The Human Footprint in Mexico: Physical Geography and Historical Legacies

摘要: Using publicly available data on land use and transportation corridors we calculated the human footprint index for whole of Mexico to identify large-scale spatial patterns in anthropogenic transformation surface. We developed a map country identified ecological regions that have most transformed by action. Additionally, analyzed extent which (a) physical geography, expressed spatially form biomes ecoregions, compared (b) historical as distribution past settlements, driven modification land. Overall still has 56% its surface with low impact from activities, but these areas are not evenly distributed. The lowest values arid north northwest, tropical southeast, while highest run along coast Gulf there inland an east-to-west corridor follows Mexican transversal volcanic ranges associated upland plateau. low- high within ecoregions forms complex mosaic: generally well-conserved deserts some highly agro-industrial areas, many well-conserved, persist highly-transformed central Mexico. conclude spread is both result limitations imposed geography development at biome level, and, different biomes, history civilizations technologies, including 20th Century demographic explosion also pattern ancient settlements were occupied Spanish Colony.