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During the third week of April 2010, the New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) Surface Hydrology and Watershed Management students, as supervised by, Dr. Craig Conely and Dr. Edward Martinez, studied the Mora River watershed by measuring flows and stream morphology characteristics. Largely, the Mora River watershed is located on the eastern slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the northeastern, New Mexico and is approximately 1,476-mi². The Mora River flows eastward into the plains of New Mexico and drains into the Canadian and Arkansas rivers. Recharge to the Mora River watershed occurs by means of surface waters. Agricultural activities such as livestock watering and irrigation are primary uses for the waters and drinking water is typically gained via groundwater. During the 2-day study, present-day conditional status evaluation of the river took place. The Mora River reach, after analysis, appeared to be recovering from disturbance. Natural ecologic recovery of the river determination involved measuring cross sectional profiles, longitudinal profiles, and recording parameters such as natural meanders and point bar development along the stream reach.

Poster: The introduction of Bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) has a negative impact on native species by out competing them for food and habitat. Woodhouse toads (Anaxyrus woodhousii) are among the native species to the Rio Mora National Wildlife Refuge (RMNWR) that co-exists with Bullfrogs. Early on bullfrogs were eradicated from a 2,600 meter section of the Mora River to evaluate the impact of their eradication on the local fauna while a control site of the river was left untouched where bullfrog density did not change. A parallel study on the diet of the euthanized bullfrogs found the presence of Woodhouse toads in their diet. The goal of this project is to investigate the impact of bullfrogs on Woodhouse toads by using three methods to determine differences between the control and experimental sites: (1) Determine abundance via two methods: A) a mark-recapture study demographic parameters (rate of increase, survival, capture rate). Distance sampling using random or systematic transects in the study area; (2) comparison of demographic structure using the animals caught in both sites; and (3) radio telemetry to explore habitat use and mobility of the Woodhouse toad as well as how it is affected by the presence of Bullfrogs.

Poster: Snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) are not well studied in New Mexico, and they have not been studied with relation to invasive species in Northern New Mexico. Recently, there have been many studies on herpetofauna and their responses to the invasive American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) along the Mora River at the Rio Mora National Wildlife Refuge. In a past study, bullfrogs were eradicated experimentally for a basis to learn about their impacts on native species. Snapping turtles live in the same habitats as bullfrogs and their hatchlings are potentially prey for bullfrogs. After bullfrogs eradication we have found neonate snapping turtles while no neonates were seen in the area where bullfrogs are still present. So I surmise that bullfrogs may have an impact on the population of snapping turtles. In this study I will evaluate the behavior and abundance of both adult and juvenile snapping turtles in response to the presence or absence of bullfrog. I will equip 8 snapping turtles with ATS radio telemetry transmitters and follow them for the next year documenting their preferred habitat, mating and nesting grounds. I will also perform systematic mark and capture throughout the summer to understand their demography and distribution. Understanding the habitat that snapping turtles select will help land managers incorporate protection of these habitats for this unrecognized and elusive species. Not only will this study provide baseline data on the behavior of snapping turtles in this region, it will provide a better understanding of the interactions between invasive and native species.

This poster summarizes the body of research on the vertebrate community of the Mora River being carried out by faculty and students of New Mexico Highlands University. This anchor posters presents the context in which many of the projects are taking place with reference to the general methods used and common study site and techniques. The core of the project consists of evaluating the impact of Bullfrog eradication in the community of aquatic vertebrates. For this purpose, a section of the Mora River was divided in two regions. One experimental where the bullfrogs were eradicated using different methods and another one, control, where bullfrog population is not affected. Most of the project associated in this site look at the impact of the presence or absence of bull frogs on different aspects of the ecosystem.

American Bullfrogs are considered an invasive species in 11 of the Western United States. As any invasive, they can have a large ecological impact on the ecosystems they inhabit. This study includes the eradication of bullfrogs from the experimental site in order to compare population densities of the native amphibians between the control and experimental regions. The captured bullfrogs from the experimental site are euthanized and the contents of their stomachs evaluated in order to get a comprehensive representation of their diet to gauge the possible affects they are having on the declining native populations.