| Baja California desert | |
|---|---|
 Baja California desert nearCataviña | |
 Location of the Baja California desert | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Nearctic |
| Biome | Deserts and xeric shrublands |
| Borders | |
| Geography | |
| Area | 76,296 km2 (29,458 sq mi) |
| Country | Mexico |
| States | |
| Conservation | |
| Conservation status | Relatively stable/intact |
| Global 200 | Yes |
| Protected | 45,940 km2 (60%)[1] |
TheBaja California desert (Spanish:desierto de Baja California) is adesertecoregion ofMexico'sBaja California peninsula.[2] This ecoregion occupies the western portion of the Baja California peninsula, and occupies most of theMexican states ofBaja California Sur andBaja California. It covers 77,700 square kilometers (30,000 square miles). The climate is dry, but its proximity of the Pacific Ocean provides humidity and moderates the temperature. The flora mostly consists ofxeric shrubs and over 500species of recordedvascular plants.
The Baja California desert ecoregion lies on the western portion of theBaja California peninsula and occupies most of theMexican states ofBaja California andBaja California Sur. The ecoregion covers 77,700 square kilometers (30,000 square miles) and includes most of the Peninsula's western slope. It is bounded on the west by thePacific Ocean and on the east by thePeninsular Ranges, and extends from approximately 31º to 24º north. Elevations vary, and include mountain ranges on the western central part (1,000 to 1,500 metres or 3,300 to 4,900 feet), plains of middle elevation (300 to 600 metres or 1,000 to 2,000 feet), and vast extensions of coastal dunes.
North of 30° north latitude on the Pacific slope, the Baja California desert transitions to theCalifornia coastal sage and chaparral. TheSierra Juárez and San Pedro Mártir pine–oak forests occupy the higher Peninsular Ranges to the north, where a number of tree species are found including the near-threatenedCalifornia fan palm.[3] TheSonoran Desert lies to the northeast. TheGulf of California xeric scrub lies east of the Peninsular Ranges and to the south.
The climate is dry and mostlysubtropical with the southernmost parts beingtropical. Although rainfall is low, the Pacific Ocean provides some humidity and moderates the temperature compared to theSonoran Desert, which lies on the east slope of the Peninsular Ranges.
The ecoregion is mostly covered byxericshrubs, which create varying associations based on elevation and soil conditions. The ecoregion has close to 500species ofvascular plants, of which a number areendemic, for example theBoojum tree (Fouquieria columnaris) orCreeping Devil (Stenocereus eruca).
The ecoregion has about 50 species of mammals. Large mammals includemule deer (Odocoileus hemionus),desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni),puma (Puma concolor), and the critically endangeredBaja California pronghorn (Antilocapra americana peninsularis). TheSan Quintin kangaroo rat (Dipodomys gravipes) andBaja California rock squirrel (Otospermophilus atricapillus) are endemic to the ecoregion.[4]
There are about 200 native bird species, includinggolden eagle (Aguila chrysaetos),peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus),crested caracara (Caracara cheriway),osprey (Pandion haliaeutus), andburrowing owl (Athene cunicularia). Millions of ducks and geese over-winter in the coastal lagoons, includingOjo de Liebre Lagoon,San Ignacio Lagoon, andMagdalena Bay.[4]
A 2017 assessment found that 45,940 kilometers squared, or 60 percent, of the ecoregion is in protected areas.[1] Protected areas includeEl Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve andValle de los Cirios Flora and Fauna Protection Area; both protected areas extend into the adjacent Gulf of California xeric scrub ecoregion.
