Texas Tech University will conduct quantitative and predictive analysis of the connectivity of isolated desert “wetlands”, that include tinajas, the name for eroded pools in bedrock, for 20 wildlife species over the Sonoran desert ecoregion. Potential loss of wetlands due to climate change will also be studied to identify high value areas that can be prioritized for future restoration efforts and targeted for better management practices.
Target species for landscape connectivity analysis include:
Colorado River toad ( Incilius alverius )
American bullfrog ( Lithobates catesbeianus )
Chiricahua leopard frog ( Lithobates chiricahuensis )
Lowland leopard frog ( Lithobates yavapaiensis )
Couch’s spadefoot ( Scaphiopus couchii )
Plains spadefoot ( Spea bombifrons )
Mexican spadefoot ( Spea multiplicata )
Great Plains toad ( Anaxyrus cognatus )
Red-spotted toad ( Anaxyrus punctatus )
Sonoran green toad ( Anaxyrus retiformis )
Southwestern Woodhouse’s toad ( Anaxyrus woodhousii australis )
Lowland burrowing treefrog ( Smilisca fodiens )
Western narrow-mouth toad ( Gastrophryne olivacea )
Arizona tiger salamander ( Ambystoma mavortium nebulosum )
Sonoran tiger salamander ( Ambystoma mavortium stebbinsi )
Desert bighorn ( Ovis canadensis mexicana )
Mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus crooki )
Sonoran pronghorn ( Antilocapra americana sonoriensis )
Masked bobwhite ( Colinus virginianus ridgwayi )
Gambel’s quail ( Callipepla gambelii )