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Article: Status of native wildlife in the Middle Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico.
- Article from:
- Corrections Today
- Article date:
- December 1, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 New Mexico Academy of Science. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Four hundred six vertebrate species were native to the Middle Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico, between Cochiti and Elephant Butte reservoirs. The Valley is now a densely populated urban and agricultural area, but has retained 96 percent of its native vertebrate fauna. However, 16 species, including 10 fish species, have been extirpated. Another 14 species are state-listed as threatened or endangered. Loss and decline of the vertebrate fauna has occurred in each of the Valley's five counties. Causes of this imperilment and loss of native wildlife include the introduction of 36 nonnative animal species and the loss, degradation and fragmentation of riverine and riparian ...