Long-term monitoring of ground-dwelling arthropods in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Scottsdale, Arizona, ongoing since 2012
Author(s):
- Stevan Earl, Arizona State University
- Nancy Grimm, Arizona State University
- Dan Childers, Arizona State University
Abstract:
Project overview
Protected lands, such as the McDowell Sonoran Preserve (hereafter referred to as the Preserve) in Scottsdale, Arizona, provide critical refuge for native biota and natural, ecological processes within and near urban environments. At the same time, a key feature that makes urban, open-space preserves so valuable − their proximity to urban areas − places strain on the ecological integrity of these systems through visitation, habitat fragmentation, and the introduction of exotic species among others. Effective management of these systems requires detailed knowledge of the biota within the protected area, and monitoring of ecological indicators through time. Arthropods are well suited to monitoring ecological health. This diverse group of organisms typically reflects overall biological diversity of a system, and includes several trophic levels; their short generation times mean they will likely respond quickly to change; and they are relatively easy to sample. As part of a broad effort by the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy Field Institute, an organization that oversees science and research in Preserve, to establish a baseline inventory of biota in the Preserve, investigators with the Central Arizona−Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research (CAP LTER) program at Arizona State University (ASU) in collaboration with Field Institute Citizen Scientists are monitoring ground-dwelling arthropods at select locations that reflect a diversity of habitat within the Preserve. Investigators employ a sampling design that is intended to provide insight regarding influence of the urban-wildland interface on the arthropod community within the protected area. The simple but effective technique of pitfall trapping is used to sample ground-dwelling arthropods at select locations spanning a wide range of habitat with the Preserve. Additional collections of vegetation-dwelling arthropods have been conducted at the sampling locations at periodic intervals.
Project design and sampling
Pitfall trap transect locations include five groups of paired transects that span a large range of the north-south and east-west axes of the Preserve, and include numerous unique vegetation communities. Four transect pairs are positioned such that one transect is within 100 m of the Preserve boundary and existing development, and the second transect at least 0.5 km from the Preserve boundary-development. A fifth paired transect treated as a control is located in a similar fashion but at a location where there is not currently development near the Preserve boundary (Dixie Mine and Prospector sites). Transect locations were selected specifically to include relatively similar geomorphological characteristics, including elevation (610-914 m), slope (≤ 20%), and aspect (0-270°, 315-360°) to minimize extraneous factors. All transects are positioned within 75 m of existing trails to facilitate access and limit off-trail travel while keeping traps out of public view. Sampling is conducted quarterly in keeping with CAP LTER protocols and concomitant sampling at other Valley location.
Keywords:
Temporal Coverage:
2012-02-23 to 2016-08-02Geographic Coverage:
Geographic Description: CAP LTER study areaBounding Coordinates:
Longitude:-111.8574 to -111.7886
Latitude:33.76265 to 33.59724
Contact:
Data Manager, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University,PO Box 875402,Tempe
caplter.data@asu.edu
Methods used in producing this dataset: Show
Data Files (4) :
Tabular: 643_mcdowell_pitfall_arthropods_5916b85bdffca56146e38b1b9ad4383d.csv
Description: Tabular file detailing key data from the long-term monitoring of ground-dwelling arthropods at sites in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Scottsdale, Arizona. This data entity includes sample event details, taxonomic details and the number of collected organisms, sizes of organisms where delineated, and general notes and details regarding the gathering of specimen data.
Column | Description | Type | Units |
---|---|---|---|
site_code | survey location identifier |
string | |
sample_date | date of sample collection |
date | Format: YYYY-MM-DD |
observer | identifier (typically initials) of person primarily responsible for processing (sorting, identifying) collected samples |
string | |
trap_name | identifier of individual collecting trap |
string | |
trap_sampling_events_comments | comments regarding field data collection or lab sample processing |
string | |
trap_sampling_events_flags | quality control flags (comments) regarding field data collection or lab sample processing |
string | |
trap_count | total number of traps collected and processed for this collection event (i.e., specific site_code and sample_date) |
float | number |
arth_class | organism classification: class |
string | |
arth_order | organism classification: order |
string | |
arth_family | organism classification: family |
string | |
arth_genus_subgenus | organism classification: genus or subgenus |
string | |
display_name | organism classification for descriptive purposes, typically finest taxonomic resolution |
string | |
lt2mm | number of specimens less than 2 mm in length |
float | number |
_2_5mm | number of specimens 2 to 5 mm in length |
float | number |
_5_10mm | number of specimens 5 to 10 mm in length |
float | number |
gt10mm | number of specimens greater than 10 mm in length |
float | number |
unsized | number of specimens not distinguished by size/length |
float | number |
Tabular: 643_mcdowell_vegetation_arthropods_b8c40d0c7cb2b4f940151a889f662df5.csv
Description: Tabular file detailing data from collections of vegetation-dwelling arthropods in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Scottsdale, Arizona. Samples were collected for a brief period (2013-2014) in conjunction with ground-dwelling arthropods, but are not a component of the long-term monitoring effort. This data entity includes sample event details, including sampling location, sampling date, taxonomy of the plant sampled, and taxonomic details and the number of collected arthropods, sizes of arthropods where delineated, and general notes and details regarding the gathering of specimen data.
Column | Description | Type | Units |
---|---|---|---|
site_code | survey location identifier |
string | |
sample_date | date of sample collection |
date | Format: YYYY-MM-DD |
observer | identifier (typically initials) of person primarily responsible for processing (sorting, identifying) collected samples |
string | |
plant_sampling_events_comments | comments regarding field data collection or lab sample processing |
string | |
plant_sampling_events_flags | quality control flags (comments) regarding field data collection or lab sample processing |
string | |
plant_count | total number of plants sampled and processed for this collection event (i.e., specific site_code and sample_date) |
float | number |
plant_scientific_name | scientific name of plant from which arthropods were collected |
string | |
plant_common_name | common name of plant from which arthropods were collected |
string | |
arth_class | arthropod classification: class |
string | |
arth_order | arthropod classification: order |
string | |
arth_family | arthropod classification: family |
string | |
arth_genus_subgenus | arthropod classification: genus or subgenus |
string | |
display_name | arthropod classification for descriptive purposes, typically finest taxonomic resolution |
string | |
lt2mm | number of specimens less than 2 mm in length |
float | number |
_2_5mm | number of specimens 2 to 5 mm in length |
float | number |
_5_10mm | number of specimens 5 to 10 mm in length |
float | number |
gt10mm | number of specimens greater than 10 mm in length |
float | number |
unsized | number of specimens not distinguished by size/length |
float | number |
Tabular: 643_mcdowell_arthropod_sites_7f6c04e69ade998a30f3b5a73b2206f8.csv
Description: Tabular file providing more detailed characteristics of arthropod sampling locations in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Scottsdale, Arizona, including the position of the site relative to the Preserve boundary, the number and spatial arrangment of pitfall traps, sampling start and end dates (if applicable), and general comments regarding the sampling location.
Column | Description | Type | Units |
---|---|---|---|
site_code | survey location identifier |
string | |
site_type | position of sampling location relative to McDowell Sonoran Preserve Boundary |
string |
Enumeration:
|
num_traps | number of traps installed at the sampling location |
float | number |
trap_arrange | general description of arrangement of the traps, especially arrangement was other than a line |
string | |
start_date | date of first sampling at the location |
date | Format: YYYY-MM-DD |
end_date | date of final sampling or date of decision to cease sampling at the location |
date | Format: YYYY-MM-DD |
comments | general comments regarding the sampling location |
string |
File: 643_msp_arthropod_locations_c4465d0fc1580f586b7d70b4a04b05b3.kml
Description: Geospatial file (KML) detailing the locations of ground-dwelling arthropod sampling sites in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Scottsdale, Arizona. Polygons reflect the bounding box (minimum and maximum extents) of paired (boundary-interior) sampling locations. Precise sampling locations are available upon request to the CAP LTER Data Manager.