The new ecological center established by the University of California at the western edge of the Colorado Desert, near Palm Spring, is presented, and its biological and biogeographic interest is ponted out. This 10.000 acres preserve (Deep Canyon Desert Research Area) has a range of elevations from 700 to 4600 feet, and it has been set aside to provide land where ecologists and biologists can make continued studies of biocenotic communities in undisturbed conditions.