Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt pine-oak forests
Encyclopedia
The Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt pine-oak forests is a subtropical coniferous forest
ecoregion
of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt
of central Mexico
.
state in the west to Veracruz
in the east.
The pine-oak forests are surrounded by tropical dry forests
at lower elevations to the west, northwest, and south; the Jalisco dry forests to the west and southwest; the Balsas dry forests
to the south, in the basin of the Balsas River
, and the Bajío dry forests
to the northwest, in the basin of the Rio Grande de Santiago
and the lower Rio Lerma. The Central Mexican matorral
lies to the north of the range in the high basins of the Plateau, including the Valley of Mexico
and the upper reaches of the Lerma around Toluca
. The Tehuacan valley matorral
lies in the rain shadow
valley to the southeast in Puebla
and Tlaxcala
states. To the east, the moist Veracruz montane forests and Oaxacan montane forests are the transition between the pine-oak forests and the lowland tropical forests along the Gulf of Mexico
.
Pockets of montane grassland and shrubland
can be found among the pine-oak forests, and constitute a separate ecoregion, the Zacatonal
.
Pine forests are generally found between 2,275-2,600 meters elevation. Pine-oak forests occur between 2,470-2,600 meters elevation. Pine-cedar forests can be found above 2,700 meters elevation. Pine-fir forests occur above 3000 meters elevation.
In the pine forests, Montezuma Pine (Pinus montezumae) is generally predominant, with Smooth-bark Mexican Pine (Pinus pseudostrobus) predominant in more humid areas, and Hartweg's Pine
(Pinus hartwegii) and Pinus teocote
in dry areas with shallow soils.
Pine-fir forests are composed almost entirely of Hartweg's Pine (Pinus hartwegii) and Sacred Fir
(Abies religiosa).
(Romerolagus diazi) and the Mexican Volcano Mouse
(Neotomodon alstoni) are endemic
to the ecoregion.
and western México
[Mexican state]] is the winter habitat of Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus), which migrate from temperate regions of North America
east of the Rocky Mountains
. The Mariposa Monarca Biosphere Reserve
is within this habitat
.
Tropical and subtropical coniferous forests
Tropical and subtropical coniferous forests are a forest biome. They are located in regions of semi-humid climate at tropical and subtropical latitudes. Most tropical and subtropical coniferous forest ecoregions are found in the Nearctic and Neotropic ecozones, from Mexico to Nicaragua and on the...
ecoregion
Ecoregion
An ecoregion , sometimes called a bioregion, is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than an ecozone and larger than an ecosystem. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water, and contain characteristic, geographically distinct assemblages of natural...
of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt
Trans-Mexican volcanic belt
The Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt also known as the Transvolcanic Belt and locally as the Sierra Nevada , is a volcanic belt that extends 900 km from west to east across central-southern Mexico...
of central Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Setting
The Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt Pine-Oak Forests occupy an area of 91800 square kilometres (35,444.2 sq mi), extending from JaliscoJalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
state in the west to Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
in the east.
The pine-oak forests are surrounded by tropical dry forests
Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests
The tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forest biome, also known as tropical dry forest, is located at tropical and subtropical latitudes. Though these forests occur in climates that are warm year-round, and may receive several hundred centimeters of rain per year, they have long dry seasons...
at lower elevations to the west, northwest, and south; the Jalisco dry forests to the west and southwest; the Balsas dry forests
Balsas dry forests
The Balsas dry forests are a tropical dry broadleaf forest ecoregion of southern Mexico.-Setting:The Balsas dry forests occupy the basin of the Balsas River. the ecoregion covers an area of , extending across portions of Michoacan, Guerrero, Mexico, Morelos, Puebla, and Oaxaca states...
to the south, in the basin of the Balsas River
Balsas River
The Balsas River is a major river of south-central Mexico. The basin flows through the states of Puebla, Morelos, Guerrero, and Mexico. The river empties into the Pacific Ocean at Mangrove Point, adjacent to the city of Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán...
, and the Bajío dry forests
Bajío dry forests
The Bajío dry forests is a tropical dry broadleaf forest ecoregion of west-central Mexico.The Bajío dry forests lie in the southwestern portion of the Mexican Plateau...
to the northwest, in the basin of the Rio Grande de Santiago
Río Grande de Santiago
The Río Grande de Santiago is one of the longest rivers in Mexico, measuring up long. The river begins at Lake Chapala and continues roughly north-west through the Sierra Madre Occidental, receiving the Verde, Juchipila, Bolaños, and other tributaries...
and the lower Rio Lerma. The Central Mexican matorral
Central Mexican matorral
The Central Mexican matorral is an ecoregion of the Deserts and xeric shrublands Biome of central Mexico.-Setting:The Central Mexican matorral covers an area of on the southern portion of the Mexican Plateau....
lies to the north of the range in the high basins of the Plateau, including the Valley of Mexico
Valley of Mexico
The Valley of Mexico is a highlands plateau in central Mexico roughly coterminous with the present-day Distrito Federal and the eastern half of the State of Mexico. Surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, the Valley of Mexico was a centre for several pre-Columbian civilizations, including...
and the upper reaches of the Lerma around Toluca
Toluca
Toluca, formally known as Toluca de Lerdo, is the state capital of Mexico State as well as the seat of the Municipality of Toluca. It is the center of a rapidly growing urban area, now the fifth largest in Mexico. It is located west-southwest of Mexico City and only about 40 minutes by car to the...
. The Tehuacan valley matorral
Tehuacán Valley matorral
The Tehuacán Valley matorral is a xeric shrubland ecoregion, within the deserts and xeric shrublands biome, in central Mexico.-Setting:The ecoregion occupies the Tehuacán and Cuicatlán valleys, covering parts of Puebla and Oaxaca states. The valleys lie in the rain shadow of the surrounding...
lies in the rain shadow
Rain shadow
A rain shadow is a dry area on the lee side of a mountainous area. The mountains block the passage of rain-producing weather systems, casting a "shadow" of dryness behind them. As shown by the diagram to the right, the warm moist air is "pulled" by the prevailing winds over a mountain...
valley to the southeast in Puebla
Puebla
Puebla officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 217 municipalities and its capital city is Puebla....
and Tlaxcala
Tlaxcala
Tlaxcala officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tlaxcala is one of the 31 states which along with the Federal District comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided into 60 municipalities and its capital city is Tlaxcala....
states. To the east, the moist Veracruz montane forests and Oaxacan montane forests are the transition between the pine-oak forests and the lowland tropical forests along the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
.
Pockets of montane grassland and shrubland
Montane grasslands and shrublands
Montane grasslands and shrublands is a biome defined by the World Wildlife Fund. The biome includes high altitude grasslands and shrublands around the world....
can be found among the pine-oak forests, and constitute a separate ecoregion, the Zacatonal
Zacatonal
The Zacatonal is a montane grassland and shrubland ecoregion of central Mexico and Guatemala.-Description:The Zacatonal consists of several enclaves of grassland and shrubland occupying the highest peaks of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, covering about ....
.
Flora
The chief plant communities are pine forests, pine-oak forests, oak forests, pine-cedar forests, and pine-fir forests. The plant communities vary with elevation and rainfall.Pine forests are generally found between 2,275-2,600 meters elevation. Pine-oak forests occur between 2,470-2,600 meters elevation. Pine-cedar forests can be found above 2,700 meters elevation. Pine-fir forests occur above 3000 meters elevation.
In the pine forests, Montezuma Pine (Pinus montezumae) is generally predominant, with Smooth-bark Mexican Pine (Pinus pseudostrobus) predominant in more humid areas, and Hartweg's Pine
Hartweg's Pine
Hartweg's Pine, Pinus hartwegii; syn. P. rudis, P. donnell-smithii) is a pine native to the mountains of Mexico and Central America east to Honduras. It is a very high altitude species, growing at altitudes of 2500-4300 m, and forms the alpine tree line on most of Mexico's higher mountains. It is...
(Pinus hartwegii) and Pinus teocote
Pinus teocote
Pinus teocote is a species of conifer in the Pinaceae family.It is found only in Mexico. 20-30 m tall and 75 cm diameter. Straight trunk and dense top. It grows at 1500-3200 mm...
in dry areas with shallow soils.
Pine-fir forests are composed almost entirely of Hartweg's Pine (Pinus hartwegii) and Sacred Fir
Sacred Fir
Sacred Fir is a fir native to the mountains of central and southern Mexico and western Guatemala...
(Abies religiosa).
Fauna
The Volcano RabbitVolcano Rabbit
The Volcano Rabbit also known as teporingo or zacatuche is a small rabbit that resides in the mountains of Mexico. It is the world's second smallest rabbit, second only to the Pygmy Rabbit. It has small rounded ears, short legs, and short, thick fur. The Volcano Rabbit lives in groups of 2 to 5...
(Romerolagus diazi) and the Mexican Volcano Mouse
Mexican Volcano Mouse
The Mexican Volcano Mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae endemic to high elevations of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt.-Taxonomy and Systematics:...
(Neotomodon alstoni) are endemic
Endemic (ecology)
Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...
to the ecoregion.
Monarch butterflies
The Volcanic Belt pine-oak forests of eastern MichoacánMichoacán
Michoacán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia...
and western México
Mexico (state)
México , officially: Estado Libre y Soberano de México is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of the United Mexican States. It is divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Toluca de Lerdo....
[Mexican state]] is the winter habitat of Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus), which migrate from temperate regions of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
east of the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
. The Mariposa Monarca Biosphere Reserve
Mariposa Monarca Biosphere Reserve
The Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve is a conservation area and World Heritage Site within the wintering grounds of most of the monarch butterflies that migrate from east of the Rocky Mountains for up to 4,000 km south to central Mexico...
is within this habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
.