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Shrubland formations and associations in mediterranean-desert transitional zones of northwestern Baja California

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Abstract

The area between Ensenada and EI Rosario (Baja California, Mexico) has long been considered as a transitional zone in which two great ecoclimatic regions (Mediterranean and Tropical-Desert) overlap. The floristic and biotypical diversity of this area was evaluated by analyzing its shrubland formations from a phytosociological point of view. This phytosociological study, carried out according to the Braun-Blanquet method and supported by cluster analysis, describes sixteen shrubland associations from Northwestern Baja California.

Floristic diversity of the transitional zone was evaluated using two indices, endemic value (EV) and endemic community value (ECV), which are related to the degree of endemism in the flora and plant associations. The phytosociological analysis showed that the high number of shrubland associations found in this area reflected its transitional character. The closer the associations are to the transitional zone, the higher their biotypical and floristic diversity.

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Abbreviations

ADE:

Adenostoma fasciculatum

AES:

Fraxinus trifoliata-Aesculus parryi

BER:

Bergerocactus emoryi-Agave shawii

DES:

Echinocereus engelmannii-Agave deserti

ENC:

Viguiera deltoidea-Encelia asperifolia

EUR:

Eurotia lanata-Yucca schidigera

FOU:

Agave cerulata-Fouquieria columnaris

FRA:

Atriplex julacea-Frankenia palmeri

HYM:

Baccharis glutinosa-Hymenoclea monogyra

KEC:

Clematis lasiantha-Keckiella antirrhinoides

LAR:

Ambrosia chenopodifolia-Larrea tridentata

LYC:

Ephedra californica-Lycium brevipes

MAH:

Malosma laurina-Heteromeles arbutifolia

MUN:

Salvia munzii-Artemisia californica

ROS:

Rosa minutifolia-Aesculus parryi

SAL:

Salvia apiana-Viguiera laciniata

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biología Vegetal, Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, E-28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain

    M. Peinado, J. L. Aguirre & I. Aguado

  2. Departamento de Biología Vegetal, Universidad de Murcia, E-33600, Murcia, Spain

    F. Alcaraz

  3. Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Ensenada BC, Mexico

    J. Delgadillo

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  1. M. Peinado
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  2. F. Alcaraz
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  3. J. L. Aguirre
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  4. J. Delgadillo
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  5. I. Aguado
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Peinado, M., Alcaraz, F., Aguirre, J.L. et al. Shrubland formations and associations in mediterranean-desert transitional zones of northwestern Baja California. Vegetatio 117, 165–179 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00045507

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