Resumen

GONZALEZ-SALDIVAR, Fernando Noel et al. The rosetophyllous desert scrub and its ecological relevance for the conservation of the bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) (Artiodactyla: Bovidae) in Coahuila, Mexico. Acta Zool. Mex [online]. 2025, vol.41, e2777.  Epub 19-Ene-2026. ISSN 2448-8445.  https://doi.org/10.21829/azm.2025.4112777.

The rosetophyllous desert scrub is an ecosystem with potential for the reintroduction of the bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) in northeastern Mexico. The objective of this study was to estimate the composition, diversity, and biomass production between October 2018 and August 2019, in an intensive management Reserve and in the Sierra Las Hormigas, within the UMA Rancho San Juan, in Coahuila. Plant diversity was calculated using the Canfield method and ecological indices, while biomass production was estimated using the Adelaide method. Carrying capacity was determined using the Holechek model. In the reserve and Sierra Las Hormigas, 42 and 50 plant species were identified, respectively, with shrub and tree species predominating. The dominant species were Agave lechuguilla, Euphorbia antisyphilitica, and Lippia graveolens. Total biomass was 703.89 kg ha-1 in the Reserve and 1,066.05 kg ha-1 in Sierra Las Hormigas, with summer being the season with the highest production. The carrying capacity in the Reserve was 4.67 ha per sheep (86 sheep in 400 ha), while in Sierra Las Hormigas it was 3.08 ha per sheep (357 sheep in 1,100 ha). These results highlight the importance of scrubland for the reintroduction of the bighorn sheep and provide useful parameters for assessing habitat quality.

Palabras llave : habitat; management; dry matter; reintroduction.

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