Villa Maya

Site Description 

On the surroundings of Villa Maya different types of sites can be found during a short walk, it is possible to encounter many variations in temperature, humidity, soil and vegetation. Following, special characteristics can be found:

• Introduction
• Pre-Hispanic walls or “Pet Kots”.
• Villa Maya Trails.
• A small freshwater cenote.
• Medium tropical dry forest.
• Low tropical dry forest.
• Seasonally flooded areas with epiphytes.
• Area with high palm density.
• Mangroves.
• Coastal dune.
• Mammals occurring in Cozumel
• Birds of Cozumel
• Herpetofauna occurring in Cozumel.

Introduction

The macro-relief of the ground in the zone where the reserve properties are located is essentially flat with several undulations. The slope of the land is between 1-5 meters. The soil layer is very thin, no more than 5 cm in depth. Underneath the soil lies a layer of limestone with fossils of mollusks and corals. 

The highest trees reach 26 m, the bushes 2–10m, and the herbaceous layer less than 2m. The composition of species varies in different zones of the reserve. This variety is most noticeable in the low, flooded areas where epiphytes like bromeliads, orchids and cacti, as well as palm trees and vines can be seen.

The areas around Villa Maya encompass areas of vegetation, which are in different degrees of succession. This was occasioned by human activities such as the production of carbon (charcoal), the cultivation of Milpa, which is the traditional agriculture (poly-cultivation of corn-pumpkins-beans, etc.).

Different vegetation and soil zones are found in the same region. Part of the objective of the reserve is a better understanding and knowledge of the habitats; thus, paths within the reserve were designed in order to transect the different vegetation zones.

Pet kots

According to the Maya Dictionary of Barrera-Vázquez (1980) the meaning of “pet” is round or circular, of “kot” a wall of loose stones (plural: “pet kotoob”). They demarcate either a round or square area of sizes ranging up to 24,000 sq m. The stone wall is made of dry laid limestone and its height ranges from 40 - 120cm.

Identified flora enclosed by pet kots includes a remarkable presence of the well-known group of useful tree and plant species that Mayans (past and present) grow in their backyard gardens and which frequently are dominant of “climax” vegetation in the more humid areas of the Maya region. Specific plants and trees were used as medicine, food, and for the construction of houses. Worth mentioning are the tropical fruit species of Annona, Brosimum, Casimiroa, Leucaena, Pithcellobium, Spondias and Thalisia, and many other useful species such as Bursera simaruba, Malmea depressa, Sabal yapa, S mayarum, Sapindus saponaria, Vitex gaumeri, plus several others with well known uses.

Pet kots are believed to be walls that hold artificial forest gardens constructed with “wild” species coming from the local forests or from distant and more humid forests of the Maya region. A major difference with the technique of slash and burn is the absence of annual cultivated plants. Another important difference is the presence in the “pet kotoob” of many species of wild vines, herbs, shrubs and epiphytes which show no evidence of having been introduced.

It seems that pet kots were specifically used as a collection site of useful tree and plant species; the rest was up to nature to lead the way (competition, mortality, new arrivals, regeneration, etc.)

Archeologists believe these walls were also used as a means of orientation in the tropical forests. In dense jungle natural navigation via stars and the sun is not always possible; therefore, the walls became a permanent reference system which allowed future generations to orient themselves in the thick forest.

Another function the walls probably had, was to establish boundaries between the communities of extended families.

Pet kots are still used by rural inhabitants today. On the Yucatan peninsula, limestone walls are being used as pens to enclose domesticated animals such as pigs or chickens.

It is clear that trees and multipurpose forests were an indispensable part of the subsistence systems of many ancient societies, as were also the usual edible crops. It is also clear that these small patches of man-made rainforests based on useful local species are an appealing additional alternative for modern reforestation and biological conservation projects in the tropics. These artificial forests are the only ones that people in these areas now plant by their own will.

Villa Maya Trails

The routes and different paths are designed in three different levels: Primary route, secondary routes, and auxiliary routes. The signs for each route, in accordance with ancient Mayan numerology, have been marked with a series of dots. The primary route is in blue. South East of the reserve, there is a rectangular in shape and encompasses a perimeter and indicates the relative position of each side (W), (S), (E), (N). The signs and trails are blue in color and placed along the route (•).

There are three secondary routes. Secondary routes are marked in orange (••), (•••), (••••). And they follow the pre - hispanic walls in some cases.

The auxiliary routes are marked in yellow (•),(••),(•••), linking either primary to secondary, or secondary to secondary routes.  Ease way to walk through the jungle.

Medium tropical dry forest

This area of the reserve has its location at the entrance of the property, where the cabañas are, this is at the north west in the most elevated ground. And has an undulating profile. At this location a total of 220 different plant species have been registered. The vegetation has a height of 8–14m. The most frequent and abundant species that is distributed in this area is Sabal mayarum or Bursera simaruba. Epiphytes are not found in this area and there is a low density of bushes and vines.

 Genus Bursera simaruba 

Medium tropical dry forest vegetation:

F = Fodder for animals; M = Timber-yielding; Mel = Honey-yielding; T = Dye; C = Construction; O = Ornamental; L = Firewood; Co = Edible; S = Sacred, (magical or religious); Me = Medicinal; Tr = Food or drink container.

Secondary vegetation

South of the cabañas, secondary vegetation of only ten years old, is in the process of regeneration. Here, milpa was grown after Hurricane Gilbert (Sept. 19, 1989). The vegetation has a height of 3–6 m. Commonly found species are: Senna racemosa, Piscidia piscipula, Swartzia cubensis and vines of the genus Serjania sp.

Following the cleared path to the east, the land slopes between 4–5m downward over a length of 100 meters. The vegetation association is a low forest with flooded areas, essentially without epiphytes, except for the occasional individual of the genus Eugenia sp. which has adapted to the salty environment. This zone ends at arrival to the primary route •W. Genus Eugenia sp. :

http://www.medicinatradicionalmexicana.unam.mx/

West

The first thirty meters of this route flood slightly during the main rainy season. The low tropical forest has a height between 8–9m. Some epiphytes are found in the top of a Ficus tecolutensis. There are orchids (Oncidium carthagenense) and ferns. Individuals of the orchid-specie Catasetum integerrimum grow on the ground, just as individuals of Psidium sartorianum. The most common species found in this route are: Gliricidia sepium, Vitex gaumeri, Malpighia rosea, Malpighia glabra, Manilkara zapota, Coccoloba acapulcensis, and some individuals of wild pineapple, which has edible fruit.

South

The height of general trees along the •S route are between 9–12m. Fan palms are well represented. The most frequent species aside from fan palms are: Manilkara zapota, Vitex gaumeri, Coccoloba acapulcensis, Piscidia piscipula, Cnidoscolus aconitifolius, Lysiloma latisiliquum, Metopium brownei, Gymnopodium floribundum, Samyda yucatanensis, Thevetia gaumeri and individuals of the family Rubiaceae. The vegetation in the central part of the route is dense with many bushes and vines. Many members of the bromeliad family including Bromelia pinguin and Aechmea bracteata, grow on the tree called Gymnopodium floribundum. There are only a few small flooded areas. Wild guavas are dispersed throughout.

East

In general the vegetation is not dense. The most common species are: Lysiloma latisiliquum, Metopium brownei, Coccoloba acapulcensis, Manilkara zapota, Vitex gaumeri, Ficus tecolutensis and Cordia dodecandra. There are two seasonally flooded areas. The first one is encountered at the entrance of route  •••• Orange, the second at the end of route ·E. Various Thillandsia bromeliads can be seen.
The highest trees can be found in the middle part of the route; they reach a height of 8–10m. The species encountered here are: Jatropha gaumeri, Gymnopodium floribundum, Thouinia paucidentata, Thevetia gaumeri, and Malpighia glabra.
In the final part line of sight is approximately 10 to 15m. There is a representative of climbing cactus specie. Seasonally flooded areas with epiphytes
although there are other areas that seasonally flood and contain epiphytes, bromeliads and orchids are more concentrated at the sites discussed here. Similar to the rest of the flooded areas found in the reserve, here ground is stony and vegetation sparse.

Majority of Cozumel’s vegetation is characterized by medium and low tropical dry forest.

Life zones of tropical dry forest are defined as frost-free areas where the mean annual temperature is above 17°C; mean annual rainfall ranges from 250-2,000mm, and the annual ratio of potential evapo-transpiration to precipitation exceeds unity.

The low tropical dry forests on the island are distributed between the mangrove areas and medium tropical dry forests. Their distribution areas are very narrow and are represented along the east side of the island. The compositions of the species are very similar to that of the medium tropical dry forests. They are not as high, however.

Medium tropical dry forests occupy most of Cozumel Island. This large area is composed of three different layers of plants: trees, bushes and herbs.

Most common are: Manilkara zapota, Vitex gaumeri, Lysiloma latisiliquum, Bursera simaruba, Piscidia piscipula, Metopium brownei, Plumeria obtusa, Gymnopodium floribundum, Randiaaculeata, Sabal mayarum, Coccothrinax readii and Thevetia gaumeri. Abundant are vines, and epiphytes such as Ryncholaelia digbyana, Tillandsia fasciculata, Tillandsia streptophylla, Catasetum integerrimum, Brassavola nodosa, Myrmecophila tibicinis and Encyclia belizensis.

Cenote

After continuing on •W, one comes to the (fresh-water) cenote area. A cenote is a natural karst sinkhole with water at the bottom. The cenote is 6m wide and 10m long and creates a humid environment. Surrounded by the tropical dry forest, the cenote is edged by many ferns, palm trees, fungus, cacti as well as other species found in humid sites. The cenote itself is home to fish, turtles and other aquatic creatures. Different types of birds can be observed as they visit the cenote in search of water.

Cenote Vegetation:

F = Fodder for animals; M = Timber-yielding; Mel = Honey-yielding; T = Dye; C = Construction; O = Ornamental; L = Firewood; Co = Edible; S = Sacred (magical or religious); Me = Medicinal; Tr = Food or drink container.

Bromeliads

The bromeliad zone is located on the •••• Orange route. Bromeliads such as Tillandsia fasciculata and Tillandsia streptophilla prevail over orchids. Again, the terrain is rocky, of a boggy nature, and often floods to a depth of 10 to 30cm. The vegetation is not dense, with the trees distributed in a uniform manner and a height of 4 to 6m. The distance of horizontal vision is approximately 50m. The species seen in this area are: Malpighia rosea which is abundant and Plumeria obtusa which is not so commonly found, and an individual of the Erythrina standleyana and Randia longiloba.

Bromeliad area vegetation:

F = Fodder for animals; M = Timber-yielding; Mel = Honey-yielding; T = Dye; C = Construction; O = Ornamental; L = Firewood; Co = Edible; S = Sacred (magical or religious); Me = Medicinal; Tr = Food or drink container.

Orchids

Located along the •N route are several flooded areas of various sizes, depending on the amount of rainfall (4 to 6m in diameter). There is a total of 32 species registered in this area Common species are: Manilkara zapota, Vitex gaumeri, Rhacoma crosopetalum, Coccoloba acapulcensis, Plumeria obtusa, with a height of 5 to 9 m, and individuals of the families Myrtaceae and Rubiaceae. Notable is the larger quantity of especially orchids, but also bromeliads, in this area, which points out there is a bigger humidity compared to other sites in Villa Maya. A specific detail is that the specie Crescentia cujete is only distributed in this zone of the reserve. Coccothrinax readii is present in this site, it has a large dispersion range in the reserve. Observed species of epiphytes are the bromeliads Tillandsia fasciculata, Tillandsia streptophylla (on the tree Erythroxylum confusum), and the orchids Brassavola nodosa, Myrmecophila Tibicinis, Catasetum integerrimum, Encyclia belizensis and Ryncholaelia digbyana. The cactus-specie Selenicereus hondurensis is seen too. Ferns are found on rocks.

Orchid area vegetation:

F = Fodder for animals; M = Timber-yielding; Mel = Honey-yielding; T = Dye; C = Construction; O = Ornamental; L = Firewood; Co = Edible; S = Sacred (magical or religious); Me = Medicinal; Tr = Food or drink container

Palms

Due to humidity and nature of the soil, Coccothrinax readii is well represented along the biggest part of •S, and in the south of •• orange and ••• orange. Vegetation is of medium height (up to 11m) and dense. Palms are between 50cm and 6m in height and between 3-8 and 30-50 years old. The most frequent species aside Coccothrinax readii are: Gymnopodium floribundum, Randia longiloba,, Vitex gaumeri, Piscidia piscipula, and Metopium brownei. Various specimen of Bromelia pinguin are seen.

Palm area vegetation:

F = Fodder for animals; M = Timber-yielding; Mel = Honey-yielding; T = Dye; C = Construction; O = Ornamental; L = Firewood; Co = Edible; S = Sacred (magical or religious); Me = Medicinal; Tr = Food or drink container

Mangroves

South east of reserve towards the beach, just before the coastal dune area, there is a mangrove community. Mangrove is a vegetation community that is primarily located in areas that are periodically or permanently flooded with brackish water. The species that compose this community are highly adaptable to different grades of salinity. The ecosystem is characterized by its low-diversity; vegetation of this area is composed primarily of trees of few species. The soil is boggy and has a high concentration of organic matter.

Mangroves are of biological and socio-economic importance. Many types of trees found here are used for construction of houses, making of carbon, medicinal application, and to create tannin (used to tan leather). Mangrove swamps often serve as a hatchery and nursery for the larval stages of many brackish and saltwater fish species. Crabs, mussels, snails and other invertebrates find shelter in the red mangroves extensive root system. Herons and other birds often build nests in the branches of the trees and this nutrient-rich community provides food and shelter for many other migratory bird species and mammals. Mangroves also serve as a buffer zone against waves, therefore controlling erosion. The roots help to collect and contain decomposing organic matter, which help to enrich the soil. Mangrove vegetation encompasses almost the entire perimeter of the island. Mangrove swamps flourish in the northwest and southwest of the island. The species characterizing this vegetation community are red, white, black and button mangrove; epiphytes such as bromeliads and orchids are abundant.

Mangroves vegetation

F = Fodder for animals; M = Timber-yielding; Mel = Honey-yielding; T = Dye; C = Construction; O = Ornamental; L = Firewood; Co = Edible; S = Sacred (magical or religious); Me = Medicinal; Tr = Food or drink container

Coastal dune vegetation

Coastal vegetation is well represented on the east coast of the island, where sandy and rocky beaches can be found.

Coastal dune vegetation

F = Fodder for animals; M = Timber-yielding; Mel = Honey-yielding; T = Dye; C = Construction; O = Ornamental; L = Firewood; Co = Edible; S = Sacred (magical or religious); Me = Medicinal; Tr = Food or drink container.

Mammals occurring on Cozumel

Birds of Cozumel

http://www.expeditionsczm.com/birdwatching/

Herpetofauna occurring on Cozumel