October 2008

En Español

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New herp guide to Sonora
SJV partner Jim Rorabaugh recently published an invaluable new resource for those working with herpetofauna in northwest Mexico: An Introduction to the Herpetofauna of Mainland Sonora, Mexico, with comments on conservation and management. This resource provides an introduction to the amphibians and reptiles of mainland Sonora  for those interested in species' identification, distributions, and ecology, but it also  attempts to build a conservation context and information base for land managers and conservationists in the hopes of facilitating the protection and maintenance of Sonora’s amphibians and reptiles and their habitats.

Based on collections and published reports, this new resource shows that the herpetofauna of mainland Sonora, México, includes 37 amphibian and 139 reptile species. An additional two amphibian and five reptile species have been taken very near the Sonoran border in contiguous habitats in Arizona, Chihuahua, or New Mexico, and almost certainly occur in Sonora, as well. Five taxa have been introduced, and one species is known to have been extirpated from Sonora. Seventy-three (40%) of Sonora's amphibian and reptile species are given special status under México's Lista de Especies en Riesgo or the IUCN's Red List. Although some of the species probably do not warrant special status in Sonora, substantial threats to amphibians and reptiles in general are widespread. Sonora's sea turtles and ranid frogs are particularly imperiled. Despite these threats, there are significant opportunities for conservation, and agencies and non-governmental organizations are making good progress on several fronts to protect amphibians and reptiles, and their habitats.

Those interested in receiving the Spanish version of this resource should contact the author. The English version was recently published in the Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science (2008, Vol. 40, Issue 1, pp. 20-65).

New WHSRN site in SJV region
The Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) recently accepted the Complejo Lagunar San Quintín as the newest WHSRN Site of Regional Importance. Many partners were involved in this effort, including Terra Peninsular, Pronatura Noroeste, A.C., The Nature Conservancy, and Proesteros.

The Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) is a hemispheric alliance of conservation, business, community, and government organizations united to protect over 22 million acres of wetlands and the wildlife and human communities that are dependent on them.

The Network is governed by a Hemispheric Council, with an Executive Office operated as a program of Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences. To learn more about WHSRN, visit www.whsrn.org.

SJV Technical Committee to meet
The Sonoran Joint Venture Technical Committee will meet in Tucson, Arizona from November 17-18, 2008 on the first floor of the SJV office building (Historic YWCA building, 738 North 5th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85705). Topics will include continuing work on the SJV AVID database, the SJV Bird Monitoring Plan, communications, education, and outreach activities, a threats assessment, and updates on activities from SJV staff and partners, including the Sierra La Laguna expedition, Arizona riparian bird monitoring, and a discussion of climate change modeling.

Please contact Carol Beardmore if you plan on attending the meeting or if you would like to give a brief update on your work.

New web resource on climate change
With climate change becoming a more prominent aspect of ecological research questions, and given the United States Geological Survey’s science strategy emphasis on the topic, FORTWeb has a new site, "Climate Change: The Science of Impacts." This site draws from the research and publications databases to consolidate FORT tasks and products that address climate change. It also features a home page and a page of related resources, comprising links to similar federal sites. See http://www.fort.usgs.gov/ClimateChange/.

Podcast: What Is a Joint Venture
The Playa Country Radio Series is a weekly program produced by the Playa Lakes Joint Venture and Boy/Girl Audio and aired on rural radio stations across the PLJV region. Although the series generally focuses on topics more relevant to the PLJV region, the July 28, 2008 episode, “What Is A Bird Conservation Joint Venture,” should be of interest to SJV all partners.

A Joint Venture is a partnership of conservation groups, wildlife agencies and private citizens dedicated to conserving bird habitats and species. These groups are regionally located throughout the United States and parts of Canada and Mexico. Joint Ventures use a business-like and innovative approach to bird conservation—using the latest scientific tools while sharing the partners' expertise. Seth Mott of the Division of Bird Habitat Conservation, within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is also the Joint Venture liaison and works to coordinate these partnerships. Listen now by clicking here.