Environmental Baseline of the Terrestrial Influence Area of Jaguar Terminal Terrestre de Etano Project, TQPM.

The dataset contains information corresponding to the Complementary Environmental Baseline of the Influence Area (AoI) of Jaguar Terminal Terrestre de Etano Project, from the Terminal Química Puerto México, in the state of Veracruz, in Mexico. The AoI has an extension of 34,435.56 ha, and is located within the Coatzacoalcos River Basin and the nearest Priority Hydrological Region (RHP) is called Los Tuxtlas, being more than 18 km from the project's route. The vegetation data were recorded using plots of 50 x 8 m established at different points with representative area vegetation. Vegetation was recorded in four vertical strata, defined according to their size and growth form (arboreal, shrub, sufrutice, herbaceous). Inclusion criteria were height, diameter at breast height at 1.30 m (DBH), and growth form. Only parts and live specimens were measured. The specialists recognized most of the species observed in the plots, but some specimens were further identified using plant identification guides and descriptions found in the literature. To identify those specimens, the specialist took pictures and notes to determine their identity after the specialist returned to the office. Botanical species were determined based on specialized literature and corroborated by comparison with type species in virtual herbaria, generally linked to EncicloVida (CONABIO, 2023). To characterize the terrestrial habitat of the AoI, twenty transects 600 m long by 10 m wide were established using conventional sampling methods for each taxonomic group. The transects were established in each type of representative vegetation. Observations were direct and indirect; indirect observations included recording footprints, feces, hair and feathers. The fieldwork was conducted from May 22 to June 20, 2023. For the amphibian and reptile, 20 sampling points were surveyed using lineal transects. The transects were placed in representative vegetation within the AoI (at least two for each vegetation type, randomly distributed), which were covered in the morning due to security issues in the region. The sampling effort consisted of 140 man/hours. For freshwater turtle species, the number of turtle nests in the community were counted, looking carefully for nesting beaches. In addition, 5 samples were taken using submersible turtle traps to estimate the approximate density of individuals per transect in the area (Townsend et al., 2005). Mammal sampling was performed using direct and indirect sampling methodologies, such as track recording, excreta, hair, burrows, etc., implemented to detect medium-sized mammals. A total of 20 transects of 600 m long by 10 m wide were deployed around the areas where the sampling points were located. In addition, 4 camera traps were placed by day (approx. height of 40 and 50 cm from the ground and between 1 and 5 m between cameras), for 3 hours, at sites where records of the species were found. In total, the camera traps were active for 66 hours.For birds, a total of 20 transects (at least two for each vegetation type, randomly distributed) of 600 m long with a 50 m radius of vision per counting point were carried out, following a fixed trajectory to locate, count and identify birds and avoid repeatedly counting the same individual. The fixed radius point count method was applied along transects, each point spaced 150 m apart and with a radius of 50 m (Hutton et al. 1996). The sampling effort was of 140 man/hours.

Reino: 2Filo: 2Clase: 6Orden: 60Familia: 112Género: 197Subgénero: 2Especie: 215