The Sierra Juárez and San Pedro Mártir pine–oak forests is a Nearctic temperate coniferous forests ecoregion that covers the higher elevations of the Sierra Juárez and Sierra San Pedro Mártir ranges of the Peninsular Ranges, of the northern Baja California Peninsula of Mexico.[1] The pine–oak forests extend throughout the central portion of the Mexican state of Baja California and terminate near the border with the U.S. state of California.

Sierra Juárez and San Pedro Mártir pine–oak forests
Ecology
Realm	Nearctic
Biome	Temperate coniferous forests
Borders	Baja California Desert, California coastal sage and chaparral, and Sonoran Desert
Geography
Area	4,000 km2 (1,500 sq mi)
Country	Mexico
State	Baja California
Rivers	Tijuana River
Climate type	Mediterranean

Setting

The pine–oak forests cover an area of 4,000 km² (1,500 sq mi), bounded by the southern extent of the California chaparral and woodlands to the west, by the Baja California Desert to the southwest, and by the Sonoran Desert to the east. It lies at the southeastern extent of the Mediterranean climate region that covers much of California and the northwestern corner of Baja California, and the climate is temperate with winter rains. It is one of the southernmost ecoregions of the temperate coniferous forest biome in North America, and the only instance of this biome in Mexico.

Flora

These forests are predominantly pine, juniper, fir, and oak. Ten pine species can be found in the ranges, including Tamarack Pine (Pinus contorta subsp. murrayana), Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana), Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jefferyi) Parry Pinyon (Pinus quadrifolia), along with White Fir (Abies concolor subsp. lowiana), and California Incense Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens).[2] Oak species include Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia), Engelmann Oak (Quercus engelmannii), Canyon Live Oak (Quercus chrysolepis), Baja Oak (Quercus peninsularis), and Island Oak (Quercus tomentella). There are also several isolated strands of aspens (Populus tremuloides) on the higher altitudes.^{[citation needed]}

Tecate Cypress (Cupressus forbesii) and San Pedro Martir Cypress (Cupressus arizonica subsp. Montana) are found in scattered groves across the range. The Sierra Juárez and San Pedro Mártir pine–oak forests are near the southern limit of the distribution of the California Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera).[3] The higher portions of these Peninsular Ranges harbor many rare and endemic species.

See also

• List of ecoregions in Mexico

References