The Tortolita Mountains Area (tma) has a very active natural world. In fact many people moved to this area simply because of the beautiful and varied flora and fauna. In scientific nomenclature the tma is called "Arizona Uplands" which is the lushest area of the Sonoran Desert with the most waterfall. As with all areas everything is interconnected. If you cut down the Mesquite tree you remove a home and habitat for well over one hundred other organisms that depend in part or totally on this one tree. Or conversely if the honey bees disappear many of the plants and trees struggle or disappear.

What it all boils down to is that nothing can be looked at in isolation. To appreciate all is to appreciate every component that makes up the whole.; So if we cringe at the thought of a scorpion we need to be aware that the price of them being gone is many, many more insects and likely far fewer of our imported plants and trees as they will be decimated by all the extra bugs.

Below you will see links to information and knowledge on the tma. They are all links to the web of life that supports us all here in the tma. By following these links you will learn to better appreciate all that is going on around you. Our hope is that this knowledge will either cause you to take appropriate action to protect this fabulous ecosystem or at least to be a little more open and tolerant.

Desert Survival

Surviving in the Desert

The Sonoran Desert and Arizona Uplands

The web of The Plants

The Gleaners and gatherers: The Insects

Insects of the Tortolitas

The realm of the dragons: Amphibians & Reptiles

The furballs: The Mammals

The windwalkers: The Birds

Birds of the Tortolitas