We conducted a baseline inventory for amphibians and
reptiles at Manzanar National Historic Site (MANZ), Inyo
County, California, in 2002-3. Objectives for this inventory
were to: 1) inventory and document the occurrence of reptile
and amphibian species at MANZ, with the goal of documenting
at least 90% of the species present; 2) provide one voucher
specimen for each species identified; 3) provide a GIS-referenced
list of sensitive species that are known to be federally- or
state-listed, rare, or worthy of special consideration that occur
at MANZ; 4) describe park-wide distribution of federally- or
state-listed, rare, or special concern species; 5) enter all species
data into the National Park Service NPSpecies database; and
6) provide all deliverables as outlined in the Mojave Network
Biological Inventory Study Plan. Survey methods included
time-area constrained searches, lizard line transects, general
surveys, nighttime road driving, and pitfall trapping. We documented
the occurrence of ten reptile species (seven lizards and
three snakes), but found no amphibians. Based on our findings,
as well as literature review and searches for museum specimen
records, we estimate inventory completeness for Manzanar to
be 50%. Although the distribution and relative abundance of
common lizard species is now known well enough to begin
development of a monitoring protocol for that group, additional
inventory work is needed in order to establish a baseline of species
occurrence of amphibians and snakes at Manzanar.
Key Words: amphibians, reptiles, Manzanar National
Historic Site, Inyo County, California, Owens Valley, Mojave
Desert, Great Basin Desert, inventory.
