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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Research Needs
TITLE: Fate and Effects of High Mountain Amphibians
SUBMITTING BUREAU: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Originating Office: Ecological Services, Region 6
DATE SUBMITTED: May 03, 1995
BIN NUMBER: FWS09CR98
BRD REGION: Central
DESCRIPTION OF NEED: The loss of high mountain amphibians (Wyoming toad, boreal toad, Moapa toad, and spotted frog) continue to occur and in many cases are not related to obvious structural habitat alteration. More and more of these species warrant the protection of the ESA; however, the management actions needed to halt the declines cannot be implemented because of the lack of understanding of the cause of the decline.
MANAGEMENT PROBLEM WITH NEED: The Service would like to enter into prelisting conservation agreements with State and other groups to prevent amphibian declines. With the exception of refugia and captive propagation and release, the immediate corrective management options are not obvious.
BUREAU CONTACT: Larry Shanks (303)-236-7398
BRD PRIMARY CENTER: MESC (ECRC)
BRD CENTER CONTACT: Steve Corn (Ed Little)
RESULTS OF BRD-INITIATED COMMUNICATIONS: I emailed the agency contacts on 3 November, including as an attachment the summary of Central Region herp research that Ed Little prepared in 1997. I also mentioned the SIS database, pointing out the large number of BRD projects involving amphibians. I also mentioned the amphibian research proposed to begin in FY2000.
I received a response from Cinnamon, who mentioned two herp monitoring projects to be done this year at Voyageurs and Badlands National Parks. He may want me to review the study plans for these projects, and may need assistance on future surveys.
The amphibian project proposed for FY2000 includes an increase of $4M for BRD. If this funding is authorized by Congress, then this BIN will be addressed with an intensive research and monitoring program.
DATE SUBMITTED TO REGIONAL OFFICE: December 18, 1998
PREPARED BY: P.S. Corn, Vertebrate Ecology Section, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO 80525-3400, 406-542-4191; steve_corn@usgs.gov
RESULTS OF BRD-INITIATED COMMUNICATION (FY98): I provided the report on Central Region amphibian projects compiled by Ed Little, Environmental & Contaminants Research Center, in May 1997, listing 24 separate projects. Many of these projects are targeted at determining causes of amphibian declines and several are specific to high-elevation populations in the Rocky Mountains.
Another initiative is a proposal to EPA under the EPA/NPS DISPro program to examine stressors of amphibians in 4 national parks (Glacier, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia-King’s Canyon, and Olympic).
Two major publications on herpetofauna distributions in national parks will appear shortly:
Another paper on stressors is:
FWS contacts will be provided with reprints of these.
DATE SUBMITTED TO REGIONAL OFFICE: October 31, 1997
PREPARED BY: Steve Corn, Vertebrate Ecology Research Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Bozeman Field Station, (406)542-4191; email steve_corn@usgs.gov
Addendum by BRD Central Regional Office (3/10/97):
The National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) in Madison, Wisconsin developed capabilities in FY 1996 to perform diagnostic services for amphibians. This continues to be available in FY 1997 to support research on amphibian declines and other field investigations. The Amphibian Working Group at NWHC has developed several proposals to apply these new capabilities in research concerning the decline of amphibian populations. Funding is pending technical review of proposals. NWHC contact: Milt Friend.
U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://biology.usgs.gov/cro/98fws-9.htm
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