Cupressaceae

Juniperus jaliscana Martínez

Distributed in three States of northern Mexico here it is threatened by forest clearance for agriculture and farming, fire is also a threat

Distribution

Mexico: southern Durango, northwestern Jalisco, only known from two localities in Pueblo Nuevo, the Sierra Madre Occidental and Cuale in Jalisco.

Habitat and Ecology

The ecology of this species is not well known. Some specimens have been collected in goat pasture, with the grasses frequently burned, on steep, weathered granitic slopes, i.e. disturbed secondary vegetation. The altitudinal range is reported to be from 430 to 2670(?)m. The divergent altitudes of the two localities are remarkable; whereby it must be stated that the high altitude was reported for the locality that has not been relocated.

Conservation Status

Global status

Endangered B2b(ii,iii,v)

Global rationale

Known from two locations, which are ca. 250km apart. At the locality in Durango, no collections have been made since the 1940s; all other verified collections are from near Cuale, Jalisco, between 1944 and 1991. The AOO is based on these collections, using a grid width of 2km which is reasonable as the species apparently occurs along a few km of road between Cuale and Talpa de Allende, and possibly further from the road where collections are less likely to be made. A continuing decline is inferred from reports observing cutting and land clearing for pasture (Adams, 2011). This species therefore meets the criteria for Endangered under B2

Global threats

This species is only known from two localities, one of which, (the place in Durango where C. E. Blanco collected it), has not been found back recently nor traced on the map. Juniperus jaliscana occurs in grazed secondary vegetation as well as in woods (at the higher altitude in Durango). It is listed as Endangered even though it is likely that a thorough exploration of the relevant regions would turn out more individuals or even populations

Conservation Actions

This species has not been recorded from any protected area.

References and further reading

  1. Adams, R.P. (2011). Junipers of the World: The genus Juniperus. Trafford Publishing Co., Bloomington, Indiana.
  2. Farjon, A. (2005.) A Monograph of Cupressaceae and Sciadopitys. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  3. Farjon, A. (2013). Juniperus jaliscana. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 06 July 2013.
  4. McVaugh, R. (1992). Flora Novo-Galiciana. University of Michigan Herbarium, Ann Arbor, Michigan.