Miguel Angel Perez Farrera

Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas (UNICACH), Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas · Herbario Eizi Matuda

Speculations on hybridization among wild cycads are abundant, but empirical evidence of hybridization in cycad evolution is almost non-existent and the evolutionary consequences of hybridization in cycads have not been discussed. Previously, Zamia katzeriana was hypothesized to have a hybrid origin between two sympatric species: Z. splendens and Z....

The cycad Ceratozamia latifolia was first described by Miquel in 1847 based on plant of unknown provenance cultivated in Hortus Botanicus in Amsterdam which was obtained from Belgium, and for which no type specimen was collected or preserved. The description was based on a juvenile plant, lacked a detailed explanation of the species’ characteristic...

Anthurium hentrichianum Díaz Jim., Pérez‐Farr. & Croat a new species belonging to A. section Andiphilum (Schott) Croat from the Sierra de Juarez, north of Oaxaca, Mexico is described and illustrated. This new species is characterized by its large size (up to 80 cm long), broadly sulcate petioles with acute margins, long geniculum (2.0–3.5 cm long)...

Palms (Arecaceae) represent a challenge for studies of morphological variation for several various reasons. For instance, the height of many species makes them difficult to collect, and in some cases, the size of the leaves or the presence of spines make them hard to process and preserve in herbaria. Arecaceae is one of the most diverse families of...

A survey of a sample eight new and ten old world cycad species was conducted on stem tissue starch grains. The objective of the study was to determine if starch grain morphology traits such as size and shape are useful for species identification. Stem tissue was extracted during the spring of 2018. Extraction was done by means of a cork borer of 7m...

In Mexico, the mostly neotropical genus Spathiphyllum is represented by twelve species, including only one species for the state of Tabasco. A detailed review of herbarium specimens, and material collected and cultivated from different locations in Tabasco, allowed us to conclude that S. cochlearispathum does not occur in Tabasco, and that specimen...

Although vanilla is one of the most valuable spices, there is a lack of understanding of the genomic variability of the main vanilla producing species, Vanilla planifolia, within its cultivated origin, Mexico. High genomic heterozygosity levels within the globally cultivated ‘Daphna’ genome have raised questions on the possibility of a hybrid origi...

Ceratozamia schiblii (Zamiaceae), a new species endemic to the highlands of eastern Oaxaca, Mexico, is described. The new species is part of the C. robusta species complex, which is a group of closely related species with very similar morphology. Among them, the new species can be distinguished by its brown leaflets in emerging leaves, a very long...

Premise: Although vanilla is one of the best-known spices, there is only a limited understanding of its biology and genetics within Mexico, where its cultivation originated and where phenotypic variability is high. This study aims to augment our understanding of vanilla's genetic resources by assessing species delimitation and genetic, geographic,...

As a result of human activities causing changes to their environments, many species are facing an increased risk of extinction. In order to determine such changes and their effects on species assemblages, rapid stream assessment techniques of environmental analysis and monitoring can be used. We determined the Habitat Integrity Index (HII) and its...

Anthurium tacotalpense a new species of genus Anthurium sect. Andiphilum from Tabasco, Mexico is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically similar to Anthurium cerrobaulense but it differs from that species in having adaxially flattened petioles, spadix up to twice as long and immature berries green, orange when mature.

The beetle genus Pharaxonotha Reitter (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Pharaxonothinae) is found in the cones of cycad genera in the New World, including species of Dioon Lindl., Ceratozamia Brongn., Microcycas (Miq.) A.DC and Zamia L. In this paper nine new species found in Dioon are described by Skelley, Tang and Pérez-Farrera: Pharaxonotha bicolor, P. d...

As a result of human activities causing changes to their environments, many species are facing an increased risk of extinction. In order to determine such changes and their effects on species assemblages, rapid stream assessment techniques of environmental analysis and monitoring can be used. We determined the Habitat Integrity Index (HII) and its...

As a result of human activities causing changes to their environments, many species are facing an increased risk of extinction. In order to determine such changes and their effects on species assemblages, rapid stream assessment techniques of environmental analysis and monitoring can be used. We determined the Habitat Integrity Index (HII) and its...

Anthurium mittermeieri Díaz Jim., M.Cedeño & Pérez-Farr., a new species with red berries from southeastern Chiapas, Mexico, is described and illustrated. It is a member of section Andiphilum and is morphologically similar to A. cordatotriangulum Matuda, a species that is distributed in the same area, but differs from that species in having longer a...

Anthurium mittermeieri Díaz Jim., M.Cedeño & Pérez-Farr., a new species with red berries from southeastern Chiapas, Mexico, is described and illustrated. It is a member of section Andiphilum and is morphologically similar to A. cordatotriangulum Matuda, a species that is distributed in the same area, but differs from that species in having longer a...

The cycad genus Dioon comprises 17 species from Mexico and Honduras, all of them delimited based on their morphological variation and geographic distribution. A recent evaluation of the biological variation among Dioon populations from Oaxaca and Chiapas, Mexico, demonstrated that the concept of the species Dioon merolae actually consists of three...

Clusia falcata (Clusiaceae), a new species from Chiapas, Mexico, is described and illustrated. This new taxon is distinctive for its leaves, among the narrowest of all known species, having lanceolate to oblong laminas that are mostly 10 – 15 × 2 – 2.5 cm. The flowers have a quadrangular perianth with succulent petals, and a non-resiniferous androe...

Ceratozamia dominguezii (Zamiaceae), a new species endemic to the lowland karstic tropical rainforests of southeastern Veracruz, Mexico, is described. The new species is part of the C. robusta species complex, a group of closely related species that share unique characteristics in the genus, such as robust trunks, large strobili, and long leaves. C...

Chamaedorea tacanensis (Arecaceae), a new species from the Tacaná Volcano Biosphere Reserve, Chiapas, Mexico, is described based on morphological and phylogenetic data. It is morphologically similar to C. elatior, the only other climbing species in the genus. However, C. tacanensis is distinguished by having linear pinnae (lanceolate in C. elatior)...

The genus Spathiphyllum is represented in Mexico by 11 species, four of which are registered for the state of Veracruz. As a result of the revision of material collected in Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, in addition to a detailed review of herbarium specimens, and comparison to individuals collected at and the type locality of Spathiphyllum cochlearispathu...

Ceratozamia aurantiaca, a new cycad species from Oaxaca, Mexico, is described. The new species is endemic to lowland karst tropical rainforests of the northern mountains (Sierra Norte region). This species is related to C. subroseophylla and C. robusta, together considered part of the C. robusta species complex due to their shared characteristics:...

The taxonomic classification within the Neotropical cycad genus Ceratozamia (Zamiaceae) has been a challenging task because cohorts of morphological variation in association with conspicuous geographic discontinuities that delimit species are not always easy to observe. Ceratozamia robusta is one example. Although previous studies have suggested th...

Latitude is correlated with environmental components that determine the distribution of biodiversity. In combination with geographic factors, latitude-associated environmental variables are expected to influence speciation, but empirical evidence on how those factors interplay is scarce. We evaluated the genetic and environmental variation among po...

Aiming to promote in-situ conservation and ecosystem recovery, we provided new data on Magnolia montebelloensis, a brief description of the species, how it was discovered, progress on conservation action and we determined habitat suitability. https://www.magnoliamexico2019.org/WMA_4_3

Tropical deciduous forest is highly threatened and transformed by agricultural activities in Chiapas; however, little is known about its successional dynamics and regeneration potential. The objective of this research was to evaluate the regenerative capacity of secondary forests through changes in richness, diversity, composition, and structure in...

El bosque tropical caducifolio está altamente amenazado y transformado a causa de las actividades agrícolas en Chiapas; sin embargo, se conoce poco acerca de su dinámica sucesional y potencial de regeneración. El objetivo de la investigación fue evaluar la capacidad regenerativa de los bosques secundarios a través de los cambios en la riqueza, dive...

Dioon oaxacensis sp. nov. (Zamiaceae), a new cycad species from Oaxaca, Mexico, is described. The morphological traits of the new taxon are compared with its sister species, D. merolae. The species delimitation between the two species is consistent with previously published genetic evidence. Dioon oaxacensis can be easily identified by its flat, st...

Anthurium is represented in Mexico by 57 taxa (47 species and 10 infraspecific taxa), seven of which are endemic to the state of Oaxaca. During fieldwork in 2019 in the Ejido La Luz, Ixtlán de Juárez, Oaxaca, we discovered two undescribed terrestrial species belonging to Anthurium sect. Andiphilum from Mexico. Anthurium ixtlanense and A. luzense, a...

Niche conservatism is the tendency of lineages to retain the same niche of their ancestors. It constrains biological groups and prevents ecological divergence. However, theory predicts that niche conservatism can hinder gene flow, strengthen drift and increase local adaptation: does it mean that it also can facilitate speciation? Why does this happ...

Background: Some regions of Mexico have been relatively well explored floristically and estimates of the vascular plant richness they contain have been obtained. However, there are still regions that require effort to obtain the most appropriate lists of flora possible that consider both systemization of the information and that benefit from recent...

The biogeographical history of Mesoamerican cloud forests is complex, encompassing a diverse and heterogeneous mixture of species with temperate and tropical origins. The dynamic geological landscape and climate changes from the Miocene to the Pleistocene affected the distributions and composition of cloud forests in the region, and contributed to...

Se estudió la estructura y composición de la vegetación arbórea en las condiciones ambientales (CA) de Arroyo, Cañada y Loma. Se establecieron tres unidades de muestreo (UM) de 20 x 30 m en cada CA, donde se midió diámetro normal (DN), altura total y diámetros de copa de fustales (DN ≥ 2.5 cm). Para latizales (DN < 2.5 cm y altura ≥ 1.3 m) y brinza...

Resumen: Se evaluó la diversidad y la distribución vertical de las bromelias epífitas en un gradiente sucesional de un bosque de niebla en la Reserva de la Biosfera El Triunfo. Se delimitaron cinco parcelas de 0.05 ha en dos rodales con distinto periodo de recuperación y en un bosque conservado. Se contaron las bromeliáceas en 251 árboles hospedero...

Demographic models based on projection matrices can infer the effect of disturbance on natural cycad populations by human activities. However, owing to the longevity of plants, it is difficult to determine long-term population dynamics. Fortunately, today, several population studies have allowed us to determine the overall effects of disturbance on...

Ceratophila new genus (Erotylidae: Pharaxonothinae) inhabiting male cones of the Mesoamerican cycad genus Ceratozamia Brongniart (Zamiaceae) is described for seven new species and compared to other genera of the Pharaxonothinae. Ceratophila differs from other genera of the Pharaxonothinae in many characters, most notable of which are: lateral prono...

Antecedentes y Objetivos En las últimas décadas, se han incrementado los estudios florísticos en las selvas secas, en donde reportan que este tipo de vegetación alberga una alta riqueza y endemismo, siendo a la vez uno de los más amenazados por el cambio de uso de suelo. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo dar a conocer un nuevo registro del género Ch...

Cycads are considered to be the most threatened plant group on Earth. Thus, the identification of important biological units for conservation is crucial for their management and protection. Taxonomic studies have enormously contributed to cycad conservation, since species descriptions formally recognize biodiversity components that can be considere...

The cycad genus Dioon (Zamiaceae) was described by J. Lindley in the 19th century, but most species were discovered during the late 1970s through the mid-1980s. Despite recent efforts to clarify the actual species diversity within the genus, the definition of some species is still problematic. The northernmost populations of the cycad genus Dioon i...

Abstract Demographic models based on projection matrices can infer the effect of disturbance on natural cycad populations by human activities. However, owing to the longevity of plants, it is difficult to determine long-term population dynamics. Fortunately, today, several population studies have allowed us to determine the overall effects of distu...

Two major lineages of beetles inhabit cycad cones in the New World: weevils (Curculionoidea) in the subtribe Allocorynina, including the genera Notorhopalotria Tang and O’Brien, Parallocorynus Voss, Protocorynus O’Brien and Tang and Rhopalotria Chevrolat, and beetles in the family Erotylidae, including the genus Pharaxonotha Reitter. Analysis of th...

Telipogon is a Neotropical genus with approximately 200 species, the majority of which are epiphytes and are distributed in South America; Mexico is the northernmost area of distribution with only two recorded species. Here we describe a third species, Telipogon corticatus, collected in cloud forests of eastern Mexico, in Veracruz. It is a species...

Background and aims: Biogeographic transition zones are promising areas to study processes of biogeographic evolution and its influence on biological groups. The Mexican transition zone originated due to the overlap of Nearctic and Neotropical biota, which promoted great biological diversification. However, since most previous studies in this area...

Anatomical descriptions can be effective for solving systematic issues, but these studies are relatively scarce for cycads. Therefore, we present here a leaflet and cuticle anatomical study on the genus Dioon, to provide a set of epidermal traits that clarify species delimitation and relationships between species and their habitats. We used standar...

Background and aims: Aridification is considered a selective pressure that might have influenced plant diversification. It is suggested that plants adapted to aridity diversified during the Miocene, an epoch of global aridification (≈15 million years ago). However, evidence supporting diversification being a direct response to aridity is scarce, a...

Resumen La riqueza de especies arbóreas (S) frecuentemente ha sido estimada con inventarios sistemáticos. De manera reciente, la disponibilidad en línea de datos de herbario ha permitido otras aproximaciones. ¿Qué tan comparables son estas estimaciones de S? Ajustamos modelos lineales generalizados (GLM) a estimaciones con ambos tipos de datos en 3...

A new species of Magnolia, from the Lagunas de Montebello National Park, in the central highlands of Chiapas, Mexico, is described and illustrated. Magnolia montebelloensis belongs to section Magnolia; it differs from M. poasana in its smaller habit, densely pubescent terminal twig internodes, stipules and spathaceous bracts, shorter peduncular int...

Dioon merolae De Luca, Sabato et Vázq.Torres, a cycad species from Chiapas known locally as espadaña, plays a very important role during the Santa Cruz festival of May 3rd amongst the community of Suchiapa in the Central Depression of Chiapas. Its leaves are used to adorn altars during this religious Catholic festival every May. It appears to be a...

Cycad Aulacaspis Scale (Hemiptera: Diaspididae: Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi, 1977), which is native to Southeast Asia, is a devastating pest of some species of cycads in areas where it is invasive. In September 2016, it was reported to be present in Chiapas in southern Mexico, a country with 60 native cycad species, most of which are endemic and e...

The Ceratozamia norstogii complex from Southern Mexico is made up of four closely related taxa and occurs in similar habitats (Quercus forest). All have linear-lanceolate leaflets with great similarity between them, especially in juvenile stages, but differentiate with age. There has been debate regarding delimitation of species due to character lo...

Based on phylogenetic and morphological evidence, Tridimeris chiapensis Escobar-Castellanos & Ortiz-Rodr., sp. n. (Annonaceae), a new species from the karst forest of southern Mexico, is described and illustrated. The new species differs from Tridimeris hahniana, the only described species in the genus, in that the latter has flowers with sepals de...

Figure S4. The 50% majority-rule consensus tree from the Bayesian analysis of trnLF spacer

Figure S1. The 50% majority-rule consensus tree from the Bayesian analysis of rbcL coding region

Figure S3. The 50% majority-rule consensus tree from the Bayesian analysis of ycf1 coding region