Country Mexico Climate type Mediterranean | State Baja California Area 4,000 km² | |
 | ||
Biome Temperate coniferous forest | ||
The Sierra Juárez and San Pedro Mártir pine-oak forests is an ecoregion, in the Temperate coniferous forests biome, that covers the higher elevations of the Sierra Juárez and Sierra San Pedro Mártir ranges, of the Peninsular Ranges, in the northern Baja California Peninsula of Mexico, near the border with California (United States).
Contents
Setting
The ecoregion covers an area of 4,000 km2 (1,500 sq mi). It lies at the southeastern extent of the Mediterranean climate region that covers much of California and the northwestern corner of Baja California, and the climate is temperate with winter rains.
The pine-oak forests are bounded by the southern extent of the California chaparral and woodlands to the west, by the Baja California Desert to the southwest, and by the Sonoran Desert to the east.
Flora
These forests are predominantly pine, juniper, fir, and oak. Ten pine species can be found in the ranges, including Tamarack Pine (Pinus contorta subsp. murrayana), Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana), Parry Pinyon (Pinus quadrifolia), along with White Fir (Abies concolor subsp. lowiana), and California Incense Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens). Oak species include Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia), Engelmann Oak (Quercus engelmannii), Canyon Live Oak (Quercus chrysolepis), Baja Oak (Quercus peninsularis)., and Island Oak (Quercus tomentella). There are also several isolated strands of aspens (Populus tremuloides) on the higher altitudes.
Tecate Cypress (Cupressus forbesii) and San Pedro Martir Cypress (Cupressus arizonica subsp. Montana) are found in scattered groves across the range. The Sierra Juárez and San Pedro Mártir pine-oak forests are near the southern limit of the distribution of the California Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera). The higher portions of these Peninsular Ranges harbor many rare and endemic species.