Herpetofauna of the Rincon Mountains, Arizona

Flesch, Aaron; Swann, Don; Turner, Dale; Powell, Brian

Report of a study estimating species richness, distribution, and relative abundance of herpetofauna across an 1,800-m elevation gradient in the Rincon Mountains comparing patterns of occurrence of species with other mountain ranges in southeastern Arizona. The Rincon Mountains lack some species that occur in nearby mountain ranges of similar size and elevation, possibly due to climatic or historical factors. This study was the first detailed inventory of herpetofauna in the Rincon Mountains at a time when these communities may be undergoing significant change. Results showed occurrence and relative abundance of species varied markedly with elevation. Plant and animal communities change in response to alterations in use of land, invasion of exotic species, change in climate, and other factors. As a result, some populations of plants and animals may be lost unless appropriate conservation and management strategies are implemented. Identifying populations that are at risk and developing strategies that can mitigate these risks requires data on entire communities across large spatial scales that often are difficult to obtain, especially in large reserves, however achieving mandates of preserving diversity of native species often depends on monitoring resources over time. Herpetofauna in the Rincon Mountains face a number of threats including mortality due to vehicular traffic and poaching, fragmentation and degradation of habitat adjacent to the park, and invasion of exotic species such as buffelgrass. Climatic change may threaten some populations, especially as a result of drought and loss of surface water. Although studies such as this are important for assessing changes in structure and composition of populations and communities over time, additional study is needed to guide effective responses to these and other threats.