Preface

We are pleased to present the book Recent Advances in Biotechnology: Arid and Semi-Arid Zones of Mexico: A Comprehensive Exploration of Biodiversity, Ecology, and Conservation. This book includes assorted topics focused on biodiversity assessments for distinct taxonomic groups, a proposal for the conservation of arid and semi-arid areas, and seed collection as a strategy for underpinning species conservation. Moreover, the conservation issues in these regions were discussed from the perspective of social participation. In addition, other chapters analyzed ecological processes such as the nursery and local effects of contamination in arid regions.

We have to mention that most of the contributors to this book analyzed a large study area in their respective chapters that included 18 Mexican states. Thus, our study area represented the four most relevant and recognized arid regions: the Baja Californian Desert, the Chihuahuan Desert, which included the interesting Queretaroan and Hidalgoan semideserts; the Sonoran Desert; and the southernmost Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley.

Across this large study area, Chapter 1 identified climatic heterogeneity, which was classified into 15 climatic domains; moreover, a latitudinal pattern of aridity that increased from central to northern territories was also described. Many chapters of this book base their analysis on these climatic classifications to describe and discuss their results.

This latitudinal aridity gradient is reflected in the fact that most of our study area was covered by vegetation; however, in areas with extreme aridity, vegetation is almost absent (i.e., deserts). Thus, the Mexican arid and semi-arid regions are covered by different types of vegetation (i.e., xeric scrublands, meadows, and prickle pears) adapted to scarce precipitation and high temperatures; however, in some areas in the northwestern territories (e.g., the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts), aridity is extreme and resembles the typical desert of the Sahara in Africa. This variation in aridity levels has caused some regions to be named “desert” and “semidesert” instead of arid or semi-arid regions; thus, this interchange of terms is common in the literature.

Lastly, the reader will find in these book chapters an assessment of the levels and distribution of diversity for different taxonomic groups. Most of these chapters have complementary results presented as appendices, which are also available at the following link: https://posgrado.iztacala.unam.mx/recent-advances-in-biotechnology-arid-and-semi-arid-zones-of-Mexico-a-comprehensive-exploration-of-biodiversity-ecology-and-conservation/?preview=true.