STEPPES TO THE DESERT
  • Home
  • Natural History
    • Geology and Climate of Arizona
    • Vegetation
    • Reptiles and Amphibians
    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Fishes
  • Deserts
    • Lower Sonoran Desert
    • Upper Sonoran Desert
    • Chihuahuan desert
    • Mohave Desert
    • Great Basin Desert
  • Interior Chaparral
  • Grasslands
    • Semi Desert Grassland >
      • Vegetation
      • Reptiles
      • Mammals
    • Plains or Short Grass Prairie
    • Alpine Grasslands
  • Forests
    • Pinyon Juniper/Great Basin Woodland
    • Madrean/Pine Oak Woodland
    • Ponderosa Pine
    • Mixed Conifer/Spruce Fir

Glossary​

Glossary

As outlined in the general text, identified by italics and underline and a hyperlink
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Biotic communities (or Life Zones) C. Hart Merriam defined biotic communities any assemblage of plant or animal populations living in a prescribed area or physical habitat, defined by common plant or animal species, and limited by common environmental factors.  These environmental factors are generally climate, but can include soil type, aspect, etc.
Keystone Species. a species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically.

Temperate Climate. (Tepid) areas of the earth from middle latitudes, milder, but with distinct seasonal changes when compared to tropical where little change occurs.
The Mission of Steppes to the Desert is a non commercial effort to educate people on the biodiversity of the Arizona and the surrounding areas in the Southwest United States and Mexico.  Our long term goal is to make people more excited to learn more, and be more impressed with the flora and fauna around them.  Our pragmatic goal is to make "voters"more informed. 
Arizona and much of the Southwest is often thought of a broad expanse of arid deserts with little to no life.  Although deserts abound, that is a poor misconception of the diversity of in Arizona.  In fact, Arizona had the third highest number of plants and animals of the 50 states.   
  • Home
  • Natural History
    • Geology and Climate of Arizona
    • Vegetation
    • Reptiles and Amphibians
    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Fishes
  • Deserts
    • Lower Sonoran Desert
    • Upper Sonoran Desert
    • Chihuahuan desert
    • Mohave Desert
    • Great Basin Desert
  • Interior Chaparral
  • Grasslands
    • Semi Desert Grassland >
      • Vegetation
      • Reptiles
      • Mammals
    • Plains or Short Grass Prairie
    • Alpine Grasslands
  • Forests
    • Pinyon Juniper/Great Basin Woodland
    • Madrean/Pine Oak Woodland
    • Ponderosa Pine
    • Mixed Conifer/Spruce Fir