Abstract

CASTELLANOS-ACUNA, Dante; LINDIG-CISNEROS, Roberto A.; SILVA-FARIAS, Miguel Á.  and  SAENZ-ROMERO, Cuauhtémoc. Provisional altitudinal zoning of Abies religiosa in an area near the Monarch Butterfly biosphere reserve, Michoacán. Rev. Chapingo ser. cienc. for. ambient [online]. 2014, vol.20, n.2, pp.215-225. ISSN 2007-4018.  https://doi.org/10.5154/r.rchscfa.2013.11.041.

The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a morphological differentiation (as an indicator of genetic variation) among populations of Abies religiosa, in order to delineate an altitudinal zoning to decide seed movement in reforestation programs. Branches and cones of 11 individuals of 15 A. religiosa populations on San Andrés Mountain, Municipality of Hidalgo, Michoacán (near the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve), along an altitudinal transect (2,850-3,550 m, a population every 50 m of altitudinal difference) were collected and analyzed for morphological traits. The results indicate a significant morphological differentiation among populations along the altitudinal gradient: low-altitude populations have shorter needles and longer cones than high-altitude populations. It is suggested to delineate three provisional altitudinal zones with the following limits: 2,800 to 3,050 m, 3,050-3,300 m and 3,300-3,550 m. Ignoring climate change, it is suggested to reforest each altitudinal zone using seedlings originated from the same seed zone. Considering climate change, it is suggested to conduct an altitudinal assisted migration, by planting sites in the zone immediately above the zone from where seed were collected.

Keywords : Morphological variation; altitudinal variation; climate change; assisted migration; reforestation.

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