Bases para el conocimiento de los pisos bioclimáticos, la vegetación y la flora del occidente de Michoacán (México)

Abstract

This doctoral investigation adress the study and geobotanical categorise of vegetation of western Michoacan applying the phytosociological methodology. To this purpose it affects the phytocenotic diversity expressed in different types of forests, their spatial distribution according to bioclimatic model and its floristic composition obtained from over 200 phytosociological field inventories. The complexity and heterogeneity of the results allowed to compare whole communities at the level of structure, floristic composition, ecological affinities, distribution and bioclimatic preferences. Thus the diagnostic species characteristic of each association, its preferred environments, their geographical jurisdiction and where are its bioclimatic distribution were selected. Broadly speaking, the differences allowed the segregation of two groups: the first integrated 12 communities what, generically, is known in the country as Temperate forest; the second brings together nine communities which are related to the concept of Tropical Forest. This discrimination highlights the importance and determination that has the index thermicityin the altitudinal limits of vegetation units.