Reserva de la Biosfera Sierra Gorda

Location:Queretaro, Mexico
IUCN Category:VI
Area:955,579 acres (386,709 hectares)
Species:All  Endangered  Invasive
Climate:View Climate Data
Land Use:View Land Use Data
Köppen climate classification:Cfa (Climate: warm temperate; Precipitation: fully humid; Temperature: hot summer)

Ecoregions

Central Mexican matorral
Meseta Central matorral
Sierra Madre Oriental pine-oak forests
Veracruz moist forests
Veracruz montane forests

Soils

Protected Area Boundary
 ABC
    
Share40 %35 %25 %75 %25 %82 %18 %
Soil TypeLithic LeptosolsHaplic PhaeozemsChromic LuvisolsHaplic PhaeozemsLithic LeptosolsLithic LeptosolsRendzic Leptosols
Topsoil TextureMediumFineFineFineMediumMediumMedium
Reference Depth10 cm100 cm100 cm100 cm10 cm10 cm30 cm
DrainageImperfectlyModerately wellModerately wellModerately wellImperfectlyImperfectlyImperfectly
Available Water Capacity15 mm150 m150 m150 m15 mm15 mm50 mm
Topsoil Properties
Gravel28 %4 %6 %4 %28 %28 %10 %
Sand50 %25 %33 %25 %50 %50 %42 %
Silt26 %35 %25 %35 %26 %26 %24 %
Clay24 %40 %42 %40 %24 %24 %34 %
USDA TextureSandy clay loamClayClayClaySandy clay loamSandy clay loamClay loam
Reference Bulk Density1.39 g/cm³1.27 g/cm³1.28 g/cm³1.27 g/cm³1.39 g/cm³1.39 g/cm³1.33 g/cm³
Bulk Density1.09 g/cm³1.18 g/cm³1.14 g/cm³1.18 g/cm³1.09 g/cm³1.09 g/cm³1.2 g/cm³
Organic Carbon14 %2.74 %3.36 %2.74 %14 %14 %7.6 %
PH7.76.47.56.47.77.77.5
Clay Cation Exchange Capacity 21 cmol kg⁻¹45 cmol kg⁻¹21 cmol kg⁻¹  23 cmol kg⁻¹
Soil Cation Exchange Capacity44 cmol kg⁻¹18 cmol kg⁻¹31 cmol kg⁻¹18 cmol kg⁻¹44 cmol kg⁻¹44 cmol kg⁻¹35 cmol kg⁻¹
Base Saturation100 %90 %94 %90 %100 %100 %100 %
Total Exchangeable Bases44 cmol kg⁻¹16.2 cmol kg⁻¹29.1 cmol kg⁻¹16.2 cmol kg⁻¹44 cmol kg⁻¹44 cmol kg⁻¹35 cmol kg⁻¹
Calcium Carbonate3.9 %0.2 %2 %0.2 %3.9 %3.9 %15.9 %
Calcium Sulphate0.1 %0.1 %0.1 %0.1 %0.1 %0.1 %0.1 %
Exchangeable Sodium4 %1 %1 %1 %4 %4 %1 %
Electrical Conductivity0.4 dS m-10.1 dS m-10.1 dS m-10.1 dS m-10.4 dS m-10.4 dS m-10.2 dS m-1
Subsoil Properties
Gravel 4 % 4 %   
Sand 21 % 21 %   
Silt 29 % 29 %   
Clay 50 % 50 %   
USDA Texture Clay Clay   
Reference Bulk Density 1.23 g/cm³ 1.23 g/cm³   
Bulk Density 1.12 g/cm³ 1.12 g/cm³   
Organic Carbon 1.42 % 1.42 %   
PH 6.2 6.2   
Clay Cation Exchange Capacity 20 cmol kg⁻¹ 20 cmol kg⁻¹   
Soil Cation Exchange Capacity 15 cmol kg⁻¹ 15 cmol kg⁻¹   
Base Saturation 94 % 94 %   
Total Exchangeable Bases 14.1 cmol kg⁻¹ 14.1 cmol kg⁻¹   
Calcium Carbonate 0.1 % 0.1 %   
Calcium Sulphate 0 % 0 %   
Exchangeable Sodium 1 % 1 %   
Electrical Conductivity 0 dS m-1 0 dS m-1   
Soil data provided by FAO/IIASA/ISRIC/ISSCAS/JRC, 2012. Harmonized World Soil Database (version 1.2). FAO, Rome, Italy and IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria.
Köppen climate classification provided by Kottek, M., J. Grieser, C. Beck, B. Rudolf, and F. Rubel, 2006: World Map of Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification updated. Meteorol. Z., 15, 259-263