Multiyear monitoring (2007-2013) of flat-tailed horned lizards (Phrynosoma mcallii)

Monitoring programs for species of conservation concern are notoriously flawed. Notably, many monitoring programs do not establish trigger points or a level of decline in population size that will result in management action. Here we report on the monitoring program for the Flat-tailed Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma mcallii) that has been established across its range throughout the United States by the Flat-tailed Horned Lizard Interagency Coordinating Committee (FTHL ICC). Impor- tantly, we examine whether a trigger point of 30% decline was detected in these populations. Between 2007 and 2013, we detected 955 P. mcallii on 2,714 occupancy surveys and captured 715 individuals on 1,861 demographic surveys. Occupancy surveys have demonstrated that the species occurs through- out the management areas and occupancy estimates range from 0.25–0.89. Demographic surveys have demonstrated that population trends over time are correlated across all management areas; however, they are probably driven by factors at smaller geographic scales. During the study no population decline \u3e 30% was detected after accounting for natural and stochastic fluctuations. Continued mon- itoring is called for to gain a greater understanding of what is driving the trends in populations both range-wide and at the scale of management areas

A Data Management Application to Support Long-Term Monitoring of Riparian Ecosystems

The extents of riparian ecosystems are in decline in the American Southwest largely due to land development practices. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of scientific research regarding the direct and indirect impacts of urbanization on riparian ecosystems. To date, research has focused on specific ecological functions and propagation of declining species without regard to the effects of urbanization on the riparian resource. A long -term ecological monitoring project was initiated along Rincon Creek in Tucson, Arizona with the objective of monitoring targeted parameters to see how they are affected by urbanization. To support research and scientific effort toward that end, a relational database and data management system were created to facilitate input, storage, manipulation, and documentation of raw data collected along Rincon Creek. The raw data tables were normalized to at least third normal form to enhance flexibility and reduce inconsistent and redundant data. Standardized graphs, queries, and reports were also developed to facilitate derivation and dissemination of information. Finally, the relational design provides a template for other agencies or organizations collecting similar monitoring data that wish to incorporate comparable data management systems.Provided by the School of Natural Resources and the Environment.Student contacted us about thesis, we were able to borrow from SNRE and digitize with student's permission. Kimberl

Multiyear monitoring (2007-2013) of flat-tailed horned lizards (Phrynosoma mcallii)

Monitoring programs for species of conservation concern are notoriously flawed. Notably, many monitoring programs do not establish trigger points or a level of decline in population size that will result in management action. Here we report on the monitoring program for the Flat-tailed Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma mcallii) that has been established across its range throughout the United States by the Flat-tailed Horned Lizard Interagency Coordinating Committee (FTHL ICC). Impor- tantly, we examine whether a trigger point of 30% decline was detected in these populations. Between 2007 and 2013, we detected 955 P. mcallii on 2,714 occupancy surveys and captured 715 individuals on 1,861 demographic surveys. Occupancy surveys have demonstrated that the species occurs through- out the management areas and occupancy estimates range from 0.25–0.89. Demographic surveys have demonstrated that population trends over time are correlated across all management areas; however, they are probably driven by factors at smaller geographic scales. During the study no population decline > 30% was detected after accounting for natural and stochastic fluctuations. Continued mon- itoring is called for to gain a greater understanding of what is driving the trends in populations both range-wide and at the scale of management areas.This article is published as Leavitt, D.J., Collins, J., Crawford, C., Crayon, J., Grant, T.J., Heatwole, N.B., Hollenbeck, E.V., Ingraldi, M.F., Piest, L., Ponce, K. and Powell, R.J., 2015. Multiyear monitoring (2007-2013) of flat-tailed horned lizards (Phrynosoma mcallii). Herpetological Conservation and Biology 10:189-202.</p