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Ecoregions

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Albuquerque Basin

Ecoregion in NM

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Part of one of the deeper physiographic basins of the Rio Grande rift, the Albuquerque Basin ecoregion is lower in elevation, drier, and warmer than surrounding ecoregions to the north, east, and west. The basin is filled with thick sediments of mostly Quaternary and some Tertiary age, with a few areas of volcanic rocks and lava-capped mesas. Extending from the La Bajada Escarpment on the north to near Socorro in the south, the region contains some diverse features and transitional characteristics. Unlike most of Ecoregion 22 which has mesic soils, 22m has a largely thermic soil temperature regime. There is a mix of sand scrub and desert grassland vegetation. Native vegetation includes black grama, sand dropseed, mesa dropseed, blue grama, galleta, sand sage, alkali sacaton, threeawns, and scattered yucca. Juniper occurs primarily in the north. Urban and suburban land uses are spreading. The Santa Fe Group aquifer, the drinking water source for Albuquerque and most of the Middle Rio Grande Valley, has seen some groundwater declines in recent years, along with increases in contaminants.

— EPA

Silverleaf Nightshade Solanum elaeagnifolium (species)

61 Observations

Little Hogweed Portulaca oleracea (species), “Common Purslane”, “Moss Rose”, “Pig Weed”, “Pusley”, “Red Root”, “Verdolaga”

35 Observations

Chilopsis linearis SPECIES · “Desert Willow”

28 Observations

Vitex agnus-castus SPECIES · “Lilac Chastetree”, “Monk's Pepper”

25 Observations

Sunflower Helianthus annuus (species), “Sunflowers”, “Common Sunflower”

23 Observations

Common Side-Blotched Lizard Uta stansburiana (species), “Side-Blotched Lizard”

32 Observations

Southwestern Fence Lizard Sceloporus cowlesi (species)

15 Observations

Holbrookia maculata SPECIES · “Lesser Earless Lizard”

10 Observations

Roundtail Horned Lizard Phrynosoma modestum (species), “Round-Tailed Horned Lizard”

Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard Gambelia wislizenii (species), “Leopard Lizard”

House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus (species), “Mexican House Finch”

27,193 Observations

White-Winged Dove Zenaida asiatica (species)

18,946 Observations

House Sparrow Passer domesticus (species)

17,950 Observations

Lesser Goldfinch Spinus psaltria (species)

14,995 Observations

Rock Dove Columba livia (species), “Rock Pigeon”, “Common Pigeon”

14,853 Observations

Monarch Butterfly Danaus plexippus (species), “Monarch”, “Milkweed”, “Common Tiger”, “Wanderer”, “Black Veined Brown”, “Common Tiger Wanderer”

121 Observations

Western Honey Bee Apis mellifera (species), “Honey Bee”

17 Observations

Chauliognathus lewisi SPECIES

17 Observations

Aciurina trixa SPECIES

17 Observations

Rhopalomyia chrysothamni SPECIES

15 Observations

Taxonomy

Classified As

Albuquerque Basin

Albuquerque Basin

Albuquerque Basin