Inventory

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Inventory Monitoring of Natural Resources The
Sonoran Desert Network
Andy Hubbard, Network Coordinator
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Sonoran Desert Network Parks

• Casa Grande NM
• Chiricahua NM
• Coronado NM
• Ft. Bowie NHS
• Gila Cliff Dwellings NM
• Montezuma Castle NM

• Organ Pipe Cactus NM
• Saguaro NP
• Tonto NM
• Tumacacori NHP
• Tuzigoot NM

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Sonoran Desert Network - Timeline

• Inventory Initiated in 2000 (Powell/Halvorson),
  currently in second full field season.
• Monitoring Initiated in 2001, Coordinator hired
  8/01, Data Manager hired 12/01, currently in
  Phase I plan development

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SDN Inventory

• Approach Combined data mining comprehensive
  field surveys of vertebrates and vascular plants
  (presence/absence distribution).
• Field and office work completed by UA students
  and researchers under the direction of Brian
  Powell

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Sonoran Desert Network - Organization

• Projected Network Staff
• IM Coordinator (GS-7/9/11) A. Hubbard
• Data Manager (GS-7/9/11) D. Angell
• Data Miner (GS 7 Term) FY03
• Botanist (GS-7 Term) FY03
• 2 -ologists (GS-11) FY03/04

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Sonoran Desert Network - Organization

• Projected Network Staff (cont.)
• Technical Writer (GS 9/11) FY03
• Lead Biotech (GS-7) FY04

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Sonoran Desert Network - Organization

• Positions - Overview
• Data Miner visit parks to search for data,
  evaluate with staff cooperators, incorporate
  into database if acceptable.
• Field Botanist lead field efforts for veg.
  mapping plant inventories

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Sonoran Desert Network - Organization

• Positions - Overview
• -ologists Generalist ecologists with
  ecosystem perspective, STRONG quantitative
  skills, multidisciplinary.
• Technical Writer To efficiently convey IM
  findings to a wide array of audiences. Must have
  ecology background web skills

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• Board of Directors comprised of 3
  superintendents, 3 resource managers (elected to
  three year terms), IM coordinator SOAR RM
  Chief.
• Technical Advisory Committee comprised of SAPS
  (S. AZ. Parks RM), with outside experts brought
  in as needed. Voting body for Board of
  Directors.

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How we are approaching Monitoring Plan

• Lay Basic Foundation
• Develop Conceptual Models
• Stressors and Methods

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Basic Foundation

• Identify and address key gaps in baseline
  knowledge, or What do you want to know to design
  your monitoring plan?
• Examples vegetation geology maps, focused
  studies on critical species or functional groups,
  climate data, etc.

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Conceptual Models

• Synthesize ecosystem processes into simple model
• All models are wrong, but some are useful
• Our first effort a process model

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AOC-Stresses-Indicators
Agent of Change Introduction of invasive exotic
plants

Indicators Rel. abundance of exotic native
plants Composition/demography of dependant
wildlife Increased fire frequency/ intensity De
creased infilltration or increased SOM
Stresses Displace native plants via
competition Alter wildlife habitat Shift in
fire regimes Modify water and nutrient cycles
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Stressors and Methods

• Through scoping meetings, lit. review, etc., we
  determined 5 primary stressors for SDN

-Altered fire regimes -Urban/park interface
-Recreation impacts
-Exotic plants -UDI impacts
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Stressors and Methods (cont.)

• Which biotic abiotic parameters respond to
  anthropogenic stress (signalnoise)?
• Which parameters provide inferences to multiple
  ecosystem attributes and processes?
• Which methods best are effective for measuring
  the effects of these stresses?

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Our Approach..

• Ecosystem-based
• Process-oriented
• Peer-review and detailed analyses at regular
  intervals
• Recommend but not dictate management actions
• Wide dissemination of data products to a variety
  of audiences
• Much of the monitoring will be done through
  DS-CESU cooperators (UA, ASDM, NGOs, other
  agencies).
• Applied research on selected topics