Title

Cave-dwelling arthropods and vertebrates of North Rim Grand Canyon, with notes on ecology and management

Creator

Files

Publication Date

January 2014

Type

Article

Notes

J. Judson Wynne 1and Kyle D. Voyles 2 1Department of Biological Sciences, Colorado Plateau Biodiversity Center, Colorado Plateau Research Station and Landscape Conservation Initiative, Northern Arizona University, Box 5614, Building 56, Suite 150, Flagstaff, AZ 86011. URL: http://www.jutwynne.com 2Saint George Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, 345 E. Riverside Dr., St. George, UT 84790. ABSTRACT: Prior to this study, there was no information on arthropods, bats, and other vertebrates of caves in north-westernmost Arizona. Based on invertebrate and vertebrate inventory work conducted during 2005 and 2006, we provide future directions for conservation and management for caves on Grand Canyon - Parashant National Monument, northwestern Arizona. Baseline investigations to find and identify arthropods, bats, and other vertebrates were conducted at 7 of the largest known caves on the monument. We identified 52 morphospecies including 44 arthropods, 4 bats, and 4 other vertebrates. Of the cave-dwelling arthropods, we found 10 eisodophiles, 6 troglophiles, 8 questionable troglophiles, 7 trogloxenes, 8 accidentals, 3 taxa of unknown cave affiliations, and 2 mammalian parasites. We made several contributions to the entomological record including 7 new species (with 2 new genera), 3 possible new species, one range extension, and one possible range extension. Also, we identified 5 bat roosts-1 hibernaculum, 2 night roosts, and 3 summer roosts of unconfirmed use. Observed arthropod richness per cave ranged from 1 to 14 morphospecies, and observed bat and other vertebrate (combined) richness was 1-3 morphospecies. We did not detect any cave-adapted arthropods during this investigation. For the caves sampled, we are uncertain whether the lack of cave-adapted taxa is due to (a) low nutrient input and high cryptoaridity associated with many southwestern cave systems or (b) lack of intensive sampling. Despite the lack of cave-adapted species, 5 of the 7 caves inventoried are considered of high management concern. Additional research at these caves will be required to obtain the data necessary to best manage and protect these systems. RESUMEN: Anterior a este estudio, no había información sobre los artrópodos, murciélagos y otra fauna en las cav- ernas al noroeste de Arizona. Basados en el inventario de invertebrados y vertebrados realizados durante 2005 y 2006, nosotros proveemos las futuras direcciones para la investigación y gestión de cavernas del Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, noroeste de Arizona. Investigaciones iniciales fueron realizados en artrópodos, murciélagos y fauna en 7 de las más grandes cavernas conocidas. Identificamos 52 morfoespecies incluyendo 44 artrópodos, 4 murciélagos y 4 fauna silvestre. De los artrópodos, hubo 10 eisodofilos, 6 troglofilos, 8 pseudo-troglofilos, 7 trogloxenos, 8 acciden- tales, 3 desconocidas y 2 ectoparásitos. Realizamos varias contribuciones al registro entomológico incluyendo 7 nuevas especies (con 2 nuevos géneros), 3 posibles nuevas especies, una expansión distribucional y una posible expansión dis- tribucional. También, identificamos 5 refugios de murciélagos: 1 hibernáculo, 2 dormideros nocturnos y 3 dormideros estivales de uso indeterminado. La riqueza observada de artrópodos oscilo entre 1-14 morfoespecies y la riqueza combi- nada para murciélagos y fauna vario entre 1-3 morfoespecies. Durante este trabajo, no fueron encontrados artrópodos troglomorficos. En las cavernas muestreadas, se desconoce si la falta de taxones adaptados a las cavernas es debido a (i) el bajo aporte de nutrientes y la alta cripto-aridez asociada generalmente con los sistemas de cavernas del suroeste, o (ii) el insuficiente muestreo. A pesar de ello, 5 de las 7 cavernas inventariadas son consideradas como de alto interés de gestión. Investigaciones adicionales en estas cavernas serán necesarios para obtener los datos requeridos para una mejor gestión y protección de estos sistemas. Open Access - Permission by Publisher See Extended description for more information.

Identifier

K26-01003

Recommended Citation

"Cave-dwelling arthropods and vertebrates of North Rim Grand Canyon, with notes on ecology and management" (2014). KIP Articles. 787.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/kip_articles/787