Amphibian Survey Techniques

Transcription

1 Amphibian Watch 2018 ELDORADO NATIONAL FOREST Amphibian Survey Techniques

2 Important reminders for Amphibian Watch: A few amphibian species in ENF are state and/or federally listed, including: Sierra Nevada Yellow-legged Frog (SNYLF): state threatened (CESA), federally endangered (ESA) Foothill Yellow-legged Frog (FYLF): state candidate for threatened (CESA; currently has protections while candidacy is under review) Yosemite Toad (YOTO): federally threatened (ESA), state special concern All three are also US Forest Service sensitive species

3 Important reminders for Amphibian Watch Therefore, please remember the rules: No handling of amphibians or reptiles No interfering with amphibians (especially during breeding) No sharing data publicly (especially specific locations) Thank you!

4 Okay, now the fun part: looking for frogs!

5 Things you ll want to have: Enthusiasm, a love of the outdoors, and a steely-eyed gaze of determination honed by keen observation. Credit: PSB Nature show Fabulous Frogs

6 Things you ll want to have: Enthusiasm, a love of the outdoors, and a steely-eyed gaze of determination honed through keen observation. ALSO The Amphibian Watch Field Booklet (plus a pencil or two!) or inaturalist installed on a smart phone/tablet. Equipment for taking photos (phone or camera). GPS unit (or phone w/ GPS app). (If you don t have GPS capability, marking on a map or sending are options, just not preferred.) All the usual outdoor necessities (water, food, hat, jacket, sunscreen, footwear you don t mind getting wet, polarized sunglasses, etc.).

7 Things you ll want to have: Filthy sun hat Nice scenery Polarized sunglasses (along with steely-eyed gaze) Dorky fanny pack (with scientific and snacky sundries) Layers! Soggy footwear Sweet camera Hopefully a frog in there somewhere! Froggy habitat

8 Why Polarized Sunglasses are important for surveys

9 Why Polarized Sunglasses are important for surveys JACKPOT!

10 Techniques: locations First, USFS Staff will provide you with geographic areas to search. WHY? We need your help looking in places that: Haven t been searched in a while(if at all). Locations where we haven t seen amphibians. We don t need people surveying areas with known populations that we have been monitoring. It s better to find out about the populations/ observations we don t yet know about. We want to minimize the stress to sensitive species.

11 Techniques: locations We know about many areas with frogs, but Eldorado NF is a BIG place!

12 Techniques: For SNYLF, focus on lakes, ponds, and streams SNYLF here in the northern Sierra Nevada can be found in streams, small ponds, meadows, and lakes! Found at higher elevations (generally, 5000 feet and higher)

13 Techniques: where to look SNYLF are usually found right near (or in) water. Often found basking on rocks, logs, in veg., etc. Can also be found sitting (and hiding) underwater. Tadpoles will often be moving around underwater (foraging or rapidly swimming away from you). Look for SNYLF tadpoles is in warm, shallow water at the lake edge (but they can be anywhere in the water).

14 Techniques: walk slowly, look carefully, and look ahead Frogs can spook fairly easily, so it s good to look up ahead for any frogs that may jump away early. Frogs can also blend into the landscape very well. It can take time to see frogs, especially if they re not moving! Binoculars can help. Listen for a frog plop! (Sometimes, you ll hear a frog when you didn t see it. Look around to see if there are ripples or a frog swimming away under the water.)

15 Techniques: documenting other species is helpful, too! Sierran Treefrogs (aka, Pacific Treefrogs) are good to note. You may occasionally see Sierra Newts. Long-toed salamanders are a SSC in California. We like getting observations for salamanders, too! Please note native frog predators! Garter snakes are often found in areas with frogs. Sierra Newt Sierran Treefrog T. elegans T. sirtalis T. couchii Larval long-toed salamander

16 Techniques: documenting other species is helpful, too! TOADS! There are technically Yosemite Toad observations in Eldorado NF. However, you ll be unlikely to see them this far north. We also like getting observations of Western Toads (aka, California Toads)! Yosemite Toads (female on L, male on R). Photos by Gary Nafis: californiaherps.com Two very robust California Toad females!

17 Techniques: documenting other species is helpful, too! Mt. Lyell Salamander There are other amphibian species that are rare or you would be less likely to see. If you find these species, we would love to hear about them. INVASIVES! Most notably, if you see bullfrogs, please get a photo and let us know about it! California Slender Salamander Non-native Bullfrogs (images from Wikimedia Commons)

18 Some more photos! Sierra Nevada Yellow-legged Frogs

19 Thank You! Isaac Chellman High Mountain Lakes Environmental Scientist California Department of Fish & Wildlife

20 Techniques: For FYLF, focus on rivers and streams FYLF are strongly associated with flowing water. Found at mid to low elevations (generally, 5000 and lower)

21 Some more photos! Foothill Yellow-legged Frogs