Media Category: CAP

Velvet mite in plant litter of the Sonoran Desert.

A Sonoran Desert Collembola or springtail.

CAP LTER student Kelly Bergin making it rain under a creosote bush.

Indian Bend Wash contains duck ponds, plenty of trees for shade, and neatly manicured grass. Researchers from various LTER’s visit the area during the 2022 LTER Science Council Meeting.

Saguaros stand tall at South Mountain Preserve, just outside of Phoenix.

An oasis in the desert. LTER researchers view the Tres Rios Wetland during the 2022 Science Council Meeting in Phoenix.

Another view of the Tres Rios Constructed Wetland. Though its main function is to remediate the nutrient pollution after wastewater is treated, the park provides a variety of ecosystem services to Phonecians, including vibrant birding, a beautiful landscape, and the oh-so needed cooling effect from the water.

The Phoenix landscape is a patchwork of natural, semi-natural, and urban areas. Here, a mid-city agricultural plot sits between residential zones.

In Phoenix, the city’s ecology is driven by human activity. Take the Tres Rios constructed wetland, pictured here, for example. Constructed primarily for effluent remediation, the wetland is a stunning oasis in the desert, home to vibrant plant life and a huge diversity of bird species.

Dr. Kelli Larson (left) explains the Phoenix Area Social Survey to visiting LTER scientists at the 2022 Science Council Meeting in Phoenix. Central Arizona-Phoenix (CAP) LTER Lead PI Dr. Dan Childers (center) holds her poster, and CAP LTER Information Manager Dr. Stevan Earl (right) looks on.