Abstract

ESCUTIA-LARA, Yazmín; LARA-CABRERA, Sabina  and  LINDIG-CISNEROS, Roberto A.. Fire and dynamics of the emergent hydrophytes of the Mintzita wetlands, Michoacán, México. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2009, vol.80, n.3, pp.771-778. ISSN 2007-8706.

Study of the dynamics of continental wetlands in México, and in particular from the state of Michoacán, has been scarce. In response to this need, a field study was started in 2005 through the establishment of permanent plots to document changes in abundance and distribution through time of emergent hydrophytes of the Mintzita wetlands, near the city of Morelia. In the first and third years , the area suffered the effects of a fire that propagated from an agricultural field. These fires allowed us to document the effects of fire on the emergent hydrophyte community in this wetland system. Fire effects were different for the different dominant species. Schoenoplectus americanus was not affected by fire but cover of Typha domingensis was reduced and modified across the wetland gradient, with the consequent loss of the zonation characteristic of these species. We identified 34 species during 2005; 5 species were not seen the following year, and in 2007 only 26 species were recorded. Among the species that persisted, Carex comosa, a species that belongs to a genus found in well preserved wetlands, stands out for having increased its cover 133%. Fires had a severe effect on facultative species and grasses, suggesting that this type of disturbance can maintain the floristic composition and structure of these type of ecosystems.

Keywords : wetland; dynamics; species richness; hydrophytes; fire.

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