Sand Dunes Of America
The Coral Pink Sand Dunes
Native Insects:
CONSERVATION OF THE TIGER BEETLE:
THREATS TO THE TIGER BEETLES:
Drought is one of the biggest threats to the tiger beetles native to the Sand dunes. Drought, especially because the tiger beetles are located in sand dunes, is extremely dangerous and is the main factor for the population fluctuation of the beetles.
The second largest treat is off-road vehicles. In 1997, off-road vehicles were banned in core areas of tiger beetle population, but it still occurs in around 50 % of the tiger beetles populated areas. The off-road vehicles can not only run over adult tiger beetles and kill them, but they can also run over and kill vegetation which lowers the amount of prey in the dunes.
CONSERVATION EFFORTS:
In 1984, it was found that the beetles needed protection or they would die out. Nothing much happened until October 2nd, 2012 when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed that the Pink Coral Tiger Beetles should be protected, stating "These rare, striking beetles can only be saved by the Endangered Species Act Protection." and that they have saved "99 percent" of the species' that they previously protected.
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In 2013 the population of the beetles grew to around 1,100 to 1,500. The last assessment of the population was in 2014 when it went down to around 1,000. Conservation efforts have since remained the same as we try to raise the population of the Pink Coral Tiger Beetles.
HISTORY OF PINK CORAL SAND DUNES STATE PARK:
Pink Navajo Sandstone containing pink quartz eroded over time, forming the sand dunes. High-speed winds picked up the sand particles and they became the sand dunes we know today. It is estimated that the sand dunes were formed around 10,00 to 15,000 years
ago.
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The dunes were made a Utah state park in 1893. A conservation area of 265 acres lays in the 3,370 acres park. Most visitors ride off-road vehicles, camping, hiking, and photography.
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