Reassessment of the extinction risk status of the ponytail palm Beaucarnea inermis

Authors

  • José Arturo De-Nova Universidad Autónoma de San Luís Potosí, Instituto de Investigación de Zonas Desérticas, Altaír, 200, Col. del Llano https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1989-1355
  • Gabriel Rubio-Méndez Universidad Autónoma de San Luís Potosí, Programas Multidisciplinarios de Posgrado en Ciencias Ambientales
  • Hugo Alberto Castillo-Gómez Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales
  • Luis Hernández-Sandoval Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales
  • Pablo Delgado-Sánchez Universidad Autónoma de San Luís Potosí, Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria
  • Guillermo Espinosa-Reyes Universidad Autónoma de San Luís Potosí, Facultad de Medicina, Coordinación para la Innovación y Aplicación de la Ciencia y la Tecnología
  • Francisco Javier Sahagún-Sánchez Universidad de Guadalajara, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Económico Administrativas, Departamento de Políticas Públicas, Periférico Norte, 799, Núcleo Universitario Los Belenes
  • Arturo Mora-Olivo Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Instituto de Ecología Aplicada, División del Golfo, 356, Col. Libertad
  • Ricardo González Trujillo Universidad Autónoma de San Luís Potosí, Instituto de Investigación de Zonas Desérticas, Altaír, 200, Col. del Llano

Abstract

Abstract Beaucarnea inermis is an endemic species from Northeast Mexico, in the states of San Luis Potosí and Tamaulipas. It is appreciated as an ornamental plant, so its populations are subject to the poaching of individuals for illegal trade. Previous studies determined that their populations have been affected due to the disturbance since the incidence of anthropogenic activities affects the viability of the species. Here we determine the current conservation status of B. inermis and identify their main risk factor by performing an extinction risk assessment based on the Annex II “Method for Evaluation of Risk of Extinction of Plants in Mexico”. We studied 10 populations of B. inermis from protected and non-protected areas in San Luis Potosí and Tamaulipas. We considered the MER criteria: A) geographical distribution characteristics, B) habitat characteristics, C) intrinsic biological vulnerability, and D) impact of human activity. Using field and analyzed data, the MER assessment gives 1.91 points that confirm B. inermis is correctly classified as an Endangered species. The natural protected areas where the species occurs represent cores for its protection; however, the surface of these areas may not be sufficient without biological corridors that connect them.

Downloads

Published

2023-01-01

How to Cite

De-Nova, J. A., Rubio-Méndez, G., Castillo-Gómez, H. A., Hernández-Sandoval, L., Delgado-Sánchez, P., Espinosa-Reyes, G., Sahagún-Sánchez, F. J., Mora-Olivo, A., & Trujillo, R. G. (2023). Reassessment of the extinction risk status of the ponytail palm Beaucarnea inermis. Biota Neotropica, 23(4). Retrieved from //www.biotaneotropica.org.br/BN/article/view/2017

Issue

Section

Articles

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Loading...