Inventory of Amphibians and Reptiles at Hubble Trading Post National Historic Site

Mikesic, David

The Navajo Natural Heritage Program of the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife completed 2 years of amphibian and reptile inventories at Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site as part of the National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring Program. The goals of this study were to document at least 90% of the extant herpetofauna through visual observations, photographs, and/or specimen collection; and to provide baseline information, and make recommendations, as warranted, for development of future management of zoological resources within the Monument. Prior to field studies, we estimated that 5 amphibian and 13 reptile species had high potential to occur at the Site, and that there was a remote possibility for 1 other reptile species to occur. Field inventories extended from 14 June to 19 August 2002, and 11 June to 27 August 2003. We performed triple-replicate, time-constrained surveys at 7 plots, each 1-ha in size, in at least 2 distinct habitat types, and performed 75.5 hours of nocturnal and diurnal general surveys. We documented a total of 8 reptile species (5 lizards, 3 snakes) and 3 amphibian species. Our survey efforts documented 61.1% of those species with high potential to occur, and 57.9% including the 1 species with remote potential to exist. The Sagebrush Lizard (Sceloporus graciosus) and Plateau Striped Whiptail (Cnemidophorus velox) were the most common reptiles, and Woodhouse's Toad (Bufo woodhousii) was the most common amphibian. No federal or Navajo Tribal-listed endangered species were documented during this study.

Inventory of Amphibians and Reptiles at Hubble Trading Post National Historic Site

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