Los cafetales en México y su importancia para la conservación de los anfibios y reptiles.

Abstract

Coffee crops have been considered as a biodiversity refuge. In México, 180 species of amphibians and reptiles have been reported in this crop, 45 species are endemic. There are 75 species protected in México (NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2001), three are mentioned in CITES and just one in the UICN-2006 red list. Most of the herpetofauna is tropical, mostly associated with tropical rain forest. The endemic species are also associated with cloud forest, a habitat rich in endemism. In comparison to other vegetation types, coffee crop herpetofauna is similar to those in tropical rain forest and cloud forest, the later being the most used habitat to grow coffee. We support the hypothesis that coffee crops represent biodiversity refuges.