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- Info
Using long-term monitoring to understand how adjacent land development affects natural areas: An example from Saguaro National Park, Arizona (USA)
| Author: |
Briggs, Mark K.; Harris, Lisa; Howe, Jim; Halvorson, William |
| Date: |
1996 |
| Periodical: |
Natural Areas Journal |
| Abstract: |
Managers of protected natural areas across the country are increasingly concerned with the effects that adjacent land developments have on parks, preserves, forests, and wildlife sanctuaries. Despite this concern, relatively few efforts have been undertaken to evaluate how protected natural areas are affected when adjacent natural land becomes urbanized. In the Rincon Valley, Arizona, immediately adjacent to Saguaro National Park and Tucson, Arizona, two long-term monitoring efforts have been initiated to better understand how wildlife populations and riparian ecosystems are affected by urbanization. Although currently undeveloped, the Rincon Valley will experience intensive and rapid development during the next 10 years. A wildlife monitoring effort is examining how development will affect the Rincon Valley's reptile, amphibian, bird, and small mammal populations, and a riparian monitoring effort is documenting how development will affect some of the major biotic (streamside vegetation communities) and abiotic (ground water, streamflow, and channel morphology) components of riparian ecosystems. Since the monitoring efforts have been initiated prior to construction, it will be possible to document the effects of development on the natural resources in seldom achieved detail. |
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