Works Cited

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"10 of the cutest endangered species: Mexican axolotls | MNN - Mother Nature Network." Environmental News and Information | MNN - Mother Nature Network. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2013. <http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/photos/10-of-the-cutest-endangered-species/mexican-axolotls>.

"Amanita caesarea, Caesar's Mushroom." Wildflowers, fungi, wildlife; nature books; reserves; free guides. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2013. <http://www.first-nature.com/fungi/amanita-caesarea.php>.

"Beadvine or Rosary Pea, ABRUS PRECATORIUS." Backyard Nature with Jim Conrad. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2013. <http://www.backyardnature.net/yucatan/beadvine.htm>.

"CDF Galapagos Species Checklists - Pycnoporus sanguineus." CDF Galapagos Species Checklists. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2013. <http://checklists.datazone.darwinfoundation.org/true-fungi/basidiomycota/pycnoporus-sanguineus-l-murrill/>.

"Central American Agouti, DASYPROCTA PUNCTATA." Backyard Nature with Jim Conrad. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2013. <http://www.backyardnature.net/yucatan/agouti.htm>.

"DATRONIA CAPERATA." Backyard Nature with Jim Conrad. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2013. <http://www.backyardnature.net/yucatan/mangpoly.htm>.

Decker, Jeffrey. "ADW: Dasyprocta punctata: INFORMATION." ADW: Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2013. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Dasyprocta_punctata/#economic_importance_positive>.

"Desert Biomes." Blue Planet Biomes. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2013. <http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert.htm>.

"Environment - Mexico City." Stats about all US cities - real estate, relocation info, crime, house prices, cost of living, races, home value estimator, recent sales, income, photos, schools, maps, weather, neighborhoods, and more. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2013. <http://www.city-data.com/world-cities/Mexico-City-Environment.html>.

"Facts about Pycnoporus sanguineus - Encyclopedia of Life." Encyclopedia of Life - Animals - Plants - Pictures & Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2013. <http://eol.org/pages/1029268/details>.

"Guinea Grass, PANICUM MAXIMUM." Backyard Nature with Jim Conrad. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2013. <http://www.backyardnature.net/yucatan/guinea-g.htm>.

"Gulf Coast Toad | Herps of Texas." Herps of Texas. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2013. <http://www.herpsoftexas.org/content/gulf-coast-toad>.

"Gulf Coast Toad, BUFO VALLICEPS." Backyard Nature with Jim Conrad. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2013. <http://www.backyardnature.net/mexnat/gulftoad.htm>.

"Mexican Axolotls, Mexican Axolotl Pictures, Mexican Axolotl Facts - National Geographic." Animals - Animal Pictures - Wild Animal Facts - Nat Geo Wild - National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2013. <http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/amphibians/axolotl/>.

"Mexican Flame-vine, SENECIO CONFUSUS." Backyard Nature with Jim Conrad. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2013. <http://www.backyardnature.net/q/flamvin2.htm>.

"Mexican Unicorn Mantis, PHYLLOVATES CHLOROPHAEA." Backyard Nature with Jim Conrad. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2013. <http://www.backyardnature.net/q/unicorn.htm>.

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Preservation

Mexico's air pollution has created a serious environmental problem. Industries, vehicles, deforestation, and fires are to blame for the pollution. One measure taken to try and solve the problem was prohibiting driving on certain days, keeping vehicles off the road depending on the last number of their license plates but wealthier people bought another car with a different license plate number to avoid the law.

Water pollution is also an issue in some areas of Mexico because each area in the city only gets a couple of hours supply each day and water lies stagnant for up to 22 hours a day . Water gets contamination from bacteria and sometimes insects can even find their way into the tank which makes the water unsafe to drink.

Biotic Factors

Endangered Species:

Mexican axolotls are a type of salamander that spends their entire life in larval form and are considered  a critically endangered species. Populations of the axolotls are decreasing due to draining and contamination of much of the waters they live in. Also, roasted axolotl is considered a delicacy in Mexico.  Fewer than 1,200 Mexican axolotls remain today in Mexico's Lake Xochimilco.

Biotic Factors

Decomposers:

Amanita caesarea or "Caesar's Mushrooms" are found under oaks in mixed woodland.

Mangrove Polypore are ear-shaped mushrooms that have brown, hairlike, outward-leaning scales found in Mexico.

Pycnoporus sanguineus or "The Red Fungus" are found in the tropics and inedible and probably toxic.

Phellinus fungi are wood decayers that have occasionally infected live trees.

Coprinopsis lagopus is common in North America and grows on decomposing wood or decaying woody debris.

Biotic Factors

Heterotrophs:

West Mexican Chachalacas are a common type of bird found in Mexico that eat a wide variety of fruit, seeds, leaves, and insects.

Gulf Coast Toads feed on insects attracted to light sources and are most active at twilight.

The Yucatan squirrel is a tree squirrel found in Mexico and is a threatened species especially due to deforestation.

Central American Agoutis are found in forests, thick brush and savannas and eat fruits that fall from trees. 

The Mexican Unicorn Mantis is a praying mantis similar to others common in North America but has a horn on the top of its head that differs from others.

Biotic Factors

Autotrophs:

Pricklypears are cacti with spiny joints and are a very common cactus found in Mexican deserts.

Beadvine or Rosary Pea are beans on a vine that climb onto a Piich tree. The beans are supossedly poisonous but people string them to make necklaces and bracelets.

Thalassia testudinum or Seagrass are largest and thickest where underground rivers from inland Yucatán release their waters offshore.

Guinea Grass is tough enough to survive the tropics' heat and droughts, yet provides forage for livestock.

Senecio Confusus or Mexican Flame-vines are orange-yellow weeds of flowers that bloom in the spring.

Abiotic Factors

The average temperature for Mexico is 21 C or 71 F and the average precipitaion is 752 mm.

General Information

Mexico (19.0000° N, 102.3667° W)

Because Mexico is closer to the Equator, it has a warm climate and it's biomes go between Desert, Rainforest and Grassland. In the hot desert biome,there are many plants but crops are uncommon due to the little amount of rainfall. The only animals that can survive have the ability to burrow under ground because they would not be able to live in the hot sun and heat. The animals only come out in the night when it is a little cooler.