Biomes of Mexico: Main Characteristics

The biomes of Mexico They are the various regions of the Aztec geography that share similar characteristics in climate, fauna and flora. Its diversity covers vast deserts, tropical forests, mangroves and alpine ecosystems, among others. Mexico is one of the countries with the greatest biological diversity in the world.

In all its ecosystems a great variety of reptiles and mammals is sheltered, as well as thousands of other types of fauna. Due to the geographical characteristics of the Mexican Republic, it presents both aquatic biomes and terrestrial biomes. The former are subdivided into freshwater biomes and saltwater biomes.

The pattern used to differentiate aquatic biomes is the degree of salinity of their waters. As regards terrestrial biomes, the following are distinguished: alpine tundra, desert, chaparral, conifer forest, tropical rain forest, rainforest, grassland and steppes.

Main characteristics

Alpine tundra

The alpine tundra is the coldest of the biomes in Mexico. One of its dominant characteristics is the low annual pluviometricity (from 150 mm to 250 mm). This makes the tundra similar to a desert.

Even so, the tundra is usually a humid place because the low temperatures cause the evaporation of the water to be slow. The winters of the tundra are long, dark and cold. Their average temperatures are below 0 ° C for 6 to 10 months a year.

The temperatures are so cold that there is a permanently frozen layer of soil, called permafrost, below the surface. This permafrost is a particular feature of the tundra biome.

In the Mexican geography you can find examples of alpine tundra in the heights of the volcanoes Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl, the Pico de Orizaba, Nevado de Colima and Nevado de Toluca.

Flora

The vegetation in the tundra has adapted to the cold. The mosses and lichens are representative of this biome. The few trees that grow in this ecosystem do not reach considerable heights.

Fauna

The fauna of this biome is integrated by hares, teporingos (a variety of rabbits), rattlesnakes, among others.

Desert

The desert represents one of the largest biomes in Mexico. This ecosystem corresponds to the desert of Sonora, the Chihuahuan of the north and the north of central Mexico.

It is characterized by a very dry climate. The days are hot and the nights cold. Rainfall is much less than 250 mm per year and the soils are porous.

Flora

With respect to the flora, it is composed of thorny bushes and shrubs, some cacti, small flowers and other succulents.

Fauna

As part of its fauna are mice and other rodents, lizards, snakes, toads, small birds, owls and a variety of insects.

Chaparral

Another of the biomes of Mexico is the chaparral. This biome is present in the regions of California and the northwestern coast of Mexico.

In this ecosystem, daily temperatures can be extreme, reaching 42 ° C. In addition, the diurnal variation of the temperature can be wide (up to 20 ° C). The average annual temperature ranges between 12 ° C and 26 ° C.

Flora

Regarding flora, xerophilous trees dominate. You can also find chestnut trees strawberry, chamizos, manzanita and oak.

In these areas of low rainfall, the plants have adapted to the drought conditions. Many plants have small, needle-shaped leaves that help conserve water. Some have leaves with waxy coatings and leaves that reflect sunlight.

Several plants have developed fire-resistant adaptations to survive the frequent fires that occur during the dry season.

Fauna

The chaparral hosts different kinds of animals such as rats, lizards, chochil (bird), squirrels, ducks, and lizards.

Coniferous forest

In this Mexican biome, which covers most of the Sierra Madre Occidental, l temperatures fall below freezing during winter and can be considerably high in summer.

Flora

The vegetation is composed predominantly of coniferous trees. Another feature of this biome are its soils rich in humus.

Fauna

This ecosystem is inhabited, among others, by large mammals such as deer, elk and caribou. There are also small rodents such as mice, hares and red squirrels. Similarly, several species of predators such as lynxes, foxes and bears form part of the environment.

Tropical Rainforest

Tropical rainforests represent one of the biomes of Mexico. They are located near the coastline of Mexico.

This type of climate is representative of southern Veracruz and Tabasco and in the highlands of Oaxaca and Chiapas.

Its average annual temperature is 28 ° C, and they receive frequent and abundant rains. However, their soils are thin and sometimes acidic and with few nutrients.

Flora

The flora of this Mexican biome is dominated by grasses, sporadic scrub and small forests in some areas.

Fauna

The fauna presents an enormous biodiversity that includes exotic and colorful insects, amphibians, reptiles and a variety of birds. In the same way, lizards, parrots, snakes, macaques, monkeys, tigers and jaguars coexist.

Wet jungle

This biome is distributed in the areas of Tabasco, south of the Yucatan Peninsula and the Sierra de Chiapas. It can also be found in other smaller areas, such as the Sierra Madre del Sur in the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero.

These regions receive abundant rainfall throughout the year and withstand high temperatures. The average rainfall exceeds 200 cm per year, and the average temperature remains above 18 ° C.

Flora

The rain causes the plants to maintain their green foliage throughout the year. In this biome a great variety of trees and palm is observed, as well as orchids, ferns, bromeliads, mosses and lichens.

Fauna

As for the fauna, the area is home to spider monkeys, anteaters, raccoons, deer and other species. Of the birds, the most outstanding are the solitary eagle, the scarlet macaw and the royal toucan.

In addition, reptiles such as turtles, iguanas, boas, snakes and several species of frogs, toads and salamanders inhabit the area.

Meadow

The prairie biome can be found in the northern part of Mexico. It is characterized by a slightly undulating topography and the predominant vegetation is low, between 60 and 90 cm.

The dry season is pronounced and long (6 to 9 months). The average annual temperature ranges between 12 and 20 ° C and the average annual rainfall ranges from 30 to 60 cm. The rains are abundant during the winter season.

Flora

The flora consists of several species of grass, sporadic shrubs and, in some areas, occasional forests.

Fauna

The characteristic fauna includes large ruminant mammals: bison, deer and wild horses. Similarly, carnivores such as wolves, coyotes and pumas are part of this ecosystem.

Steppes

The steppes are located in the areas of Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Durango and some regions of Zacatecas and San Luis Potosí.

This biome is of the continental arid type, with great thermal variation between summer and winter and with little rainfall (less than 50 cm per year).

Flora

This ecological landscape belongs to the biomes of Mexico with herbaceous flora. This flora is complemented with xerophilous plants and numerous varieties of cactus.

Fauna

In this area there are rodents, quail, coyotes, rabbits, armadillos and pumas, as well as a great variety of insects, snakes and reptiles.

Freshwater biomes

They represent one of the two types of biomes in Mexico related to water resources. It is divided into a lotic ecosystem (waters in movement) and a lentic ecosystem (stagnant waters).

In rivers, lakes, springs and wetlands (lotic ecosystem) the characteristic flora are mosses, algae and other aquatic plants. The fauna is made up of eels, beavers, otters, dolphins and several species of fish.

In the lakes, ponds, swamps and puddles (lentic ecosystem), the flora and fauna change according to the characteristics of the waters.

For both types of ecosystems, a wide variety of frogs and plant species of marsh grasses are common.

Salt water biomes

Salt water biomes include coasts, oceans and seas. The coastal condition in two oceans gives Mexico a variety of flora and fauna.

There is a great variety of tropical fish in some areas of the Gulf of Mexico and off the east coast of the Yucatan peninsula.

On the Pacific coast of Mexico, seals, dolphins, elephant seals and sea lions reside. Mexico is a temporary residence of humpback whales and gray whales (Gulf of California and Pacific Ocean).

The benthic zone (deepest part of the ocean) is an area with limited light and oxygen. Consequently, there live in symbiosis some coral species, aquatic plants and other little-known life forms.

References

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