Transcript 6.Sonoran Plant Species - University of New Mexico

A Study of Sonoran Plant Species
Densities and Relation to Elevation
Hypothesis
• The densities of four selected plants characteristic
of the region are hypothesized to peak within the
elevation region that is most beneficial to the plant
species for its survival.
Sky Islands
• 27 mtn ranges in SW
• Relatively isolated
since glaciation
• Include Catalinas
• Unique ecosystems
• 3,000 ft to 9,157 ft on
Mt. Lemmon
• Includes more than
2,000 plant species
Ocotillo
• Fonquieria splendens
• be found from
southeastern Californian
deserts to west Texas and
south into Mexico
• grow mainly in open,
stony, well-drained desert
slopes below 5,000 feet
• plant blooms annually,
with red blossoms, leafless
most of the year
Spoon Agave
• Dasylirion wheeleri
• Western Texas,
southern Arizona,
south and central New
Mexico
• Grows at the elevation
of 3000-5000 ft
• Short, thick, central
stem with long, thin
bluish-green leaves
• Flowering stalk grows
from the center
Mexican Manzanita
• Arctostphylos pungens
• Grows from 4000 to 7000
feet
• Found throughout Mexico
and in California, Nevada,
Utah, Arizona, New
Mexico and parts of Texas
• Distinct green, pointed
leaf with mix of smooth
brown and rough grey
bark
Ponderosa Pine
• Pinus Ponderosa
• Found at elevations of
6000 to 8000 feet
• Largely concentrated in
Colorado Plateau
• Reach heights of 30 to 50
meters
• Egg-shaped, red-brown
cones
• Provides habitat for many
forest animals
Materials & Methods
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200 ft of rope and 4 stakes
Map of Catalina highway
Choose and research four plant species
Measure out 50’ x 50” squares in desert
Count number of individual species
Repeat for different area at similar elevation
Go through entire process for varying elevations,
at increments of 1000 feet
Data
site
Ocotillo 1
Ocotillo 2
Spoon
agave 1
Spoon
agave 2
Mexican
manzanita 1
Mexican
manzanita 2
Ponderosa
pine 1
Ponderosa
pine 2
3500 ft
20
20
0
0
0
0
0
0
4500 ft
18
5
8
3
0
0
0
0
Thimble
peak
0
0
10
8
29
15
0
0
Windy
point
0
0
2
0
12
9
0
0
Aspen
0
0
0
0
0
0
25
20
Ski valley
0
0
0
0
0
0
29
46
Species Density according to Elevation
Plant Densities and Elevation
Ocotillo
Agave
t)
Manzanita
8000
on
(f
Ocotillo
Ele
vati
Manzanita
5500
3500
Plant
Count
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Pondorosa
Ocotillo
Number of Plants
50
40
30
Ocotillo
20
10
0
3500 4500 5500 6500 7500 8500
Elevation (ft)
Ocotill o
H0: X2=3.84
Stop1
Stop2
Stop3
Stop4
Stop5
Stop6
2
X
17.2
8.24
21.0
21.0
21.0
21.0
Agave
Number of Plants
20
15
10
Agave
5
0
3500
4500 5500
6500 7500
8500
Elevation (ft)
Desert Spoon Ag ave
H0: X2=3.84
2
Stop1
Stop2
Stop3
Stop4
Stop5
Stop6
X
10.4
2.44
5.94
7.17
10.4
10.4
Manzanita
Number of Plants
50
40
30
Manzanita
20
10
0
3500 4500 5500 6500 7500 8500
Elevation (ft)
Mexican Manzan it a
H0: X2=3.84
2
Stop1
Stop2
Stop3
Stop4
Stop5
Stop6
X
21.6
21.6
32.3
0.43
21.6
21.6
Nuber of Plants
Pondorosa
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
3500 4500 5500 6500 7500 8500
Pondorosa
Elevation (ft)
Ponde rosa Pine
H0: X2=3.84
2
Stop1
Stop2
Stop3
Stop4
Stop5
Stop6
X
400
400
400
400
1.25
37.85
Conclusions
• results were supported given hypothesis
• For all plants studied densities were highest in the
elevation category that corresponded to their
optimal environments
• results obtained by analysis of observed data
support the theory that plant densities will be
highest at elevations with microclimates that are
best suited to each particular plant species
Revisions
• revised due to physiological and temporal
constraints
• original plan to randomly select plots at
specific elevation intervals not possible with
the means that the group had
• Results still significant despite having to
compromise in order to accommodate
Catalina Mountains and the highway
Implications
• exemplify the unique ecological diversity of the
“sky islands” of Southern Arizona
• Future preservation of the particular plant species
demands that elevation constraints be considered
when planting or modifying a geographic area
• Urbanization must be restricted when it takes over
the space at certain elevations needed for specific
plant species to grow and flourish