The BioResearch Ranch
Peloncillo Mountains -- Rodeo, NM

Information

The BioResearch Ranch, a non-profit corporation, is a 5,000 acre research natural area (RNA) and area of critical environmental concern (ACEC) withdrawn from livestock gracing in 1972 in order to study natural processes of ecosystem dynamics.

The ranch is near the center of the Peloncillo Mountain corridor for both north-south and east-west movements of plants and animals.

Research has been ongoing since its establishment and consists of studies in ornithology, herpetology, vegetation dynamics, soil erosion, rare plants and animals, and geology.

Research opportunities are many and include comparing the effects of grazing or other treatments taking place place on other ranches in this area.

The BioResearch Ranch is about nine miles southeast of Rodeo in the Peloncillo Mountains, Hidalgo County, NM.  Elevations range from 5,200 to 6,500 ft. (1585 - 1980 m).  About 60% of the Bioresearch Ranch drains east into the Animas Valley, primarily through Miller Canyon.  The remainder drains west into the San Simon Valley through Post Office and Skull Canyons.

The climate is sub-humid with means annual precipitation of 18.5 in/yr (470 mm/yr) and mean annual temperature of 48.7 deg F (14.8 deg. C).  Both precipitation and temperature are highly seasonal and precipitation since 1978 ranged from 11.8 to 24.2 inches/year.

Other Available Information

Weather Station (24 years)
Soil Description
Vascular Plant Flora
Avian Habitat Associations
Bird Banding
Geologic history
Soil Erosion Monitoring
Vegetation Change Monitoring
Herpefauna Checklist

Contact Information: 

Robert & Kathyrn Scholes

Box 117

Rodeo, NM 88056

505-557-2330

e-mail

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