Reproductive Ecology and Status of Desert-Breeding Anurans at Saguaro National Park

Campbell, Stacy

We used calling surveys, visual encounter surveys, and visits to historical sites to locate breeding populations of desert-breeding anurans at Saguaro National Park. We found 19 breeding sites at Saguaro National Park. Numbers of calling male Anaxyrus punctatus ranged from 12 to 49.2 males (95% CI 42.7–55.7 males) at four sites in 2006 and 35.5 males (95% 31.1–39.9 males) at one site in 2007; male Scaphiopus couchii ranged from 6.0 to 15.7 males (95% CI 12.0–19.4 males) at two sites in 2006, and 26.0 males (95% CI 22.3–29.7 males) at one site in 2007. In 2005–2006, 180 of 445 (40%) anurans we found were dead. We found A. punctatus in most pools; however, S. couchii and Ollotis alvaria may not have persistent populations long-term at Tucson Mountain District. This study will provide the Park with baseline breeding site locations and abundances to gauge future impacts.