Papigochic Flora and Fauna Protection Area
Papigochic Flora and Fauna Protection Area is a protected area in Chihuahua state of Mexico. It covers an area of 2227.64 km2 in the eastern Sierra Madre Occidental. To the northwest it adjoins Tutuaca Flora and Fauna Protection Area.
Flora and fauna
According to the National Biodiversity Information System of Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad in Papigochic Flora and Fauna Protection Area there are over 665 plant and animal species from which 40 are in at risk category and 14 are exotics.The flora and fauna protection area protects a portion of the Sierra Madre Occidental pine–oak forests. Forests and woodlands of oak and pine are the characteristic communities.
Pine forests are found in the high elevation portion of the Sierra Tarahumara between 2400 and 3200 meters elevation. Characteristic species include Pinus arizonica, Pinus engelmannii, Pinus durangensis, Pinus durangensis var. quinquefoliata, Pinus ayacahuite, Pinus leiophylla, and Pinus lumholtzii. Other conifers include Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir, Abies durangensis, Abies concolor, Cupressus arizonica, and Juniperus deppeana. Associated oaks include Quercus rugosa, Quercus sideroxyla, and Quercus crassifolia. Other broadleaf trees include Arbutus xalapensis, Arbutus arizonica, Fraxinus gooddingii, Populus tremuloides, and Prunus serotina.
Oak woodland is found at lower elevations on the eastern side of the Sierra, particularly on east- and southeast-facing slopes. Trees range from 5 to 15 meters high, with a more open canopy. The dominant oaks are Quercus sideroxyla, Quercus arizonica, and Quercus durifolia. Madroño is also prominent. Associated pines include Pinus engelmannii, Pinus leiophyla, Pinus leiophyla var. chihuahuana, Pinus lumholtzii, and Pinus arizonica, and Juniperus monosperma is also present. Understory herbs and grasses include Penstemon campanulatus, Lupinus marschallianus, Pteridium aquilinum, Packera candidissima, Taraxacum officinale, Piptochaetium afimbriatum, Muhlenbergia montana, Bouteloua gracilis, Zuloagaea bulbosa, and Bromus anomalus.
Papigochic is home to 126 species of birds, of which five are threatened species, and 3 are endangered. Native birds include the thick-billed parrot, bald eagle, Cooper's hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, zone-tailed hawk, peregrine falcon common black hawk, Gould's wild turkey, Clark's nutcracker, eared quetzal, Mexican spotted owl, Montezuma quail, Arizona woodpecker, American dipper, Townsend's solitaire, brown-backed solitaire, Sinaloa martin, and Aztec thrush.
Native mammals include the American black bear Abert's squirrel, Sierra Madre ground squirrel, and southern flying squirrel.
Native fishes include the Mexican stoneroller, Yaquí sucker, and bicolor minnow.