Park archeologists working on a stabilization project. NPS photo.
Scientific research is key to protecting the natural and cultural wonders of our national parks. To make sound decisions, park managers need accurate information about the resources in their care. They also need to know how park ecosystems change over time, and what amount of change is normal.
Tonto National Monument partners with many different scientists to learn more about its past peoples and natural wonders. One of those is the Sonoran Desert Network, whose scientists collect long-term data on Tonto’s “vital signs.” Network staff monitor key resources, like climate, water, and vegetation, then analyze the results and report them to park managers. Knowing how systems are changing can provide managers with early warning of potential problems. It can also help them to make better decisions and plan more effectively.
Research at Tonto is also conducted by park staff, other state and federal scientists, and independent researchers studying everything from archeology to zoology. Their work helps the National Park Service fulfill its mission to preserve the monument's cultural and natural treasures for future generations. You can learn about recent research or generate a park species list below.
Offices:Inventory and Monitoring Division, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate, Sonoran Desert Inventory & Monitoring Network
At Tonto National Monument, the built environment reflects the historical importance of reliable water sources. The Sonoran Desert Network monitors climate, groundwater, and springs at this park. Understanding changes in these closely linked factors helps managers make informed decisions affecting both natural and cultural resources. Learn about our recent findings.
Sonoran Desert Network scientists monitor key resources and weather at Tonto National Monument by taking measurements throughout the year, which helps us track changes over time. This report summarizes weather and springs data from Water Year 2022. The data describe a dramatic change to Cave Canyon Spring. WY2022 was the third consecutive year of drought, and the park received less than average precipitation in all but three months.
Locations:Bandelier National Monument, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, Hovenweep National Monument, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, Pecos National Historical Park, Rainbow Bridge National Monument, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Tonto National Monument, Tumacácori National Historical Park, White Sands National Park, Wupatki National Monumentmore »
The National Park Service will remove over 4,000 acres of riparian invasive plant infestations and replace them with native vegetation in 14 parks, building drought resiliency.
Locations:Aztec Ruins National Monument, Bandelier National Monument, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Capulin Volcano National Monument, Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Chiricahua National Monument, Coronado National Memorial, Grand Canyon National Park, Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site, Mesa Verde National Park, Montezuma Castle National Monument, Navajo National Monument, Pecos National Historical Park, Saguaro National Park, Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, Tonto National Monument, Tumacácori National Historical Park, Tuzigoot National Monument, Valles Caldera National Preserve, Walnut Canyon National Monument, Wupatki National Monumentmore »
The National Park Service, with funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will be able to build up stocks of the native workhorse plant species that can out compete invasive plant species so that native grasses and forbs can grow in previously disturbed areas.
Locations:Bandelier National Monument, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Canyonlands National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, Hovenweep National Monument, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, Pecos National Historical Park, Rainbow Bridge National Monument, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, Tonto National Monument, Tumacácori National Historical Park, White Sands National Park, Wupatki National Monumentmore »
Offices:Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate
We’re incredibly fortunate to have some of the most beautiful mountain, river, and grassland landscapes across the United States but their resilience – a key characteristic of national parklands – is threatened by invasive species. National Park Service (NPS) park managers, restoration biologists, and other partners are at work to control invasive species through multiple projects in parks of the American southwest.
Locations:Acadia National Park, Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, Amistad National Recreation Area, Antietam National Battlefield, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Arches National Park, Assateague Island National Seashore, Aztec Ruins National Monument, Badlands National Park, Bandelier National Monument, Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, Big Bend National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, Big Hole National Battlefield, Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, Big Thicket National Preserve, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Biscayne National Park, Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, Bryce Canyon National Park, Buffalo National River, Cabrillo National Monument, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Canyonlands National Park, Cape Cod National Seashore, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Cape Lookout National Seashore, Capitol Reef National Park, Capulin Volcano National Monument, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Catoctin Mountain Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Chamizal National Memorial, Channel Islands National Park, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Chiricahua National Monument, Colorado National Monument, Congaree National Park, Coronado National Memorial, Cowpens National Battlefield, Crater Lake National Park, Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve, Cumberland Island National Seashore, Curecanti National Recreation Area, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Death Valley National Park, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Devils Postpile National Monument, Devils Tower National Monument, Dinosaur National Monument, Dry Tortugas National Park, Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, Effigy Mounds National Monument, El Malpais National Monument, El Morro National Monument, Everglades National Park, Fire Island National Seashore, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Fort Bowie National Historic Site, Fort Larned National Historic Site, Fort Union National Monument, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, Fossil Butte National Monument, Gettysburg National Military Park, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Glacier National Park, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Golden Spike National Historical Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, Grand Portage National Monument, Grand Teton National Park, Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site, Great Basin National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, Hovenweep National Monument, Indiana Dunes National Park, Isle Royale National Park, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Jewel Cave National Monument, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, John Muir National Historic Site, Joshua Tree National Park, Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lava Beds National Monument, Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park, Mammoth Cave National Park, Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, Missouri National Recreational River, Mojave National Preserve, Montezuma Castle National Monument, Mount Rainier National Park, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Muir Woods National Monument, Natchez Trace Parkway, National Capital Parks-East, Natural Bridges National Monument, Navajo National Monument, New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, Niobrara National Scenic River, Noatak National Preserve, Obed Wild & Scenic River, Olympic National Park, Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Padre Island National Seashore, Pecos National Historical Park, Petrified Forest National Park, Petroglyph National Monument, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Pipe Spring National Monument, Point Reyes National Seashore, Redwood National and State Parks, Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River, Rock Creek Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Saguaro National Park, Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Scotts Bluff National Monument, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Shenandoah National Park, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve, Tonto National Monument, Tule Lake National Monument, Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, Tumacácori National Historical Park, Tuzigoot National Monument, Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River, Valles Caldera National Preserve, Voyageurs National Park, Walnut Canyon National Monument, Washita Battlefield National Historic Site, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, White Sands National Park, Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, Wind Cave National Park, Wupatki National Monument, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, Yucca House National Monument, Zion National Parkmore »
Across the US, changes in water availability are altering which plants grow where. These changes are evident at a broad scale. But not all areas experience the same climate in the same way, even within the boundaries of a single national park. A new dataset gives park managers a valuable tool for understanding why vegetation has changed and how it might change in the future under different climate-change scenarios.
Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park.
Locations:Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, Horseshoe Bend National Military Park, Hot Springs National Park, Hovenweep National Monument, Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site, Indiana Dunes National Park, Isle Royale National Park, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Jewel Cave National Monument, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, John Muir National Historic Site, Johnstown Flood National Memorial, Joshua Tree National Park, Kalaupapa National Historical Park, Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park, Katmai National Park & Preserve, Kenai Fjords National Park, Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Kings Mountain National Military Park, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, Kobuk Valley National Park, Lake Clark National Park & Preserve, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lava Beds National Monument, Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Lyndon B Johnson National Historical Park, Mammoth Cave National Park, Manassas National Battlefield Park, Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park, Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, Mesa Verde National Park, Minute Man National Historical Park, Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, Missouri National Recreational River, Mojave National Preserve, Monocacy National Battlefield, Montezuma Castle National Monument, Moores Creek National Battlefield, Morristown National Historical Park, Mount Rainier National Park, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Muir Woods National Monument, Natchez Trace Parkway, National Capital Parks-East, National Park of American Samoa, Natural Bridges National Monument, Navajo National Monument, New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, Nez Perce National Historical Park, Ninety Six National Historic Site, Niobrara National Scenic River, Noatak National Preserve, North Cascades National Park, Obed Wild & Scenic River, Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, Olympic National Park, Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Oxon Cove Park & Oxon Hill Farm, Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Padre Island National Seashore, Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park, Pea Ridge National Military Park, Pecos National Historical Park, Petersburg National Battlefield, Petrified Forest National Park, Petroglyph National Monument, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Pinnacles National Park, Pipe Spring National Monument, Pipestone National Monument, Piscataway Park, Point Reyes National Seashore, Presidio of San Francisco, Prince William Forest Park, Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, Rainbow Bridge National Monument, Redwood National and State Parks, Richmond National Battlefield Park, Rock Creek Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Russell Cave National Monument, Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, Saguaro National Park, Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, San Juan Island National Historical Park, Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Saratoga National Historical Park, Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site, Scotts Bluff National Monument, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Shenandoah National Park, Shiloh National Military Park, Sitka National Historical Park, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Stones River National Battlefield, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Theodore Roosevelt Island, Thomas Stone National Historic Site, Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve, Tonto National Monument, Tumacácori National Historical Park, Tuzigoot National Monument, Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River, Valles Caldera National Preserve, Valley Forge National Historical Park, Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, Vicksburg National Military Park, Virgin Islands National Park, Voyageurs National Park, Walnut Canyon National Monument, War In The Pacific National Historical Park, Washita Battlefield National Historic Site, Weir Farm National Historical Park, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, White Sands National Park, Whitman Mission National Historic Site, Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, Wind Cave National Park, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve, Wright Brothers National Memorial, Wupatki National Monument, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, Yucca House National Monument, Yukon - Charley Rivers National Preserve, Zion National Parkmore »
To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation.
Locations:Chiricahua National Monument, Coronado National Memorial, Fort Bowie National Historic Site, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, Montezuma Castle National Monument, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Saguaro National Park, Tonto National Monument, Tuzigoot National Monumentmore »
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.
Locations:Acadia National Park, Arches National Park, Buck Island Reef National Monument, Channel Islands National Park, Glacier National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Homestead National Historical Park, Indiana Dunes National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, Pinnacles National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Saguaro National Park, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Tonto National Monument, Weir Farm National Historical Park, Yellowstone National Park, Zion National Parkmore »
Citizen science volunteers collect massive amounts of crucial scientific information. They gather it from sources as varied as oceans, mountainsides, and historic archives. Smart new tools are making their contributions even more powerful.
Occurrence values are defined below. One or more Occurrence Tags may be associated with each Occurrence value.
Present: Species occurs in park; current, reliable evidence available.
Probably Present: High confidence species occurs in park but current, verified evidence needed.
Unconfirmed: Species is attributed to park but evidence is weak or absent.
Not In Park: Species is not known to occur in park.
Occurrence Tags
Adjacent: Species is known to occur in areas near to or contiguous with park boundaries.
False Report: Species was reported to occur within the park, but current evidence indicates the report was based on misidentification, a taxonomic concept no longer accepted, or other similar problem of error or interpretation.
Historical: Species' historical occurrence in park is documented. Assigned based on judgment as opposed to determination based on age of the most recent evidence.
Abundance
Abundant:
Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, and counted in relatively large numbers.
Plants: Large number of individuals; wide ecological amplitude or occurring in habitats covering a large portion of the park.
Common:
Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, but not in large numbers.
Plants: Large numbers of individuals predictably occurring in commonly encountered habitats but not those covering a large portion of the park.
Uncommon:
Animals: Likely to be seen monthly in appropriate habitat and season. May be locally common.
Plants: Few to moderate numbers of individuals; occurring either sporadically in commonly encountered habitats or in uncommon habitats.
Rare:
Animals: Present, but usually seen only a few times each year.
Plants: Few individuals, usually restricted to small areas of rare habitat.
Occasional:
Animals: Occurs in the park at least once every few years, varying in numbers, but not necessarily every year.
Plants: Abundance variable from year to year (e.g., desert plants).
Unknown: Abundance unknown
Nativeness
Native: Species naturally occurs in park or region.
Non-native: Species occurs on park lands as a result of deliberate or accidental human activities.
Unknown: Nativeness status is unknown or ambiguous.
List Differences
The Checklist contains only those species that are designated as "present" or "probably present" in the park.
The Full List includes all the checklist species in addition to species that are unconfirmed, historically detected, or incorrectly reported as being found in the park. The full list also contains species that are "in review" because their status in the park hasn't been fully determined. Additional details about the status of each species is included in the full list.
The checklist will almost always contain fewer species than the full list.
