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RELATION$HIl'S OF BIRDS, LIZARDS, AND NOCTURNAL RODENTS TO THEIR I IABITAT IN TUCSON, ARIZONA <br />Table 2. (continued) Spearman correlations <br />among 15 habitat variables measured in Tucson. <br />DISM DISP DISR <br />DISM <br />DISP 0.68' <br />DISR 0.62' 0.6T` <br />• =significant at P _<0.05. <br />Lizards. I encountered 9 species of lizards <br />during censuring (Appendix C). Whiptail lizards <br />(Cnemidophorus spp.) were the most abundant, <br />totalling 122 individuals, in part because members <br />of this genus were not identified to species. The <br />tree lizard (Urosaurus ornatus) was the most <br />abundant single species observed (n = 33). The <br />least abundant species I observed were side- <br />blotched (Uta Stansburuzna, n = 1) and regal <br />horned lizards (Phrynosoma solare, n = 1). <br />Whiptail lizards were also the most widely <br />distributed lizards seen, occurring in 67 of 130 <br />plots, followed by desert spiny lizards (Sceloporus <br />magister) which were present in 40 plots. Side- <br />blotched and regal horned lizards were the least <br />widely distributed lizards observed. Lizard species <br />richness ranged from 0-5 species, with a mean of <br />1.4 ± 0.09 species per plot. Lizard plots averaged <br />1.7 ± 0.15 individuals and ranged from 0-9 <br />individuals. <br />Nocturnal Rodents. One hundred forty-four <br />individuals representing 5 species of nocturnal <br />rodents were trapped (Appendix D). The most <br />abundant species I detected was the desert pocket <br />mouse (Chaetodipus penicilatus), with 45 <br />individuals trapped. Least abundant and least <br />wide-spread was the house mouse, of which 4 <br />individuals occurred at 2 of the 8 sites. The most <br />wide-spread rodents were the desert pocket mouse, <br />Merriam's kangaroo rat (Dipodomys merriamz), and <br />the white-throated wood rat (Neotoma aCbigula), <br />each of which was present at 6 of the 8 sites. <br />Vllildlife -Land Cover Relationships <br />Breeding Birds. Distance from undeveloped <br />patches (DISP, Table 1; see Appendix E for <br />complete variable descriptions) correlated with <br />total abundances for 9 (43%) of the bird species <br />(Table 3, Fig. 3). Distance from patch correlated <br />positively with the 4non-native species and <br />northern mockingbirds (Mirnus polyglottos) while <br />verdins (Psaltriparus minimus), black-tailed <br />gnatcatchers (Polioptila melanura), black-throated <br />sparrows (Amphispiza bilineata), and northern <br />flickers (Colaptes auratus) were all negatively <br />correlated with distance from patches. House <br />density (HDEI~ correlated with 8 (38%) of the <br />bird species. House density correlated positively <br />with the 4non-native species and northern <br />mockingbirds and negatively with verdins, black- <br />tailed gnatcatchers, and black-throated sparrows. <br />Percent area covered by upper Sonoran vegetation <br />(USV), percent area covered by apartments and <br />small business buildings (PCTA), and washes in <br />their natural, undisturbed state (RIPU) each <br />correlated with 7 (33%) of the bird species. Upper <br />Sonoran vegetation was positively correlated with <br />black-tailed gnatcatchers and negatively correlated <br />with the 4non-native species, northern <br />mockingbirds, and great-tailed grackles (Quiscalus <br />mexicanus). Percent area covered by apartments <br />and small business buildings correlated positively <br />with house sparrows, and rock doves and <br />negatively with Gambel's quail (Callipepla <br />gambeliz), pyrrhuloxias (Cardinalis sinuatus), black- <br />tailed gnatcatchers, black-throated sparrows, and <br />northern flickers. Undisturbed riparian correlated <br />positively with pyrrhuloxias and negatively with <br />the 4non-native species, northern mockingbirds, <br />and great-tailed grackles. The percent urban-open <br />exotic land area (comprised of >_ 60 percent non- <br />native tree and shrub composition, and 530 <br />percent total tree canopy closure [URGE]) <br />correlated with 6 (29%) of the 21 bird species. <br />Percent urban-open exotic correlated positively <br />with house sparrows, rock doves, and Inca doves <br />and negatively with verdins, black-tailed <br />gnatcatchers, and black-throated sparrows. <br />Distance to mainland areas (DISM) correlated with <br />3 (14%) of the bird species. Distance from <br />mainland correlated positively with house <br />sparrows and rock doves and negatively with <br />black-throated sparrows. Distance from <br />undisturbed washes (DISR) and the percent (urban <br />savannah land covered by vegetated areas disturbed <br />from a natural state having 30-60% tree canopy <br />closure [URBS]) each correlated with 2 (10%) of <br />the bird species. Distance from riparian <br />correlated positively with Inca doves and rock <br />doves. Percent urban savannah correlated <br />positively with white-winged doves (Zenaida <br />asiatica) and negatively with black-throated <br />STEPHEN S. GERMAINE 1995 ARIZONA GAME ~i FISH DEPARTMENT, TECH. REP. 20 15 <br />