Jonathan Reeve Martin
I am helping conduct an EPA Wetland Program Development Grant's study that is monitoring the impacts of urbanization on the microclimates and vegetation dynamics within the riparian areas of ephemeral streams.
This is a paired watershed with three reaches per urban treatment: High Density (12-14 houses/hectare), Moderate Density (4-7 houses/hectare), and Non-Low Density (<1 house/hectare). Six ambient air temperature readings per reach are taken at 30 cm above the ground every 30 minutes until October 2009. The six sensors are placed in similar locations at each reach, and are evenly divided between canopy and intercanopy locations. Shrub and tree data is collected annually, while herbaceous data will be collected four times/year to capture variations in perennials and annuals. Litter decomposition is being assessed using the leaf litter from Creosote, Little-Leaf Palo Verde, and Catclaw Acacia. The litter from these species has been dried, weighed, sealed in nylon mesh bags, and placed beneath their respective species at each site. We will collect litter from each site pre and post winter and summer rainy seasons until October 2009 (with the first collection being March, 2008).
Aerial view of our study site in Marana (photo taken from the Pima Dept. of Transportation online GIS MapGuide service)
