DOCSLIB.ORG

Vertebrate Fauna of the Graham (Pinaleno) Mountains

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Vertebrate Fauna of the Graham (Pinaleno) Mountains 1 •■ • VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE GRAHAM (PINALENO) MOUNTAINS • SOUTHEAST ARIZONA Edited by W. L. Minckley TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................. INTRODUCTION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA ....................... ACCOUNTS OF SPECIES .......................................... 6 Fishes ................................................. 6 Amphibians and Reptiles .................................. II Birds ................................................... 28 Mammals ................................................. 50 SUMMARY AND DISCUSSION ........................................ 66 LITERATURE CITED 69 TABLES 1-3 ................................................... 76 APPENDIX A, CHECK-LISTS OF SPECIES 79 -.This1/ paper results from a summer field program of the Deportment of Zoology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, and is first of a series of such reports on the fauna of selected areas in the state. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Financial assistance for this project was provided mostly by the summer session of Arizona State University. Funds from the University Research Committee and from the Sport Fishing Institute were utilized in obtaining some data on fishes. The U. S. Forest Service, Coronado National Forest, issued a special use permit for the project in 1966, and personnel in the Safford district under the direction of Arthur Maynard were exceedingly helpful and sympathetic to our work. Phil Cosper, Arizona Game and Fish Department, expedited permits for collecting in the area, and James Bruce of the same agency, provided data on trout and other fish species. Other personnel of the Game and Fish Department Regional Office in Pima, under Don Wingfield, cooperated fully. Private individuals in the vicinity, landowners, tourists, and the like, gave freely of their time and materially assisted in the study. Students who participated directly in collecting of the specimens and data reported here deserve special acknowledgement. These persons, excluding individuals participating in preparation of the report, were: William S. Brown, Mardes Clayton, Victor Cresto, Murray Itzkowitz, Arturo Jimenez G., James E. Johnson, James E. LeDuc, Norman C. Leppla, Glady L. Lytle, Harry Nickla, John N. Rinne, Peter Rothlisberg, Roger S. Siervogel, Frank Turkowski, and Larry Watt. Anthony Lewis identi- fied some bats. In addition, the following individuals provided information obtained during their independent research in the area: Thomas A. Burns, J. Neil Jensen, and David I. Rasmussen. Barbara R. Minckley and her children provided support in the field and In camp in 1966, and are gratefully acknowledged. The typing assistance of Sue Johnson and Carolyn Nickerson also was greatly appreciated. INTRODUCTION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA W. L. Minckley The Graham (Pinaleno) Mountains rise abruptly to a maximum elevation of 10,713 feet above mean sea level from broad, surrounding valleys that He generally below 4,000 feet. They are the most northern of a series of isolated mountain masses that are aligned along the eastern boundary of Arizona (Heald, 1951). Between 15 June and 15 July 1966, and between 8 and 13 July 1967, field parties from the Department of Zoology, Arizona State University, made intensive surveys of the vertebrate biota of these mountains. More than 3,000 specimens were obtained, prepared in the field, and deposited in the Arizona State University Collections. These materials, plus literature records and specimens taken by staff and students from the University at other times, form the bases for this report. A permanent camp was established at the now-abandoned Marijilda Canyon Campground, at an elevation of 4,400 feet, on the eastern end of the mountain mass. From this point, parties moved around the base of the mountain, and to both higher and lower elevations. Because of the generally difficult access in the area, and time limitations, much collecting was concentrated on the eastern end and along the Swift Trail Road (Arizona Highway 366) that traverses the higher elevations to near the western end. Places where major collections were made, along Swift Trail and elsewhere, were selected to represent differing habitats and were described by Hoff- meister (1956), or may be specifically located on the following U. S. Geological Survey quadrangles: N3245-W10945/15 (Thatcher, Ariz.), N3230-W 2 10945/15 (Mt. Graham, Ariz.), N3245-W11000/15 (Jackson Mtn, Ariz.), N3230-W 11000/15 (Sierra Bonita Ranch, Ariz.), and N3245-W10930/15 (Safford, Ariz.). Hoffmeister (1956) presented a description of the terrestrial habitats of the Graham Mountains, which, along with the discussion of Arizona landscapes by Lowe (1964), was freely consulted in preparation of the following account. Details on the vegetation may be found in the work by Shreve (1919). Valleys around the Grahams include the Sulphur Springs-Aravalpa Creek valleys on the south and west, the San Simon valley on the east, and the broad Gila River valley on the north. Northwest, the Graham Range is separated by a low divide from the smaller Santa Teresa Mountains, and on the south, Stockton Pass separates the main body of the Grahams from the Greasewood Range. The major structural features, and the general physio- graphy and drainage patterns of this area were outlined before the end of Tertiary time, with only minor faulting occurring in Quaternary or Recent (Kottlowski, et al., 1965). The Sulphur Springs-Aravaipa valleys are higher in elevation than the other surrounding plains. They are vegetated, in part, by a well- developed Plains Grassland Association (Lowe, 1964). Various grasses (Bouteloua, Muhlenbergia, Stipa, Sporobolus, etc.) often form a continuous ground cover. Other parts of the plain support Desert-Grassland Associations, with sotol (Dasyliron), Yucca, beargrass (Nolina), mesquite (Prosopis luliflora), Acacia, and other, larger plants being most obvious. Parts of the valley are irrigated from pumpage of underground aquifers, and mesic- adapted plants (Populus fremonti, Salix, various sedges, etc.) live adjacent 3 to tanks and irrigation outflows. The Gila and San Simon valleys are mostly under cultivation on "flats" near the watercourses; thick stands of large, perennial grasses and sedges formerly lived in such areas (Olmstead, 1919). Terraces of the rivers, however, support extensive, monotonous stands of creosote bush (Larrea divaricata), or burrsage (Franseria), as they probably did prior to invasion by Caucasian man. Mesquite occurs, or was formerly present, on well-drained parts of the terraces along drainage channels, and fringes of cottonwood persist where water is present and where man allows the trees to remain. Abrupt transition occurs at the junction of montane bajadas and the fine-grained soils of terraces or floodplains. Acacia, mesquite, and prickly pear (Opuntia spp.), along with annual grasses and forbs, become increasingly dominant, forming a low, dense cover over rocky soils. Oaks (Quercus ), junipers (Juniperus), and pinyon pine (Pinus cembriodes), occur sparsely as low as 3,500 feet in some canyons. Above 4,500 feet these become more abundant. In fact, between 4,500 and 6,000 feet, oaks form an almost inpenetrable thicket on more arid slopes, and other deciduous trees, ash (Fraxinus), maple (Acer), walnut (Juglans), and smaller species, inhabit canyons. The conifers then become generally dominant, extending in sequence from mid-elevation species (Pinus lelophylia), through ponderosa (P. ponderosa) and limber pine (P. flexilis), to fir and spruce (Abies concoior, Pseudotsuga menziesi, and Picea engelmanni), at higher elevations. In places above 8,000 feet, open parks, densely vege- tated with perennial grasses and sedges occupy many acres of surface. Open, grassy areas also occur on the highest peaks, in association with 4 aspen (Populus tremuloides) and spruce; however, timberline conditions are not now achieved at the peaks. Distributional relations of the flora of the Graham Mountains are exceedingly complex (Shreve, 1919). The mountain is rugged, and exposure and edaphic conditions markedly dictate local species compositions. In Marijilda Canyon, for example, "pockets" of oak are present below 3,500 feet. On the other hand, an "oak zone" on the almost-vertical southwest slope of the mountain extends to about 10,000 feet on xeric rockslides and shallow soils. Aquatic habitats are few, and they are highly modified by man. The larger, persistent streams, the Gila River and Aravaipa Creek, are far from the mountain base and are not considered here. Ash, Grant, and Mari- jilda creeks, and their tributaries, comprise the permanent lotic habitats on the mountain itself. They all originate in seepage and springs of montane meadows, then accumulate additional water from the walls of steep, rocky canyons through which they pass. All the streams disappear in valley fills of their lower courses, or are diverted for irrigation into the valleys below. Lentic habitats consist of Riggs Flat Lake, and a smaller impound- ment at Snow Flat. Thermal springs occur in an "artesian belt" around the north and east sides of the mountain, and these feed a myriad of tanks and other artificial basins. Some larger bodies of water, i.e. Roper's Lake ca. seven miles south of Safford, are maintained by pumpage from subterranean waters; tanks and irrigation developments of the Sulphur Springs-Aravaipa valleys were mentioned before. Natural waters in that area include a few marshy places and one tiny spring on the Sierra Bonita Ranch.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • CEMOZOIC DEPOSITS in the SOUTHERN FOOTHILLS of the SANTA CATALINA MOUNTAINS NEAR TUCSON, ARIZONA Ty Klaus Voelger a Thesis Submi
    Cenozoic deposits in the southern foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains near Tucson, Arizona Item Type text; Thesis-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Voelger, Klaus, 1926- Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 25/09/2021 10:53:10 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/551218 CEMOZOIC DEPOSITS IN THE SOUTHERN FOOTHILLS OF THE SANTA CATALINA MOUNTAINS NEAR TUCSON, ARIZONA ty Klaus Voelger A Thesis submitted to the faculty of the Department of Geology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in the Graduate College, University of Arizona 1953 Approved; , / 9S~J Director of Thesis ^5ate Univ. of Arizona Library The research on which this thesis is based was com­ pleted by Mr. Klaus Voelger of Berlin, Germany, while he was studying at the University of Arizona under the program of the Institute of International Education. The final draft was written after Mr. Voelgerf s return to his home in the Russian-occupied zone of Berlin. Difficulties such as a shortage of typing paper of uniform grade and the impossibility of adequate supervision and advice on matters of terminology, punctuation, and English usage account for certain details in which this thesis may depart from stand­ ards of the Graduate College of the University of Arizona. These details are largely mechanical, and it is felt that they do not detract appreciably from the quality of the research nor the clarity of presentation of the results.
    [Show full text]
  • Birds of Coniferous Forest on Mount Graham, Arizona
    Wilson Bull., 107(4), 1995, pp. 719-723 SHORT COMMUNICATIONS Birds of coniferous forest on Mount Graham, Arizona.-Because of interest in the effect upon the biota of Mount Graham by current development for astronomy, I repeated observations and censuses made there forty years ago. Avifaunal changes have occurred. Unlike my companion study in the Sierra Nevada (Marshall 1988), the losses at Mount Graham of nesting species-all at the lower altitudinal limit of Pinus Zeiophylla chihuahuana and P. ponderosa arizonica-lack an obvious connection to human interference with the environment. Study area.-Mount Graham, in southeastern Arizona, is capped with old growth Engel- mann spruce and alpine fir from 3000 m to the summit at 3267 m. This boreal forest of 8 km* is at its southernmost limits on the North American continent. Descending, one passes through other vegetation zones in sequence: Douglas firs and white firs mixed with spruce, and then mixed with Mexican white pines; south slopes of New Mexican locust and Gambel oak; ponderosa pine with Gambel oak, ponderosa pine mixed with silver-leaf oak; and finally Chihuahua pine with Arizona oak (Martin and Fletcher 1943, Hoffmeister 1956, Marshall 1957, Mohlenbrock 1987). From memory, notes, and photographs I detect no change in vegetation during the forty-year study period. Specifically, the trees at the mapped census area in Wet Canyon (Fig. 1) have not closed ranks about the little openings suitable for those foothill birds that forage among grasses, boulders, manzanitas, and nolinas. The mesic luxuriance of Mount Graham’s vegetation is shown by running streams sup- porting tall groves of maples, by the enormous Douglas firs that remain, by the profusion of understory flowers and green forbs, and by the gigantic stature of clear-trunked alders dominating Wet Canyon.
    [Show full text]
  • Arizona Forest Action Plan 2015 Status Report and Addendum
    Arizona Forest Action Plan 2015 Status Report and Addendum A report on the strategic plan to address forest-related conditions, trends, threats, and opportunities as identified in the 2010 Arizona Forest Resource Assessment and Strategy. November 20, 2015 Arizona State Forestry Acknowledgements: Arizona State Forestry would like to thank the USDA Forest Service for their ongoing support of cooperative forestry and fire programs in the State of Arizona, and for specific funding to support creation of this report. We would also like to thank the many individuals and organizations who contributed to drafting the original 2010 Forest Resource Assessment and Resource Strategy (Arizona Forest Action Plan) and to the numerous organizations and individuals who provided input for this 2015 status report and addendum. Special thanks go to Arizona State Forestry staff who graciously contributed many hours to collect information and data from partner organizations – and to writing, editing, and proofreading this document. Jeff Whitney Arizona State Forester Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial On the second anniversary of the Yarnell Hill Fire, the State of Arizona purchased 320 acres of land near the site where the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots sacrificed their lives while battling one of the most devastating fires in Arizona’s history. This site is now the Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park. “This site will serve as a lasting memorial to the brave hotshots who gave their lives to protect their community,” said Governor Ducey. “While we can never truly repay our debt to these heroes, we can – and should – honor them every day. Arizona is proud to offer the public a space where we can pay tribute to them, their families and all of our firefighters and first responders for generations to come.” Arizona Forest Action Plan – 2015 Status Report and Addendum Background Contents The 2010 Forest Action Plan The development of Arizona’s Forest Resource Assessment and Strategy (now known as Arizona’s “Forest Action Plan”) was prompted by federal legislative requirements.
    [Show full text]
  • Southern Arizona, United States of America
    Southern Arizona, United States of America 2 – ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS Assessment and recommendations Southern Arizona region: from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based economy Southern Arizona is the southern-most part of the state of Arizona in the United States. bordering the Mexican state of Sonora, with a multi-cultural heritage and a major gateway for trade with Mexico. The vast desert region consists of Pima County, Cochise County and Santa Cruz County, and has a population of approximately 1.2 million, accounting for 18% of the state population. The engine of the region’s development is the Tucson metropolitan area, the second largest metropolitan area in the state, just behind the Phoenix metropolitan area. About 23% of the land in Southern Arizona is owned by Native Americans, Tohono O’odham and Pascua Yaqui Nations, who continue to feature low education, labour market and health outcomes. Population growth is a major strength in the region, an opportunity for many industry sectors, but at the same time it poses cultural, economic and political challenges. Since World War II, Arizona has had one of the fastest growing populations in the United States. Between 1990 and 2000, Arizona experienced a 40.0% population increase which slowed down to 26.7% between 2000 and 2008. In Southern Arizona, the corresponding figures were 26.0% and 18.4%. Arizona has the fastest growing Hispanic population in the US, comprising about 25% of the state population and 27% of that of Southern Arizona. In Tucson, 40% of the residents identify themselves as Hispanic, while in Santa Cruz the majority of population are Hispanic.
    [Show full text]
  • Historical Fire Regime Patterns in the Southwestern United States Since AD 1700
    This file was created by scanning the printed publication. Errors identified by the software have been corrected; however, some errors may remain. Historical Fire Regime Patterns in the Southwestern United States Since AD 1700 Thomas W. Swetnam and Christopher H. Baisan1 Abstract.-Fire-scar chronologies from a network of 63 sites in the South­ western United States are listed and described. These data characterize the natural range and variability of fire regimes from low elevation pine forests to higher elevation mixed-conifer forests since AD 1700. A general pattern of increasing length of intervals between low intensity surface fires was observed along gradients of low to high elevations, and from the rela­ tively drier pine sites to the wetter mixed-conifer sites. However, large vari­ ability in the measures of central tendency and higher moments of the fire interval distributions suggest that elevation and forest type were often weak determinants of fire frequency. Some of the variations in fire interval distri­ butions between similar elevation or forest types were probably due to unique site characteristics, such as landscape connectivity (Le., ability of fires to spread into the sites), and land-use history. Differences in the sizes of sampled areas and fire-scar collections among the sites also limited our ability to compare and interpret fire interval summary statistics. Comparison of both the fire-scar network data (1700 to 1900) and docu­ mentary records of area burned on all Southwestern Region National For­ ests (1920 to 1978) with a Palmer Drought Severity Index time series clearly shows the association between severe droughts and large fire years, and wet periods and small fire years.
    [Show full text]
  • Coronado National Forest Draft Land and Resource Management Plan I Contents
    United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Coronado National Forest Southwestern Region Draft Land and Resource MB-R3-05-7 October 2013 Management Plan Cochise, Graham, Pima, Pinal, and Santa Cruz Counties, Arizona, and Hidalgo County, New Mexico The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Front cover photos (clockwise from upper left): Meadow Valley in the Huachuca Ecosystem Management Area; saguaros in the Galiuro Mountains; deer herd; aspen on Mt. Lemmon; Riggs Lake; Dragoon Mountains; Santa Rita Mountains “sky island”; San Rafael grasslands; historic building in Cave Creek Canyon; golden columbine flowers; and camping at Rose Canyon Campground. Printed on recycled paper • October 2013 Draft Land and Resource Management Plan Coronado National Forest Cochise, Graham, Pima, Pinal, and Santa Cruz Counties, Arizona Hidalgo County, New Mexico Responsible Official: Regional Forester Southwestern Region 333 Broadway Boulevard, SE Albuquerque, NM 87102 (505) 842-3292 For Information Contact: Forest Planner Coronado National Forest 300 West Congress, FB 42 Tucson, AZ 85701 (520) 388-8300 TTY 711 [email protected] Contents Chapter 1.
    [Show full text]
  • The Southern Arizona Guest Ranch As a Symbol of the West
    The Southern Arizona guest ranch as a symbol of the West Item Type text; Thesis-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Norris, Frank B. (Frank Blaine), 1950-. Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 07/10/2021 15:00:58 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/555065 THE SOUTHERN ARIZONA GUEST RANCH AS A SYMBOL OF THE WEST by Frank Blaine Norris A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND URBAN PLANNING In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS WITH A MAJOR IN GEOGRAPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 1 9 7 6 Copyright 1976 Frank Blaine Norris STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This thesis has been submitted in partial fulfill­ ment of requirements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this thesis are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowl­ edgment of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the copyright holder. SIGNED: APPROVAL BY THESIS DIRECTOR This thesis has been approved on the date shown below: ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This thesis is the collective effort of many, and to each who played a part in its compilation, I am indebted.
    [Show full text]
  • Dos Cabezas Mountains Proposed LWC Is Affected Primarily by the Forces of Nature and Appears Natural to the Average Visitor
    DOS CABEZAS MOUNTAINS LANDS WITH WILDERNESS CHARACTERISTICS PUBLIC LANDS CONTIGUOUS TO THE BLM’S DOS CABEZAS MOUNTAINS WILDERNESS IN THE NORTHERN CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS, ARIZONA A proposal report to the Bureau of Land Management, Safford Field Office, Arizona APRIL, 2016 Prepared by: Joseph M. Trudeau, Amber R. Fields, & Shannon Maitland Dos Cabezas Mountains Wilderness Contiguous Proposed LWC TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE: This Proposal was developed according to BLM Manual 6310 page 3 METHODS: The research approach to developing this citizens’ proposal page 5 Section 1: Overview of the Proposed Lands with Wilderness Characteristics Unit Introduction: Overview map showing unit location and boundaries page 8 • provides a brief description and labels for the units’ boundary Previous Wilderness Inventories: Map of former WSA’s or inventory unit’s page 9 • provides comparison between this and past wilderness inventories, and highlights new information Section 2: Documentation of Wilderness Characteristics The proposed LWC meets the minimum size criteria for roadless lands page 11 The proposed LWC is affected primarily by the forces of nature page 12 The proposed LWC provides outstanding opportunities for solitude and/or primitive and unconfined recreation page 16 A Sky Island Adventure: an essay and photographs by Steve Till page 20 MAP: Hiking Routes in the Dos Cabezas Mountains discussed in this report page 22 The proposed LWC has supplemental values that enhance the wilderness experience & deserve protection page 23 Conclusion: The proposed
    [Show full text]
  • 236 Pinaleño Mountains in the Twentieth Century Atalanta Hoyt
    Pinaleño Mountains in the Twentieth Century Atalanta Hoyt Throughout the twentieth century, a few major events dominated the history of the Forest Service. First, the founding of the National Forest Service in 1905 replaced the Bureau of Forestry and led to the creation of modern National Forests. The new service was created under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture with the purpose of securing a long term supply of timber for the American people.1 Second, the great depression of the 1930s, Franklin Roosevelt’s creation of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the expansion of the Forest Service changed the shape of National Forests.2 This time period featured a major transition from timber management to hands on putting resources into the forest. The Forest Service and CCC planted trees, carved trails, built roads, and conducted research; actively molding forests and applying the latest forestry techniques instead of letting the forest take its course.3 A third period of great change came in the 1970s during the environmental era.4 The emphasis changed from conceptualizing the forests as resources to be converted into marketable goods to seeing them as wilderness in need of preservation. While conservation has always been an important part of the Forest Service - advocated by both those who saw an intrinsic value in wilderness and by those who used the wilderness for recreational purposes - increased urbanization highlighted the uniqueness of forests. Efforts to catalog and protect the environments of forests became a main priority while ecologists and conservationists gained status.5 These three main shifts defined the Forest Service in the twentieth century.
    [Show full text]
  • A GUIDE to the GEOLOGY of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona: the Geology and Life Zones of a Madrean Sky Island
    A GUIDE TO THE GEOLOGY OF THE SANTA CATALINA MOUNTAINS, ARIZONA: THE GEOLOGY AND LIFE ZONES OF A MADREAN SKY ISLAND ARIZONA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 22 JOHN V. BEZY Inside front cover. Sabino Canyon, 30 December 2010. (Megan McCormick, flickr.com (CC BY 2.0). A Guide to the Geology of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona: The Geology and Life Zones of a Madrean Sky Island John V. Bezy Arizona Geological Survey Down-to-Earth 22 Copyright©2016, Arizona Geological Survey All rights reserved Book design: M. Conway & S. Mar Photos: Dr. Larry Fellows, Dr. Anthony Lux and Dr. John Bezy unless otherwise noted Printed in the United States of America Permission is granted for individuals to make single copies for their personal use in research, study or teaching, and to use short quotes, figures, or tables, from this publication for publication in scientific books and journals, provided that the source of the information is appropriately cited. This consent does not extend to other kinds of copying for general distribution, for advertising or promotional purposes, for creating new or collective works, or for resale. The reproduction of multiple copies and the use of articles or extracts for comer- cial purposes require specific permission from the Arizona Geological Survey. Published by the Arizona Geological Survey 416 W. Congress, #100, Tucson, AZ 85701 www.azgs.az.gov Cover photo: Pinnacles at Catalina State Park, Courtesy of Dr. Anthony Lux ISBN 978-0-9854798-2-4 Citation: Bezy, J.V., 2016, A Guide to the Geology of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona: The Geology and Life Zones of a Madrean Sky Island.
    [Show full text]
  • Aravaipa Canyon Ecosystem Management Plan
    BLM Aravaipa Ecosystem Management Plan Final Aravaipa and Environmental Assessment Ecosystem Management Plan and Environmental Assessment Arizona • Gila District • Safford Field Office Field • Safford •District Gila Arizona September 2015 i April 2015 Mission Statements Bureau of Land Management The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for managing the National System of Public Lands and its resources in a combination of ways, which best serves the needs of the American people. The BLM balances recreational, commercial, scientific and cultural interests and it strives for long-term protection of renewable and nonrenewable resources, including range, timber, minerals, recreation, watershed, fish and wildlife, wilderness and natural, scenic, scientific and cultural values. It is the mission of the BLM to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Arizona Game and Fish Department The mission of the Arizona Game and Fish Department is to conserve Arizona’s diverse wildlife resources and manage for safe, compatible outdoor recreation opportunities for current and future generations. The Nature Conservancy The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. Cover photo: Aravaipa Creek. Photo © Greg Gamble/TNC BLM/AZ/PL-08/006 ii United States Department of the Interior BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT Safford Field Office 711 South 14th Avenue, Suite A Safford, Arizona 8 5546~3335 www.blm.gov/azl September 15, 2015 In Reply Refer To: 8372 (0010) Dear Reader: The document accompanying this letter contains the Final Aravaipa Ecosystem Management Plan, Environmental Assessment, Finding ofNo Significant Impact, and Decision Record.
    [Show full text]
  • The Tectonic Evolution of the Madrean Archipelago and Its Impact on the Geoecology of the Sky Islands
    The Tectonic Evolution of the Madrean Archipelago and Its Impact on the Geoecology of the Sky Islands David Coblentz Earth and Environmental Sciences Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM Abstract—While the unique geographic location of the Sky Islands is well recognized as a primary factor for the elevated biodiversity of the region, its unique tectonic history is often overlooked. The mixing of tectonic environments is an important supplement to the mixing of flora and faunal regimes in contributing to the biodiversity of the Madrean Archipelago. The Sky Islands region is located near the actively deforming plate margin of the Western United States that has seen active and diverse tectonics spanning more than 300 million years, many aspects of which are preserved in the present-day geology. This tectonic history has played a fundamental role in the development and nature of the topography, bedrock geology, and soil distribution through the region that in turn are important factors for understanding the biodiversity. Consideration of the geologic and tectonic history of the Sky Islands also provides important insights into the “deep time” factors contributing to present-day biodiversity that fall outside the normal realm of human perception. in the North American Cordillera between the Sierra Madre Introduction Occidental and the Colorado Plateau – Southern Rocky The “Sky Island” region of the Madrean Archipelago (lo- Mountains (figure 1). This part of the Cordillera has been cre- cated between the northern Sierra Madre Occidental in Mexico ated by the interactions between the Pacific, North American, and the Colorado Plateau/Rocky Mountains in the Southwest- Farallon (now entirely subducted under North America) and ern United States) is an area of exceptional biodiversity and has Juan de Fuca plates and is rich in geology features, including become an important study area for geoecology, biology, and major plateaus (The Colorado Plateau), large elevated areas conservation management.
    [Show full text]