WILDLIFE CORRIDORS ON THE SAN PEDRO RIVER B. Suarez, R. Martinez, O. Diaz, M. Metzler, H. Jones, T....
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WILDLIFE CORRIDORS ON THE SAN PEDRO RIVER B. Suarez, R. Martinez, O. Diaz, M. Metzler, H. Jones, T. Ashraf, E. Priddis. Undergraduate Biology Research,
WILDLIFE CORRIDORS ON THE SAN PEDRO RIVER B. Suarez, R.
Martinez, O. Diaz, M. Metzler, H. Jones, T. Ashraf, E. Priddis.
Undergraduate Biology Research, Cochise Community College, Sierra
Vista, AZ. INTRODUCTION: The San Pedro River, located in
Southeastern Arizona, is the last free-flowing river in the
southwest. It flows north out of Mexico into Arizona and is an
important migration route for birds as well as being a highly
diverse area for other wildlife. Hundreds of bird species utilize
the San Pedro River during their migrations and at least a third of
bird species found in the United States call the San Pedro home.
Besides the many species of winged animals, around 80 species of
mammals are found in or rely on the riparian areas. Many of the
bird and mammal species and other animal species are found in very
few other places in the United States. The San Pedro River
originates in the Mountains of Mexico approximately ten miles south
of the border with the United States of America. After crossing
into Arizona it flows through semi-arid grasslands and into the
Sonoran Desert before merging with the Gila River, east of Phoenix,
Arizona. The water that begins in the San Pedro eventually reaches
the Colorado River which flows into the Baja of California. The
significance of this river to this area becomes even more apparent
due to the fact that it is the only local waterway that flows year
round. Due to the San Pedro Rivers unique combination of geography,
diversity, and lack of regulation it has been called the worlds
most studied river. This study looks at the role of the San Pedro
River as a corridor for wildlife movement in Southeastern Arizona
and also seeks to identify corridors used by wildlife to move
between the river and other habitats, particularly sky islands.
Water in the region is concentrated during certain seasons, peaking
during the summer monsoon. Seasonal patterns of corridor use may
correlate to the water patterns. PROCEDURE: Species diversity was
identified using high output covert infrared detecting camera traps
made by Reconyx. The cameras were deployed at Gray Hawk Nature
Center located east of Sierra Vista, Arizona on the San Pedro
River. Possible high traffic wildlife paths were identified
including washes radiating out from the river. Cameras were
stationed in these areas. The cameras were periodically checked,
and each picture was renamed based on the date and time and then
sorted according to the species present in each picture. Thus far
after the initial survey, the two cameras were relocated to a large
wash that feeds into the San Pedro River (see map). The wash runs
under an abandoned railroad track near the river. It was determined
that the wash is a high traffic area for wildlife and would be an
ideal place for a camera trap. SPECIAL THANKS: We would like to
acknowledge Sandy Anderson, Director of Gray Hawk Nature Center,
for her support of this project. She allows us access to Gray Hawk
as well as cameras and has an infinite knowledge of the San Pedro
River and Southeast Arizona specifically and natural history in
general. We would also like to acknowledge the support of CCURI and
Cochise College including Beth Kreugar for her support of our
undergraduate research program. RESULTS: A sampling of photos from
the camera traps are shown here. The species recorded thus far in
the study are mountain lion (Felis concolor), bobcat (Lynx rufus),
Coues whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus couesi), gray fox
(Urocyon cinereoargenteus), coyote (Canis latrans), javelina
(Tayassu tajacu), raccoon (Procyon lotor), skunk (4 species of
skunk including striped (Mephitis mephitis), hooded (Mephitis
macroura), hog-nosed (Conepatus mesoleucus), and western spotted
(Spilogale gracilis); all but the western spotted skunk have been
detected), coatimundi (Nasua nasua), and a number of bird species
including turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), and great-blue heron (Ardea
herodias). The frequency of sighting for each species was recorded.
DISCUSSION: At this point in the study we have mainly gathered
preliminary data, recording the species we have encountered thus
far and some information about their movement patterns. We have
identified areas of further inquiry and documented some interesting
pictures. First, the species appear to have different patterns of
movement in the wash. The whitetail deer and skunk species seem to
regularly navigate the wash. Other herbivores such as the javelina
appear to use the wash in more clumped patterns with frequent
sightings followed by times of little or no movement in the wash.
Carnivores such as gray fox and coyotes have times of intensive
activity that is clumped in time. Though mountain lion activity
appears sparse in the data shown here, our more recent pictures
have shown much more activity and the fact that they navigate the
wash both coming and going during the night. We have also
documented at least two adult mountain lions moving together and
have picture evidence that there is a mountain lion kitten as well.
As we gather more data we will document patterns of use in these
species as well as whether the San Pedro varies in its importance
to wildlife throughout the year as water levels outside of the
river rise and fall with the local precipitation patterns. We will
identify the importance of natural corridors such as washes and
manmade paths for species movement. The ability of wildlife to
utilize such corridors to connect protected areas where they can
hunt and reproduce away from the influence of man has been
documented. These patterns likely exist on the San Pedro River. We
also will begin identifying individuals, particularly of mountain
lions and skunks, using DNA sampling of scat and tracking along
with photo captures. In the end we will discover more about the
interaction between the local wildlife and the San Pedro River
which gives them life. Coyote (Canis latrans) Hog-nosed skunk
(Conepatus mesoleucus) Gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) Coues
whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus couesi) Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
Mountain lion (Felis concolor) Gray Hawk (Buteo nitidus) Javelina
(Tayassu tajacu) Map of study area and camera location Mountain
lion (Felis concolor)