of Mexico Are broad-leaved tropical and subtropical moist forests, tropical dry and subtropical broad-leaved forests or flooded grasslands and savannas.

In Mexico , There is a wide variety of marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. This variety of Ecosystems Has made Mexico the habitat of just over 12% of all the world's biodiversity.

What are the Terrestrial Ecosystems of Mexico?  (Types and 47 Zones) Meadow before
Pico de Orizaba in Mexico.

In fact, there is such a variety of ecosystems and species That Mexico has been included among the megadiverse nations of the world, which are only 17 across the globe.

The Tropic of Cancer divides the country into two different climatic zones: to the north of Mexico one experiences a temperate climate, whereas in southern Mexico the climatic conditions are rather tropical.

This variety of climatic conditions, added to the diversity of ecosystems in Mexico, favors the presence of more than 200,000 species.

Mexico's terrestrial ecosystems are usually divided into nine categories. These categories are established taking into account the vegetation of the area, altitude, climatic conditions and precipitation.

The following is a list of the types of terrestrial ecosystems in Mexico followed by a list of areas of Mexico that constitute terrestrial ecosystems.

Main types of terrestrial ecosystems occurring in Mexico

Among the terrestrial ecosystems of Mexico, the following stand out:

Rainforests or everlasting tropical forests

They are one of the most complex ecosystems and richest in diversity on Earth. It has been established that more than 50% of all animal and plant species live in these forests.

Tropical rainforests are found in lowlands, which do not exceed 1200 meters above sea level. Annual precipitations are abundant (between 150 cm 3 And the 400 cm 3 And temperatures usually exceed 20 ° C (usually between 20 ° C and 28 ° C).

They are also called semi-permanent forests because more than 75% of the plant species maintain their leaves throughout the year.

Tropical deciduous forests

Temperatures in deciduous forest are warm all year round. There are two climatic seasons: one rainy and one dry. Like rainforests, they are found at altitudes lower than 1200 meters above sea level.

Between 50% and 90% of tropical deciduous forest trees lose their leaves during the dry season (hence the name) to reduce water loss. The trees in these forests are not as close to each other (as they are in tropical rainforests).

Prairies

Grasslands or pastures are found in regions where the topography is smooth and undulating. The vegetation in this type of ecosystem is smaller size (between 60 cm and 90 cm).

In the prairies there are also two seasons: one of rains and one of drought. The period of drought is long, since it lasts between six and nine months.

The annual rainfall is between 30 and 60 cm 3 . Meanwhile, temperatures range between 12 and 20 ° C.

Xeróphytes scrub

In this type of ecosystem the predominant vegetation is the typical one of the desert: thorny bushes, of small leaves, like the cactus .

The temperatures are extreme and can reach up to 42 ° C. Meanwhile, annual rainfall does not usually exceed 70 cm 3 .

Areas of Mexico that constitute terrestrial ecosystems

The following is a list of terrestrial ecosystems in Mexico, available on the web site of the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (Conabio, Mexican organization).

What are the Terrestrial Ecosystems of Mexico?  (Types and 47 Zones) 1

Logo of the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (Conabio)

In this list, terrestrial ecosystems are classified, taking into account the guidelines of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
What are the Terrestrial Ecosystems of Mexico?  (Types and 47 Zones) 2

Logo of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

The classification categories of the WWF are nine and are as follows: tropical humid forests and subtropical broadleaf; Tropical dry and subtropical broadleaf forests; Tropical and subtropical coniferous forests; Meadows, savannas and tropical and subtropical scrub; Grasslands and flooded savannahs; Meadows and montane scrub; Mediterranean forests and scrubland; Deserts and shrublands of desert vegetation; And mangroves.

1- Tropical rainforests and subtropical broadleaf

Humid forest of Chiapas

Centla Swamps

Humid forests of Petén-Veracruz

Humid forests of Sierra Madre de Chiapas

Sierra de los Tuxtlas

Mountain Forests of Veracruz

Humid forests of Yucatán

2- Tropical dry and subtropical broadleaf forests

Dry forests of Bajío

Dry forest of ferries

Dry forests of Central America

Dry forests of the Depression of Chiapas

Dry Forests of Jalisco

Dry forests of the Islands of Revillagigedo

Dry forests of Sierra de la Laguna

Dry forests of Sinaloa

Dry forests of the Sonora-Sinaloa transition

Dry Forests of the South Pacific

Dry forests of Veracruz

3- Tropical and subtropical coniferous forests

Central American pine and oak forests

Pine and oak forests of Sierra Juárez and San Pedro Mártir.

Forests of pine and oak of Sierra de la Laguna

Pine and oak forests of the Sierra Madre de Oaxaca

Pine and oak forests of the Sierra Madre Occidental

Pine and oak forests of Sierra Madre Oriental

Pine and oak forests of the Sierra Madre del Sur

4- Tropical and subtropical savannas, prairies and scrubland

Gulf Coast Prairies West

5 - Flooded grasslands and savannahs

Flood zones of central Mexico

6 - Mountain meadows and thickets

Zacatonal

7- Mediterranean forests, meadows and shrublands

Chaparral and California Forests

8- Deserts and shrubs of desert vegetation

Chihuahua Desert

San luca xerophyte scrubland

Sonoran Desert

Baja California desert

Matorral of the Central Plateau

Matorral of Mexico of the Center

Xerophyte shrubland of the Gulf of California

Matorral of Tamaulipas

Mezquital of Tamaulipas

Scrub of the Tehuacán Valley

9- Mangroves

Mangroves of Alvarado

National Marismas- Mangroves of San Blas

Mangroves of the Mayan corridor

Mangroves on the Mexican Pacific Coast

Mangroves of Petenes

Mangroves of Ría Lagartos

Mangroves of Tehuantepec - El Manchón

Mangroves of Usumacinta

References

  1. Terrestial Ecosystems of Mexico. Retrieved on July 4, 2017, from prezi.com
  2. Mexican Ecosystems. Retrieved on July 4, 2017, from vivanatura.org
  3. Terrestial ecosystems of Mexico. Retrieved on July 4, 2017, from databasin.org
  4. Ecosystems of Mexico. Retrieved on July 4, 2017, from biodiversidad.gov.mx
  5. Terrestial Ecosystems. Retrieved on July 4, 2017, from cec.org
  6. Mexico Ecosystems. Retrieved on July 4, 2017, from paismaravillas.mx
  7. Ecosystems. Retrieved on July 4, 2017, from geo-mexico.com.


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