Biotic communities of the Southwest

Abstract

This map illustrates, at a scale of 1:1,000,000, the major upland biotic communities (=biomes) of the "American Southwest". We consider the natural Southwest region that area shared between the U.S. and adjacent Mexico from longitudes 103° to 118° and from latitude 37° 31' to latitude 27°, including all or parts of the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California and all or part of Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, and Coahuila. The 27 biotic communities identified are those presented in the hierarchical ecosystem classification developed by Brown and Lowe (1974a, 1974b) and Brown, Lowe, and Pase (1977). While these units are described in terms of potential natural vegetation, faunal components also are considered.PLEASE NOTE: This publication is a revision and replaces RM-GTR-41: Biotic communities of the Southwest.

Citation

Brown, David E.; Lowe, Charles H. 1980. Biotic communities of the Southwest. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-GTR-78. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Map. 5 p. plus map.