Avian Diversity in the Arid and Semiarid Regions of Mexico

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The arid and semiarid areas of Mexico are complex natural systems influenced by the transitions between desert vegetation and other more humid, warmer, or higher-altitude environments. To describe the species richness and faunistic relationships in Mexican arid zones, we analyzed bird data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). These records document these ecosystems, spanning 12 orders and 43 families. Among these species, 158 are resident and 151 are migratory or transient species. The distribution of records and species richness helped identify information gaps and revealed that species richness is greater than that estimated by previous studies. Moreover, there was strong similarity (i.e., low species turnover) among the vegetation types, with no clear distinction among the chaparral, shrubland, and grassland bird communities. However, there were important differences when comparing records from polygons of the Important Bird Areas, revealing a clear distinction among the three regions. The first region corresponds to the northern half of the Baja California Peninsula and is distinguished mainly by species with restricted distributions. The second group includes systems in the southern half of the Baja California Peninsula, islands of the Gulf of California, and northwestern Mexico. The third comprises the environments of the Mexican Plateau and the Gulf of Mexico slope. This study highlights the importance of considering the complexity of interactions between vegetation and birds in the arid and semiarid regions of Mexico in the design of effective conservation strategies. It also identifies key areas for conservation in different regions of the country.