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Natural Ecosystems

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Book cover Assessment of Climate Change in the Southwest United States

Part of the book series: NCA Regional Input Reports ((NCARIR))

Abstract

The Southwest’s high species richness of diverse groups of plants and animals (Kier et al. 2009) in part reflects the considerable geographic and seasonal variation in climate within the region (see Figure 4.1). For example, the difference in absolute minimum and maximum temperatures at a given location within a year can be as much as 113 F (45 C) in the interior of the Southwest and as little as 59°F (15°C) near the coast. High elevations in the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains receive 39 inches to 79 inches (100 cm to 200 cm) of precipitation annually, whereas low elevations receive less than 4 inches (10 cm).

Chapter citation: Fleishman, E., J. Belnap, N. Cobb, C. A. F. Enquist, K. Ford, G. MacDonald, M. Pellant, T. Schoennagel, L. M. Schmit, M. Schwartz, S. van Drunick, A. L. Westerling, A. Keyser, and R. Lucas. 2013. “Natural Ecosystems.” In Assessment of Climate Change in the Southwest United States: A Report Prepared for the National Climate Assessment, edited by G. Garfin, A. Jardine, R. Merideth, M. Black, and S. LeRoy, 148–167. A report by the Southwest Climate Alliance. Washington, DC: Island Press.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of California, Davis, USA

    Erica Fleishman & Mark Schwartz

  2. U.S. Geological Survey, USA

    Jayne Belnap

  3. Northern Arizona University, USA

    Neil Cobb & Lara M. Schmit

  4. USA National Phenology Network/The Wildlife Society, USA

    Carolyn A. F. Enquist

  5. Bureau of Land Management, USA

    Karl Ford & Mike Pellant

  6. University of California, Los Angeles, USA

    Glen MacDonald

  7. University of Colorado, USA

    Tania Schoennagel & Suzanne van Drunick

  8. University of California, Merced, USA

    Anthony LeRoy Westerling, Alisa Keyser & Ryan Lucas

  9. Arizona State University, USA

    John Sabo

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  1. Erica Fleishman
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of the Environment, University of Arizona, N. Park Ave Ste. 532 845, 85721, Tucson, Arizona, USA

    Gregg Garfin

  2. University of Arizona, USA

    Angela Jardine , Robert Merideth , Mary Black  & Sarah LeRoy , ,  & 

Endnotes

Endnotes

  1. i

    The ecological systems were grouped into nine land-cover classes (alpine tundra; wetland, riparian, or playa; shrubland; sparsely vegetated or barren; forest; grassland or prairie; open water; developed or agriculture; and disturbed land).

  2. ii

    Located near Gothic, Colorado, at an elevation of around 9,500 feet (2,900 meters).

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Fleishman, E. et al. (2013). Natural Ecosystems. In: Garfin, G., Jardine, A., Merideth, R., Black, M., LeRoy, S. (eds) Assessment of Climate Change in the Southwest United States. NCA Regional Input Reports. Island Press, Washington, DC. https://doi.org/10.5822/978-1-61091-484-0_8

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