Long-term Studies of Herpetofauna on the Metropolitan Edge – Conservation Insights for the Sonoran Desert

Brian Sullivan
School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Arizona State University

Monday, 24 May 2021 via Zoom
See homepage to attend on the day-of

Sullivan will speak on his ongoing studies of urban impacts on the Sonoran Desert herpetofauna. He will argue that a thorough understanding of how particular species have responded to anthropogenic change requires detailed, long-term study of their respective natural history. A snake community, five lizard species and the Sonoran Desert Tortoise will be used to exemplify these perspectives.

Sullivan first searched for amphibians and reptiles in Arizona in 1970; he returned every year thereafter, and arrived for good in 1979.  He was hired as an Assistant Professor of Zoology at ASU in 1989, promoted to Full Professor of Herpetology in 2002, and served as the Editor of the Journal of Herpetology from 2000 through 2005. With students, colleagues, and his family, he has examined the behavioral ecology and conservation biology of amphibians and reptiles of the Southwest for over fifty years. Sullivan has authored roughly 200 articles, book reviews, technical reports, and book chapters, including many coauthored with students and colleagues in the Phoenix area.

~ The Endangered Mud Turtle That Survives in the Driest River of México ~

– Miguel Ángel Grageda García | Michael Bogan –
School of Natural Resources and the Environment | The University of Arizona

View presentation here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dhc2THZC4g&t=6s

The Sonoyta mud turtle (Kinosternon sonoriense longifemorale) is an endangered subspecies that inhabits in a small portion of the Río Sonoyta basin in Sonora, México and Arizona, USA. Groundwater overuse has affected the Sonoyta regional aquifer and reduced flow in the Río Sonoyta and Quitobaquito springs, which has resulted in decreased habitat available for the Sonoyta mud turtle and two native species of fish. In 2003, there were seven locations with populations of Sonoyta mud turtle, but now there are only four in México and one more in the United States (Quitobaquito).

In this project, we are studying the population and trophic ecology of the Sonoyta mud turtle at some of these remaining populations. We have conducted preliminary genetic analyses to help guide population management efforts and diet analyses to better understand what might be limiting populations. We are also using mark-recapture and telemetry techniques to estimate population sizes and study potential connectivity among sites. Finally, we are assessing the potential a new reach of the river, supported by secondary treated wastewater, to provide new habitat for Sonoyta mud turtles.

These turtles are adapted to inhabit in degraded wetlands and tolerate water deprivation for extended periods of time, but the habitat available in the Río Sonoyta basin may continue to be reduced to the point that it could be difficult to maintain healthy populations.

Miguel Grageda is currently a graduate student pursuing a Doctorate in Natural Resources at the University of Arizona studying the impact of human development on the population of two endangered species that inhabit in different habitats but share the same area in the Pinacate Biosphere Reserve, Sonora, Mexico. These two species are the Sonoyta Mud Turtle and the Sonoran Pronghorn.

Miguel was born in Mexico City and lived most part of his early years in the state of San Luis Potosi, in central Mexico. He obtained a Master’s Degree in Wildlife Management at Sul Ross State University in Texas and a Degree in Animal Science at the Universidad Autonoma Agraria Antonio Narro in Coahuila, Mexico.

Miguel worked since 2015 at the Pinacate Biosphere Reserve in Sonora as Coordinator of the Natural Resources Management Area, and also, he worked for several years as part of the NGO Protección de la Fauna Mexicana in efforts to protect threatened species and developing management studies for Protected Areas in the Chihuahuan Desert and the Sierra Madre Oriental.

He has been involved in projects with the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, Grupo de Ecologia y Conservacion de Islas (GECI), and Comision Nacional de Areas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP).

Miguel is also a passionate conservation photographer, that spends part of his time documenting the rich diversity of the ecosystems in northern Mexico and the situations that affect their integrity.

Michael Bogan is freshwater ecologist and an assistant professor in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Arizona. He studies the impact of natural disturbances (e.g. droughts, floods) and anthropogenic water use on aquatic species and biodiversity in streams and springs across the southwestern USA and northwestern Mexico. Michael has been working in the region as an ecologist since 2000. He earned his Master’s and doctoral degrees at Oregon State University, and worked as a postdoctoral researcher at University of California Berkeley, before starting his current position at the University of Arizona in early 2016.

Despite the charismatic status that the Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum) maintains with the public and herpetologists alike, many natural history aspects of this enigmatic lizard remain shrouded in mystery. While interest in the habits of the Gila Monster is high, the funding to study them is nearly nonexistent. Any labor to gain knowledge about them is one of love. This presentation is full of that love. It will attempt to lift the veil of secrecy that surrounds them by utilizing imagery, historical documentation, and just plain good luck. While the focus is on reproduction, many aspects of their daily life in the wild, such as site fidelity, commensal behavior, predator/prey relationships, and many other fun facts will be revealed. As the title implies, this presentation is for anybody who is wild about Gila Monsters. The enthusiastic tribute to this fascinating lizard promises to be as wild and unique as the subject matter presented, and there will be something for everybody who attends.

Roger Repp came out of his mother’s womb as a herpetologist. Upon graduating from High School, he followed the career-path advice of Ray Pawley, who was then curator of reptiles at the Brookfield Zoo. Ray told him: “Get into a trade, kid, that is where the money is.”  Roger did exactly that, and five years later, he earned his journeyman tool and die maker degree. There was indeed a nice paycheck in that calling, and any free cash that remained after paying bills was spent in equal parts on gas and beer to get him where the herps could be found. He moved to Tucson, Arizona in 1981, and with the formation of the Tucson Herpetological Society in 1988, his interest in the local herpetofauna exploded into a rabid passion. He maintained consistent field documentation of all snakes, several lizard species, and all turtles encountered in Arizona from 1989 through 1999, and broadened that dataset to include all herps encountered since the year 2000. In March of 2001, he joined forces with Dr. Gordon Schuett to begin a 15-year long radio telemetry study on four species of rattlesnake, as well as Gila Monsters (Heloderma suspectum). He has authored or coauthored over 20 peer review papers, and has published over 100 herp-related articles in various herp society newsletters. He currently publishes a monthly column in the Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society, and is enjoying his third year of retirement doing what he loves most. Roger has served as president of the THS, and the recipient of its esteemed Jarchow Conservation Award for excellence in southwestern herpetology. He is currently the Immediate Past President of the THS.

Meeting Time:
7:15pm

Meeting Place:
City Ward 3 Meeting Room – 1510 E Grant Rd – Tucson AZ 85719

Southeast corner of Grant and Vine between Campbell and Mountain Avenues

Pre-meeting Eats:
Blue Willow – 2616 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719

Southeast block of Glenn and Campbell