In cooperation with the National Park Service Golden Gate National Parks Association Earthwatch Pilot Inventory of Mammals, Reptiles, and Amphibians, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, California, 1990 -- 1997 Open-File Report 2005-1381 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover. Photograph of bobcat (Lynx rufus) in Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Marin County, California. (Photograph by Marcia Semenoff-Irving, U.S. Geological Survey) Pilot Inventory of Mammals, Reptiles, and Amphibians, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, California, 1990 -- 1997 By Marcia Semenoff-Irving and Judd A. Howell In cooperation with the National Park Service, Golden Gate National Parks Association, and Earthwatch Open-File Report 2005-1381 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior Gale A. Norton, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey P. Patrick Leahy, Acting Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2005 For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services Box 25286, Denver Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 For more information about the USGS and its products: Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/ Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. Suggested citation: Semenoff-Irving, M., and Howell, J.A., 2005, Pilot inventory of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, California, 1990-1997: U.S. Geological Survey, Open-File Report 2005-1381, 107 p. iii Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction .....................................................................................................................................................1 Methods...........................................................................................................................................................2 Study Area..............................................................................................................................................2 Site Selection and Placement.............................................................................................................2 Marin Headlands..........................................................................................................................2 Olema Valley, Bolinas Ridge.......................................................................................................2 Presidio, Sweeney Ridge, San Francisco Watershed, and Phleger Estate....................... 2 Vertebrate Sampling.............................................................................................................................3 Study Plot Setup and Sampling Strategy.......................................................................................... 3 Trapping Methods.................................................................................................................................3 Live traps....................................................................................................................................... 3 Pitfall traps.................................................................................................................................... 3 Artificial Cover boards................................................................................................................ 3 Track Plate.................................................................................................................................... 3 Pitfall-Drift Fence Arrays............................................................................................................ 3 Time-Area Searches....................................................................................................................6 Incidental Observations..............................................................................................................6 Species Identification................................................................................................................. 6 Vegetation Sampling.............................................................................................................................6 Data Analysis.........................................................................................................................................6 Results..............................................................................................................................................................7 Study Plot Establishment..................................................................................................................... 7 Vegetation Sampling.............................................................................................................................7 Terrestrial Vertebrate Sampling..........................................................................................................7 Sampling Years 1990-1997...........................................................................................................7 Sampling Year 1990.....................................................................................................................17 Sampling Year 1991....................................................................................................................24 Sampling Year 1992....................................................................................................................30 Sampling Year 1993....................................................................................................................39 Sampling Year 1994....................................................................................................................46 Sampling Year 1995....................................................................................................................56 Bolinas Ridge.....................................................................................................................56 Presidio...............................................................................................................................66 Sweeney Ridge..................................................................................................................66 Sampling Year 1996....................................................................................................................70 Sweeney Ridge..................................................................................................................70 San Francisco Watershed...............................................................................................70 Phleger Estate....................................................................................................................70 Sampling Year 1997....................................................................................................................81 Acknowledgements.....................................................................................................................................85 Literature Cited.............................................................................................................................................85 Appendix A. Vertebrate sampling data sheets, GGNRA, 1990-1997................................................... 87 Appendix B. Recorded plant species, GGNRA, 1990-1997...................................................................89 Appendix C. Vegetation survey data sheets, GGNRA, 1990-1997........................................................96 Appendix D. Study plot UTM coordinates and habitat group designations, GGNRA, 1990-1997.......................................................................................................................... 98 iv Compact Disc [In pocket] 1. Microsoft Excel data files for sampling of vertebrate inventory plots, 1990-1997, and Hantavirus sampling plots, 1994 Figures 1. Vertebrate inventory study sites in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, 1990-1997........................................................................................................................................4 1a. U.S. Geological Survey satellite photograph of the San Francisco Bay area showing the vertebrate study sites in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, 1990-1997........................................................................................................................................5 2. Vertebrate sampling device layout............................................................................................6 3. Vegetation sampling transect layout.........................................................................................6 4. Vertebrate inventory plots: Marin Headlands, 1990..............................................................18 4a. Vertebrate inventory plots: detail of Rodeo Valley plots, 1990............................................19 4b. Vertebrate inventory plots: detail of Gerbode Valley plots, 1990........................................20 4c. Vertebrate inventory plots: detail of