Biology ETDs

Publication Date

9-30-1977

Abstract

The San Andres Mountains are a unique range. Their narrowness and relatively small mass create environmental conditions that allow elements of the Chihuahuan Desert flora, Upper Sonoran Desert flora, and representatives of the southern Rocky Mountain flora to intermingle, forming an extremely diverse, mosaic pattern of dispersal. San Andres National Wildlife Refuge was studied floristically during the 1975 growing season. It is represented by 923 known species of vascular plants from four distinct topographical areas that span a 4000 to 8200 foot elevational range. The study resulted in 1422 collections from the San Andres Mountains. Specimens from the Refuge area housed in various herbaria and included in the study numbered 3663. A literature review added an additional 553 taxa that may occur in the Refuge area. An annotated checklist was prepared for taxa occurring in or expected to occur in the Refuge. The taxa were ranked into six categories based on their present distributional status. Of these categories: endangered taxa, with 25 members, representing 1.8% of the flora, and threatened taxa with 21 members, representing 1.5% of the flora, were defined in the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973. Definitions of the four additional categories were provided by the investigator. They are: (i) endangered populations, with 4 members, representing 0.3% of the flora, (ii) restricted range, with 524 members, representing 35.4% of the flora, (iii) moderate range, with 569 members, representing 38.6% of the flora, and (iv) wide range, with 333 members, representing 22.5% of the flora. One taxon was determined as new for the state. The rock cedar (Juniperus ashei Buchh.), was found growing near permanent springs at elevations of 5500 to 5800 feet. Some of the more interesting extensions of known ranges include: Astragalus nothoxys Gray, known from southwestern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona: Hymenoxys vaseyi (Gray) Cockll., known only from the Organ Mountains; Pediocactus papyracanthus (Engelm.) L. Benson, known to extend from northwestern to northcentral New Mexico; Perityle staurophylla (Barneby) Shinners, known only from Lincoln County, New Mexico; and Talinum brevifolium Torr., known from northwestern New Mexico, southeastern Utah, and northeastern Arizona.

Project Sponsors

Student Research Allocations Committee

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Biology

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

UNM Biology Department

First Committee Member (Chair)

William Clarence Martin

Second Committee Member

James Roman Gosz

Third Committee Member

Clifford Smeed Crawford

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