Finding on a Docket ID No
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
Species Assessment for Boreal Toad (Bufo Boreas Boreas)
SPECIES ASSESSMENT FOR BOREAL TOAD (BUFO BOREAS BOREAS ) IN WYOMING prepared by 1 2 MATT MCGEE AND DOUG KEINATH 1 Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave, Dept. 3381, Laramie, Wyoming 82071; 307-766-3023 2 Zoology Program Manager, Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave, Dept. 3381, Laramie, Wyoming 82071; 307-766-3013; [email protected] drawing by Summers Scholl prepared for United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Wyoming State Office Cheyenne, Wyoming March 2004 McGee and Keinath – Bufo boreas boreas March 2004 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 3 NATURAL HISTORY ........................................................................................................................... 4 Morphological Description ...................................................................................................... 4 Taxonomy and Distribution ..................................................................................................... 5 Habitat Requirements............................................................................................................. 8 General ............................................................................................................................................8 Spring-Summer ...............................................................................................................................9 -
ENDANGERED SPECIES: Groups Petition FWS to List Amargosa Toad (02/28/2008)
ENDANGERED SPECIES: Groups petition FWS to list Amargosa toad (02/28/2008) April Reese, Land Letter Western reporter The Amargosa toad should be added to the federal endangered species list, according to a petition filed Tuesday with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by environmental groups. In their petition, filed Feb. 26, the Center for Biological Diversity and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility argue that urban development, water diversions and increased off- road vehicle use throughout the toad's range in Nevada's Oasis Valley have pushed the species toward extinction. According to the groups, the Amargosa toad is already restricted to a 10-mile stretch of the Amargosa River -- one of Nevada's last free- flowing rivers -- and adjacent desert uplands. "It only has a small amount of habitat," said Daniel Patterson, PEER's southwest director, who formerly worked for the Bureau of Land Management in Nevada as an ecologist. "It's got no where to go. There's really no room for error." FWS considered listing the toad in the 1990s after receiving a petition from environmental groups but decided the species did not warrant Males tend to be smaller, reaching 3 to 4 inches, while federal protection. At the time, FWS concluded females may reach 3.5 to 5 inches. Unlike most frogs and toads, the Amargosa toad is voiceless except for “release that the toad was more widespread than the calls” or chirps made by males when grasped below their petition suggested, although it also said more forelimbs by another toad or human. Photo courtesy of FWS. -
Western Toad Taxonomy Description
WESTERN TOAD TAXONOMY Scientific name: Bufo boreas (Baird and Girard, 1852) Common name: Western toad Family: Bufonidae Taxonomic comments: Hybridizes with the red-spotted toad (Bufo punctatus) at Darwin Falls, Inyo County, California, and sometimes with Canadian toad (B. hemiophrys) in central Alberta. B. nelsoni was formerly included in this species. Molecular data indicate that B.exsul is phylogenetically nested within B. canorus; further data are needed to determine whether B. exsul should be subsumed with B. canorus (Shaffer et al. 2000). "Stephens (2001) examined mitochondrial DNA from 8 Yosemite toads (selected from the samples examined by Shaffer et al. (2000) to represent the range of variability found in that study) and 173 western toads. Stephens' data indicate that Bufo in the Sierra Nevada occur in northern and southern evolutionary groups, each of which include both Yosemite and western toads (i.e., toads of both species are more closely related to each other within a group than they are to members of their own species in the other group). Further genetic analysis of Yosemite toads sampled from throughout their range, and from other toad species surrounding their range is needed to fully understand the evolutionary history and appropriate taxonomic status of the Yosemite toad." (USFWS 2002). DESCRIPTION Basic description: A toad. General description: A chunky, short-legged, warty amphibian with dominant parotoid glands at the back of the head and a conspicuous light-colored stripe running down the middle of the back. Coloration varies from brown, green to gray above and white with dark mottling below. Females are usually larger, more blotched, and have rougher skin than males (Hodge 1976, MacDonald 2003). -
Cyprinodon Nevadensis Mionectes Ash Meadows Amargosa Pupfish
Ash Meadows Amargosa pupfsh Cyprinodon nevadensis mionectes WAP 2012 species due to impacts from introduced detrimental aquatc species, habitat degradaton, and federal endangered status. Agency Status NV Natural Heritage G2T2S2 USFWS LE BLM-NV Sensitve State Prot Threatened Fish NAC 503.065.3 CCVI Presumed Stable TREND: Trend is stable to increasing with contnued on-going restoraton actvites. DISTRIBUTION: Springs and associated springbrooks, outlow stream systems and terminal marshes within Ash Meadows Natonal Wildlife Refuge, Nye Co., NV. GENERAL HABITAT AND LIFE HISTORY: This species is isolated to warm springs and outlows in Ash Meadows NWR including Point of Rocks, Crystal Springs, and the Carson Slough drainage. Pupfshes feed generally on substrate; feeding territories are ofen defended by pupfshes. Diet consists of mainly algae and detritus however, aquatc insects, crustaceans, snails and eggs are also consumed. Spawning actvity is typically from February to September and in some cases year round. Males defend territories vigorously during breeding season (Soltz and Naiman 1978). In warm springs, fsh may reach sexual maturity in 4-6 weeks. Reproducton variable: in springs, pupfsh breed throughout the year, may have 8-10 generatons/year; in streams, breeds in spring and summer, 2-3 generatons/year (Moyle 1976). In springs, males establish territories over sites suitable for ovipositon. Short generaton tme allows small populatons to be viable. Young adults typically comprise most of the biomass of a populaton. Compared to other C. nevadensis subspecies, this pupfsh has a short deep body and long head with typically low fn ray and scale counts (Soltz and Naiman 1978). CONSERVATION CHALLENGES: Being previously threatened by agricultural use of the area (loss and degradaton of habitat resultng from water diversion and pumping) and by impending residental development, the TNC purchased property, which later became the Ash Meadows NWR. -
Site Occupancy of Two Endemic Stream Frogs in Different Forest Types in Pakistan
Herpetological Conservation and Biology 15(3):506–511. Submitted: 13 March 2020; Accepted: 9 September 2020; Published: 16 December 2020. SITE OCCUPANCY OF TWO ENDEMIC STREAM FROGS IN DIFFERENT FOREST TYPES IN PAKISTAN WASEEM AHMED1, MUHAMMAD RAIS, MUHAMMAD SAEED, AYESHA AKRAM, IMTIAZ AHMAD KHAN, AND SUMBUL GILL Herpetology Lab, Department of Wildlife Management, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi 46000, Pakistan 1Corresponding author, e-mail: [email protected] Abstract.—We identified the habitats where Murree Hills Frog (Nanorana vicina) and Hazara Torrent Frog (Allopaa hazarensis) are most likely to occur in Pakistan, and examined how their occurrence at a particular stream or water body is influenced by site and survey covariates. Although these two frog species are listed as Least Concern in the Red List of Threatend Species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, major conservation threats to these species in Pakistan include habitat degradation, urbanization, and climate change. We made visits to 69 sites during the 2-y study period (June 2016 to July 2018) in three forest types of Islamabad Capital Territory, District Rawalpindi (Province Punjab) and District Abbottabad, (Province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Pakistan. We found Murree Hills Frog at 51% of sites, and Hazara Torrent Frog at 30% of sites. Our logistic regression model explained 78.0% of the variance in Murree Hills Frog occurrence and correctly classified 87% of the cases. Increased elevation and availability of permanent water were associated with an increased likelihood of occurrence of this species. The logistic regression model explained 51.0% of the variance in Hazara Torrent Frog occurrence and correctly classified 70% of the cases. -
Species Status Assessment Report for the Eastern Population of The
Species Status Assessment Report for the Eastern Population of the Boreal Toad, Anaxyrus boreas boreas Prepared by the Western Colorado Ecological Services Field Office U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Grand Junction, Colorado EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This species status assessment (SSA) reports the results of the comprehensive biological status review by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for the Eastern Population of the boreal toad (Anaxyrus boreas boreas) and provides a thorough account of the species’ overall viability and, therefore, extinction risk. The boreal toad is a subspecies of the western toad (Anaxyrus boreas, formerly Bufo boreas). The Eastern Population of the boreal toad occurs in southeastern Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, northern New Mexico, and most of Utah. This SSA Report is intended to provide the best available biological information to inform a 12-month finding and decision on whether or not the Eastern Population of boreal toad is warranted for listing under the Endangered Species Act (Act), and if so, whether and where to propose designating critical habitat. To evaluate the biological status of the boreal toad both currently and into the future, we assessed a range of conditions to allow us to consider the species’ resiliency, redundancy, and representation (together, the 3Rs). The boreal toad needs multiple resilient populations widely distributed across its range to maintain its persistence into the future and to avoid extinction. A number of factors influence whether boreal toad populations are considered resilient to stochastic events. These factors include (1) sufficient population size (abundance), (2) recruitment of toads into the population, as evidenced by the presence of all life stages at some point during the year, and (3) connectivity between breeding populations. -
Invasive Weeds Threaten Rare Toad and a Small Town's Economy
INVASIVE WEED AWARENESS COALITION (IWAC) Invasive Weeds Threaten Rare Toad and a Small Town’s Economy n 1994, residents near Nevada’s Oasis Valley learned that a native amphibian, the Amargosa Toad, had been nominated for the endangered species list. As the only habitat where the small, rare toad resides, Oasis Valley is home to the one of the few wet portions of the United States’ longest under- ground river, the Amargosa. The 12-mile stretch of river provides shallow, clear water that the toad needs to live and reproduce. Increasing infestations of invasive weeds threaten this water supply and its unique Rare Amargosa Toads call the Oasis Valley home. inhabitant. Challenge: With a grant from the National Association of ILocated near the town of Beatty, Nevada, the Counties (NACO), the groups are implementing a Oasis Valley area has a long history of ranching comprehensive weed management plan to and mining. Placing the Amargosa Toad on the re-establish a natural habitat and educate the endangered species list would put many residents’ community about the situation. In particular, the livelihoods at risk. Caught between the desire to plan is targeting two non-native weeds — saltcedar save the Amargosa Toad from extinction and the (Tamarix ramosissima), and Russian olive (Elaeagnus need to protect the area’s economic well-being, angustifolia) — that stand out as the greatest residents needed to act quickly to find a viable threats to the river’s water supply. These two inva- solution for all involved. sive weeds can crowd out native vegetation and consume massive amounts of water. -
Boreal Toad (Bufo Boreas Boreas) a Technical Conservation Assessment
Boreal Toad (Bufo boreas boreas) A Technical Conservation Assessment Prepared for the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Species Conservation Project May 25, 2005 Doug Keinath1 and Matt McGee1 with assistance from Lauren Livo2 1Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, P.O. Box 3381, Laramie, WY 82071 2EPO Biology, P.O. Box 0334, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309 Peer Review Administered by Society for Conservation Biology Keinath, D. and M. McGee. (2005, May 25). Boreal Toad (Bufo boreas boreas): a technical conservation assessment. [Online]. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/projects/scp/ assessments/borealtoad.pdf [date of access]. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors would like to thank Deb Patla and Erin Muths for their suggestions during the preparation of this assessment. Also, many thanks go to Lauren Livo for advice and help with revising early drafts of this assessment. Thanks to Jason Bennet and Tessa Dutcher for assistance in preparing boreal toad location data for mapping. Thanks to Bill Turner for information and advice on amphibians in Wyoming. Finally, thanks to the Boreal Toad Recovery Team for continuing their efforts to conserve the boreal toad and documenting that effort to the best of their abilities … kudos! AUTHORS’ BIOGRAPHIES Doug Keinath is the Zoology Program Manager for the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, which is a research unit of the University of Wyoming and a member of the Natural Heritage Network. He has been researching Wyoming’s wildlife for the past nine years and has 11 years experience in conducting technical and policy analyses for resource management professionals. -
Federal Register/Vol. 65, No. 198/Thursday, October 12, 2000
Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 198 / Thursday, October 12, 2000 / Proposed Rules 60607 designation of critical habitat. We note appointment, during normal business data and comments are available for that emergency listing and designation hours at the above address. public inspection, by appointment, of critical habitat are not petitionable during normal business hours at the References Cited actions under the Act. Based on the above address. information presented in the petition, You may request a complete list of all FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: the habitat loss and other threats to the references we cited, as well as others, Jason Davis or Maria Boroja at the species have been long-standing and from the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office ongoing for many years. There are no Office (see ADDRESSES section). (see ADDRESSES section above), or at imminent, devastating actions that Author: The primary author of this (916±414±6600. document is Catherine Hibbard, could result in the extinction of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: species. Therefore, we find that an Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office emergency situation does not exist. The (see ADDRESSES section). Background 12-month finding will address the issue Authority: The authority for this action is Section 4(b)(3)(A) of the Endangered of critical habitat. the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Public Information Requested (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), requires that the Dated: October 5, 2000. Service make a finding on whether a The Service hereby announces its Jamie Rappaport Clark, petition to list, delist, or reclassify a formal review of the species' status Director, U.S. -
Microsoft Outlook
Joey Steil From: Leslie Jordan <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2018 1:13 PM To: Angela Ruberto Subject: Potential Environmental Beneficial Users of Surface Water in Your GSA Attachments: Paso Basin - County of San Luis Obispo Groundwater Sustainabilit_detail.xls; Field_Descriptions.xlsx; Freshwater_Species_Data_Sources.xls; FW_Paper_PLOSONE.pdf; FW_Paper_PLOSONE_S1.pdf; FW_Paper_PLOSONE_S2.pdf; FW_Paper_PLOSONE_S3.pdf; FW_Paper_PLOSONE_S4.pdf CALIFORNIA WATER | GROUNDWATER To: GSAs We write to provide a starting point for addressing environmental beneficial users of surface water, as required under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). SGMA seeks to achieve sustainability, which is defined as the absence of several undesirable results, including “depletions of interconnected surface water that have significant and unreasonable adverse impacts on beneficial users of surface water” (Water Code §10721). The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a science-based, nonprofit organization with a mission to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Like humans, plants and animals often rely on groundwater for survival, which is why TNC helped develop, and is now helping to implement, SGMA. Earlier this year, we launched the Groundwater Resource Hub, which is an online resource intended to help make it easier and cheaper to address environmental requirements under SGMA. As a first step in addressing when depletions might have an adverse impact, The Nature Conservancy recommends identifying the beneficial users of surface water, which include environmental users. This is a critical step, as it is impossible to define “significant and unreasonable adverse impacts” without knowing what is being impacted. To make this easy, we are providing this letter and the accompanying documents as the best available science on the freshwater species within the boundary of your groundwater sustainability agency (GSA). -
Yosemite Toad Conservation Assessment
United States Department of Agriculture YOSEMITE TOAD CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT A Collaborative Inter-Agency Project Forest Pacific Southwest R5-TP-040 January Service Region 2015 YOSEMITE TOAD CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT A Collaborative Inter-Agency Project by: USDA Forest Service California Department of Fish and Wildlife National Park Service U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Technical Coordinators: Cathy Brown USDA Forest Service Amphibian Monitoring Team Leader Stanislaus National Forest Sonora, CA [email protected] Marc P. Hayes Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Research Scientist Science Division, Habitat Program Olympia, WA Gregory A. Green Principal Ecologist Owl Ridge National Resource Consultants, Inc. Bothel, WA Diane C. Macfarlane USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region Threatened Endangered and Sensitive Species Program Leader Vallejo, CA Amy J. Lind USDA Forest Service Tahoe and Plumas National Forests Hydroelectric Coordinator Nevada City, CA Yosemite Toad Conservation Assessment Brown et al. R5-TP-040 January 2015 YOSEMITE TOAD WORKING GROUP MEMBERS The following may be the contact information at the time of team member involvement in the assessment. Becker, Dawne Davidson, Carlos Harvey, Jim Associate Biologist Director, Associate Professor Forest Fisheries Biologist California Department of Fish and Wildlife Environmental Studies Program Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest 407 West Line St., Room 8 College of Behavioral and Social Sciences USDA Forest Service Bishop, CA 93514 San Francisco State University 1200 Franklin Way (760) 872-1110 1600 Holloway Avenue Sparks, NV 89431 [email protected] San Francisco, CA 94132 (775) 355-5343 (415) 405-2127 [email protected] Boiano, Daniel [email protected] Aquatic Ecologist Holdeman, Steven J. Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks Easton, Maureen A. -
(Anaxyrus (Formerly Bufo) Canorus) in the Sierra National Forest, California
Journal of Herpetology, Vol. 47, No. 4, 555–564, 2013 Copyright 2013 Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Movements and Habitat Use of Yosemite Toads (Anaxyrus (formerly Bufo) canorus) in the Sierra National Forest, California CHRISTINA T. LIANG USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Davis, California 95618 USA; E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT.—The Yosemite Toad (Anaxyrus (formerly Bufo) canorus) is a high-elevation species endemic to the central Sierra Nevada mountain range in California whose populations are in decline. There is limited information on their terrestrial movement and habitat use, which impairs our understanding of the ecology and habitat needs of this sensitive species. I present radio-tracking data collected from 35 adult toads in the Sierra National Forest during daylight hours in the late spring and summer of 2007–2009. Movements, microsite cover type, and terrestrial habitat are analyzed and interpreted with regard to life-history characteristics of A. canorus. Adult toads moved a mean distance of 270 m from aquatic breeding sites, and the maximum distance recorded was 1.26 km. Females moved significantly longer distances than did males and had a larger home range. Distance traveled was related to ordinal day as well as the interaction between day and sex. Adult A. canorus used terrestrial environments extensively and were found in the mixed-conifer forest in dry habitat. Burrows were the most commonly used cover type, but other protective cover such as logs, rocks, and tree stumps were also used. The locations occupied by adult toads in the terrestrial environment were structurally different than other surrounding areas; occupied sites had less canopy cover and fewer woody species than did unoccupied sites.