Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Ecological Monitoring Report, 1997 - 2005

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

The Ecological Monitoring Program at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument was the outcome of several natural resources studies initiated in the late 1980s. The primary objective was to determine the condition of monument ecosystems and, if change was detected, management alternatives and effectiveness of implemented programs. Guidance for program development was provided by the Ecological Monitoring Program Assistance Committee throughout much of the 1990s. This program has focused on collecting as much data as possible with available staff. Two recent and significant developments include creation of the National Park Service Sonoran Desert Network inventory and monitoring program and an external review of the Ecological Monitoring Program. These efforts have been valuable opportunities to revise objectives and protocols and achieve new efficiencies. This report summarizes monitoring activities and results for the period 1997 to 2005 with individual chapters on monitoring elements organized into sections on vegetation, vertebrates, and physical resources. Each chapter presents one or more data reductions (tabular, graphic, or statistical) that provide some insight into change or fluctuation over time. Where appropriate, recommendations are also provided. Some trends appear to be warning us of possible future problems such as declining groundwater levels, increasing temperatures, and declines in the abundance of some species of concern. Various indicators of abundance, species richness, and diversity indicate fluctuation over time.

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Ecological Monitoring Report, 1997 - 2005

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