Native landscapes: The case of the Yucatán Península
Get to know with Marianela Rochas-Porraz about the diversity of landscapes and ecosystems in southern Mexico in Native Landscapes: The Case of the Yucatán Peninsula.
The term “native,” from the Latin natīvus, meaning belonging or related to the country or birthplace, refers to species that are originally from a particular region and have naturally evolved or migrated to that place. On the other hand, “endemic” species are those that are restricted to a specific geographic region and do not exist naturally anywhere else in the world. In this sense, native ecosystems host species that have adapted to a particular area over thousands of years, while ecosystems with endemic species reflect an even greater degree of evolutionary specificity and biogeographical isolation.
In the context of the Yucatán Peninsula, especially in the southeast, native landscapes are a reflection of complex ecological interactions between plant species, animals, and the environment, which have shaped a mosaic of rich and diverse ecosystems.
The Yucatán Peninsula, a region of Mexico that includes zones from the states of Quintana Roo, Campeche, and Yucatán. This border zone with Guatemala and Belize is an area of vital biological and cultural importance. The mentioned territory is home to a diversity of native ecosystems, including tropical jungles, wetlands, mangroves, and savannas, which host significant biodiversity.
One of the most representative ecosystems of this region is the evergreen tropical rainforest, a type of forest that remains green throughout the year thanks to abundant rainfall. This type of vegetation is characteristic of areas such as the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a site designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the tropical rainforest of southeastern Yucatán, numerous native species inhabit, including emblematic trees such as the chicozapote (Manilkara zapota), whose resin was used by the ancient Maya to produce chewing gum, and the red cedar (Cedrela odorata). In addition, these rainforests are also home to important wildlife species such as the jaguar (Panthera onca), the Central American tapir (Tapirus bairdii), and the ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata), which, although not endemic to the region, are essential for the balance of the ecosystems.
Jaguar (Panthera Onca)
Fotografía / Photography: Pixabay
In addition to the rainforests, the mangroves of the southeastern Yucatán Peninsula are key native ecosystems, primarily found in coastal areas and in the Bacalar Lagoon. These mangroves play a crucial role in protecting the coastlines from storms and in carbon capture. Among the most common mangrove species in this region are the red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) and the black mangrove (Avicennia germinans), whose submerged roots also serve as habitats for various aquatic species.
Laguna de Bacalar / Bacalar Lagoon
Fotografía / Photography: Mikhail Nilov
In this region, we also find the systems of aguadas and cenotes, characteristic formations of the peninsula due to its karstic structure. These water sources, many of them sacred to the Mayan culture, are home to native fish species such as the Yucatán blind catfish (Prietella phreatophila), which has developed special adaptations to survive in the darkness of the underground cenotes.
Aguas místicas del cenote Xcajum / Mistic waters of cenote Xcajum
Fotografía / Photography: Victor Galarza
Despite their ecological and cultural importance, the native landscapes of southeastern Mexico face various threats. Mass tourism development, the expansion of industrial agriculture, and illegal deforestation are some of the factors that have caused the fragmentation of these ecosystems and the loss of biodiversity. The impacts of climate change are also beginning to manifest in this region, affecting precipitation patterns and rising sea levels, which put coastal ecosystems and wetlands at risk.
In addition, the introduction of exotic species has disrupted the balance of native ecosystems. Species such as the lionfish (Pterois volitans), which has invaded the coral reefs of the region, have caused significant damage to native fish species due to their aggressive predation and the lack of natural control over their population.
Pez león / Lionfish
Fotografía / Photography: Pexels
The Yucatán Peninsula is home to a variety of native ecosystems that are essential not only for regional biodiversity but also for the well-being of human communities that depend on them. However, the increasing pressure on these ecosystems calls for urgent action to ensure their long-term conservation. Promoting sustainable management and respecting traditional ways of life are key components in preserving these native landscapes, maintaining their natural and cultural wealth for future generations.
Promoting sustainable management and respecting traditional ways of life are key components in preserving these native landscapes.
“I come to speak with your dead mouth.
Through the earth, gather all
the silent lips scattered
and from the depths, speak to me all through this long night
as if I were anchored with you,
tell me everything, chain by chain,
link by link, and step by step,
sharpen the knives you kept,
place them in my chest and in my hand,
like a river of yellow lightning,
like a river of buried tigers,
and let me cry, hours, days, years,
blind ages, centuries of blind stars.”
Pablo Neruda (1950). Canto General.
Paisaje en Yucatán / Landscape in Yucatán
Fotografía / Photography: 23 Audiovisual
References
- Bailleul, F. (2021). Écologie et diversité des forêts tropicales du Yucatán. Paris: Éditions l’Harmattan.
- Estrada Lugo, E. I. (2019). Los paisajes nativos de Yucatán y su biodiversidad. Mérida: Editorial UADY.
- Neruda, P. (1950). Canto General. México: Talleres Gráficos de la Nación.
- Taylor, J. P., & Anderson, J. R. (2020). “Native landscapes of the Yucatán Peninsula: Ecological and Cultural Significance.” Journal of Tropical Ecology, 36(4), 345-358. doi:10.1017/S0266467419000409.
