The Mogollon Highlands Ecoregion of the American Southwest: A Neglected Center of Ecological Diversity.

The Mogollon Highlands of Arizona and New Mexico is a uniquely biodiverse ecoregion that has been previously neglected by scientific studies. Here, we delineate, map, and describe the area, and focus on two taxonomic groups—snakes and conifers—to exemplify the region. The Mogollon Highlands Ecoregion (MHE), as described here, has potential to serve as a center of adaptation to changing climate. This, combined with its inherently high biodiversity, merits its consideration as a conservation priority. We document the diversity and distribution of snakes in the MHE: 39 species were found, a species richness on par with the Madrean Archipelago (sky islands) of Arizona and New Mexico, a region known for its high snake diversity. The MHE is also home to unique conifer diversity, with elevated levels of endemism and genetic exchange. We recommend consideration of the MHE as a uniquely diverse region, and a high conservation priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]