NRES 285/ 499

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