MEDN Terrestrial Herpetofauna Monitoring
Little A, Delaney K, Fisher R, Rochester C. MEDN Terrestrial Herpetofauna Monitoring. 1995. National Park Service
Reptiles and amphibians (herpetofauna) are affected by numerous stressors and impacts to their habitat. Climate change, increased exposure to ultraviolet radiation, interaction with exotic species, and changes in air and water quality have all been linked to amphibian declines. At SAMO, 13 of 34 species of herpetofauna are listed as rare, threatened, or endangered by the California Department of Fish and Game or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. At CABR, seven of the 19 species of herpetofauna historically known to occur on Point Loma are now thought to have been extirpated. Parks: CABR, SAMO, and CHIS. Protocol Objectives: According to the SAMO/CABR protocol (Busteed et al. 2006): Are population characteristics of terrestrial herpetofauna in the Santa Monica Mountains & Point Loma Ecological Conservation Area (PLECA) increasing or decreasing? Is herpetofauna species diversity in the Santa Monica Mountains & PLECA increasing or decreasing? Is landscape fragmentation and loss of connectivity of natural open space in the Santa Monica Mountains impacting herpetofauna populations? Are any species of terrestrial herpetofaunas on Point Loma showing population declines at present? Maintain sufficient pitfall trap arrays, sampling periods (months), and sampling days (length of time pitfall traps open) per sampling period in the PLECA to detect a 30% drop in species richness of herpetofaunas, a 30% drop in the relative abundance of the orange-throated whiptail (Cnemidophorus hyperythrus) and striped racer (Masticophis lateralis), and some measure of drop in abundance or occupancy of western ring-necked snake (Diadophis punctatus) and southern Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis) as recommended in the sampling design optimization analysis performed for the PLECA (Stokes et al. 2001). Determine long-term trends in terrestrial herpetofauna distribution, abundance, and morphometrics from pitfall trap arrays nested in five habitat regions of the Santa Monica Mountains.
- Type
- Project
- Authors
- Little, Annie; Delaney, Katy; Fisher, Robert; Rochester, Carlton
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- CABR , CHIS , MEDN , SAMO
Program
Products
- Herpetofauna monitoring in the Mediterranean Coast Inventory and Monitoring Network: Cabrillo National Monument 2014 annual report
- Herpetofauna monitoring in the Mediterranean Coast Inventory and Monitoring Network: Cabrillo National Monument 2015–2018 report
- Monitoring of Terrestrial Reptiles & Amphibians by Pitfall Trapping in the Mediterranean Coast Network: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area & Cabrillo National Monument: Version 1.0
- Monitoring terrestrial reptiles and amphibians in the Mediterranean Coast Network, 2009 Project Report: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Cabrillo National Monument and Channel Islands National Park
- Monitoring terrestrial reptiles and amphibians in the Mediterranean Coast Network, 2012-2017 project report: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
- Monitoring terrestrial reptiles and amphibians in the Mediterranean Coast Network: Cabrillo National Monument 2011 annual report
- Monitoring terrestrial reptiles and amphibians in the Mediterranean Coast Network: Cabrillo National Monument 2012 annual report
- Monitoring terrestrial reptiles and amphibians in the Mediterranean Cost Network: Cabrillo National Monument 2013 Annual Report
- Reptile and amphibian monitoring: Channel Islands National Park 2010–2015 annual report
- Terrestrial Herpetofauna
- Terrestrial Vertebrate Monitoring Channel Islands National Park, 1993 Annual Report
- Terrestrial vertebrate monitoring, Channel Islands National Park 1996 annual report
- Terrestrial Vertebrate Monitoring, Channel Islands National Park, 1994 Annual Report
- Terrestrial Vertebrate Monitoring, Channel Islands National Park, 1995 Annual Report
- Terrestrial vertebrates monitoring handbook: Channel Islands National Park, California