ABSTRACT

In Mexico, as in other countries, coastal urbanization and landscape changes are occurring at an unprecedented scale and rate, with potential negative impacts on local biodiversity. Nevertheless, studies of the impacts that such changes have on coastal dune vegetation are relatively scarce. In this study, we examined (a) the trends of urban sprawl and landscape changes along the coast of Veracruz for more than 20 years; (b) the impact of urban sprawl on plant species richness and plant functional groups; c) how landscape changes have affected plant diversity and community structure. Our results show an increasing urbanization along the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico, occurring at different rates, and being higher in locations closest to tourist areas. Plant species richness decreased with urban expansion while the proportion of plant functional types was altered. Inland species not tolerant to the beach-dune environment became more abundant in the most urbanized locations while the abundance of psammophytes decreased. Community structure (the dominant species) was modified with landscape changes. Our results are useful for an adaptive management strategy and will help develop sustainable beach management plans that should include the conservation of native and highly specialized species, such as psammophytes.

摘要

在墨西哥，与其他国家一样，沿海城市化和景观变化正在以前所未有的规模和速度发生，对当地生物多样性具有潜在的负面影响。然而，关于这种变化对沿海沙丘植被的影响的研究相对较少。在这项研究中，我们研究了 (a) 20 多年来韦拉克鲁斯沿岸城市扩张和景观变化的趋势；(b) 城市扩张对植物物种丰富度和植物功能群的影响；c) 景观变化如何影响植物多样性和群落结构。我们的研究结果表明，墨西哥湾沿岸的城市化程度不断提高，以不同的速度发生，并且在离旅游区最近的位置更高。植物物种丰富度随着城市扩张而下降，而植物功能类型的比例发生变化。在城市化程度最高的地区，不耐受海滩沙丘环境的内陆物种变得更加丰富，而沙生植物的丰度却下降了。群落结构（优势物种）随着景观的变化而改变。我们的结果对适应性管理策略很有用，并将有助于制定可持续的海滩管理计划，其中应包括保护本地和高度专业化的物种，如沙生植物。