Inventory and Monitoring Methods for Amphibians and Reptiles at Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
Drost CA, Nowak E, Persons T. 1999. Inventory and Monitoring Methods for Amphibians and Reptiles at Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona. U.S. Geological Survey Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Colorado Plateau Field Station. Flagstaff, AZ
Among the results of this 1997-1998 study of amphibians and reptiles is the discovery of two lizard species, the Little Striped Whiptail Lizard and the New Mexico Whiptail Lizard, which are new to Petrified Forest National Park and to the area. The study was designed to provide baseline information on the herpetofauna of an important section of remnant native grassland. The authors used a number of methods to capture over 1500 animals, finding that night driving surveys produced the best results with snakes and amphibians. For lizards, most observations were divided among those found through time-constrained searches, in pitfall traps, by general surveys, and in random encounters. (Appendix A gives capture rate by method for each species.) A list on page 16 identifies the 23 species found; three on older lists are either misidentified or probably no longer present. The report discusses status, habitat associations, biogeographic origins, relative abundance, and road mortality, with tables and graphs. It also gives management recommendations for protection, monitoring, and specific additional study. Among the recommendations is closure of park roads at night to prevent mortality, especially of snakes. There is also a section regarding species of concern to management. Species accounts (for both observed and hypothetical species) and additional observation data are in appendices B through F.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Drost, Charles; Nowak, Erika; Persons, Trevor
- Date of Issue
- 1999-05
- Publisher
- U.S. Geological Survey Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Colorado Plateau Field Station
- Units
- PEFO
- Keywords
- Abundance, Amphibians (Amphibia), Checklist, Distribution, Habitat, Inventory, Little Striped Whiptail Lizard (Cnemidophorus inornatus), Monitoring, New Mexico Whiptail Lizard (Cnemidophorus neomexicanus), Planlist, Reptiles (Reptilia)