ESTADO ACTUAL DE LA DENDROCRONOLOGÍA EN MÉXICO

Abstract

Mexico is one of the countries with higher biodiversity worldwide. However, dendrocronological studies have been poorly developed. More than 40 tree-ring chronologies·mainly from pines and Douglas-fir have been made in Mexico by foreign research institutions (The University of Arizona and The University of Arkansas). Many interesting climatological, ecological, and archeological problems could be addressed in Mexico with tree-ring data. Mexican tree-ring chronologies are particularly important due to their high sensitivity to climatic anomalies e.g., ENSO and the Mexican Monsoon which have great impact in the Mexican economy. A 600-year precipitation reconstruction from tree-rings suggests that Durango has been afflicted by three prolonged droughts occurred during the periods 1560-1570's, 1850-1860's, and 1950's. Two long tree-ring chronologies from Montezuma baldcypress or "ahuehuete" located at the Rio Sabinas, Tamaulipas and Rio Verde, San Luis Potosi have been recently accomplished. Montezuma baldcypress is widely distributed in the Valley of Mexico, land of important prehispanic civilizations. There is interest to expand tree-ring chronologies of Montezuma baldcypress in that region. Species from the genus Prosopis in dryland ecosystems and from Quercus, Cedrela, and Liquidambar in subtropical ecosystems may have potential for dendrochronological purposes.