http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.p...toryId=12126474
If you look at a topographic map of North America, you'll see two huge spines in the West: the Rocky Mountains which stretch from Canada to the desert in the Southwest, and the Sierre Madre of Mexico.
In between are relatively small, isolated mountain ranges rising from the desert, much as islands rise from the ocean. This is why the ranges — with names like the Huachucas, the Chiricahuas, and the Catalinas — are called the Sky Islands. And they are home to unparalleled diversity.
"Believe it or not, there are more mammals here in southeastern Arizona than anywhere else in the United States," says Matt Skroch, head of the Sky Island Alliance.
The group is trying to protect the intersection between tropical species on the northern end of their range, such as jaguars, ocelots, greyhawks, Mexican possums, and temperate species on the southern end of the Sky Islands' range, like the black bear and the northern goshawk — not to mention 20 species of hummingbird. But, just like oceans are rising and claiming some seaside habitat, hotter and drier conditions brought about by global warming are moving up the slopes......
If you look at a topographic map of North America, you'll see two huge spines in the West: the Rocky Mountains which stretch from Canada to the desert in the Southwest, and the Sierre Madre of Mexico.
In between are relatively small, isolated mountain ranges rising from the desert, much as islands rise from the ocean. This is why the ranges — with names like the Huachucas, the Chiricahuas, and the Catalinas — are called the Sky Islands. And they are home to unparalleled diversity.
"Believe it or not, there are more mammals here in southeastern Arizona than anywhere else in the United States," says Matt Skroch, head of the Sky Island Alliance.
The group is trying to protect the intersection between tropical species on the northern end of their range, such as jaguars, ocelots, greyhawks, Mexican possums, and temperate species on the southern end of the Sky Islands' range, like the black bear and the northern goshawk — not to mention 20 species of hummingbird. But, just like oceans are rising and claiming some seaside habitat, hotter and drier conditions brought about by global warming are moving up the slopes......
