La vegetación de Calakmul, Campeche, México: clasificación, descripción y distribución

The Calakmul region, at the center of the Yucatan peninsula, contains the largest forested area of the Mexican tropics. Our objective is to provide the classification, description and spatial distribution of the plant communities of Calakmul region. In spite of the relatively lack of topographic features there is large spatial heterogeneity in the vegetation. Five plant associations are underlined because of their regional, national and world relevance: guayacán forest (Guaiacum sanctum), jobillo forest (Astronium graveolens), low deciduous forest, tall forest and mixed seasonally flooded forest. We discuss the main factors influencing the vegetation, including rainfall gradients, soil development, natural disturbances and anthropogenic factors. This study underscores the importance of using vegetation classification with enough detail to assess the representation and effectiveness of natural protected areas.