Panoche Gorge

Panoche Gorge and vicinity (see also Panoche Hills) constitute one of the several areas along the western edge of the San Joaquin Valley that support communities with numerous deserticolous species. (See Corral Hollow.) The vegetation is primarily a valley grassland, with Atriplex spp. and Ephedra californica conspicuous elements.

Among the plants typical of the Mojave Desert and cismontane Southern California that are found here are Atriplex polycarpa, Oenothera deltoides and Salvia carduacea as well as five species that are at or near their northern range limits here, Abronia pogonantha, Caulanthus inflatus, Lembertia congdonii, Rumex hymenosepalus and Chaenactis fremontii.

Several xerophilous vertebrates are found in the area, including an antelope squirrel, Ammospermophilus sp., LeConte's thrasher, Toxostoma lecontei, sage sparrow, Amphispiza belli, desert spiny lizard, Sceloporus magister, and the endangered blunt-nosed leopard lizard, Crotaphytus wislizenii silus. Of 50 species of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera collected in the area, 17 are found primarily in deserts and 13 reach their northern range limit in the Central Valley in this area.

In the gorge the rock is principally of the Panoche formation, an Upper Cretaceous marine sedimentary. The soil is sandy overlying the beds of sandstone.

Integrity: Though there has been some grazing, the area is virtually undisturbed.

Use: Private

Ref: Doyen, J. T. and P. A. Opler, 1973. Distributional Affinities of Some Xerophilous Insects (Coleoptera, Lepidoptera) in Central California. The Southwestern Naturalist 18 (3), pp. 305-316.

September 1977