Sierra de la Laguna dry forests
The Sierra de la Laguna dry forests are a subtropical dry forest ecoregion of the southern Baja California Peninsula in Mexico.
Geography
The dry forests cover the lower elevations of the Sierra de la Laguna, from elevation. They are surrounded at lower elevations by the San Lucan xeric scrub, which lies between sea level and elevation. Above 800 meters elevation, the dry forests transition to the subhumid and temperate Sierra de la Laguna pine-oak forests.Climate
The ecoregion has a warm and dry subtropical climate. Annual precipitation is generally less than 500 mm. The highest-rainfall months are late summer, from August to October, with peak annual precipitation in September.Flora
The characteristic vegetation is dry forest, composed of low trees and shrubs with an herbaceous understory. Many of the trees are deciduous, dropping their leaves during the dry season. The predominant tree species of the dry forests are the mauto, palo blanco, cajalosucho and palo zorrillo.Herbaceous plants are less prominent and include caribe, buena mujer, Solanum spp., and biznaga.
The endemic palm here is Brahea brandegeei, that occurs in washes and along streams.
Fauna
Bats in the ecoregion include the peninsular myotis, found only in the southern Baja Peninsula, and the Mexican long-tongued bat and lesser long-nosed bat, which are important pollinators for some desert plants.Other native animals include the peninsular mule deer, white-tailed antelope squirrel, acorn woodpecker, red-spotted toad, and Baja California chorus frog.
Dalquest's pocket mouse, the Baja California slider, and the Cape arboreal spiny lizard are restricted to the southern Baja California Peninsula. The San Lucan gecko is restricted to the southern peninsula and adjacent islands in the gulf.