A re-survey of the Grinnell-Storer vertebrate transect through Yosemite National Park, California
Moritz C, Patton JL, Conroy CJ, Leache A, Rush A, Beissinger SJ. 2011. A re-survey of the Grinnell-Storer vertebrate transect through Yosemite National Park, California. Natural Resource Technical Report. NPS/SIEN/NRTR—2011/439. National Park Service, Natural Resource Program Center. Fort Collins, Colorado
This report summarizes results from a 2003-2005 resurvey of the terrestrial vertebrate fauna at 21 historic transects in Yosemite National Park, California, originally surveyed by Joseph Grinnell and colleagues at the UC Berkeley Museum of Vertebrate Zoology between 1911 and 1920. In response to a need for more information about the condition of natural resources in national parks, the National Park Service (NPS) established an Inventory and Monitoring Program (I&M) to expand existing resource inventories and develop efficient ways to monitor the vital signs of natural systems (NPS 1999). The Sierra Nevada Network (SIEN) I&M program identified a vertebrate inventory as a high-priority need for all Sierra Nevada parks (Devils Postpile National Monument, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite National Parks) in its Biological Inventory Plan (NPS 2001). In Yosemite National Park, the historic vertebrate surveys conducted in the early 20th century by Joseph Grinnell and his colleagues at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the University of California at Berkeley presented a unique opportunity to do a repeat inventory at the same locations, and examine changes that may have taken place in animal occurrence and distribution. From 2003 through 2005 we conducted a resurvey of the terrestrial vertebrate fauna (mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians) at 21 sites within Yosemite National Park (YNP). These 21 sites are part of a larger transect encompassing 41 total sites that extends from the margins of the San Joaquin Valley west of YNP to the shores of Mono Lake on the east side of the Sierra Nevada. Joseph Grinnell and his colleagues compiled the original data for the entire transect between 1911 and 1920. During the summers of 2005 through 2008 we extended surveys of small mammals to eight additional sites within YNP, all at elevations above 9,600 feet, which had not been previously studied. Until the present effort, the Grinnell-era survey has provided the majority of available knowledge of the vertebrate fauna of YNP, yet that information is now nearly a century old. Our resurveys provide updated information on habitat and community changes at each site over the past century while documenting the presence as well as ranges (geographic and habitat) of species of special concern to the park and to both the lay and scientific communities. The combined Grinnell-era and repeat surveys document both elevational and habitat stasis for many species of terrestrial vertebrates as well as substantial changes in the presence and elevational distribution of others.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Moritz, Craig; Patton, James; Conroy, Christopher; Leache, Adam; Rush, Andrew; Beissinger, Steven
- Date of Issue
- 2011-03
- Publisher
- National Park Service, Natural Resource Program Center
- Units
- NRSS , SIEN , YOSE
- Keywords
- Amphibians, animal distributions, Animal Inventory, Birds, California, Grinnell, habitat change, historic vertebrate transect, Inventory, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Reptiles, Sierra Nevada, Small Mammals, University of California Berkeley, Vertebrates, Yosemite National Park
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Amphibians and Reptiles , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Birds , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Mammals