Vascular Plant and Vertebrate Inventory of Saguaro National Park, Tucson Mountain District
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In Cooperation with the University of Arizona, School of Natural Resources Vascular Plant and Vertebrate Inventory of Saguaro National Park, Tucson Mountain District Open-File Report 2007-1296 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey National Park Service This page left intentionally blank. In cooperation with the University of Arizona, School of Natural Resources Vascular Plant and Vertebrate Inventory of Saguaro National Park, Tucson Mountain District Edited by Brian F. Powell, William L. Halvorson, and Cecilia A. Schmidt Open-File Report 2007-1296 U.S. Geological Survey Southwest Biological Science Center Sonoran Desert Research Station U.S. Department of the Interior University of Arizona U.S. Geological Survey School of Natural Resources National Park Service 125 Biological Sciences East Tucson, Arizona 85721 U.S. Department of the Interior DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Mark Myers, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2007 For product and ordering information: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS For more information on the USGS-the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment: World Wide Web:http://www.usgs.gov Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS Suggested Citation Powell, B.F, Halvorson, W.L., and Schmidt, C.A., eds., 2007, Vascular plant and vertebrate inventory of Saguaro National Park, Tucson Mountain District: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007-1296, 92 p. [http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1296/]. Cover photo: Saguaro National Park, Tucson Mountain District. Photograph by Don Swann. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. ii Editors and Authors Brian F. Powell and Cecilia A. Schmidt Aaron D. Flesch School of Natural Resources School of Natural Resources 125 Biological Sciences East, Building 43 325 Biological Sciences East, Building 43 The University of Arizona The University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85721 Tucson, AZ 85721 William L. Halvorson Don E. Swann USGS SBSC Sonoran Desert Research Station Saguaro National Park 125 Biological Sciences East, Building 43 3693 South Old Spanish Trail The University of Arizona Tucson, AZ 85730 Tucson, AZ 85721 U.S. Geological SBSC Survey Sonoran Desert Research Station Personnel Charles van Riper III, Station Leader William L. Halvorson, Research Ecologist Cecil R. Schwalbe, Ecologist Michael R. Kunzmann, Ecologist (Emeritus) Kathryn Thomas, Ecologist Pamela Nagler, Physical Scientist Phil Rosen, Ecologist Program and Expertise Areas of USGS and UA Personnel Administration & Outreach Fire Management Laura Opalka Dennis Suhre Wendy Parrish Cori Dolan Emily Sherbrooke James Feldmann Charles van Riper III Bill Halvorson Avian Ecology Invasive Species Research Claire Crow Patricia Guertin Glenn Johnson Jim Malusa Chris O’Brien Phil Rosen Brian Powell Cecil Schwalbe Charles van Riper III Brent Sigafus Dennis Suhre Data Management Kathryn Thomas Brent Sigafus Inventory & Monitoring Ecology of Amphibians & Reptiles Patricia Guertin Kevin Baker Bill Halvorson Cristina Jones Pamela Nagler Dave Prival Brian Powell Phil Rosen Cecilia Schmidt Cecil Schwalbe Brent Sigafus Vegetation Mapping & Ecology Patricia Guertin Bill Halvorson Jim Malusa Kathryn Thomas USGS Southwest Biological Science Center http://sbsc.wr.usgs.gov USGS Southwest Biological Science Center, Sonoran Desert Research Station http://sbsc.wr.usgs.gov/sdrs iii iv Table of Contents Acknowledgments.......................................................................................................................................xi Executive Summary...................................................................................................................................xiii Chapter 1: Introduction to the Inventories ....................................................................................................1 Project Overview...................................................................................................................................1 Report Format and Data Organization ..................................................................................................1 Verification and Assessment of Results................................................................................................2 Sampling Design ...................................................................................................................................4 Chapter 2: Park Overview.............................................................................................................................7 Park Area and History...........................................................................................................................7 Natural Resources Overview.................................................................................................................7 Natural Resource Management Issues ..................................................................................................9 Chapter 3: Plants.........................................................................................................................................13 Previous Research ...............................................................................................................................13 Methods...............................................................................................................................................13 Results.................................................................................................................................................16 Inventory Completeness......................................................................................................................17 Discussion ...........................................................................................................................................17 Chapter 4: Amphibians and Reptiles ..........................................................................................................21 Previous Research ...............................................................................................................................21 Methods...............................................................................................................................................21 Results.................................................................................................................................................26 Inventory Completeness......................................................................................................................29 Discussion ...........................................................................................................................................33 Chapter 5: Birds ..........................................................................................................................................37 Previous Research ...............................................................................................................................37 Methods...............................................................................................................................................37 Results.................................................................................................................................................40 Inventory Completeness......................................................................................................................43 Discussion ...........................................................................................................................................44 Chapter 6: Mammals...................................................................................................................................47 Previous and Ongoing Research .........................................................................................................47 Methods...............................................................................................................................................47 Results.................................................................................................................................................54 Inventory Completeness......................................................................................................................56 Discussion ...........................................................................................................................................58 Chapter 7: Literature Cited .........................................................................................................................61 v List of Tables Table 1. Summary of vascular plant and vertebrate inventories at Saguaro National Park, Tucson Mountain District, 1999–2005.................................................................................................xiii Table 1.1. Museums that were queried in 1998 for vertebrate specimen vouchers with “Arizona” and “Saguaro National Park” and “Saguaro National Monument” in the collection location. .........3 Table 2.1. Average monthly climate data for the University of Arizona (low elevation; the closest climate monitoring station to the district), 1894–2004. ..........................................................................8 Table