Abstract

OCHOA-GAONA, Susana et al. Diversity of aquatic and riverine vegetation along the Usumacinta River basin, Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2018, vol.89, suppl., pp.3-44. ISSN 2007-8706.  https://doi.org/10.22201/ib.20078706e.2018.4.2395.

Plant communities that develop along the Usumacinta River are part of the regional wetlands. The goal of the study was to review and to synthesize the knowledge on the aquatic and riverine vegetation along the Usumacinta River basin. We used the National System of Information on Biodiversity of the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (SNIB-Conabio), reviewed 57 bibliographic sources, checked 5 regional herbaria and did field work during one year within the Usumacinta River itself and adjacent lagoon systems in the Coastal, Lagoon and Selva Lacandona Zones. We collected 1,995 plant samples that belong to 98 families and 472 species; 4.2% of the collected species were added as new records for the region. According to the Mexican Official Norm, we detected 85 species that are considered in some risk category. In total, 20,218 records were grouped in 212 families, 1,264 genera and 3,501 species, which demonstrates the great diversity of riverine and aquatic flora of the region. It is necessary to continue studying this type of wetlands, in order to understand their function that are the basis of management strategies to conserve the plant communities, the associated fauna and human populations that depend on these resources.

Keywords : Aquatic vegetation; Pantanos de Centla Natural Reserve; Lagoon systems; New records; Riverine vegetation; Selva Lacandona; Wetlands.

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