Endemism and protected species on the shores of Cabo Pulmo
Cabo Pulmo National Park conserves an amazing diversity of marine creatures, yet the arid lands adjacent to these waters host an intriguing community of desert species that are outside
Endemism and protected species on the shores of Cabo Pulmo
Cabo Pulmo National Park conserves an amazing diversity of marine creatures, yet the arid lands adjacent to these waters host an intriguing community of desert species that are outside of any protected area. Plans to build a mega-resort on these shores prompted a series of questions: What species are found here? How many of the plants and animals are unique to this region? How many are rare and in need of protection? How many are already protected by federal law? To answer these questions, a group of 21 scientists from 11 institutions with regional expertise in the biodiversity of the Baja California peninsula headed to the shores of Cabo Pulmo to document the biodiversity of the land adjacent to the National Park (1).
The Cabo Pulmo region is at the edge of the tropics, where succulent coastal desert vegetation grades into tropical deciduous forest that supports rich communities of birds, mammals, plants, reptiles, and insects. Areas of climatic transition are known to often harbor heightened diversity and rarity (2). Many species warrant protection, and conservation planning in the region at large should be careful to identify unique habitats and species prior to disturbance. Researchers compiled historical lists of plants and animals known from the region, documented in books and museum collections, and then worked to record every plant and animal they saw, collecting specimens if a species was not previously documented. These specimens are preserved in museums and universities to provide a permanent record and prove the identities of the plants and animals discovered.
Researchers found that the 6,000 hectares (14,600 acres) surrounding Cabo Pulmo, especially Punta Arena, maintain critical and u