MAIN VEGETATION TYPES

Conserved vegetation is mainly located in the southern part and in some elevations to the north; the main vegetation types are:

Pine-Oak forest

Located in the southern and southeastern parts of the area, in Michoacán and Jalisco, mainly on elevations -in this case, volcanoes. This vegetation type has two or three strata: overstory, midstory and understory. The most important stratum is the overstory, reaching characteristic heights of 15 to 25 m; dominant species belong to genus Pinus and Quercus. Tree crowns cover between 80% and 100% of the surface.

Pine-Oak forest, on top of hills in the district of Nahuatzen, Michoacán, September 27, 1999.

Oak forest

This kind of forest is more widely spread in the study area; found in the southern part and in some zones of the northern part. The southern forest is characterized by two or three strata: overstory, midstory and understory; overstory is the most important stratum, with heights ranging between 6 and 8 m. Dominant species belong to genus Quercus. Tree crowns "cover" 70% of the surface.

In the northern zone, the forest has a different physiognomy; it presents two strata -overstory and understory-, the most important being the overstory, with heights from 4 to 6 m. The dominant species belongs to genus Quercus. The canopy "covers" 50% of the surface.

Young oak forest slightly disturbed, in the district of Tzintzuntzan, Michoacán, September 27, 1999.

Open oak forest with heights ranging between 4 and 6 m, in the district of Jesús María, Jalisco, September 29, 1999.

Low tropical drought deciduous forest

The low tropical drought deciduous forest is located in the southeastern part, in Michoacán. This tropical forest is characterized by three strata: overstory, midstory and understory; the most important stratum is the overstory, with a height of 3 m. Dominant species belong to genus Bursera, Pithecellobium, Lysiloma and Lonchocarpus. The canopy covers 80% of the surface.

Low tropical drought deciduous forest in the district of Los Reyes, Michoacán, September 28, 1999.

Shrubland

Subtropical shrubland is widely spread in this zone, along with some pachycauluous shrubland. Subropical shrubland is characterized by two or three strata: overstory, midstory and understory; the most important stratum is the midstory, with heights ranging between 2 and 4 m. Dominant species belong to genus Acacia, Opuntia, Fouquieria, Prosopis and Mimosa. The canopy covers 60% of the surface.

Subtropical shrubland, heights between 3 and 4 m, 60% coverage, in the district of Zamora, Michoacán, September 29, 1999.

Shrubland with 3m-tall elements, in the district of Numarán, Michoacán, September 30, 1999.

Grassland

Grassland is dominant in the northern part of the zone. It features heights between 10 and 15 cm, one single stratum -understory- with a 100% coverage, closed horizontal disposition. Dominant species belong to Families Poaceae, Asteraceae and Cyperaceae.

Induced grassland in the district of Atotonilco el Alto, Jalisco, September 29, 1999.

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