Floristic comparison of an Arizona Sky Island and the Sierra Madre Occidental in eastern Sonora: the Huachuca Mountains and the Yecora area

Abstract

The floras of the “Sky Island” Huachuca Mountains, Arizona (994 taxa; 316 km²; 1,524-2,885 m elevation, 1,361 m elevational range; 31°30’N) and the “mainland” Sierra Madre Occidental near Yécora, Sonora (1,284 taxa; ca. 2,080 km²; 820-2,140 m, 1,320 m elevational range; 28°24’N) were compared. Only 6.5% and 5.1% of the floras were non-native. Compositae, Gramineae, and Leguminosae contained 39.3% and 40.2% of the taxa. The Apachian floristic element (38.8%) in the Huachuca flora best reflected the 39.9% native taxa shared with Yécora. The plant diversity in the Yécora area is much greater than in any of the Arizona Sky Islands.

Parent Publication

• Connecting mountain islands and desert seas: Biodiversity and management of the Madrean Archipelago II

Citation

Van Devender, Thomas R.; Reina G., Ana L. 2005. Floristic comparison of an Arizona Sky Island and the Sierra Madre Occidental in eastern Sonora: the Huachuca Mountains and the Yecora area. In: Gottfried, Gerald J.; Gebow, Brooke S.; Eskew, Lane G.; Edminster, Carleton B., comps. Connecting mountain islands and desert seas: biodiversity and management of the Madrean Archipelago II. Proc. RMRS-P-36. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station: 154-157