Monitoring soundscapes to investigate interactions between human activities Sonoran pronghorn, and other wildlife.

Description

This modification fulfills Phase 2 of the existing task agreement (P16AC00557 / UAZDS-450) to understand the effects of sound and human activities on Sonoran pronghorn (Antilocapra americana sonorensis), and other wildlife resources, such as desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis). This project uses direct observations, human activity monitoring, acoustic monitoring, physiological assays, and genetic fecal analysis. Since the initiation of the current task agreement, the project has found substantial success obtaining observations and fecal samples from wildlife (particularly bighorn sheep and pronghorn) in ORPI and the contiguous ecosystem, such as the Pinacate Biosphere Reserve, Sonora, MX. This is allowing the opportunity to understand how human activities and impacts on wildlife may operate within ORPI and surrounding areas. We have also gained success developing techniques for measuring human-caused sound disturbance on pronghorn and modelling sound across occupied pronghorn habitat. This modification initiates phase 2 of the scope of work statement detailed in the existing Task Agreement. Thus, in the near term we will continue field work by pairing sound devices with behavior observations of Sonoran pronghorn. We will also continue to collect fecal samples in the field from a variety of wildlife species. Within one year we will collect all remaining field equipment and begin data analysis and lab analysis. Towards the end of the performance period we will be prepared to write at least one manuscript related to human-caused sound disturbance on Sonoran pronghorn.

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