NPS
The Sonoran Desert Network (SODN) is one of 32 National Park Service (NPS) inventory and monitoring networks nationwide that are implementing vital signs monitoring in order to assess the condition of park ecosystems, provide early warning of ecosystem changes, and develop a stronger scientific basis for stewardship and management of natural resources across the National Park System.
SODN, based in Tucson, Arizona, includes 11 National Park Service units: 10 in central and southern Arizona (Casa Grande Ruins National Monument [NM], Chiricahua NM, Coronado National Memorial, Fort Bowie National Historic Site, Montezuma Castle NM, Organ Pipe Cactus NM, Saguaro National Park, Tumacácori National Historical Park, Tonto NM, and Tuzigoot NM) and 1 unit in southwestern New Mexico (Gila Cliff Dwellings NM). These units are characteristic of the upper Sonoran subdivision of the Sonoran Desert Ecoregion and the Apache Highlands Ecoregion, and range in size from half a square mile to 517 square miles (147 to 133,882 hectares).
Across these parks, SODN monitors air quality; climate; invasive exotic plants; groundwater; landbirds; seeps, springs, and tinajas; streams; vegetation and soils; and washes. In addition, SODN is part of the Southwest Network Collaboration (SWNC), a joint effort between the Sonoran Desert Network, Chihuahuan Desert Network, and Southern Plains Network to share not only monitoring protocols, but also data collection and reporting duties. The goal of the SWNC is to improve effectiveness and efficiency across all three networks.
Under the SWNC, the three networks, in varying combinations, share protocols, training, data management, and reporting responsibilities for eight different protocols: air quality, climate, invasive exotic plants, uplands, groundwater, landbirds, and surface water (streams and seeps/springs/tinajas).
Showing results 1-10 of 29
- Type: Article
- Locations: Saguaro National Park
- Offices: Sonoran Desert Inventory & Monitoring Network
The Sonoran Desert Network uses remote wildlife cameras to monitor mammals in the Tucson Mountain District of Saguaro National Park. In 2023, we deployed 59 wildlife cameras and collected 3,967 photos of mammals. We analyze the photos using single-season occupancy models to find out how mammals use the park and to understand the pressures that affect mammal distribution across the landscape.
- Type: Article
- Locations: Chiricahua National Monument,Coronado National Memorial,Fort Bowie National Historic Site,Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument,Montezuma Castle National Monument, more »
- Offices: Inventory and Monitoring Division,Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate,Sonoran Desert Inventory & Monitoring Network
At nine southwestern parks, Sonoran Desert Network staff are performing environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling. By analyzing the genomes present in a water sample, eDNA sampling allows us to learn which species use a given area without the use of capture, hair snares, or cameras. The results of this inventory will help NPS staff to prioritize springs for monitoring and conservation.
- Type: Article
- Locations: Chiricahua National Monument
- Offices: Inventory and Monitoring Division,Sonoran Desert Inventory & Monitoring Network
At National Park Service units across the Sonoran Desert and Apache Highlands, the Sonoran Desert Network is monitoring small and mid-sized mammals using remote wildlife camera traps. Find out what we're learning about wildlife occupancy at Chiricahua National Monument.
- Type: Article
- Locations: Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
- Offices: Inventory and Monitoring Division,Sonoran Desert Inventory & Monitoring Network
At National Park Service units across the Sonoran Desert and Apache Highlands, the Sonoran Desert Network is monitoring small and mid-sized mammals using remote wildlife camera traps. Find out what we're learning about wildlife occupancy at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.
- Type: Article
- Locations: Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument,Amistad National Recreation Area,Arches National Park,Aztec Ruins National Monument,Bandelier National Monument, more »
- Offices: Chihuahuan Desert Inventory & Monitoring Network,Greater Yellowstone Inventory & Monitoring Network,Inventory and Monitoring Division,Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate,Northern Colorado Plateau Inventory & Monitoring Network, more »
Across the Intermountain Region, Inventory & Monitoring Division ecologists are helping to track the effects of climate change, provide baseline information for resource management, evaluate new technologies, and inspire the next generation of park stewards. This article highlights accomplishments achieved during fiscal year 2021.
- Type: Article
The National Park Service's Sonoran Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program is monitoring several vital signs that will likely show the effects of climate change. This article offers a summary of the network’s local-scale findings to date, as well as some examples of how monitoring will detect future change.
- Type: Article
- Locations: Saguaro National Park
- Offices: Inventory and Monitoring Division,Sonoran Desert Inventory & Monitoring Network
After an unseasonal bloom in fall 2020, saguaro flowers in May 2021 appeared down the length of main stems and arms, and—remarkably—even on small buds (“nubbins”). Theories abounded about what caused the phenomenon—but soil moisture appears to be an important key.
- Type: Article
- Subtype: Series
Scientists have identified the Southwest as a climate-change hotspot. Its climate, already warm and dry, may be particularly vulnerable to rising global temperatures. Small changes in temperature and precipitation can greatly affect sensitive desert plants and animals. Read on for an introduction to climate change in the Southwest, or visit the Science of the American Southwest Climate Change webpage to learn about specific climate change projects.
- Type: Article
- Locations: Arches National Park,Aztec Ruins National Monument,Bandelier National Monument,Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site,Big Bend National Park, more »
- Offices: Chihuahuan Desert Inventory & Monitoring Network,Climate Change,Climate Change Response Program,Inventory and Monitoring Division,Mediterranean Coast Inventory & Monitoring Network, more »
When the climate changes enough, the vegetation communities growing in any given place will also change. Under an expanded bimodal climate zone, some plant communities in western national parks are more likely to change than others. National Park Service ecologists and partners investigated the future conditions that may force some of this change. Having this information can help park managers decide whether to resist, direct, or accept the change.
- Type: Article
- Locations: Carlsbad Caverns National Park,Chiricahua National Monument,Coronado National Memorial,Fort Bowie National Historic Site,Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, more »
- Offices: Chihuahuan Desert Inventory & Monitoring Network,Sonoran Desert Inventory & Monitoring Network,Southern Plains Inventory & Monitoring Network
The American bullfrog is a great threat to aquatic ecosystems in the Southwest. They are voracious predators of aquatic animals and carry diseases that kill native species. We will implement three main actions in this project funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, Invasive Species Grant: bullfrog control, native species recovery and reintroduction, and development of early detection/rapid response protocols for bullfrogs.
Last updated: February 13, 2019