Tuesday, May 27, 2008
289

Monitoring aquatic macroinvertebrates in tinajas at saguaro NP

Mark Zepp, Federal Lands Program, Sonoran Institute, 7660 E Broadway Blvd, Suite 303, Tucson, AZ 85705

Tinajas in the Rincon Creek watershed represent one of the rare sources of perennial water in the Sonoran Desert, and are unique because they have remained relatively unspoiled by human recreation. They support a riparian ecosystem which is characterized by relict and rare plant assemblages and is utilized by an unusually diverse array of wildlife.

This project will survey and monitor the macroinvertebrate communities in the tinajas in the Rincon Mountain District of Saguaro National Park, specifically those in the Chimenea and Madrona drainages. Aquatic macroinvertebrates are a valuable reference in assessments of water quality and ecosystem health, and are associated with the rare diversity found in riparian and the adjoining terrestrial ecosystems. With the potential that these pools could be made more accessible to the public for recreation or education, a monitoring program based on aquatic macroinvertebrates will prove to be an inexpensive and valuable tool with which park management can assess the stability and health of this unique riparian ecosystem.



Web Page: tinajas, macroinvertebrates, adaptive management