The highest point in Sonora (probably). This sierra has the nicest mixed conifer forest of dug fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), white fir (Abies concolor), and Arizona white pine (Pinus strobiformis) reported in Sonora. See this good overview of the Sierra de los Ajos.
There is general interest among fire ecologists to integrate observed fire regimes into long term fire management. The United States-Mexico borderlands provide unique research opportunities to study effects of contrasting forest management activities on forest structure and pattern. To increase understanding of the range of forest stand conditions in borderland ecosystems, we compared tree crown patterns from two forests near the US- Mexico border that are managed under contrasting fire policies and have contrasting fire histories.
We report here on the flora of the Sierra de los Ajos, Sonora, Mexico, based on collections made in 1992 and 1993. The known flora of this Sky Island range contains 376 species of vascular plants in 93 families. Based on our collections and the results of floristic studies of other Sky Island ranges, we anticipate that the total flora of the Sierra de los Ajos contains over 1000 species. We have documented the only known occurrences in Mexico of two species that are candidates for
Trip report from 1998 expedition to the Sierra de los Ajos by a group of diverse biologists and geologists.
Possibly the most montane Sonoran Sky Island, the Sierra de los Ajos are said to be the tallest sierra in Sonora. These photos were taken by Aaron Flesch in 2006.
