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Early Holocene Juniper Woodland and Chaparral Taxa in the Central Baja California Peninsula, Mexico

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

David Rhode
David Rhode*
Affiliation:
Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, Nevada, 89512
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Abstract

A packrat midden located in the Sierra San Francisco, Baja California Sur, Mexico, dating to ca. 10,200 14C yr B.P., contains remains of California juniper (Juniperus californica) and other taxa now associated with southern California chaparral. California juniper does not occur in the Sierra San Francisco today, although “relict” populations of a few chaparral taxa still occur at higher elevations. This midden record documents the early Holocene occurrence of Baja California coniferous woodland and chaparral vegetation far south of its present distribution or its previously known extent from other fossil records. Based on modern climatic tolerances of California juniper and other taxa, central Baja California experienced a mild Mediterranean-type climate at least 5°–6°C cooler than the climate of today, with at least twice the winter precipitation the region now receives.

Keywords

Packrat middensNeotomaBaja Californiaearly HolocenechaparralJuniperus californica
Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 57 , Issue 1 , January 2002 , pp. 102 - 108
Copyright
University of Washington

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