Survey of Amphibians and Amphibian Habitat on the Upper Santa Cruz River, Arizona
Drost CA. 1998. Survey of Amphibians and Amphibian Habitat on the Upper Santa Cruz River, Arizona
We conducted a baseline survey of amphibian species and numbersa long the Santa Cruz River in the vicinity of the Nogales International Waste Water Treatment Plant (IWWTP) in southern Arizona during 1997 and 1998. The Santa Cruz River is an ôefluent-dominated stream,ö with most of the water supplying the river coming from waste water released by the IWWTP. The river and associated riparian habitat support at least five species of amphibians, including CouchÆs and southern spadefoot toads, WoodhouseÆs toad, canyon treefrog, and the introduced bullfrog. Three species of semi-aquatic reptiles also occur along the river, including the Sonoran mud turtle, checkered garter snake, and black-necked garter snake. Amphibian diversity and numbers are highest in the floodplain of the river above the IWWTP, and at sites 10-25 km below the treatment plant. Toxic levels of ammonia are released by the IWWTP, and no amphibians are found along th river from the waste water outfall, downstream for several km. No sublethal effects (deformities, developmental abnormalities) were noted from other potential pollutants from the IWWTP, but our sample size was small.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Drost, C.
- Date of Issue
- 1998-10
- Units
- SODN
- Keywords
- Amphibia (Amphibians), Animal Studies, Inventory and Monitoring (I&M)