Insect Fossil Evidence of Late Quaternary Environments in the Northern Chihuahuan Desert of Texas and New Mexico: Comparisons with the Paleobotanical Record

1992 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott A. Elias ◽  
Thomas R. Van Devender
Keyword(s):  
New Mexico ◽  
Chihuahuan Desert ◽  
Late Quaternary ◽  
Fossil Evidence

scholarly journals Chronology of terraces in the Rio Grande rift, Socorro basin, New Mexico: Implications for terrace formation

Geosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 1457-1478
Author(s):  
Brad D. Sion ◽  
Fred M. Phillips ◽  
Gary J. Axen ◽  
J. Bruce J. Harrison ◽  
David W. Love ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Mexico ◽  
Late Quaternary ◽  
Rio Grande ◽  
New Age ◽  
Alluvial Fan ◽  
Rio Grande Rift ◽  
Arid Environments ◽  
Alluvial Deposits ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Geomorphic Surfaces

Abstract The Rio Grande rift hosts a remarkable record of Quaternary river incision preserved in an alluvial terrace sequence that has been studied for more than a century. However, our understanding of Rio Grande incision history in central New Mexico since the end of basin filling ca. 0.78 Ma remains hampered by poor age control. Robust correlations among Rio Grande terrace sequences in central and southern New Mexico are lacking, making it difficult to address important process-related questions about terrace formation in continental-scale river systems. We present new age controls using a combination of 40Ar/39Ar, 36Cl surface-exposure, and 14C dating techniques from alluvial deposits in the central New Mexico Socorro area to document the late Quaternary incision history of the Rio Grande. These new age controls (1) provide constraints to establish a firm foundation for Socorro basin terrace stratigraphy, (2) allow terrace correlations within the rift basin, and (3) enable testing of alternative models of terrace formation. We identified and mapped a high geomorphic surface interpreted to represent the end of basin filling in the Socorro area and five distinct, post–Santa Fe Group (ca. 0.78 Ma) alloformations and associated geomorphic surfaces using photogrammetric methods, soil characterization, and stratigraphic descriptions. Terrace deposits exhibit tread heights up to 70 m above the valley floor and are 5 to >30 m thick. Their fills generally have pebble-to-cobble bases overlain by fine-to-pebbly sand and local thin silt and clay tops. Alluvial-fan terraces and associated geomorphic surfaces grade to former valley levels defined by axial terrace treads. Carbon-14 ages from detrital charcoal above and below a buried tributary terrace tread show that the most recent aggradation event persisted until ca. 3 ka during the transition from glacial to modern climate conditions. Drill-log data show widespread valley fill ∼30 m thick that began aggrading after glacial retreat in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado (ca. 14 ka). Aggradation during this transition was likely due to hillslope destabilization, increased sediment yield, decreased runoff, and reduced stream competence. Chlorine-36 ages imply similar controls on earlier terraces that have surface ages of ca. 27–29, 64–70, and 135 ka, and suggest net incision during glacial expansions when increased runoff favored down-cutting and bedload mobilization. Our terrace chronology supports existing climate-response models of arid environments and links tributary responses to the axial Rio Grande system throughout the central Rio Grande rift. The terrace chronology also reflects a transition from modest (60 m/m.y.) to rapid (300 m/m.y.) incision between 610 and 135 ka, similar to patterns observed throughout the Rio Grande rift and the western United States in general.

Modeling Habitat Suitability for Small Mammals in Chihuahuan Desert Foothills of New Mexico

1998 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 989 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric E. Jorgensen ◽  
Stephen Demarais ◽  
Scott M. Sell ◽  
Scott P. Lerich
Keyword(s):  
New Mexico ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
Chihuahuan Desert

scholarly journals Impacts of chronic wasting disease on a low density mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) population in the San Andres Mountains, Chihuahuan Desert, New Mexico

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Louis C. Bender ◽  
Cristina L. Rodden ◽  
Pat Mathis ◽  
Mara E. Weisenberger ◽  
Octavio C. Rosas Rosas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Mexico ◽  
Chronic Wasting Disease ◽  
Chihuahuan Desert ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Wasting Disease ◽  
San Andres

DIET OF EIGHT SPECIES OF LIZARDS FROM GRANITE GAP, HIDALGO COUNTY, NEW MEXICO

2021 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawei Han ◽  
Alyssa Johnson ◽  
Laura Ney ◽  
Whitney Oberman ◽  
Madison Pugh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Mexico ◽  
Chihuahuan Desert ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Diet Breadth ◽  
Lizard Species ◽  
Urosaurus Ornatus ◽  
Uta Stansburiana ◽  
Hidalgo County ◽  
Texas Border ◽  
Desert Scrub

Abstract Granite Gap is a desert scrub habitat located in the Chihuahuan Desert in southwestern New Mexico about 200 km from the Texas border. In May 2016, we collected specimens of eight lizard species, six of which range into Texas: Callisaurus draconoides, Cophosaurus texanus, Uta stansburiana, Urosaurus ornatus, Gambelia wislizenii, and Aspidoscelis sonorae (a parthenogenetic species), plus two species not found in Texas: Sceloporus clarkii and Aspidoscelis tigris. We analyzed stomach contents of the preserved lizards and computed diet breadth and overlap for each. All lizard species consumed arthropods only. Considering the entire sample, there was a significant correlation between lizard snout-vent length (SVL) and total volume of arthropods consumed, and between lizard SVL and mean volume per prey item, but not between lizard SVL and number of arthropods consumed. This suggests larger lizards did not consume more arthropods than smaller lizards, but they did consume larger ones. Overall, A. sonorae was the most specialized lizard species at Granite Gap whereas C. texanus seemed to be the most generalized owing to its high numeric and high volumetric diet breadth. The dietary overlap data suggest there were two groups of lizards at Granite Gap: one that consumes a large number and volume of termites (Callisaurus, Cophosaurus, and the two species of Aspidoscelis) and the other that consumes a large number and volume of ants (Uta, Urosaurus, small Sceloporus) plus cicadas when lizard size is large enough to consume them (large Sceloporus and Gambelia).

Wind Characteristics of Mesquite Streets in the Northern Chihuahuan Desert, New Mexico, USA

2006 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dale A. Gillette ◽  
Jeff E. Herrick ◽  
Gary A. Herbert
Keyword(s):  
New Mexico ◽  
Chihuahuan Desert ◽  
Wind Characteristics
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