Post-fire Carnivore Track Surveys - San Diego Co. [ds309]

Track surveys with scented bait stations have been used by USGS to evaluate the distribution, relative abundance, and movement patterns of medium and large terrestrial vertebrates in several ecological reserves across Southern California. The surveys included in this dataset were conducted between 1999 and 2007 at six separate study sites, 1) Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve-Hollenbeck Canyon Wildlife Area (San Diego County), 2) Santa Ysabel Ecological Reserve (San Diego County), 3) Nature Reserve of Orange County (Orange County), 4) Jeffrey Road Extension (Orange County), 5) Tenaja Corridor (Riverside County), and 6) Whittier Hills-Colima Road Underpass (Los Angeles County). In most cases, we used scent stations to collect baseline data on species distribution and relative abundance at the study sites. However, in special cases the scent stations were utilized to compare pre-fire and post-fire species distribution and determine animal movement patterns in localized areas. This dataset contains spatial and temporal information on all animal tracks. Accuracy of individual data fields has been reviewed.

METHODS: The presence of large and medium vertebrates was determined using gypsum powder, track stations. Each station consists of a one meter square of gypsum powder with a rock or stone placed in the center. Typically, a scent lure is placed on the rock or stone to attract an animal's attention. These track stations are distributed across a study site in locations identified by the biologist as having high potential for animal presence. Carnivore scent track stations are typically sampled for four days, and five days at the Colima Underpass site. The usual pattern is to set up the stations on Monday and then sample Tuesday through Friday. Each day, the biologist checks each array and records a species based on the tracks left in the gypsum powder. After this, the gypsum powder is smoothed out to remove the existing tracks and make a clean recording surface for the next day.

Disclaimer: The State makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or adequacy of these data and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in these data. No warranty of any kind, implied, expressed, or statutory, including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of third party rights, title, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from computer virus, is given with respect to these data.

Use restricted to government agencies. Positional accuracy of individual locations is limited by: accuracy of satellite GPS locations, observer error, and possible data entry errors. Although, all reasonable attempts have been made to limit these factors, positional accuracy for any individual point should not necessarily be considered minimal. The appropriateness of multiple scales of inference, is the end-users responsibility to justify and the originators assume no responsibility for incorrect or misleading uses of this data.