Cochise College San Pedro River Research Project Home > Undergraduate Research > San Pedro River Research Project Page Navigation – Wildlife Corridors – Freshwater Invertebrates – Beaver Monitoring Department Contacts Instructor of Biology Steve Merkley | merkleys@cochise.edu Get Started! Ready to take the first step to your new future? Applying to Cochise is quick and easy. Apply Now Request Info San Pedro River Research Projects Wildlife Corridors The San Pedro River serves as an important migration route for birds as well as a habitat corridor for many other animals. Hundreds of bird species utilize the San Pedro River during their migration. Besides the many species of winged animals, around 80 species of mammals are found in or rely on riparian areas. Many of the bird and mammal species are not found anywhere else in the United States. We are attempting to find out how animals are using important corridors (Babocomari River and other desert washes) to move between the San Pedro River and the Huachuca Mountains. We will position cameras at the entrances of these corridors to monitor the wildlife. In the future we also hope to collect scat and track data on species in the areas where our cameras are positioned. This data will give us information on the types of wildlife utilizing the San Pedro River throughout the year and how they use the corridors to facilitate movements between habitats. We are particularly interested in mountain lions, bobcats, and other predators. October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 Freshwater Invertebrates Our aims are to more accurately characterize the invertebrate community in the San Pedro River, including more ignored microhabitats (sandy bottom and standing water). Since insects and other invertebrates fulfill important roles in riparian food webs, the data from this study can provide information on food availability for both aquatic and terrestrial consumers. For this long-term study, we plan on measuring long-term trends and shifts in freshwater invertebrate communities and making connections to environmental impacts (climate change, annual variability, and anthropogenic impacts). Invertebrate composition can help predict water quality and can be an important tool in rapid bioassessment of the health of a river. Long-term datasets can inform management and development decisions. Lastly, we hope to show the importance of seasonal connections and intermittent stream flow on community composition and abundance of freshwater invertebrate communities. Beaver Monitoring Beavers were reintroduced in 1999 to the San Pedro River after they were exterminated in the 1920’s. In coordination with the Friends of the San Pedro River and Watershed Management Group, Cochise College faculty and students have been helping to monitor beaver populations in the Upper San Pedro on the U.S. side of the border since Fall 2019. Students have been involved in walking along the river looking for beaver sign (dams, caches, tracks, and fresh herbivory). In the future, we hope to collaborate with partners in Sonora (Naturalia and Profauna) to survey the river for beavers on both sides of the border. MISSION STATEMENT Cochise College provides inclusive and accessible educational opportunities that support social responsibility, community engagement, meaningful careers, and lifelong learning. Sitemap (Pages A-Z) Web Accessibility Statement Accreditation ADA Disability Services Administration College Budget & Taxes Consumer Information COVID-19 Employment Equal Opportunity Statement Igualdad de Opportunidades Free Expression Annual Report (PDF) Feedback Form Net Price Calculator Policies Privacy Policy Procurement Vendors (PDF) Security & Emergency Title IX Policy ADOBE ACROBAT READER Download the free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader to view Cochise College Documents in PDF format.