Analysis of Priorities in the Study and Conservation of Vertebrates in the Rio Lerma Basin, State of Mexico, Mexico

Laboratory of Vertebrates, Department of Comparative Biology, Science Faculty, National Autonomous of Mexico, UNAM

Abstract: This paper updates and analyzes the information gathered in the field and bibliographically about the diversity of the terrestrial vertebrates, in different types of environments and habitats in the Lerma basin, State of Mexico. With this data we analyzed diverse attributes of each vertebrates: patterns in distribution, richness, endemism, and species at risk, by type of vegetation and habitat, using scores for each attribute, to obtained an index that allows to determine the degree of rarity-vulnerability, and with these and as a direct measure of the status of the faunistic community, an Habitat Conservation Value Index was obtained. 59 percent of the vertebrates of the state, are in the basin; 15.2 percent are very rare and vulnerable, with diverse requirements: Ambystoma lermaense, Pseudoeurycea leper, Micrathene whitneyi, Ridgwayia pinicola; Cratogeomys tylorhinus and Cryptotis alticola. The pine-oak forest was the richest in species, endemics and rare species. By sub-basin, is the southern and higher portion that resulted with a very rich wild fauna but has an elevated fragility value. This approach has to do with the generation of biological and ecological knowledge and life history of each vertebrate, especially those endemic, and very rare and vulnerable, in the Lerma, one of the most overpopulated and contaminated hydrological basin of Mexico.