Download (PDF 7.00 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/69823.pdf
Abstract
The Area de Protección de Flora y Fauna (APFF) Bavispe is one of the oldest protected areas in Mexico (decreed in 1936-39). It was created to protect eight sky island mountain ranges, of great biological diversity in high elevation areas, separated by lowland valleys with desert grasslands and foothills thornscrub in northeastern Sonora. Sierra Los Ajos is part of APFF Bavispe Division 4. El Chilicote is in the middle of the Sierra Los Ajos at 35.2 airline kilometers westnorthwest of Fronteras. Elevations range from 1,928 to 2,206 m. Three old mine pits in the area have a high probability of being exploited in the future. This project described the current ecology of the site. The site was visited in June, July, September, and November 2017. The vegetation is pine-oak forest on rocky mountain sides and in canyons, the runoff from this site feed the Bavispe river basin. The flora was studied on seven strategically located vegetation quadrants and through photography. Wildlife cameras were used to document nocturnal mammals. A total of 50 species of animals were identified from camera images and field observations. Six of them have protected status in the NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010, the Mexican endangered species law, including the mammals Choeronycteris mexicana, Leopardus pardalis, Sciurus arizonensis, and Ursus americanus.
Parent Publication
Keywords
forest restoration,
history,
climate,
soils,
vegetation,
geomorphology,
watersheds,
water quality,
water quantity,
fluvial ecosystems,
fish and invertebrate fauna,
riparian ecosystems
Citation
Blanco-Gutierrez, Anays C.; Ballesteros-Valdez, Enrique; Ochoa-Gutierrez, F. Isaias; Van Devender, Thomas R. 2022. Mammals of El Chilicote in the Sierra de los Ajos, Sonora, Mexico. In: Neary, D. G.; Gottfried, G. J., eds. Collaboration Now for the Future: IV Conference on the Biodiversity and Management of the Madrean Archipelago. Proceedings RMRS-P-79. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 201-208.
