State of the Sonoran Desert Biome: Uniqueness, Biodiversity, Threats and the Adequacy of Protection in the Sonoran Bioregion

Table of Contents

• Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Regional Overview
• Stressors: Threats to Biodiversity
• In-Migration
• Population Increase
• Urbanization, Uncontrolled Growth and Habitat Fragmentation
• Recreation
• High Per Capita Consumption
• Water Diversion and Impoundment
• Groundwater Overdraft
• Agriculture
• Livestock Grazing
• Intentionally Planted Exotic Species
• Invasive Species
• Extractive Harvests
• Mining
• Habitat Fragmentation and Desert Ungulates
• Habitats, Processes and Species at Risk
• Adequacy of Current Measures to Protect Biodiversity
• Emerging Conservation Needs and Priorities
• What's Next?
• Credits

Figures

• Figure 1:
  Sonoran Desert Biotic Communities (from Brown 1982)
• Figure 2:
  Population Change between 1970 and 1990 in the Sonoran Desert Bioregion
• Figure 3:
  1990 Population Density in the Sonoran Desert Bioregion
• Figure 4:
  Major Dams and Agricultural Areas in the Sonoran Desert Bioregion
• Figure 5:
  The Impact of Dams, Water Diversion and Groundwater Pumping on Rivers in Arizona's Sonoran Desert
• Figure 6:
  Changes in Groundwater Levels in Selected Basins of the Sonoran Desert Bioregion
• Figure 7:
  Irrigated Cropland in Three Sonoran Desert States
• Figure 8:
  Cattle Numbers in Three Sonoran Desert States
• Figure 9:
  Cattle Density in the Sonoran Desert Bioregion
• Figure 10:
  Protected and Proposed Protected Areas in the Sonoran Desert Bioregion

Tables

• Table 1:
  Distribution of Endemic Plant Species of Peninsula and Islands
• Table 2:
  Stresses Negatively Affecting Biodiversity in the Sonoran Bioregion Listed In Order of Perceived Severity by 33 Field Scientists
• Table 3:
  1970 to 1990 Population Increase in the Sonoran Desert
• Table 4:
  Urban and Rural Populations in Three Sonoran Desert States
• Table 5:
  Recreational Use, its Negative Effects, and its Management in Selected Sonoran Desert Protected Areas
• Table 6:
  Exotic Animals Naturalized in the Sonoran Bioregion
• Table 7:
  The Most Problematic or Extensive Exotic Plants Invading the Sonoran Bioregion
• Table 8:
  Non-Timber Forest Harvests in Rural Production Units, 1990
• Table 9:
  Commercial Wild Plant "Forestry" Extraction in Sonora
• Table 10a:
  Protected Areas in the Mexican Portion of the Sonoran Desert Bioregion
• Table 10b:
  Protected Areas in the U.S. Portion of the Sonoran Desert Bioregion
• Table 11:
  Proposed Sonoran Desert Protected Areas in Sonora, Mexico
• Table 12:
  Adequacy of Formally Protected Areas to Protect Biodiversity in the Sonoran Bioregion
• Table 13:
  Worsening Threats, Vulnerable Species and Areas and Areas Meriting Protection in the Subregions of the Sonoran Bioregion

Appendices

• Appendix 1:
  Names and Affiliations of Respondents
• Appendix 2:
  State of the Desert Biome Surveys
• Appendix 3:
  Focal Species / Keystone Species Suggested by the Surveyed Scientists
• Appendix 4:
  Plants and Animals At Risk in the Sonoran Desert Bioregion
• Appendix 5:
  Distribution of Special Status Species of the Sonoran Desert in Arizona
• Appendix 6:
  Elements of Conservation Capacity in the Sonoran Desert Bioregion