Download Oregon Spotted Frogs 101

Oregon Spotted Frogs 101
Deanna Lynch
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Oregon Spotted Frog Background
Current Protected Status
• Federal - Proposed as threatened and proposed
designation of critical habitat (August 29, 2013)
• Washington - State Endangered
• Oregon - Sensitive/Critical
More info available at:
www.fws.gov/wafwo/osf.html
Gary Nafis
Oregon Spotted
Frog Range
Washington
Low elevation
(40-620m)
6 sub-basins
Whatcom, Skagit,
Thurston, Klickitat
Counties
Oregon
High elevation
(1025-1600m)
8 sub-basins
Wasco, Lane,
Deschutes, Klamath,
Jackson Counties
Extant site
Lower Fraser
Sumas River
Historic site
S Fork Nooksack River
Samish River
Black River
Trout Lake
Conboy Lake
Lower Deschutes
McKenzie River
Middle Fork Willamette
Upper Deschutes
Little Deschutes
Williamson River
Klamath Lake
Upper Klamath
Oregon Spotted Frog Background
Identification
Hind foot webbing
is from toe-toe, not
concave
Ridges along back
(dorsolateral folds)
Black spots
with indistinct
edges and light
spots in center
Eyes are bright
yellow-green and
upturned (can
see both pupils
from above)
Coloration
cannot be used
for identification
Oregon Spotted Frog Background
Natural History
•
•
•
•
•
PNW’s most aquatic frog
Breed late winter and early spring; eggs hatch in 2-4 weeks
Tadpoles spend ~4 months growing and developing
Tadpoles metamorphose in mid-to-late summer
Juveniles and adults remain in aquatic habitat year round
Male Calling Underwater
Video from Conboy Lake NWR
(Lisa Wilson/USFWS)
Oregon Spotted Frog Background
Threats to Oregon Spotted Frogs
Habitat impacts
• Wetland conversion or
degradation
• Hydrologic changes (water
diversions, beaver removal, etc.)
• Changes in vegetation
community, quality, and
structure
Predation by non-native species
Population factors: Small size and isolation of populations, low
genetic diversity, concentrated breeding efforts
Disease: currently inconclusive, but could be future concern
Cumulative: all locations experiencing more than one threat
Oregon Spotted Frog Background
Early Successional Habitat
Short, herbaceous vegetation in floodplain connected to
permanent water
Historical Factors
1. Naturally meandering rivers through floodplains
2. Beavers felled trees and shrubs, scraped vegetation,
flooded areas
3. Summer fires led to shallow water wetlands in spring
Mating pair by egg mass cluster
Amplexus
Oregon Spotted Frog egg masses:
•About grapefruit sized
•Usually laid in communal groups
•Unattached to vegetation
•Very shallow water (~ 6 in)
•Direct sun exposure
Photo: Kelly McAllister
Small cluster of egg masses in shallow water
Photo: Megan Cook
Medium-large cluster of egg masses
Communal clusters
could have 2 to 100+
egg masses
Photo: Deanna Lynch
Egg
massSpotted
surveys Frog
at Conboy
Lake NWR
Oregon
Background
Photo: Deanna Lynch
Female carrying male to breeding habitat
Photo: Deanna Lynch
Oregon Spotted Frog Background
Summary of Habitat Requirements
1. Standing bodies of fresh water
•
•
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Shallow water areas for breeding ≤ 12 inches (30cm)
Permanent water year-round
Hydrological connection
Gradual topographic gradient
Emergent wetland vegetation
Sub-surface vegetation for cover
Full solar exposure
William Leonard
Oregon
Spotted
Frog
Proposed
Critical
Habitat
Potential Conflicts with Restoration
General Riparian Restoration Goals
• Cold, clear water (generally aimed at salmonids)
• Improve water quality
• Erosion control for stream banks
Potential Conflicts with Restoration
Restoration Actions
Planting trees that shade Oregon Spotted Frog habitat
Stopping all vegetation management, allowing dense
reed canarygrass to grow
• Removing livestock grazing
• No mowing/haying
• No flooding/inundation
Fish Passage, allowing nonnative fish access to frog
habitat, dewatering frog habitat, increasing flow
Tree plantings will shade otherwise suitable
breeding habitat
Maintain shallow water areas with
submerged vegetation
Photo: Megan Cook
Reed canarygrass that was moved, then
maintained by grazing
Reed canarygrass growth one year after
bull grazing stopped
Oregon Spotted Frog Conservation
Habitat Management Recommendations (WA)
Consider potential for Oregon Spotted Frogs to occur
Manage vegetation to maintain early successional habitat
•Avoid plantings that will shade shallow wetlands
Manage reed canarygrass
•Mow & hay
•Utilize beavers?
•Consider grazing
Retain water through breeding season
Maintain aquatic connectivity
between shallow breeding habitat
and deeper permanent water
Jennifer Bohannon
Oregon Spotted Frog Conservation
Other Amphibians will Benefit
Northern
Red-legged
Frog
Pacific
Treefrog
Megan Cook
Long-toed
Salamander
Northwestern
Salamander
John Sullivan
Species ID Confirmation
Oregon Spotted Frog
N Red-legged Frog
Cascades Frog
Nick Baker
Egg Mass Photos
1. Habitat where egg masses were observed
2. Number and size of egg masses
3. Water depth
4. Whether egg mass(es) are attached
to vegetation
Species ID Confirmation
Oregon Spotted Frog
N Red-legged Frog
Cascades Frog
Nick Baker
Juvenile and Adult Photos
1. Clean hands (NO sunscreen, lotion)
2. Hold frog between groin and leg joint
3. Don’t let frog dry out
4. Take photos as quickly as possible
Species ID Confirmation
Juvenile and Adult Photos
Ventral view
JUVENILE
Side view
JUVENILE
ADULT
Dorsal view
ADULT
Send photos to the experts!
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
• Statewide: [email protected], [email protected]
• Whatcom/Skagit: [email protected]
• King/Snohomish: [email protected]
• Thurston/Pierce/Lewis: [email protected]
• Skamania/Klickitat: [email protected]
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• [email protected] (WA)
• [email protected] (OR)
• [email protected] (OR)
Questions?
K. McAllister