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Ranid Frog Conservation and Management

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Ranid Frog Conservation and Management RANID FROG CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT Michael J. Sredl, Editor Nongame Branch, Wildlife Management Division Arizona Game and Fish Department itclmical Report 121 Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program Program Chief; lerry B. Johnson Arizona Game and Fish Department 2221 West Gteenway Road Phoenix, Arizona 85023-4399 June 1997 RECOMMENDEO CITATION Sredl, M.J., editor. 1997. Ranid frog conservation and management. Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program Technical Report 121. Arizona Qame and Fish Department, Phoenix, Arizona. TABLE OF CONTENTS Mark-Recapture Studies of Arizona Leopard Frogs ................................................................... 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 3 Methods ........................................................................................................................... 3 Site Descriptions ................................................................................................ 4 Field Methods ..................................................................................................... 7 Statistical Methods .............................................................................................. 7 Results .............................................................................................................................. 8 Population Estimates and Survivorships .............................................................. 8 Body Size, Growth, and Sex Ratios ................................................................ 12 Discussion .................................................................................................................... 14 Demographics of Arizona Leopard Frog Populations ..................................... 14 Ecological Factors Affecting Arizona Leopard Frog Populations .................... 17 Literature Cited ............................................................................................................ 19 Validation of Visual Encounter Surveys ................................................................................. 21 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 23 Methods ......................................................................................................................... 24 Site Description and History ............................................................................ 24 VES Validation ................................................................................................ 25 Results ........................................................................................................................... 27 Phenology of Earthen Cattle Tanks .................................................................. 27 Count Results ................................................................................................... 28 Anecdotal Observations .................................................................................... 29 Discussion .................................................................................................................... 29 Phenology of Stock Tanks ............................................................................... 29 Counts ............................................................................................................... 30 Anecdotal Observations .................................................................................... 32 Literature Cited ............................................................................................................. 34 Status and Distribution of Arizona's Native Ranid Frogs ...................................................... 37 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 39 Methods ......................................................................................................................... 40 Survey Methodology ......................................................................................... 40 Target Ranid Frogs ........................................................................................... 41 Database Design .............................................................................................. 43 Data Analysis ................................................................................................... 43 Results ........................................................................................................................... 44 Database Overview ........................................................................................... 44 Distribution and Status of Arizona Leopard Frogs .......................................... 44 Discussion .................................................................................................................... 52 Generalizations from Statewide Surveys ......................................................... 52 Factors Leading to Population Declines ........................................................... 53 Spatial Distribution of Extant Populations ...................................................... 53 Management Strategies - Conservation and Management Zones .................... 54 Information Needs ........................................................................................... 57 Literature Cited ............................................................................................................. 58 Appendix A. Riparian Herp Survey Form ................................................................... 63 Appendix B. Locality distribution by county and native ranid observation status 79 Appendix C. Locality distribution by drainage and native ranid observation status . 80 Appendix D. Locality distribution by management category and native ranid observation status .................................................................................................................. 81 Appendix E. Elevational ranges within drainages by native ranid species ................. 82 Appendix E Number of ranid frog localities per county by species ........................... 83 Appendix G. Native ranid species status within management category ...................... 84 Appendix H. Native ranid species status within drainage .......................................... 87 MARK-RECAPTURE TABLES Table 1. JOLLYAGE estimates of capture probabilities for Big Spring and Tule Creek .......... 8 Table 2. JOLLYAGE estimates for Big Spring .......................................................................... 9 Table 3. Lincoln-Peterson estimates for all sites ..................................................................... 11 Table 4. JOLLYAGE estimates for Tule Creek ........................................................................ 11 Table 5. e test of the null hypothesis: sex ratios are not different from 1:1 (sites x year) . 13 MARK-RECAPTURE FIGURES Figure 1. JOLLYAGE population parameter estimates for Big Spring ..................................... 9 Figure 2. Total monthly rainfall for Big Spring ........................................................................ 10 Figure 3. JOLLYAGE population parameter estimates for Tule Creek ................................... 12 Figure 4. Total monthly rainfall for Tule Creek ..................................................................... 14 Figure 5. Box and whisker plot of frog SVL for Big Spring .................................................. 14 Figure 6. Box and whisker plot of frog SVL for Tule Creek .................................................. 15 Figure 7. Histograms of SVL for Big Spring .......................................................................... 16 Figure 8. Von Bertalanffy growth curves .................................................................................. 17 VISUAL ENCOUNTER SURVEY VALIDATION TABLES Table 1. VES study site names, numbers, legal descriptions and elevations ........................... 26 VISUAL ENCOUNTER SURVEY VALIDATION FIGURES Figure 1. Map of VES study sites modified from Gisela (1972) and Mazatzal Peak (1972) . 25 Figure 2. Tank surface area and rainfall .................................................................................. 27 Figure 3. Maximum counts of Rana yavapaiensis per trip ...................................................... 28 11 STATEWIDE SURVEY TABLES Table 1. Elevational ranges of native ranid localities ................................................................... 45 Table 2. Locality status designations for native ranid species ...................................................... 46 STATEWIDE SURVEY FIGURES Figure 1. Stacked bar chart of aquatic habitat types grouped by species ................................... 46 Figure 2. Stacked bar chart of status designations grouped by species ...................................... 47 111 This page is intentionally blank. iv MARK-RECAPTURE STUDIES OF ARIZONA LEOPARD FROGS Michael J. Sredl, E. Patricia Collins, and Jeffrey M. Howland Nongame Branch, Wildlife Management Division Arizona Game and Fish Department Technical Report 121 Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program Program Chief: Terry B. Johnson Arizona Game and Fish Department 2221 West Greenway Road Phoenix, Arizona 85023-4399 June 1997 RECOMMENDED CITATION Sredl, M.J., E.P. Collins, and J.M. Howland.
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