EnviroSystems teams with NAU student on herpetofauna study.

EnviroSystems Management is proud to announce it’s involvement in a herpetofauna study which examines the herptofauna populations in areas of ponderosa pine forest which have been affected by thinning or burning. The results of this study will help forest managers sustain or increase biodiversity in ponderosa pine forests.

Herpetofauna, the group of animals including reptiles and amphibians, play key roles in supporting biodiversity in forest ecosystems by serving as prey for many large predators. The worldwide herpeto-population is in decline, which signifies a loss of biodiversity in the ponderosa pine ecosystem. Historically, ponderosa pine forests around Flagstaff consisted of open stands of large-diameter, fire-adapted trees in which biodiversity was relatively high. After extensive logging, grazing and fire suppression over the last 100 years, many acres of forest now consist of dense stands of small-diameter trees. Biodiversity has decreased while the risk of catastrophic, stand-replacing wildfire has increased. By studying herpetofauna population decline, forest managers can seek to sustain the biodiversity status quo or increase biodiversity, a key component to forest health.

Jean Block, a graduate student in the Department of Biological Sciences at Northern Arizona University, is sampling the herptofauna population with EnviroSystems’ support. Her study includes capturing native lizards and monitoring their population trends in a specific site on the Coconino National Forest, part of which has been designated as part of the nation-wide National Fire and Fire Surrogate Study. EnviroSystems is proud to enable this important research and hopes the results of this study give insight into forest health and fire management well into the future.

( News Archive )