Abstract

FLORES-PALACIOS, Alejandro; MARTINEZ-GOMEZ, Juan E.  and  CURRY, Robert L.. The vegetation of Socorro Island, Revillagigedo Archipelago, Mexico. Bol. Soc. Bot. Méx [online]. 2009, n.84, pp.13-23. ISSN 0366-2128.

Based on physiognomic criteria and a cluster analysis based on 90 plots (14 in prairie and grassland, 35 in shrubs, 38 in forest and 3 in secondary vegetation) we classified the vegetation of Socorro Island. In addition to coastal halophytes, we found evidence supporting eight primary vegetation types: Conocarpus shrubby vegetation, grassland, prairie, Croton masonii shrubby vegetation, Pteridium-Dodonaea shrub, tropical dry forest, tropical rain forest and lower montane cloud forest. Prairie and grassland associations are clearly associated with altitude. Depending on the dominant tree species, three different units could be identified within the tropical rain forest of the island. Our analysis resolved differences with previous classifications of the vegetation on Socorro Island and indicated that some shrubby vegetation, sometimes considered as a different vegetation type, represented instead early succession stages of the lower montane cloud forest. The classification presented constitutes a tool to aid future studies of the flora and fauna of this insular region.

Keywords : Cluster analysis; oceanic islands; lower montane cloud forest; Socorro Island.

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