Oregon Spotted 101

Deanna Lynch U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Spotted Background Current Protected Status • Federal - Proposed as threatened and proposed designation of critical habitat (August 29, 2013) • - State Endangered • Oregon - Sensitive/Critical

More info available at: www.fws.gov/wafwo/osf.html

Gary Nafis Oregon Spotted Extant site Lower Fraser Historic site Sumas River Frog Range S Fork Nooksack River Washington Samish River Low elevation

(40-620m) Black River 6 sub-basins Trout Lake Whatcom, Skagit, Conboy Lake Thurston, Klickitat Lower Deschutes Counties Oregon High elevation McKenzie River Upper Deschutes (1025-1600m) Middle Fork Willamette Little Deschutes 8 sub-basins Williamson River Wasco, Lane, Klamath Lake Deschutes, Klamath, Upper Klamath Jackson Counties Oregon Spotted Frog Background Identification

Hind foot webbing Eyes are bright is from toe-toe, not yellow-green and concave upturned (can see both pupils from above)

Ridges along back (dorsolateral folds) Coloration cannot be used for identification Black spots with indistinct edges and light spots in center 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 • Changes in vegetation degradation community, quality, and • Hydrologic changes (water structure diversions, beaver removal, etc.)

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 EggOregon mass Spotted surveys Frogat Conboy Background Lake NWR

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 • Shallow water areas for breeding ≤ 12 inches (30cm) • Permanent water year-round 2. Hydrological connection 3. Gradual topographic gradient 4. Emergent wetland vegetation 5. Sub-surface vegetation for cover William Leonard 6. Full solar exposure

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 Reed canarygrass growth one year after maintained by grazing 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 will Benefit

Northern Pacific Red-legged Treefrog Frog

Megan Cook

Northwestern Long-toed Salamander Salamander

John Sullivan Species ID Confirmation Oregon Spotted Frog N Red-legged 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

Dorsal view Side view Ventral view

JUVENILE

JUVENILE

ADULT

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