Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Andersen, Erik M

Titel

Comparison of plant and animal communities at three spring-fed riparian areas in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas

Ort / Verlag

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses

Erscheinungsjahr

2003

Quelle

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A&I

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• The objectives of the present study were to characterize the plant and animal communities at three riparian areas in Guadalupe Mountains National Park and make recommendations for fire management. Diversity and abundance were measured for plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes; additionally, stream flow, plant cover and tree density were estimated. Stream flow rates were highest at Smith Spring at 75.9 L/min. Plant diversity was higher at Choza Spring (145 species) than at Juniper Spring (68 species) or Smith Spring (66 species). Woody cover was highest at Smith Spring (89.0%); herbaceous cover was highest at Choza Spring (14.3%). Tree density was highest at Smith Spring (427.7 trees/ha). Choza Spring had the highest diversity of birds (69 species) and the highest small mammal trap success (33.0%). No amphibian species, three reptile species, and one fish species were encountered. The two unburned sites showed higher overall diversity than the burned site.