Background:

The geographic distribution of Pinguicula moranensis var. neovolcanica is restricted to the Trans-Mexican Neovolcanic Belt. In Tlaxcala, this species has disappeared in most of the sites where it had been registered. Understand relationships among environmental, morphological, and reproductive characteristics in the prevailing population is needed.

Questions and / or Hypotheses:

What is the effect of the environment and morphological characteristics on biotic and reproductive variables of P. moranensis in Tlaxcala?

Studied species:

Pinguicula moranensis var. neovolcanica Zamudio.

Study site and date:

Panotla and San José Teacalco, Tlaxcala, México. February and July in 2019.

Methods:

In two sites where abiotic variables (light and humidity) as well as biotic variables (density, prey, and floral visitors) were recorded. The plant´s morphological characteristics (rosette diameter, length, and number of peduncles and flowers) and reproductive characteristics (total numbers of seeds, fertile or aborted seeds, and viability) were recorded.

Results:

Positive effects on prey abundance were found for the abiotic variable humidity, as well as for the morphological characteristics of number of peduncles and number of fertile seeds. The taxonomic diversity of prey was related to the number of fertile seeds. Similarly, light, individual density, and seed viability had a positive effect on the number of fertile seeds.

Conclusions:

The present results indicate that abiotic, biotic, morphological, and reproductive variables interact to determine the persistence of the P. moranensis population in Tlaxcala. Moreover, this study emphasize the importance of habitat conservation in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt.

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