NRES 285/ 499

After writing this paper, I wanted to learn how my subject fit in with the other students’ reports on ecotourism, plant community structure, and the expansion of urban industry, among others. Furthermore, how does all this relate to palm ecology, resource use, and conservation in rural communities? Obviously I have a lot of questions in my head at this point, and I may not be able to answer them until we walk around Mexico and talk to people. I am excited, and slightly frustrated with my lack of understanding. For now, this is what I want to investigate in Sonora:

• Are people in favor of conservation programs for all reptiles and amphibians? Do reservations remain for some species, particularly the venomous lizards? Do people care more about birds and mammals?

• Are we going to see a lot of wildlife in the palms?

• How widespread are the effects of damming on stream quality? Are people’s opinions of dams generally positive or negative?

• What about resource management plans largely spearheaded by outsiders convinces locals they are a good idea? Is it the enthusiasm of the people involved? The level of commitment? Financial incentives? Promises of greater sustainability? A combination of these?

• How severe are palm-poaching problems within an area designated for conservation? Grazing problems?

• Are people in Sonora generally more familiar with animal and plant species than Americans? If so, how do they learn?

It seems as though I have a lot of groundwork to do. Awesome.--Lenna O.

Steph and I decided to work together on the paper. After lectures about harvesting and grazing in the TDF, we wanted to examine how this and other land use changes affected wildlife. We were interested in how conservation groups like NCI were helping to improve conditions for wildlife. Stephanie took over birds and I learned about amphibians and reptiles. We decided to focus on only a few species and the conservation efforts for each.

Here’s the meat of what we found:

• Biodiversity in Sonora is high relative to adjacent states because of topography variation and precipitation patterns. Migratory birds benefit from the diversity of plant species in TDF stopovers. Microclimates in streams, wetlands, and rocks provide reptiles and amphibians with habitat.

• The effects of forest clearing and damming threaten species richness and evenness for both birds and herpetofauna. Bird migration corridors are fragmented and edge is increased. Herpetofauna microclimates are lost in these land conversions.

• Multi-disciplinary teams of biologists, local volunteers, and NGOs have formed conservation strategies for many of these species. A conservation team for the thick-billed parrot (Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha) compensated local landowners on an ejido for preserving the bird’s habitat. They implemented a logging plan that minimizes habitat damage. The extirpated Tarahumara frog (Rana tarahumarae) was selectively bred with ecotypes and reintroduced into the wild by another conservation team. Other efforts to survey species, manage metapopulations, and prevent poaching continue to increase wildlife viability in this changing landscape.--Lenna O.

photo from San Diego Zoo