Sierra Juárez and San Pedro Mártir pine-oak forests

The Sierra Juárez and San Pedro Mártir pine-oak forests is an ecoregion that covers the higher elevations of the Sierra Juárez and Sierra San Pedro Mártir ranges of the northern Baja California Peninsula in Mexico,^[1] near the border with California (United States).

Setting

The ecoregion covers an area of 4000 km² (1500 square miles). It lies at the southeastern extent of the Mediterranean climate region that covers much of California and the northwestern corner of Baja California, and the climate is temperate with winter rains.

The pine-oak forests are bounded by the southern extent of the California chaparral and woodlands to the west, by the Baja California Desert to the southwest, and by the Sonoran Desert to the east.

Flora

These forests are predominantly pine, juniper, fir, and oak. Ten pine species can be found in the ranges, including Parry Pinyon (Pinus quadrifolia), Jeffrey Pine (P. jeffreyi), Tamarack Pine (P. contorta subsp. murrayana) , and Sugar Pine (P. lambertiana), along with White Fir (Abies concolor subsp. lowiana) and California Incense Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens). Oak species include Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia), Engelmann Oak (Q. engelmannii), Canyon Live Oak (Q. chrysolepis), Baja Oak (Q. peninsularis), and Island Oak (Q. tomentella). Tecate Cypress (Cupressus guadalupensis subsp. forbesii) and San Pedro Martir Cypress (Cupressus arizonica subsp. montana) are found in scattered groves across the range. The Sierra Juárez and San Pedro Mártir pine-oak forests are near the southern limit of the distribution of the California Fan Palm, Washingtonia filifera.^[2]

Fauna

Conservation and threats

References

• C. Michael Hogan. 2009. California Fan Palm: Washingtonia filifera, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. Nicklas Stromberg.
• National Geographic. 2001. Sierra Juarez and Sierra Pedro Martir Pine-oak Forests

Line notes

External links

• Sierra Juarez and San Pedro Martir pine-oak forests (World Wildlife Fund)