1. Flora, Fauna, and Ecology of the Southwest
Sherry S. Herron, Ph.D.

2. The Chihuahuan Desert: from Grasslands to Badlands
Native grasslands have been damaged or destroyed by
Activities of introduced species: goat, sheep and cattle grazing
Growth of introduced trees: tamarisk/saltcedar from Asia planted for streambank stabilization has resulted in drop in water table
Growth of introduced grasses: buffelgrass, Lehman’s lovegrass, and King Ranch bluestem from Africa planted for cattle forage is crowding out native plants
“Grasslands not Badlands” project seeks to restore ecosystem

3. River Floodplain
The Rio Grande once supported an abundance of trees that were harvested during the mercury mining era to fuel the ore-processing furnaces.
Cane
Cottonwoods
Mesquite

4. Desert Wash
Localized and intense thunderstorms occurring during the summer result in extreme erosion. These trees can survive a raging “river-in-waiting”: desert willow, mesquite, persimmon, acacia, leadtree, Mexican buckeye, and purple ceniza.

5. Shrub Desert
Low elevation, gravel and rock substrate, brutal heat and dryness.
Plants are widely spaced, reduce surface area and protect it from UV radiation, flower quickly: lotebush, creosotebush, tarbush, althorn, cacti, ocotillo (in sandalwood family), leatherstem, lechuguilla.

6. Sotol Grasslands
Higher in elevation than the shrub desert, perennial grasses live dormant and then green up during summer rains: black, chino, and side oats grama grass; yuccas, century plants (blooms once when about 50 years old and then dies), giant dagger, and sotol.

7. Woodlands
Sky islands receiving moisture from clouds support Douglas fir, Arizona pine, maples, quaking aspen, juniper, oaks – often in populations found nowhere else on Earth.

8. Mountain Lions
Felis concolor “cat all of one color”, this top carnivore is essential in maintaining biological diversity.
Solitary, secretive, and aggressive.
Don’t run! Convince the lion that you are not prey.

9. Black Bears
After plunging to the brink of extinction, numbers are rising.
Omnivores with a keen sense of smell. We must use bear boxes.

10. Javelina
AKA Collared peccaries; they are not pigs (can’t sweat and have fewer teeth).
In U.S., live only in west Texas, NM, and Arizona.
Mark their territory with fluid from a scent gland.
Can eat prickly pear cactus.
Flatten tents when away and use bear boxes.