Abstract Title
The Distribution of Reptiles in the Portneuf Drainage
Abstract
Our goal was to determine the distribution of reptile species in the Portneuf drainage of Southeastern Idaho as part of a Managing Idaho’s Landscapes for Ecosystem Services (MILES) study, an NSF/EPSCoR project to discern the impact of urban development and climate change on social and ecological systems and services in mid-sized Idaho cities. We assembled reptile occurrence records from museums, surveys, Idaho Department of Fish and Game records, and contributed observations. We then used a Geographic Information System to generate dot-distribution maps. Thirteen species of reptiles have been found in the Portneuf drainage since the 1890s but only 10 species since 1980. The disappearance of 3 species appears to be related to habitat loss. The next step is to develop distribution models for each species based on several environmental variables (e.g. topography, temperature, and land cover). The results should help MILES researchers evaluate the effects of climate change and urban growth on ecosystem services (such as the roles of reptiles in food webs, as indicators of ecosystem function, and recreational wildlife viewing opportunities).
The Distribution of Reptiles in the Portneuf Drainage
Our goal was to determine the distribution of reptile species in the Portneuf drainage of Southeastern Idaho as part of a Managing Idaho’s Landscapes for Ecosystem Services (MILES) study, an NSF/EPSCoR project to discern the impact of urban development and climate change on social and ecological systems and services in mid-sized Idaho cities. We assembled reptile occurrence records from museums, surveys, Idaho Department of Fish and Game records, and contributed observations. We then used a Geographic Information System to generate dot-distribution maps. Thirteen species of reptiles have been found in the Portneuf drainage since the 1890s but only 10 species since 1980. The disappearance of 3 species appears to be related to habitat loss. The next step is to develop distribution models for each species based on several environmental variables (e.g. topography, temperature, and land cover). The results should help MILES researchers evaluate the effects of climate change and urban growth on ecosystem services (such as the roles of reptiles in food webs, as indicators of ecosystem function, and recreational wildlife viewing opportunities).