Extreme Succulent Plant Diversity on Cerro Colorado Near San Ignacio, Baja California Sur

• Published in: Biodiversity, Ecosystems, And Conservation In Northern Mexico
• Main Authors: Dimmitt, Mark A., Wiens, John F., Devender, Thomas R. Van
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Oxford University Press 25.08.2005
• Subjects: Biodivsersity and Conservation Biology; Invertebrates; Plant Sciences and Forestry; peninsula; flora; creates; Beauchamp; proximity; southward
• ISBN: 9780195156720; 0195156722
• DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780195156720.003.0013

The Baja California peninsula is rich in plant spe-cies, many of which are endemics. The first flora (Wiggins 1980) listed nearly 3000 taxa. Subsequent work has increased the estimate to 3676 taxa (R. Mitchel Beauchamp, compilation in progress), of which nearly one-third are endemic (Rebman 2001). The large flora obviously results from the extreme variability of habitats and climates, which in turn creates many ecological niches. Diversity is further augmented by proximity to the tropics. The peninsula spans 1270 km from the Mediterranean climate zone at 32.5° N southward through the horse latitudes and into the tropics at 23° N. The northern two-thirds receive winter rainfall, with the amount and dependability decreasing southward.