Editing Sonora (section)

===Flora and fauna===
[[File:Laguna Nainari.jpg|thumb|Laguna del Náinari, artificial lake in Ciudad Obregón]]
Habitats and vegetation vary greatly depending on elevation and rainfall.<ref name="yetman10">Yetman, p. 10</ref> An estimated {{Convert|2,230,000|ha|km2 sqmi}} of Sonora is in arid grasslands; {{Convert|1,200,000|ha|km2 sqmi}} are covered in forests, {{Convert|301,859|ha|km2 sqmi}} in rainforest and {{Convert|1,088,541|ha|km2 sqmi}} in farmland. Seventy percent of the territory, or {{Convert|13,500,000|ha|km2 sqmi}}, is covered in desert vegetation or arid grasslands.<ref name="mediofisico"/> The [[Yécora, Sonora|Yécora]] municipality in eastern Sonora has one of the highest grass diversities in Mexico.<ref name="cartron3">Cartron, p. 3</ref> There are eight types of desert vegetation, seven of which are native to the [[Sonoran Desert]] and one in the area that transitions to the [[Chihuahua Desert]]. Most are scrubs or small bushes, which generally do not reach over {{Convert|4|m|ft}} in height, most of the rest are [[cactus]], with some [[mangroves]] and other [[halophile]] plants.<ref name="mediofisico"/> Many plants are rainfall sensitive, with most trees and shrubs growing leaves and flowers just before or during the rainy season, then drop their leaves afterwards. However, there are plants in flower at one time or another throughout the year.<ref name="yetman12">Yetman, p. 12</ref> Coastal plants receive less water stress due to lower evaporation rates, and substantial moisture from dew, especially in the cooler months.<ref name="yetman11">Yetman, p. 11</ref>
[[File:Infiernillo Tiburon Island.JPG|thumb|View of Isla Tiburón across the Infiernillo Channel]]
Most forests are located in the northeast of the state, covering about 6.4% of the state. This is the area with the coolest temperatures.<ref name="mediofisico"/> Deforestation has been a significant problem, especially after 1980, because the rate of cutting trees has increased. In central Sonora, the area covered by Madrean evergreen woodland and Sonoran Desert scrub decreased 28% and 31%, respectively, between 1973 and 1992 (ValdezZamudio et al. 2000). During this same period,<ref name="cartron70">Cartron, p. 70</ref> For example, much of the forests of [[mesquite]] trees in the lower elevations of the state have disappeared because of the demand for local fuels and the market for mesquite charcoal in Mexico and the United States<ref name="cartron64">Cartron, p. 64</ref>

Most of northern Mexico suffers from one of the world's highest rates of [[desertification]] due to [[land degradation]] in arid and semi-arid areas, with the loss of biological and/or economic productivity, but the process is most severe in Sonora and neighboring [[Sinaloa]]. Land degradation occurs because of clearing land for agriculture, the planting of non-native buffelgrass for grazing, the cutting of forests, overgrazing of natural vegetation and soil salinization from irrigation. A study by Balling in 1998 showed higher soil and air temperatures in areas that have been overgrazed, deforested and otherwise cleared land, likely due to the lack of shading vegetation, which leads to higher soil evaporation and desert conditions. Studies have also indicated that warming trends are higher in Sonora than in neighboring Arizona, into which the Sonora Desert also extends.<ref name="cartron70"/>

The state contains 139 species and subspecies of native mammals, with the most important being white tailed deer, [[mule deer]], wild sheep, bats, hares, squirrels, [[mole (animal)|moles]], [[beaver]]s, [[coyote]]s, wolves, foxes, [[jaguar]]s, and [[cougar|mountain lion]]s. Amphibians and reptiles include frogs and toads, [[desert tortoise]]s, [[chameleon]]s, [[gila monster]]s, [[rattlesnake]]s and other types of snakes. The number of bird species native to the state is not known, but major species include [[roadrunner]]s, [[quail]], turkeys, [[buzzard]]s and doves.<ref name="mediofisico"/>