XVI International Botanical Congess

A spatial characterization and structural analysis of the ecotones located between the tropical dry forest and oak forests of the Sierra de La Laguna Biosphere Reserve in Baja California Sur, Mexico is presented. Landscape boundaries were studied combining field sampling methods and remote sensing techniques. Plots were selected along an altitudinal range within the eastern and western canyons of the mountainous range, while the overall ecotone distribution was analyzed through SPOT satellite images. Results show an asymmetrical distribution of the ecotone for these forest communities, defined by a diverse group of plant species which differ in their geographical location and structural traits.