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We sampled the cactus species in 23 localities along a longitudinal transect in the southeastern segment of the Chihuahuan Desert. Using Wilson and Shmida’s formula we calculated beta diversity values among contiguous and non-contiguous sites. As a complement, Jaccard’s index of similarity was also calculated among all sites. A total of 61 species were found along the transect, although most tended to be infrequent, and only 27 surpassed the mean value of the frequencies (mean f = 28.3%). In most cases, relatively high to moderate beta diversity values were obtained. The average value for all the site combinations was beta = 0.52 (S.D. = +/- 0.17, range = 0.12-0.93). The highest similarity value was ISJ = 0.79, corresponding to two non-contiguous localities. The high diversity of cactus species in the study area may be explained, in part, by a relatively high to moderate level of turnover among the different species assemblages. However, beta diversity is mainly a product of the intermittent pattern of spatial distribution of the cactus species in this region, rather than a real species turnover. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.