PROJECT ABSTRACT
Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit
(Cooperative Agreement # H1200-004-0002)
Park: Grand Canyon – Parashant National Monument
Project Title: Ecological Inventory of 15 Caves on Grand Canyon-Parashant National
Monument
Funding Amount:
$8,598
CPCESU Partner Institution: Northern Arizona University, Merriam-Powell Center for
Environmental Research
Principal Investigator (name, title, address, telephone, FAX, email):
Neil Cobb
Merriam-Powell Center for Environmental Research
Peterson Hall, Bldg 22, Rm 330, Box 6077
Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ 86011
Fax: 928.523.7500
Tel: 928.607.4075
Email: Neil.Cobb@nau.edu
Co-Investigator (name, title, address, telephone, FAX, email):
J. Judson Wynne
USGS Southwest Biological Science Center
Northern Arizona University
Box 5614, Building 56, Suite 150
Flagstaff, Arizona 86011
Fax 928.556.7500
Tel 928.523.7757
Email: jut.wynne@nau.edu
NPS Key Official (name, title, address, telephone, FAX, email):
Jeffrey Bradybaugh
Superintendent
Grand Canyon - Parashant National Monument
345 E. Riverside Drive
St. George, UT 84790
phone: 435-688-3226
e-mail: jeff_bradybaugh@nps.gov
Start Date: August 20, 2007
End Date: December 31, 2008
Abstract:
Cave ecosystems are among the most fragile ecosystems on Earth (Elliott 2000;
Wynne and Pleytez 2005; Wynne et al., In Press) due, in part, to the sensitivity of cavedwelling organisms to human disturbance. Because many troglomorphic invertebrates are
endemic to a single cave or region (Reddell 1994; Culver et al. 2000; Christman et al.
2005), and generally characterized by low population numbers (Mitchell 1970; Krajick
2001), many populations are considered imperiled (Reddell 1994; Culver et al. 2000). In
northern Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park and Grand Canyon-Parashant National
Monument are the most extensively studied regions for cave invertebrates. However,
only one cave in Grand Canyon, Roaring Springs cave, was surveyed to a degree to
where it could be considered sufficient. The largest scale effort to assess regional
biodiversity and endemism was a study of 24 caves in Grand Canyon Parashant National
Monument (PARA; Wynne et al., In Prep.) and two privately owned caves on the Grand
Canyon south rim (Wynne, unpublished data.). To date, two new genera and at least eight
new species of cave-dwelling invertebrates have been discovered. New genera include a
Microsternodesmidae cave-limited millipede that comprises two species (one on the north
rim, the other on the south rim), and a new genus of cave cricket of the Family
Rhaphidophoridae. Additional new species discoveries include a new species of spider,
two new cricket species, a new barklouse (Psocoptera) species, two new beetle species,
and possibly two new springtail species (Collembola). With several of the collected
specimens still awaiting identification by taxonomists, we believe additional species
discoveries are likely.
The proposed research aims to obtain a more comprehensive picture of the faunal
communities inhabiting PARA caves, through inventory of invertebrate and vertebrate
fauna at 15 caves identified as high priority by NPS. Specifically: (a) inventory both
invertebrates and vertebrates using an array of sampling techniques to best capture
biodiversity; (b) identify endemic and/ or sensitive cave-adapted invertebrates; (c)
identify significant cave-roosting bat populations; and, (d) draw comparisons across the
15 inventoried caves to gain inference into patterns of invertebrate species distributions,
biodiversity, biogeography and endemism. These objectives will assist NPS officials by
providing some of the information necessary for developing cave resource management
plans, as well as protocols to monitor how these sensitive taxa may respond within the
context of a climate change paradigm.
Additionally, the data collected during this effort will be compiled with cave
ecological inventory data from previous studies on at PARA, as well as data from 15
caves on the BLM-Arizona Strip to develop models of regional biodiversity,
biogeography and patterns of endemism.
keywords:
Surveys / Monitoring; Invertebrates; Caves / Karst Environments; Endemic Species;
Species-specific Information Databases; Species Richness