Floristic and Vegetation Study of the Cerro del Peregrino, in the Municipalities of Acapulco de Juarez and Juan R. Escudero, Guerrero, Mexico

Abstract

Guerrero has a great biological wealth; however, it does not yet have a complete floristic list. Floristic studies in the country place the state in fifth place, after Oaxaca, Chiapas, Veracruz and Jalisco. The study area is located in the municipalities of Acapulco de Juarez and Juan R. Escudero, in the Sierra Madre del Sur (SMS), in the eastern part of a mountainous elevation known as Cerro del Peregrino. A floristic and vegetation study was conducted in an area of 1000 ha. For the elaboration of the floristic list and recognition of the types of vegetation, an exhaustive collection was carried out in the best preserved areas. 205 species, 146 genera and 61 families were identified. Seven types of vegetation were recognized, corresponding to tropical deciduous forest, subdeciduous tropical forest, Quercus forest, Quercus-Pinus forest, Pinus forest, gallery forest and Byrsonima-Curatella forest. Astronium graveolens, Cryosophila nana, Calophyllum brasiliense, Microdesmia arborea, Peltolgyne mexicana and Zamia loddigesii were listed in NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010, in category Threatened and Agave gypsophila in category Subject to Special Protection. The division Magnoliophyta is the dominant group and the class Magnoliopsida the most important in floristic richness. The study area has a strong impact of environmental deterioration, so it is important to promote forest management programs to protect species at risk and follow up on initiatives that preserve the Cerro del Peregrino as a space of great natural, historical and cultural value.