Ecological Section: An area or region of land designated for study purposes that has distinct geology, landforms, soils, flora, and fauna that set it apart from surrounding geographic areas.
Ecological Sections in California (see map below)
Mojave Desert - Map
This section is the hot part of the Basin and ranges from the southern end of the Sierra Nevada and the north-northeastern side of the Transverse Ranges to Nevada and Arizona.Southeastern Great Basin
The southern Great Basin in the Basin and Range geomorphic province.Mono - Map
The western part of the Great Basin, just east of the Sierra Nevada.Sonoran Desert
The hot part of the Basin and Range Province, from the eastern end of the Transverse Ranges and the Salton Trough east to Arizona. Some rain falls during the summer.Southern California Mountains and Valleys
Includes mountains, hills and valleys of the Transverse Ranges and the Peninsular Ranges that are near the Pacific Ocean, but not bordering it.Colorado Desert
A very hot part of the Basin and Range Province that is sometimes called the Salton Trough.Sierra Nevada
This section is the temperate to very cold parts of the Sierra Nevada, which is a north-northwest aligned mountain range that is much steeper on the east than on the west side.Sierra Nevada Foothills
This section comprises the hot foothills of the Sierra Nevada, and the southwestern end of the Cascade Ranges, adjacent to the Great Valley.For information about a particular Ecological Section, click the Section.
