The mammals of Amistad National Recreation Area, Texas: 2005 final report
Bahm MA and Mueller JM. 2011. The mammals of Amistad National Recreation Area, Texas: 2005 final report. Natural Resource Technical Report. NPS/CHDN/NRTR—2011/492. National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science. Fort Collins, Colorado
This report describes a mammal survey of Amistad National Recreation Area (NRA) in Val Verde County, Texas. Field sampling, literature records, and museum vouchers were utilized to compile a current list of mammal fauna. Field work was conducted from May 2003 to July 2004. A systematic survey was conducted using standardized techniques on sample sites stratified over the study area. Small mammals were trapped on 21 transects over 3,150 trap nights, medium-sized mammals were trapped on nine transects over 135 trap nights, and bats were netted at nine sites over 10 nights. Additional records were obtained through observations, collecting in specific habitats (e.g., rocky bluffs, abandoned tunnels, etc.), salvaging road kills, recording sign, and acoustic recordings of bats. Overall, 67 species of mammals were identified as probably occurring in Amistad NRA, including seven non-native species. The systematic survey design for trapping and mist netting yielded 12 species of rodents (in order of abundance — Peromyscus pectoralis, Sigmodon hispidus, Perognathus merriami, Mus musculus, Spermophilus mexicanus, Peromyscus leucopus, Neotoma leucodon, N. micropus, Chaetodipus nelsoni, C. hispidus, C. intermedius, and Baoimys taylori), six species of larger mammals (Procyon lotor, Didelphis virginiana, Dasypus novemcinctus, Bassariscus astutus, Mephitis mephitis, and Spilogale gracilis), and five species of bats (Myotis velifer, Tadarida brasiliensis, Antrozous pallidus, M. yumanensis, and Pipistrellus hesperus). Seven species of bats were documented only through acoustic recordings. Four native species (Sciurus niger, Geomys personatus, Ondatra zibethicus, and Bos bison) are believed extirpated from the park. Two bats (Diphylla ecaudata and Eptesicus fuscus), recorded only once >30 years ago, are considered accidental species. Previous studies documented 41 (Boston 1966), 60 (Lobello 1976), and 60 (Ditton and Schmidly 1977) species. Three native species, the northern pygmy mouse (Baiomys taylori), evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis), and pocketed free-tailed bat (Nyctinomops femorosaccus), appear to be recent immigrants into the area.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Bahm, Matt; Mueller, James
- Date of Issue
- 2011-09
- Publisher
- National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science
- Units
- AMIS , CHDN , NRSS
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Inventory, Mammal Inventory, Mammals