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3 November 2021 COEFFICIENTS OF CONSERVATISM FOR THE FLORA OF THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE FLOODPLAIN
Jessica L. Stern, Brook D. Herman, Jeffrey W. Matthews
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Abstract

Coefficients of Conservatism (C-values) are used in Floristic Quality Assessment to evaluate the level of anthropogenic disturbance of a given natural area and exist for much of the United States; however, there is a gap in the southwestern United States. We aim to close this gap by establishing C-values for the flora of the Middle Rio Grande floodplain in New Mexico. We compiled a list of species found in the floodplain (n = 621), and two regional botanists assigned C-values on a scale from 0 to 10 (0 reserved for nonnative taxa and the least conservative native taxa, and 10 being the most conservative). We used correlation analysis to examine the relationship of C-values assigned between botanists as well as shared species between Colorado and New Mexico. There was a significant, but weak, positive correlation between C-values for the two states, highlighting ecoregional similarities and providing a basis of comparison for our C-values. Descriptive statistics indicate the range of C-values assigned are consistent with the disturbance history of the region.

Jessica L. Stern, Brook D. Herman, and Jeffrey W. Matthews "COEFFICIENTS OF CONSERVATISM FOR THE FLORA OF THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE FLOODPLAIN," The Southwestern Naturalist 65(2), 141-151, (3 November 2021). https://doi.org/10.1894/0038-4909-65.2.141
Received: 20 December 2019; Accepted: 22 July 2021; Published: 3 November 2021
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