Distribution of vegetation types

Abstract

This chapter presents an overview of the vegetation types of the Yucatán Peninsula. Mean annual precipitation, terrain and soil characteristics explain the large-scale distribution of forest types in the Yucatán Peninsula. Tropical (high) forest is found in areas with >800 mm of mean annual precipitation, while dry (low) tropical forest is distributed in areas with <800 mm of mean annual precipitation. Tropical forest has canopy heights of more than 30 m and mostly presents three well-defined vegetative strata. The distribution of tropical forest is mainly in the central, eastern and southern parts of the Yucatán Peninsula. Dry tropical forest has canopy heights up to 20 m, and is widely distributed in the Yucatán Peninsula in different successional stages. Other woody vegetation types include mangroves, petenes and pine savannas. Open vegetation types include coastal dunes, marsh, and savanna vegetation. Disturbed tropical and dry tropical forest of all successional stages covers more than 7.4 million ha at present, and requires detailed management plans to maintain future ecosystems benefits.