Conservation assessment for the Rocky Mountain tailed frog in Oregon and Washington (Ascaphus montanus)

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This document describes the biology and ecology of the Rocky Mountain tailed frog (Ascaphus montanus), which breeds in cool, perennial streams with coarse substrates, often small streams with high gradients, within forested uplands in a portion of the northwestern U.S. and just over the border into Canada. Conservation status and threats to the species are discussed. Land use activities of greatest concern include those that alter stream temperatures, substrates, and/or peak stream flows or that increase stream siltation. A number of other factors—including disease; stand-replacing fires; grazing; chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, and fire retardants; and global climate change—probably also adversely impact the species. Known management approaches and considerations are also discussed, including maintaining local populations by maintaining the integrity of stream substrates and microclimates at occupied sites, reducing impacts of forest management and road work, maintaining riparian buffers, retaining upland canopy, and reducing stream substrate disturbance. Information gaps that need to be filled for this species include its distribution, reliance on upland habitats, life history, and habitat associations; additionally, more needs to be determined about threats. The document includes a reference section.

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ELECTRONIC FILE - Zoology

Citation (CSE): Olson DH. 2011. Conservation assessment for the Rocky Mountain tailed frog in Oregon and Washington (Ascaphus montanus). Version 1.0. Portland (OR): USDA Forest Service, Region 6, and USDI Bureau of Land Management: Interagency Special Status and Sensitive Species Program. 33 p. Available at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/sfpnw/issssp/planning-documents/assessments.shtml.