Title Plant diversity and ecology in the Chihuahuan Desert : emphasis on the Cuatro Ciénegas Basin / Maria C. Mandujano, Irene Pisanty, Luis E. Eguiarte, editors

Published Cham : Springer, 2020

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Description 1 online resource Series Cuatro Ciénegas Basin: an endangered hyperdiverse oasis, 2523-7284 Cuatro Ciénegas Basin: an endangered hyperdiverse oasis. Contents Intro -- Foreword -- Preface -- Contents -- Chapter 1: Diversity and Uniqueness at Its Best: Vegetation of the Chihuahuan Desert -- In the Beginning -- The Physical Scenario -- Diversity of Plant Communities -- The Dynamic Nature of Chihuahuan Desert Communities -- The Uniqueness of Cacti -- A Glimpse of the Uniqueness of the Cuatro Ciénegas Basin -- Diversity and Uniqueness Under Threat -- References -- Chapter 2: Phylogeography of the Chihuahuan Desert: Diversification and Evolution Over the Pleistocene -- Introduction -- Methods -- Results -- Discussion -- The Chihuahuan Desert Comparative Phylogeography of the Chihuahuan Desert -- Comparing Patterns in the Chihuahuan Desert -- Conclusions and Perspectives -- References -- Chapter 3: The Evolution of North American Deserts and the Uniqueness of Cuatro Ciénegas -- Introduction -- Geologic Origin -- The Causes of Aridity -- Desert Sky Islands and Climates of the Past -- Cycles of Abundance and Scarcity -- Life-Forms and Adaptations -- Adaptations of Plants to Aridity -- Coping with Unpredictability: The Evolution of Serotiny in Deserts -- Leaf Xeromorphism: Shifting Photosynthesis to Favorable Hours Species Interactions -- Deserts and Agriculture -- Concluding Remarks -- References -- Chapter 4: Diversity and Distribution of Cacti Species in the Cuatro Ciénegas Basin -- Introduction -- Methods -- Floristic Inventory -- Cacti Diversity -- Geographic Expansion Index (GEI) -- Complementary Index (CI) -- Results and Discussion -- Diversity and Richness -- Geographic Distribution Pattern -- Geographic Expansion Index (GEI) -- Complementary Index -- Conclusions -- References Chapter 5: Reproductive Biology of Grusonia bradtiana (Cactaceae): A Dominant Species and Endemic Clonal Cactus from Cuatro Ciénegas Basin and Contiguous Areas in the Chihuahuan Desert -- Reproduction in Plants -- Grusonia bradtiana -- Floral Behavior and Flower Production of Grusonia bradtiana in CCB -- Breeding System and Pollen Viability in Grusonia bradtiana in CCB -- Mating System and Pollen Limitation in Grusonia bradtiana in CCB -- Floral Visitors and Nectar Availability Grusonia bradtiana in CCB -- General Discussion, Conclusions, and Perspectives -- References Chapter 6: How Did Fouquieria Come to the Chihuahuan Desert? Phylogenetic and Phylogeographic Studies of Fouquieria shrevei and F. splendens and the Role of Vicariance, Selection, and Genetic Drift -- Introduction -- The Diversification of an Ancient Lineage -- The Recent Speciation of Fouquieria in the Chihuahuan Desert -- Genetic Drift and Low Gene Flow in Fouquieria shrevei -- On the Origin of Fouquieria shrevei -- Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 7: Between the Arid and the Opulent: Plant Resources of the Mexican Desert -- Lechuguilla -- Oregano -- Mesquite -- Candelilla Wax Summary Environmental and specific diversity in the Chihuahuan desert in general, and in the Cuatro Ciénegas Basin in particular, has long been recognized as outstanding. This book provides a global ecological overview, together with in-depth studies of specific processes. The Chihuahuan desert is the warmest in North America, and has a complex geologic, climatic and biogeographical history, which affects todays distribution of vegetation and plants and generates complex phylogeographic patterns. The high number of endemic species reflects this complex set of traits. The modern distribution of environments, including aquatic and subaquatic systems, riparian environments, gypsum dunes and gypsum-rich soils, low levels of phosphorous and organic matter, and high salinity combined with an extreme climate call for a range of adaptations. Plants are distributed in a patchy pattern based on punctual variations, and many of them respond to different resources and conditions with considerable morphological plasticity. In terms of physiological, morphological and ecological variability, cacti were identified as the most important group in specific environments like bajadas, characterized by high diversity values, while gypsophytes and gypsovagues of different phylogenies, including species with restricted distribution and endemics Notes Includes index Subject Plant diversity -- Chihuahuan Desert Plant ecology -- Chihuahuan Desert Plant ecology. Evolution. Conservation of the environment. Plant physiology. Botany & plant sciences. Science -- Life Sciences -- Ecology. Science -- Life Sciences -- Evolution. Nature -- Environmental Conservation & Protection. Science -- Life Sciences -- Botany. Plant diversity Plant ecology North America -- Chihuahuan Desert Form Electronic book Author Mandujano, Maria C., editor. Pisanty, Irene, editor. Eguiarte, Luis E. (Luis Enrique), editor. ISBN 9783030449636 3030449637

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