Water chemistry, flow rates, and species inventory are some of the vital signs of the Santa Cruz River as measured by the Sonoran Desert Network.
NPS Photo
National parks protect a tremendous variety of natural and cultural wonders that provide countless opportunities for scientific research. Studying, monitoring, and learning new ways to preserve the features for which they were established—is only part of the picture.
Science and research also aids park managers. To make sound management decisions, they need to know which key resources are in their parks, how and why natural systems and cultural and historic landscapes change over time, and what amount of change is normal.
Ecologists with the Sonoran Desert Network monitor the "vital signs" of park ecosystems at Tumacácori and 10 other parks in Arizona and New Mexico. Much like a physician monitors a patient's heartbeat and blood pressure for diagnostic purposes, tracking the trends in key natural resources, like vegetation, soils, climate, and water, tells us about the health of the larger ecosystem and provides early warning of potential problems.
Other field work is conducted by park staff, graduate students, or independent researchers. You can learn about recent park research in the article list below.
