Arroyo-riparian shrub diversity along a transition zone between the Sacramento Mountains and Tularosa Basin, New Mexico

Four arroyos were examined in the Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico to determine type differences and describe vegetation diversity of the main channel relative to the surrounding watershed. Arroyos were selected to represent foothills and a submesa. Univariate analyses were conducted an shrub, half-shrub, grape, and forb functional groups. Each group responded to different effects depending on the response variable (cover, density, diversity). However, nonsignificant interactions were masked by the fact that response variables (especially diversity) were comprised of different species depending on the location of the arroyo in foothill or submesa types. Obligate and exclusive species were identified.