Durango Nature Studies Paper-
Durango Nature Studies is located outside Durango, CO near the New Mexico border. DNS is on a 140 acre piece of land that is home to many different animals. The land has many different habitats such as; riparian, meadows, oak woodlands, piñon-juniper forests, and desert arroyos.
In recent years, bullfrogs have been spotted on the Durango Nature Studies property. This is of concern because bullfrogs are an invasive species that has potential to out-compete leopard frogs for resources and negatively impact the native population.
Rana catesbeiana also known as the bullfrog is a type of frog that is native to eastern and midwestern North America, but is invasive to the western United States and Europe. Bullfrogs live in larger bodies of water such as, ponds, lakes, or swamps; where it is commonly found along the banks. In Colorado bullfrogs have become an invasive species. Invasive species are a concern because they are not native to the habitat, they cause harm both economically and environmentally. When invasive species take over they then dominate over the native species killing them. Bullfrogs and bluegills are especially harmful to Rana pipiens also known as leopard frogs. Leopard frogs are in danger because the bullfrogs push the leopard frogs from the bank to the middle of the pond, lake, or swamp, which results in them being eaten by the bluegills. In Colorado the leopard frog is a species of special concern.
Rana pipiens are typically found in permanent ponds, swamps, marshes, and slow moving bodies of water through forests. They normally inhabit places with aquatic vegetation and can adapt to cold. As tadpoles they need reasonably shallow water with no overhead canopy, theres waters can not have fish that could in danger tadpoles; this is what they need to survive. During the summer leopard frogs tend to reside in grassy meadows or upland for feeding. In the fall leopard frogs migrate to overwintering sites such as, under water in ponds, streams, or rivers. A leopard frogs life cycle usually occurs between march and july. The beginning of the cycle starts in the water, the leopard frogs lay eggs in the water. As the eggs progress they become tadpoles, during the tadpole stage it grows hind legs which leads to the hind leg development stage. Which eventually turns into a full grown leopard frog.
Rana catesbeiana are usually found in a warm, calm place such as: a pond, lake, bog, or river. Bullfrogs eat anything that they can swallow, so they hang out on the bank or edge in the cattails or tall plants to ambush their prey. During the winter is when the bullfrog hibernates, usually under the mud at the bottom of the body of water. The life cycle of the bullfrog starts at the egg cycle, the bullfrog lays eggs in water or wet places. When the eggs hatch they become tadpoles, as the tadpoles mature and grow they move to the hind leg stage where they look like adult frogs but with tails, then they grow into full adult tadpoles.
We used many methods and materials to complete our data collection. 4 pitfall traps were set up and checked daily for any animal that might have fallen in. To set these up we put up a fence with a hole at the end in hopes that something would hop along the fence and fall into the pit, where it will be counted and released. Another method we used was visual encounters, we conducted this around the pond each day for 4 days. During the second session a one hour marking session was conducted, using a pink marker that was injected under the frogs first layer of skin on their right side. After that a one hour recapture session was used to estimate population size.
Water chemistry tests were conducted to find the levels of these different chemicals: Nitrates, Phosphates, Dissolved Oxygen, Coliform, and pH. 4 veg plots were conducted to find the plant diversity. Macroinvertebrates were collected using the kick method which is where people stand in the river and kick the mud to get up all the macroinvertebrates, and there is a net a few feet away to catch it. The other method we used was the dip net method, this is where the net is dipped into the pond down to the mud and scooped around to try and catch a frog.
According to the Shannon Wiener index the biodiversity in the DNS pond in 2011 was 0.99 and in 2012 it was 1.21 which was higher than 2011. The biodiversity in the Florida River in 2011 was 0.31 and in 2012 it was 0.88 which again was higher than 2011. In 2011 there were more damselflies and mayflies in the DNS pond than there were in 2012 which has something to do with the pollution levels.
The data collected from the Florida River and the DNS pond concludes that in 2011 there were less diverse habitats than in 2012. In 2012 the biodiversity was much higher than in 2011. Between these two years less organisms have been able to inhabit these areas due to many problems these two bodies of water have faced. The amphibian population has been a problem for the habitat and ecosystem. As the bullfrogs started to overpopulate the habitat, the leopard frogs started to die. The water quality didn’t help the frogs much either. Different levels of nitrate, phosphates, pH, coliform, and dissolved oxygen were found in the DNS Pond and the Florida River; almost all of the levels were higher than normal. The fecal matter was high because of the animal up stream that poop in the river. Because the nitrogen and phosphate levels are higher than normal, a conclusion can be drawn that there is a large amount of algae in the pond and river. A large amount of algae can be a huge problem, it can cause an algal bloom. An algal bloom is where water systems go eutrophic and leads to a deficite of oxygen and everything suffocates. Another way that we could have collected data was for 2 days just sit around the pond and river and collect data insead of over a four period data collection, the reason for this is because some of the organisms could have died in the prossess. The pond does not need to better managed because the bullfrogs are not overpopultaing they are just migrating because there was only .075 population estimate of bullfrogs.
In recent years, bullfrogs have been spotted on the Durango Nature Studies property. This is of concern because bullfrogs are an invasive species that has potential to out-compete leopard frogs for resources and negatively impact the native population.
Rana catesbeiana also known as the bullfrog is a type of frog that is native to eastern and midwestern North America, but is invasive to the western United States and Europe. Bullfrogs live in larger bodies of water such as, ponds, lakes, or swamps; where it is commonly found along the banks. In Colorado bullfrogs have become an invasive species. Invasive species are a concern because they are not native to the habitat, they cause harm both economically and environmentally. When invasive species take over they then dominate over the native species killing them. Bullfrogs and bluegills are especially harmful to Rana pipiens also known as leopard frogs. Leopard frogs are in danger because the bullfrogs push the leopard frogs from the bank to the middle of the pond, lake, or swamp, which results in them being eaten by the bluegills. In Colorado the leopard frog is a species of special concern.
Rana pipiens are typically found in permanent ponds, swamps, marshes, and slow moving bodies of water through forests. They normally inhabit places with aquatic vegetation and can adapt to cold. As tadpoles they need reasonably shallow water with no overhead canopy, theres waters can not have fish that could in danger tadpoles; this is what they need to survive. During the summer leopard frogs tend to reside in grassy meadows or upland for feeding. In the fall leopard frogs migrate to overwintering sites such as, under water in ponds, streams, or rivers. A leopard frogs life cycle usually occurs between march and july. The beginning of the cycle starts in the water, the leopard frogs lay eggs in the water. As the eggs progress they become tadpoles, during the tadpole stage it grows hind legs which leads to the hind leg development stage. Which eventually turns into a full grown leopard frog.
Rana catesbeiana are usually found in a warm, calm place such as: a pond, lake, bog, or river. Bullfrogs eat anything that they can swallow, so they hang out on the bank or edge in the cattails or tall plants to ambush their prey. During the winter is when the bullfrog hibernates, usually under the mud at the bottom of the body of water. The life cycle of the bullfrog starts at the egg cycle, the bullfrog lays eggs in water or wet places. When the eggs hatch they become tadpoles, as the tadpoles mature and grow they move to the hind leg stage where they look like adult frogs but with tails, then they grow into full adult tadpoles.
We used many methods and materials to complete our data collection. 4 pitfall traps were set up and checked daily for any animal that might have fallen in. To set these up we put up a fence with a hole at the end in hopes that something would hop along the fence and fall into the pit, where it will be counted and released. Another method we used was visual encounters, we conducted this around the pond each day for 4 days. During the second session a one hour marking session was conducted, using a pink marker that was injected under the frogs first layer of skin on their right side. After that a one hour recapture session was used to estimate population size.
Water chemistry tests were conducted to find the levels of these different chemicals: Nitrates, Phosphates, Dissolved Oxygen, Coliform, and pH. 4 veg plots were conducted to find the plant diversity. Macroinvertebrates were collected using the kick method which is where people stand in the river and kick the mud to get up all the macroinvertebrates, and there is a net a few feet away to catch it. The other method we used was the dip net method, this is where the net is dipped into the pond down to the mud and scooped around to try and catch a frog.
According to the Shannon Wiener index the biodiversity in the DNS pond in 2011 was 0.99 and in 2012 it was 1.21 which was higher than 2011. The biodiversity in the Florida River in 2011 was 0.31 and in 2012 it was 0.88 which again was higher than 2011. In 2011 there were more damselflies and mayflies in the DNS pond than there were in 2012 which has something to do with the pollution levels.
The data collected from the Florida River and the DNS pond concludes that in 2011 there were less diverse habitats than in 2012. In 2012 the biodiversity was much higher than in 2011. Between these two years less organisms have been able to inhabit these areas due to many problems these two bodies of water have faced. The amphibian population has been a problem for the habitat and ecosystem. As the bullfrogs started to overpopulate the habitat, the leopard frogs started to die. The water quality didn’t help the frogs much either. Different levels of nitrate, phosphates, pH, coliform, and dissolved oxygen were found in the DNS Pond and the Florida River; almost all of the levels were higher than normal. The fecal matter was high because of the animal up stream that poop in the river. Because the nitrogen and phosphate levels are higher than normal, a conclusion can be drawn that there is a large amount of algae in the pond and river. A large amount of algae can be a huge problem, it can cause an algal bloom. An algal bloom is where water systems go eutrophic and leads to a deficite of oxygen and everything suffocates. Another way that we could have collected data was for 2 days just sit around the pond and river and collect data insead of over a four period data collection, the reason for this is because some of the organisms could have died in the prossess. The pond does not need to better managed because the bullfrogs are not overpopultaing they are just migrating because there was only .075 population estimate of bullfrogs.
Ecological Solutions:
Introduction-
Black bears have become a major problem in mountain towns, including Durango, Colorado, creating bear-human conflicts. Bears are getting into trash cans and eating the waste. Humans have an improper waste management system and easily obtainable food, which creates an advantage for the bears to get into trash cans and eat the trash. This allows bears to become habituated to humans. Bears are also physically attacking people mostly because they need to protect their young. People infringe on bear habitats, they are not respectful of bears and their homes. Drought is also a huge factor causing a limited food source for the bears because their natural food and natural resources are not able to grow. Another thing that is effecting the bears is habitat loss or habitat fragmentation, meaning that bears are losing their habitat so they are finding a new one which happens to be in towns with people.
A huge increase in bear-human conflict began when people started visiting national parks and other tourist attractions in the 1920’s. People started to interact with wildlife more as part of the recreation and habitat, so it became a problem. In autumn, August through October, the bears are most active in towns, going through trash, because they are preparing for hibernation so they need as much food as possible for the winter. The Division of Wildlife (DOW), Bear Smarts Durango (BSD), and they citizens of Durango, these are a few different organizations in Durango solving this problem as well as they can.
A huge increase in bear-human conflict began when people started visiting national parks and other tourist attractions in the 1920’s. People started to interact with wildlife more as part of the recreation and habitat, so it became a problem. In autumn, August through October, the bears are most active in towns, going through trash, because they are preparing for hibernation so they need as much food as possible for the winter. The Division of Wildlife (DOW), Bear Smarts Durango (BSD), and they citizens of Durango, these are a few different organizations in Durango solving this problem as well as they can.
Management Plan-
1.Trash should only be out on collection day to keep bears out of the trash cans.
Details:
-Black bears have become a major problem in mountain towns, including Durango, Colorado, creating bear-human conflicts. Bears are getting into trash cans and eating the waste (Bear 2012). Humans have an improper waste management system and easily obtainable food, which creates an advantage for the bears to get into trash cans and eat the trash. The bears are most active in towns, going through trash, because they are preparing for hibernation so they need as much food as possible for the winter (Rogers 1999).
-A law will be passed that makes it illegal to have your trash can out on any day other than trash collection day.
-The City of Durango Government will pass this law
-All citizen in Durango, CO need to follow this law
-This aims to keep bears out of the trash
-This law will state that you must follow it year round even when there are no bears.
-If you fail to follow this rule you will be fined a minimum of $15 and it will raise up by $5 each time you do it again.
-The Division of Wildlife will enforce this rule with help from Waste Management and the Law.
-We will know when this plan is a success when the numbers of peoples trash cans getting broken into goes down by 70%.
Benefits:
-This is a good plan because people can still get their trash picked up, but we keep the bears from eating our trash.
-This plan is very cost effective because it does not cost anything because its volunteers that go around and try to get the bill passed.
- Trash containment ordinaces have proven effective in towns such as Missoula, MT (Ordinaces 2009).
Cons:
-Some people may not want this law to be passed and there fore will not vote to pass the law.
2.You may shoot a bear with a rubber bullet if you have a licence and the bear is on your property.
Details:
- Bears have become habituated to humans. They are also physically attacking people mostly because they need to protect their young (Rogers 1996).
-The people of Durango, Colorado may shoot a bear with a rubber bullet if they have a license
-The people of Durango must attend and pass Hunters Ed (Colorado 2012)
-People are only allowed to have one license per year (Colorado 2012).
-This aims to either kill bears or to at least scare them off
-You may only shoot a bear if it on your property
-You may only shoot a bear if it is causing a problem
-The problems would be like harming a person, animal, defacing property, going through trash, be a nusience, etc.
-We know this plan will be successful when 60% less bears come into Durango, CO
Benefits:
-This is a good plan because it will get rid of some bears, it will also scare the bears into not wanting to come back
-This is a very cost effective plan because the DOW gets money when people buy licenses
Cons:
-This could be very dangerous for people who shoot bears intown because the bullet could go anywhere
-People could not use the meat and just throw it away
3. Educate the public on bear awarness and the problem at hand which is bears become a nucience in our town and going through our trash.
Details:
- People infringe on bear habitats, they are not respectful of bears and their homes (Human 2010).
-Have a bear festival that educates the public about the bear problem.
-The DOW and volunteers will organize this festival.
-Have a speaker from the DOW.
-Bear Smarts Durango would supply the advertising that is needed.
-Advertising would be done with posters, flyers, newspapers, radio, online at Bear Smarts Durango and DOW, and word of mouth.
-Explain to public what we can do to stop the problem.
-This would be a public event and everyone is invited.
-This festival will be at the end of July before the bears start to prepare for hibernation (Rogers 1999).
-This festival will start at 10:00am and will end at around 6:00pm
-There will be bear proof trash for people to look at and sign up for
-There will be bands from the Stillwater Foundation and any other bands who wish to participate may sign up to play
-Boths/Stands are welcome to any business who sign up, but 5% of profits must got to the “Bear Foundation” (like Honeyville)
-Many activities will be avalible that have to do with the bear problem such a: bear costume- trash hunting scavenger hunt, best bear roar contest, pie eating contest, survival contest, etc. People who have activity suggestions may submit them to BSD
-This plan will be a success when at least 60% of Durango’s population shows up at the festival.
Benefits:
-The people of Durango will be educated on the bear problem at hand
-A good turnout where kids and adults will have fun while learning
-Will be somewhat cost effective plan
Cons:
-People might not come
-People will not care about what they are learning
-Might be to high of a cost
Details:
-Black bears have become a major problem in mountain towns, including Durango, Colorado, creating bear-human conflicts. Bears are getting into trash cans and eating the waste (Bear 2012). Humans have an improper waste management system and easily obtainable food, which creates an advantage for the bears to get into trash cans and eat the trash. The bears are most active in towns, going through trash, because they are preparing for hibernation so they need as much food as possible for the winter (Rogers 1999).
-A law will be passed that makes it illegal to have your trash can out on any day other than trash collection day.
-The City of Durango Government will pass this law
-All citizen in Durango, CO need to follow this law
-This aims to keep bears out of the trash
-This law will state that you must follow it year round even when there are no bears.
-If you fail to follow this rule you will be fined a minimum of $15 and it will raise up by $5 each time you do it again.
-The Division of Wildlife will enforce this rule with help from Waste Management and the Law.
-We will know when this plan is a success when the numbers of peoples trash cans getting broken into goes down by 70%.
Benefits:
-This is a good plan because people can still get their trash picked up, but we keep the bears from eating our trash.
-This plan is very cost effective because it does not cost anything because its volunteers that go around and try to get the bill passed.
- Trash containment ordinaces have proven effective in towns such as Missoula, MT (Ordinaces 2009).
Cons:
-Some people may not want this law to be passed and there fore will not vote to pass the law.
2.You may shoot a bear with a rubber bullet if you have a licence and the bear is on your property.
Details:
- Bears have become habituated to humans. They are also physically attacking people mostly because they need to protect their young (Rogers 1996).
-The people of Durango, Colorado may shoot a bear with a rubber bullet if they have a license
-The people of Durango must attend and pass Hunters Ed (Colorado 2012)
-People are only allowed to have one license per year (Colorado 2012).
-This aims to either kill bears or to at least scare them off
-You may only shoot a bear if it on your property
-You may only shoot a bear if it is causing a problem
-The problems would be like harming a person, animal, defacing property, going through trash, be a nusience, etc.
-We know this plan will be successful when 60% less bears come into Durango, CO
Benefits:
-This is a good plan because it will get rid of some bears, it will also scare the bears into not wanting to come back
-This is a very cost effective plan because the DOW gets money when people buy licenses
Cons:
-This could be very dangerous for people who shoot bears intown because the bullet could go anywhere
-People could not use the meat and just throw it away
3. Educate the public on bear awarness and the problem at hand which is bears become a nucience in our town and going through our trash.
Details:
- People infringe on bear habitats, they are not respectful of bears and their homes (Human 2010).
-Have a bear festival that educates the public about the bear problem.
-The DOW and volunteers will organize this festival.
-Have a speaker from the DOW.
-Bear Smarts Durango would supply the advertising that is needed.
-Advertising would be done with posters, flyers, newspapers, radio, online at Bear Smarts Durango and DOW, and word of mouth.
-Explain to public what we can do to stop the problem.
-This would be a public event and everyone is invited.
-This festival will be at the end of July before the bears start to prepare for hibernation (Rogers 1999).
-This festival will start at 10:00am and will end at around 6:00pm
-There will be bear proof trash for people to look at and sign up for
-There will be bands from the Stillwater Foundation and any other bands who wish to participate may sign up to play
-Boths/Stands are welcome to any business who sign up, but 5% of profits must got to the “Bear Foundation” (like Honeyville)
-Many activities will be avalible that have to do with the bear problem such a: bear costume- trash hunting scavenger hunt, best bear roar contest, pie eating contest, survival contest, etc. People who have activity suggestions may submit them to BSD
-This plan will be a success when at least 60% of Durango’s population shows up at the festival.
Benefits:
-The people of Durango will be educated on the bear problem at hand
-A good turnout where kids and adults will have fun while learning
-Will be somewhat cost effective plan
Cons:
-People might not come
-People will not care about what they are learning
-Might be to high of a cost