Multi-species Baseline Initiative: 2018 field report: pond breeding amphibian and alpine ecosystem surveys in northern Idaho and northeastern Washington

Publication Type:

Report

Authors:

Michael K. Lucid; McCormack, Casey

Source:

Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Coeur d'Alene, ID, p.25 (2018)

Call Number:

U18LUC01IDUS

Keywords:

Ambystoma macrodactylum, American bullfrog, American pika, Anaxyrus boreas, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, chytrid fungus, Clark’s nutcracker, Columbia Spotted Frog, hoary marmot, Long-toed Salamander, Marmota caligata, Melanoplus spp, Nucifraga columbiana, Ochotona princeps, Pacific chorus frog, Pinus albicaulis, Pseudacris regilla, Rana lithobates, Rana luteiventris, spur-throated grasshopper, Western Toad, whitebark pine

Abstract:

Landscape-level monitoring programs are needed for effective species conservation. Substantial data gaps existed for pond breeding amphibians and alpine ecosystem associate species in the Idaho Panhandle and northeastern Washington, USA. To fill those gaps, we conducted pond-breeding amphibian dip-net surveys at 433 ponds across a 21,775 km2 study area from 2013–14. In 2018, we conducted a second survey at 134 of the originally surveyed ponds. Also in 2018, we co-located an alpine ecosystem survey with 31 high-elevation pond sites. During pond surveys we 1) downloaded and replaced water temperature data loggers originally deployed in 2013, 2) collected samples to test for chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), and 3) conducted surveys for Columbia spotted frogs (Rana luteiventris), long-toed salamanders (Ambystoma macrodactylum), Pacific chorus frogs (Pseudacris regilla), western toads (Anaxyrus boreas), and American bullfrogs (Rana lithobates). A wide range of species were targeted in alpine ecosystem surveys but included American pika (Ochotona princeps), hoary marmot (Marmota caligata), Clark’s nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana), whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis), and spur-throated grasshoppers (Melanoplus spp.). Data from this project are archived in the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Information System.