Biological Inventories

The success of wetland mitigation projects nationwide is typically assessed by comparing the total number of wetland mitigation acres attained to the total number of mitigation acres required by Section 404 permits. In the absence of performance measurements on mitigation wetlands, the success of compensatory mitigation in replacing the ecological values of impacted wetlands is increasingly questioned by wetland scientists. This study focuses on evaluating regulatory compliance and ecological performance of mitigation wetlands in Iowa. Regulatory compliance was determined by comparing delineated wetland areas to permitted losses and by evaluating completeness of permit conditions at 24 randomly selected Iowa Department of Transportation wetland mitigation sites. In a separate study, intensive biological inventories were used to evaluate ecological performance at 12 mitigation and three reference wetlands. Species richness and abundance data were collected on algae, protozoa, aquatic invertebrates, butterflies, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals at each site. Species richness and diversity at mitigation sites and reference sites were compared to determine if mitigation wetlands are performing differently than reference wetlands in Iowa. The results are valuable for building and expanding the tools and knowledge necessary to effectively assess and manage the ecological performance of compensatory mitigation wetlands and improve the ecological effectiveness of wetland mitigation.

We used radiotelemetry to conduct an exploratory study on the spatial ecology and natural history o Gray-banded Kingsnakes (Lampropeltis alterna) in the northern Chihuahuan Desert o Texas. We radio-tracked two adult L. alterna (one emale, one male) between October 017 and August 019. The emale snake displayed a mean daily movement rate o .4 ± 6.0 m per day (MPD), a mean distance per movement (DPM) o 18. ± 6.6 m, a minimum movement requency (MMF) o 0.55, and a motion variance (MV) estimate o 4.14. The male snake's mean MPD, DPM, MMF, and MV were 43. ± 31. m, 0.4 ± 71.6 m, 0.67, and 0.69, respectively. The emale's estimated home range size was 37.3 ha based on 100% minimum convex polygon (100% MCP), and 48. ha and 5.3 ha based on 95% and 50% utilization distribution (UD), respectively, while the male's estimates were 50.6 ha (100% MCP), 9.8 ha (95% UD), and 0. ha (50% UD). Rocky slopes represented the most requently used habitat, and both snakes were observed more requently using underground shelter sites composed primarily o rock substrates compared to all other microhabitat categories. Despite being highly secretive, we documented numerous long-distance movements > 00 m. When compared to other species studied at this site, we ound that L. alterna exhibited a larger mean home range than Crotalus ornatus, C. atrox, and C. lepidus and a larger daily movement rate than Bogertophis subocularis, C. ornatus, and C. lepidus. In this study, we also report on overwintering behaviour and notable natural history characteristics o L. alterna.

En 1542 Orellana llega al Amazonas e inicia una historia de exploración continua de Loreto. Sin embargo, los estudios de las aves de este departamento recién empiezan en el siglo XIX con las exploraciones de Johann Baptist von Spix, Johann Jakob Von Tschudi, Francis-Louis de Castelnau, Emile Deville, Edward Bartlett, John Hauxwell y Henry Walter Bates quienes colectan para museos europeos y estadounidenses. En 1850 llega Antonio Raimondi al Perú incorporándose a la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos e iniciando los estudios nacionales de aves loretanas en 1859 y 1869. Raimondi colaboró activamente con Władysław Taczanowski, asistidos por Konstanty Jelski y Jan Stolzmann, cuyas colectas en Loreto fueran usadas en Ornithologie du Pérou, primer tratado de la avifauna peruana, conservándose algunos especímenes en el Museo de Historia Natural de la UNMSM (MHN). A inicios del siglo XX, Malcolm Anderson y Wilfred Osgood y posteriormente los hermanos Olalla colectaron para museos esta...

Situated in the topographically complex transition between the Neotropics and the temperate biomes of North America, the state of Sonora, Mexico, has an extraordinarily diverse herpetofauna. Surprisingly little research has been conducted on the state’s amphibians and reptiles and many systematic and biogeographic questions remain unanswered. To facilitate future research, we provide a checklist of Sonora’s herpetofauna, documenting species presence based on museum specimens, our fieldwork, and published research. Sonora’s herpetofauna is placed in a regional biogeographic perspective via a checklist for the six adjoining states together with faunal analyses. A total of 402 species of amphibians and reptiles are recorded from these seven states. Sonora has the greatest species richness (187 species), followed by Chihuahua (169 species), and Sinaloa (146 species). Sonora's herpetofauna is most similar to that of Chihuahua, with which it shares a long border. Eleven biogeographic ...

This book is a treasury of stories, science, and history about seashells. Sure to delight and surprise, this visual odyssey of the beauty of seashells reveals how shells enhance and inform the world around us. Exploring coasts and shells from across the globe, each unique shell will suddenly become familiar with The Wonder of Seashell’s beautiful illustrations and fascinating insights.

The review highlights the book's comprehensive exploration of snake natural history, covering topics such as their classification, form and function, interaction with the environment, and reproduction. It particularly emphasizes the "Snakes and Humans" section, which addresses human impacts and the urgent need for snake conservation. The reviewer highly recommends the book for both professionals and enthusiasts, noting its stunning photography and its potential to foster a renewed appreciation for these often-misunderstood creatures. An appendix details the classification of modern snakes, listing families and the number of species within each.

The review highlights that the book, similar to Taylor's previous work on snakes, offers an entertaining and conversational guide to California's nearly sixty lizard species, including those introduced. It emphasizes that the book is not a traditional field guide but rather focuses on the experience of finding and observing lizards in their natural habitats. The review praises Taylor's storytelling and her ability to connect readers with personal encounters and anecdotes about various species. Ultimately, Clark recommends the book for anyone interested in the lizard biodiversity of California, suggesting it could inspire a new generation of naturalists.

analizaron datos de distribución puntual y distribuciones potenciales obtenidas mediante modelos de nicho ecológico a partir de la información obtenida de colecciones científicas. Para examinar la similitud entre la avifauna, se utilizó un índice de distancia fenética y se estimó el número probable de especies que se distribuye en la región. El número de registros en la base de datos quedó conformado por la presencia de 436 especies de aves (de 440 estimadas), 5 de las cuales son endémicas de México y se distribuyen en isla Cozumel y en la parte norte de la península, donde se encuentran las zonas de mayor aridez, el bosque tropical seco y 17 especies cuasiendémicas que se distribuyen en el resto de la península. Se reconocieron 4 principales agrupamientos de similitud faunística; uno al norte, otro en el área central, uno más al sur de la península y el cuarto en isla Cozumel. Palabras clave: aves, patrones de distribución, análisis de similitud, índice Bray-Curtis, península de Yucatán.

This dataset contains the result of the bioclimatic-envelope modeling of the three amphibian species -- the Sacramento Mountain Salamander (Aneides hardii), the Jemez Mountains Salamander (Plethodon neomexicanus), and the Chiricahua Leopard Frog (Lithobates chiricahuensis) -- in the South Central US using the downscaled data provided by WorldClim. We used five species distribution models (SDM) including Generalized Linear Model, Random Forest, Boosted Regression Tree, Maxent, and Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS) and ensembles to develop the present day distributions of the species based on climate-driven models alone. We then projected future distributions of the species using data from four climate models: Community Climate System Model version 4 (CCSM4), Hadley Centre Global Environment Model version 2-Earth System (HadGEM2-ES), Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate version 5 (MIROC5), and Max Planck Institute Earth System Model, low resolution (MPI-ESM-LR...

from the Land and Water Management Division; and Bob Haas from Fisheries Division. Thanks to Sue Tangora, Mark Sargent, and Amy Derosier of the Wildlife Division; Ray Fahlsing or the Parks Division, and David Mindell for providing their unwavering vision, and special gratitude to Wildlife Biologist Dan Kennedy whose insights as a field manager influenced the shaping of the monitoring approach. We are grateful to Jo Latimore for sharing her work with the Cooperative Lake Management Program, and Doug Pullman of Aquaquest and Gary Crawford of Superior Environmental and Aquatic Services for sharing their knowledge of emerging invasive species. Doug Pearsall, of The Nature Conservancy, provided important regional information and served as the liaison to their ongoing work in the Saginaw Bay study area. We appreciate the work of Ryan O'Connor of the Michigan Natural Features Inventory who was instrumental in the development of the project and Mike Monfils who provided important tips on survey strategies. The substantive work on the classification of Michigan's natural communities by Mike Kost,

Climate change and anthropogenic stressors have contributed to rapid declines in biodiversity worldwide, particularly for amphibians. Amphibians play important ecological roles, yet little is known about how distribution hotspots may change or the factors in uencing distribution patterns in the North American Great Plains. Objectives Ecological niche models improve understanding of biotic and abiotic factors associated with species' distributions and can highlight potential threats to species conservation. Here, we identify important predictors of amphibian distributions and predict how land use and climate change may alter distributions in the Upper Missouri River Basin. Methods We used publicly available occurrence data, 16 environmental and climatic predictors, and the machine-learning algorithm, Random Forests, to create spatially-explicit distribution models for eight amphibian species. Models were scored to current conditions (2005) and two future climate-change/land-use scenarios to predict changes in amphibian distributions for 2060. Results Models were highly accurate and revealed more pronounced distributional changes under the intensive RCP8.5/CONUS A2 scenario compared to the moderate RCP6.0/CONUS B2 scenario. Both scenarios predicted gains for most southeastern species (i.e., Blanchard's cricket frogs, Plains leopard frogs, Woodhouse's toads, and Great Plains toads) and declines for all western montane species. Overall, distribution changes were most in uenced by climatic and geographic predictors, (e.g., summer temperature, precipitation, and elevation), and geography, versus anthropogenic land-use variables. Conclusions Changes in occurrence area varied by species and geography, however, high-elevation western species were more negatively impacted. Our distribution models provide a framework for future conservation efforts aiding the persistence of amphibian species across a warming, agriculturally dominated landscape.

Resumen. Se presenta una lista de 124 especies de aves para la región de Campo Morado, Guerrero, México, con información sobre el estatus estacional, categoría de riesgo y endemismo. Se resaltan 15 registros sobresalientes, ya sea porque son nuevos para el estado, o porque amplían su distribución geográfi ca y/o modifi can su distribución estacional conocida. Además se discute la importancia de la localidad dentro de la cuenca del río Balsas.

Herpetofaunal diversity of the Fort Wolters Military Installation, Texas, was surveyed from September 2002 through August 2003. During the 1-y sampling period, all amphibian and reptile sampling methods combined resulted in 1,421 captures of 10 species of amphibians (all anurans) and 25 species of reptiles. These actions represent an effort of the Texas Army National Guard to inventory the flora and fauna of federal property and create a baseline for future monitoring and management. RESUMEN La herpetofauna de la Fort Wolters Military Installation, Texas, fue monitoreada de septiembre de 2002 a agosto de 2003. Durante el año del periodo de muestreo, todos los métodos de muestreo de anfibios y reptiles combinados resultaron en 1,421 de 10 especies de anfibios (todos anuros) y 25 especies de reptiles. Estas acciones representan un esfuerzo del Texas Army National Guard de llevar a cabo un inventario de la flora y fauna de la propiedad federal y de crear una base para futuros monitoreos y manejo.

y dinámico paisaje, que representa la cadena más orientaly más recientede los Andes. Este complejo de pequeñas cadenas montañosas en la parte central del Perú, ha surgido de entre las tierras bajas del río Ucayali, por el Este, y las colinas y los valles más arriba del río Huallaga, al Norte y al Oeste. Cercados por empinadas murallas rocosas que se extienden a lo lejos, el corazón de la región Norte de la Cordillera Azul es una mezcla de crestas y montañas, con abundantes deslizamientos, derrumbes, y escarpas, así como amplios valles y colinas de tierras bajas, lagos y pantanos de altura, e inusuales formaciones rocosas erosionadas (Figuras 2-8). Gran parte del frente oriental de la Zona Reservada Biabo Cordillera Azulpropuesto aquí como el Parque Nacional Cordillera Azul Biabo'' (RAP 1999)-está delineado por una impresionante pared de roca que ha sido levantada por fuerzas tectónicas y partida en una serie de enormes placas triangulares, denominadas "formaciones Vivian." La sección central de esta pared se eleva verticalmente una milla encima de las tierras bajas orientales (y recuerda la cadena de los Grand Tetons en Wyoming, EE.UU.). En general, el área del propuesto Parque Nacional Cordillera Azul Biabo es suficientemente grande para proteger procesos ecológicos y comunidades biológicas en su integridad: 1,42 millones de hectáreas (comparado con 1,53 millones de hectáreas en el Parque Nacional Manu, o 58% más grande que el Parque Nacional de Yellowstone, en los EE.UU.). Uno de los aspectos más importantes y que más llama la atención sobre la región Norte de la Cordillera Azul es la tremenda diversidad de tipos de hábitat. El extenso rango de altitudes (200 a 2400 m), los humedales, los * En su infome en 1999, la Red Ambiental Peruana propuso el nombre "Parque Nacional Alto Biabo Manashahuemana" para el nuevo parque. En el idioma Shipibo, "manashahuemana" significa tortugas. Los Shipibo utilizan este nombre para el área porque los picos de la impresionante cadena de la Cordillera se alinean como tortugas sobre un tronco (véase Figura 5A). La parte Oeste del propuesto parque incluye las cabeceras del río Biabo, en la cuenca del río Huallaga. Por conveniencia, aunque menos evocativo, proponemos el nombre "Cordillera Azul Biabo" para el nuevo parque. PERÚ: CORDILLERA AZUL FEBRERO/FEBRUARY i 31 OF THE Policía Nacional del Perú (PNP) for the extraordinary support that they provided during our rapid biological inventory in

Situated in the topographically complex transition between the Neotropics and the temperate biomes of North America, the state of Sonora, Mexico, has an extraordinarily diverse herpetofauna. Surprisingly little research has been conducted on the state’s amphibians and reptiles and many systematic and biogeographic questions remain unanswered. To facilitate future research, we provide a checklist of Sonora’s herpetofauna, documenting species presence based on museum specimens, our fieldwork, and published research. Sonora’s herpetofauna is placed in a regional biogeographic perspective via a checklist for the six adjoining states together with faunal analyses. A total of 402 species of amphibians and reptiles are recorded from these seven states. Sonora has the greatest species richness (187 species), followed by Chihuahua (169 species), and Sinaloa (146 species). Sonora's herpetofauna is most similar to that of Chihuahua, with which it shares a long border. Eleven biogeographic ...

As road networks continue to expand globally, indirect impacts to adjacent wildlife populations remain largely unknown. Simultaneously, reptile populations are declining worldwide, and anthropogenic habitat loss and fragmentation are frequently cited causes. We evaluated the relative influence of three different road characteristics (surface treatment, width and traffic volume) and habitat features on populations of northern sagebrush lizards (Sceloporus graciosus graciosus), plateau fence lizards (S. tristichus) and greater shorthorned lizards (Phrynosoma hernandesi) in mixed arid shrubland habitats in southwest Wyoming. Neither lizard presence nor relative abundance was significantly related to any of the assessed road characteristics, although there was a trend for higher Sceloporus spp. abundance adjacent to paved roads. Sceloporus spp. relative abundance did not vary systematically with distance to the nearest road. Rather, both Sceloporus spp. and greater short-horned lizards ...

Book Review Editor's Note: We are continuing to use the current currency codes. Thus Canadian dollars are CAD, U.S. dollars are USD, Euros are EUR, China Yuan Remimbi are CNY, Australian dollars a AUD and so on. ZOOLOGY Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding, Sixth Edition Edited by Brian I. Crother. 2008. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Herpetological Circular 37. 84 pages. USD 12.00. This slender volume resets the standard for scientific and English ["common"] names to current usage for all amphibians and reptiles recorded for North America (Canada and the United States) and is the official list for all three major herpetological societies based in the United States (The Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, The Herpetologists League). It is the product of a committee of prominent herpetologists consisting of Crother (chair),

Se efectuaron observaciones de las características del hábitat del camarón de río, Macrobrachium brasiliense, en los ambientes acuáticos de la carretera Iquitos-Nauta desde octubre de 1994 hasta agosto de 1995. El agua fue típicamente ácida, de color marrón oscuro, con escasa disponibilidad de nutrientes y alto contenido de material húmico en suspensión, con poca variación a través del período de observación. Las variables físico químicas presentaron correlación no significativa con el número de camarones (p 0,95). La vegetación ribereña presentó numerosas especies arbustivas y arbóreas, típicas de bosque secundario, que aportaron abundante cantidad de hojarasca a los ambientes acuáticos. La vegetación acuática estuvo representada principalmente por Cyperus laxus y C. articulatus. Estos camarones utilizan como refugio excavaciones en las márgenes, palos, hojarasca y otros objetos sumergidos en los cuerpos de agua. La fauna acompañante estuvo dominada por peces, cangrejos, larvas de ...

Los límites altitudinales para la mayoría de las especies de peces de ríos de montaña son poco conocidos y menos aún son conocidas su abundancia, densidad y biología básica. Por esta razón entre junio y agosto de 2003 con un equipo de pesca eléctrica muestreé los peces en la cuenca baja (1.040-1.700 m) del Río Huarinilla y sus tributarios, ubicados en el Parque Nacional y Área Natural de Manejo Integrado Cotapata (La Paz, Bolivia). El muestreo produjo un total de ocho especies, en siete géneros y seis familias. En promedio Hemibrycon beni poseyó la mayor abundancia relativa entre las especies (61.9%), pero estuvo muy localizada; el límite altitudinal superior registrado para esta especie fue de 1.360 m. El género Astroblepus (que consta de dos o más especies) estaba presente en la mayoría de los puntos muestreados, llegando hasta los 1.560 m con una abundancia relativa de 31.4%; Trichomycterus sp. presentó la mayor distribución altitudinal en la zona (1.040-1.680 m) con una abundancia relativa del 3.4%. El resto de las especies (Knodus cf. heteresthes, Ancistrus sp., Parodon nasus, Tetragonopterinae sp. 1 y Rhamdia quelem) no superan los 1.300 m de altitud ni el 2% de la abundancia relativa. Pude determinar que Ephemeroptera y Diptera son los ítems más consumidos en la mayoría de las especies. Al parecer el desove en la mayoría de las especies encontradas podría producirse a inicios de la época de lluvias (julio a noviembre). Adicionalmente, estimé las densidades de las especies registradas y su distribución en la cuenca.