Advancing Conservation in the Borderlands

The Chihuahuan Desert Borderlands are home to an incredible diversity of big game animals that is unparalleled, including desert mule deer, pronghorn, desert bighorn sheep, Carmen Mountains white-tailed deer, and elk. Despite this variety of large game and their economic importance, there is relatively little information available regarding their management. Learning more about these big game animals is a priority for our researchers.

The Borderlands region contains a wide variety of geologic and soil types, as well as significant climatic variation that yields many different vegetation communities. This vegetation is important to land managers as they work with livestock, wildlife, watersheds, riparian areas, and aesthetics of the land. For many reasons, the present vegetation community may not meet a landowner’s needs for managing livestock, wildlife, and water. Research on large-scale projects on private lands will encourage the development of economically feasible ways to decrease bare ground, decrease undesirable species, and increase desirable species.

The Chihuahuan Desert Borderlands are one of the most diverse regions of the world, supporting over 500 species of birds, over 170 species of reptiles and amphibians, and over 120 species of mammals. The habitat requirements and population dynamics of songbirds, carnivores, and other nongame species are poorly understood. Our researchers partner with private landowners and other resource agencies to better understand their life history.

Quail and other game birds of the Chihuahuan Desert play a vital role in ecosystem health. Our research advances understanding of their ecology, populations, and habitat needs.