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A phytogeographical comparison between subalpine forests of Guatemala and Costa Rica
Author(s) -
Islebe G. A.,
Kappelle M.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
feddes repertorium
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.24
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 1522-239X
pISSN - 0014-8962
DOI - 10.1002/fedr.19941050115
Subject(s) - holarctic , montane ecology , flora (microbiology) , temperate climate , ecology , geography , shrub , floristics , subalpine forest , temperate rainforest , biology , taxon , genus , genetics , bacteria , ecosystem
We conducted a comparative study on the phytogeographical similarities between the vascular generic floras of subalpine forests in Guatemala and Costa Rica. In total 178 vascular plant genera in 80 families were recorded in Central American subalpine forests, with 103 in Guatemala and 127 in Costa Rica. Woody genera account for less than 30% in subalpine Guatemala and over 50% in subalpine Costa Rica. The Guatemalan subalpine flora consists mainly of wide temperate, holarctic and neotropical herb genera, whereas the Costa Rican subalpine flora is principally made up of neotropical shrub and wide tropical tree genera, next to a small amount of wide temperate herb genera. Almost 30% of the 178 vascular genera are shared between both Central American subalpine floras, resulting in a Sørensen Coefficient of Community of 45%. The major part of the shared flora (57%) is temperate in distribution, the holarctic element being twice as important as the austral‐antarctic element. In conclusion, we state that since the formation of the Panamanian Isthmus plant migration from the holarctic region into subalpine Costa Rica dominated over migration from the austral‐antarctic region towards subalpine Guatemala.