''Quercus hirtifolia'' is a rare Mexican species of
oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ''L ...
. It has been found only in a small region of the southern
Sierra Madre Oriental in northern
Puebla and eastern
Hidalgo
Hidalgo may refer to:
People
* Hidalgo (nobility), members of the Spanish nobility
* Hidalgo (surname)
Places
Mexico
* Hidalgo (state), in central Mexico
* Hidalgo, Coahuila, a town in the north Mexican state of Coahuila
* Hidalgo, Nuevo LeĂ ...
states in east-central Mexico.
Encyclopedia of Life, distribution map
/ref>
Description
''Quercus hirtifolia'' is a large shrub or small tree, growing up to 7 meters, and rarely to 9 meters, in height.[
]
Range and habitat
''Quercus hirtifolia'' is native to the Sierra Madre Oriental, where it is found in small allopatric populations between 1600 and 2450 meters elevation. It inhabits humid oak-pine forests, cloud forests, and conifer forests.[
Its geographic range is small, with an estimated area of occupancy (AOO) of 128 km2 and an ]extent of occurrence
Extent may refer to:
Computing
* Extent (file systems), a contiguous region of computer storage medium reserved for a file
* Extent File System, a discontinued file system implementation named after the contiguous region
* Extent, a chunk of st ...
(EOO) of 3,700 km2.[
]
Conservation and threats
The species has a limited range, and its habitat is declining in area, extent, and quality. Its conservation status is Endangered
An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and in ...
.[
The principal threats are deforestation of its native habitat for conversion to livestock pasture and agriculture. It also faces threats from illegal logging. ]Climate change
In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to ...
is expected to reduce cloud forest habitat in the Sierra Madre Oriental but about 45% by 2080, which would further reduce suitable habitat for the tree.[
]
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q6324371
hirtifolia
Trees of Puebla
Flora of the Sierra Madre Oriental
Endemic oaks of Mexico
Plants described in 2004
Trees of Hidalgo (state)
Cloud forest flora of Mexico