Spotted frogs in region 4 of the US Forest Service

Authors(s): D. Gomez

Publication: conference on declining and sensitive amphibians in the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest

Publisher: (unpublished) Idaho Herpetological Society and US Fish and Wildlife Service, Snake River Basin Office, Boise ID

Publication Date: 0000-00-00

Type:

Location: Boise ID

Abstract: Needed info on sensitive species in intermountain region. Conservation assessment for the spotted frog put together by the Forest Service -- general info to help biologists and others interested in spotted frog. 16 forests in intermountain region -- virtually all doing some amphibian work. Various projects -- Humboldt NF in Nevada, Caribou NF challenge cost-shares with ISU, including large-scale amphibian inventories; found decent pops of many amphibians -- boreal toads, leopard frog, tiger salamanders, Challis/Salmon NF -- establish baseline monitoring ponds, monitor on 5-year intervals to find out what is going on with amphibian populations Also participating in field survey of 400,000 acres (Lost River range) in cooperation with BLM, Fish and Game, ISU. Targhee NF -- spotted frog, boreal toad, and tiger salamander have been found, but no leopard frogs; yearly variation in amphibian sampling studies -- considerable variation in detection rates -- weather, time of year, etc. Also found that occurrence did not vary with elevation, pH or water quality. Riparian microhabitat utilized by spotted frogs in Targhee NF -- found that spotted frogs rarely venture more than 1 meter away from water -- but boreal toads venture much further. Summary of activities is available.

Keywords: animal, herpetology, amphibian, frog, Anura, spotted frog, Rana pretiosa, Targhee National Forest, Idaho, boreal toad, Bufo boreas, Bufonidae, Caudata, tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum, Ambystomatidae, leopard frog, Rana pipiens, population, habitat, US Forest Service