New Mexico Geological Society Downloaded from: http://nmgs.nmt.edu/publications/guidebooks/15 Some aspects of the natural historyof the Capitan and Jicarilla mountains and Sierra Blanca region of New Mexico William C. Martin, 1964, pp. 171-176 in: Ruidoso Country (New Mexico), Ash, S. R.; Davis, L. R.; [eds.], New Mexico Geological Society 15th Annual Fall Field Conference Guidebook, 195 p. This is one of many related papers that were included in the 1964 NMGS Fall Field Conference Guidebook. Annual NMGS Fall Field Conference Guidebooks Every fall since 1950, the New Mexico Geological Society (NMGS) has held an annual Fall Field Conference that explores some region of New Mexico (or surrounding states). Always well attended, these conferences provide a guidebook to participants. Besides detailed road logs, the guidebooks contain many well written, edited, and peer-reviewed geoscience papers. 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In this article certain aspects of the natural history Additional geographic features of the area include of the Capitan and Jicarilla Mountains and Sierra several relatively small mountains such as Carrizo Peak Blanca region of southcentral New Mexico are discussed more than 9,600 feet high, Potos Mountain, approxi- and some items of interest regarding this area are indi- mately 8,400 feet, and several lower masses such as the cated. The primary interest and experience of the author Godfrey Hills lying between Sierra Blanca and Tularosa is developed along botanical lines. Therefore, the plant Basin to the west. Thus, the general character of this life of this region is given the most attention, but some region is that of a series of peaks, ridges, and hills sep- mention also is made of the animal life, primarily that arated by high plateaus. of the mammals. Appreciation is extended to Dr. Clyde It is important to keep some continuity between Jones, Assistant Curator, Museum of Southwestern Biol- types of organisms mentioned and certain measurable ogy, for his comments and helpful criticism of the man- features of the terrain such as altitude. Therefore, the uscript. approach in this article is that of characterizing or list- For a long time the Capitan and Jicarilla Moun- ing a variety of the organisms that can be expected to tains, Sierra Blanca, the surrounding plains, and the low- exist in each of several altitudinal associations or zones. lands have continued to arouse the interest of naturalists These associations can be roughly compared with the and biologists. Botanists, in particular, have long recog- well-known life zones but no special attempt is made nized this region as one possessing unusual floristic here to follow the life-zone concept with any degree of characteristics. For example, a number of taxa described exactness because certain features, such as direction of from this area in the late nineteenth century and the exposure and availability of moisture, greatly modify early twentieth century are recognized as being endemic the altitudinal range in which organisms can exist. to this part of the State. This relatively high proportion The associations discussed in this paper are based of endemics is probably a reflection of long-time isola- primarily on vegetational as well as altitudinal criteria, tion of this group of mountains from other mountain and include the desert grassland, pinyon-juniper, transi- masses, thus providing many taxa with the opportunity tion, spruce-fir, and alpine associations. This paper pre- to evolve independently from their counterparts else- sents first the desert grassland association and proceeds where. step-by-step through successively higher associations to The Capitan and Jicarilla Mountains, and Sierra the alpine situation. A map of the area (fig. 1) is included Blanca are of additional interest due to an ecological to give the reader a general idea of the extent and dis- potential for the development of a very diversified flora tribution of the associations under discussion. The map and fauna. Few areas anywhere have such a variety of indicates the position of the major peaks and their ap- habitats to offer, and rarer still are those places that proximate altitudes, as well as other points of reference. exhibit as many life zones in so small a space. Altitudes The crosssection (fig. 2) shows the vertical extent and range from 4,500 feet in the vicinity of Tularosa and briefly summarizes the important biological characteris- the Tularosa Basin to more than 12,000 feet at the top tics of each association. of Sierra Blanca Peak called "Old Baldy" by natives of the region. Extensive areas, such as the ridge of the DESERT GRASSLAND ASSOCIATION Capitan Mountains and other peaks in the vicinity reach altitudes considerably above 9,000 feet. A relative small section of the study area is in the The amount and distribution of precipitation so-called desert grassland association, mostly west of the throughout this area also is an important factor in the main mountain mass. The desert grassland includes the development of the widely diversified flora and fauna territory between an altitude of 4,500 feet at the edge of as are found here. Rainfall certainly is not especially the Tularosa Basin and an altitude of 6,000 feet at the plentiful anywhere in this region, but the Jicarilla and base of the Jicarilla Mountains to the north and in the Capitan Mountains are somewhat more xeric than Sierra vicinity of Bent to the south. A few areas east of Sierra Blanca. This condition is probably due to the lower al- Blanca can (also roughly) be designated as desert grass- titude reached by both the Jicarillas and the Capitans land, but, for the most part, these are located near the and partly to the smaller masses of these ranges. In upper limits of the altitudinal range indicated for this association. Associate Professor of Biology, Curator of the Herbarium, The section of the desert grassland bordering in the Museum of Southwestern Biology. Tularosa Basin, although almost treeless, supports a num- 171 + + +4+4 + + \!/ t + ++ / I N + + +y 4- 4- + + 4. -4- + + ++ + JICARILLA MTS T + + + t ANCHO PEAK + 1\ ++ 8200 + ++ 7_++ 4+ 4- + +++, • + 4+ \ I / +a. 4-+ 4-,-/i:-1)0TOS MTN,?!. White Oaks 0 +++ ++ o 0 ° CARRIZO MTN 4- -4- + + --1- -t- I- + -I- 0 0 4- . -1- 4. -8- 1 + -F- -I- ± -4- 0 4. +9600 ++ ++ CAPITAN MTS. + -4- 4- + -4- + o + ± + + + .t. / I \ + ,, , .' 0 4- + 4. "t" ± 4- 4- + 4- 4-GANPI TA PEAK. o + + +++ ,0- 0 0 Alpine-suba pine o 0 4 0 0 0 • Spruce-fir :4:+,+ 4.. Transition $4.r; Pinyon-juniper -0 0 00 0 000 0 00 0 Desert grassland Figure 1. Map showing the general distribution of life associations in Sierra Blanca and the Jicarilla and Capitan Mountains of New Mexico. Y - COUNTY — —1 IPCO301e Anch .Ns : 0 r___ —J c,-.,, ,,,:s / " CY.: . l•■ e , White Ook :Potos e I mtn : ... ..f.C m,o rrno z o: 0110 I ,s, •• , CARRIZOZO • , P I T4 N oUN 4 /Ns .ty Co pit on (380) Lincoln Oscuro Lookout Mtn ondo Ruidoeo Downs Ruidosoz Three LINCOLN COUNTY 1 Rivers OTERO COUNTY Polorito Mountoin LINCOLN rHAVES EXPLANATION _ •_ First Doy Second Day Third Doy ce Stops on Route 15th FIELD CONFERENCE OF NEW MEXICO GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY RUIDOSO COUNTRY SOUTHCENTRAL NEW MEXICO, OCTOBER 16, 17, 18, 1964 (See route of conference on reverse. side) A highlight of this field conference will be a gondola lift ride up Lookout Mountain from which a spectacular view extends 200 miles in all directions. At the summit (11,400 feet) Dr. Vincent C. Kelley will explain the regional geology. Headquarters for the three days of the conference will be at the Chaparral Motel in Ruidoso Downs. Transportation oil the field trips will be by private car with provisions made for those without transportation. There will be no catered meals. Stops will be made at places in the conference area that cover stratigraphy, paleontology, regional and local structures, geomorphology, petrology of igneous rocks, mineral deposits and water resources. The hardbound guidebook ($9.00), contains 18 road logs and 21 articles.