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Sonoran Ecosystems

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The vegetation can be divided into five types in terms of their dominant species these are: creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) formations, blackbrush (Coleogyne ramoisissima) formations, shadscale (Atriplex canescens) formations, saltbush (including Sarcobatus vermiculatus, Artemisia spinosus and Atriplex confertifolia) formations and its most conspicous endemic Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) formations.

The Sonoran Desert has been divided into seven vegetation types typified by Larrea tridentata and Ambrosia dumosa formations, Cercidium microphyllum and Opuntia formations, Olnega tesota and Encelia farinose formations, Acacia cymbispina and Prosopis juliflora formations, Bursera and Jatropa cinerea formations, Agave and Franseria chenopodofolia formations and Lysiloma candida and Machaerocercus gummosus formations.

The Chihuahuan Desert at a high elevation with more rainfall than the other warm deserts is the most biologically diverse desert region in the World. The vegetation includes eight categories typified by Larrea tridentata and/or Flourensia cernua formations, Yucca filifera woodland formations, Agave lechuguilla scrub formations, Prosopis glanulosa and Atriplex scrub formations, Alkali scrub with Atriplex acanthocarpa, A. canescens, A. obovata, Allenralfea occidentalis, Sesuvium verrucosum and Suaeda formations, Opuntia phaeacantha and Echinocactus horizonthalonius cactus formations, Gypsophilous (gypsum-loving) scrub with Ephedra torregona, Rhus trilobata, Yucca elata and Bouteloua brevisata formations, Riparian woodland with Salix formations and mesquites (Prosopis pubescens) formations.

Further information required.

References

Brown, D. E. 1982. Semi-Desert Grassland. In: Desert Plants.  Biotic communities of the American southwest United States and Mexico. Ed. D. E. Brown. University of Arizona.

Brown, D. E. 1982. Sonoran Savanna Grasslands. In: Desert Plants.  Biotic communities of the American southwest United States and Mexico. Ed. D. E. Brown. University of Arizona.

Brown, D. E. 1982. Sinaloan Thornscrub. In: Desert Plants.  Biotic communities of the American southwest United States and Mexico. Ed. D. E. Brown. University of Arizona.

Burk, J. H. 1977. Sonoran Desert. In: Terrestrial Vegetation of California. Eds. M. G. Barbour and J. Major. John Wiley & Sons.

Case, T. J., Cody, M. L. & Ezcurra, E. 2002. Island Biogeography of the Sea of Cortés. Oxford University Press.

Gentry, H. S. 1982. Sinaloan Deciduous Forest. In: Desert Plants.  Biotic communities of the American southwest United States and Mexico. Ed. D. E. Brown. University of Arizona.

Gomez-Hinostrosa, C & Hernandez, H. M. 2000. Diversity, geographical distribution, and conservation of Cactaceae in the Mier y Noriega region, Mexico. Biodiversity and Conservation, 9: 403-418.

Hastings, J. R. & Turner, R. M. 1971. The Sonoran Desert. In: World Vegetation Types. Ed. S. R. Eyre. Macmillan.

MacMohon, J. A.  Warm Deserts. West, N. E. 1983. In: North American Terrestrial Vegetation. Eds. M. G. Barbour and W. D. Billings.  Cambridge University Press.

McKell, C. M. & Garcia-Moya, E. 1989. North American Shrublands. In: The Biology and Utilization of Shrubs. Ed. C. M. McKell. Academic Press, Inc.

Minckley, W. L. & Brown, D. E. 1982. Riparian Scrublands. In: Desert Plants.  Biotic communities of the American southwest United States and Mexico. Ed. D. E. Brown. University of Arizona.

Minckley, W. L. & Brown, D. E. 1982. Sinaloan Riparian Evergreen Forests and Woodland. In: Desert Plants.  Biotic communities of the American southwest United States and Mexico. Ed. D. E. Brown. University of Arizona.

Minckley, W. L. & Brown, D. E. 1982. Sinaloan Maritime Scrubland. In: Desert Plants.  Biotic communities of the American southwest United States and Mexico. Ed. D. E. Brown. University of Arizona.

Minckley, W. L. & Brown, D. E. 1982. Sonoran and Sinaloan Interior marshlands and Submergent Communities. In: Desert Plants.  Biotic communities of the American southwest United States and Mexico. Ed. D. E. Brown. University of Arizona.

Minckley, W. L. & Brown, D. E. 1982. Sonoran Riparian Deciduous Forest and Woodland. In: Desert Plants.  Biotic communities of the American southwest United States and Mexico. Ed. D. E. Brown. University of Arizona.

Minckley, W. L. & Brown, D. E. 1982. Sonoran Oasis Forest and Woodland. In: Desert Plants.  Biotic communities of the American southwest United States and Mexico. Ed. D. E. Brown. University of Arizona.

Minckley, W. L. & Brown, D. E. 1982. Sonoran Riparian Scrubland. In: Desert Plants.  Biotic communities of the American southwest United States and Mexico. Ed. D. E. Brown. University of Arizona.

Minckley, W. L. & Brown, D. E. 1982. Sonoran and Sinaloan Interior marshlands and Submergent Communities. In: Desert Plants.  Biotic communities of the American southwest United States and Mexico. Ed. D. E. Brown. University of Arizona.

Minckley, W. L. & Brown, D. E. 1982. Sonoran maritime Stands. In: Desert Plants.  Biotic communities of the American southwest United States and Mexico. Ed. D. E. Brown. University of Arizona.

Minckley, W. L. & Brown, D. E. 1982. Sonoran Interior Strand.. In: Desert Plants.  Biotic communities of the American southwest United States and Mexico. Ed. D. E. Brown. Univerisity of Arizona.

Ricketts, T. h. et al. 1999. Terrestrial Ecosystems of North America - a conservation assessment. World Wildlife Fund, USA and Canada. Island Press, Washington.

Shreve, F. & Wiggins, I. L. 1951. Vegetation and flora of the Sonoran Desert. Carnegie Institution of Washington Publications. Washington D.C.

Shreve, F. & Wiggins, I. L. 1964. Vegetation and Flora of the Sonoran Desert. Volume 1. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California.

Shreve, F. & Wiggins, I. L. 1964. Vegetation and Flora of the Sonoran Desert. Volume 2. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California.

Sims, P. L. 1989. Grasslands.  In: North American Terrestrial Vegetation. eds M. G. Barbour & W. D. Billings.  Cambridge University Press.

T. Scott Bryan & Betty Tucker-Bryan. 2009. Death Valley National Park. University Press of Colorado.

Turner, R. M. 1982. Mohave Desert Scrub. In: Desert Plants.  Biotic communities of the American southwest United States and Mexico. Ed. D. E. Brown. University of Arizona.

Turner, R. M. 1982. Chichuahuan Desert Scrub. In: Desert Plants.  Biotic communities of the American southwest United States and Mexico. Ed. D. E. Brown. University of Arizona.

Turner, R. M. & Brown, D. E. 1982. Sonoran Desert Scrub. In: Desert Plants.  Biotic communities of the American southwest United States and Mexico. Ed. D. E. Brown.

Vasek, F. G. & Barbour, M. G. 1977. Mojave Desert Scrub Vegetation. In: Terrestrial Vegetation of California. Eds. M. G. Barbour & J. Major. John Wiley & Sons.