History of vegetation and climate in the Puerto Blanco Mountains, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, southwestern Arizona
Van Devender TR. 1985. History of vegetation and climate in the Puerto Blanco Mountains, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, southwestern Arizona
Twenty-one packrat (Neotoma) midden samples were collected from the Puerto Blanco Mountains in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. The packrat midden series records a series of plant communities from a Late Wisconsin California juniper-Joshua Tree woodland through a series of Holocene Sonoran desertscrub communities culminating in the modern subtropical brittle bush - foothills palo verde - Mexican jumping bean organ pipe cactus association about 4000 years ago. The major vegetation changes in the lower Puerto Blanco Mountains since the last glacial age recorded in the ancient packrat middens are discussed. Other sections include: comparison with other areas, paleoclimates, and discussion. Figures and tables.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Van Devender, Thomas
- Date of Issue
- 1985-11
- Units
- ORPI
- Keywords
- Climate, Fossils, macrofossils, Packrat Middens, Paleobotany, Paleoclimate, Paleoenvironment, Plant Communities, Puerto Blanco Mountains (ORPI), Vegetation