A Natural Resource Condition Assessment for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Appendix 15B - Animals of Conservation Concern, Supplemental Information
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National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science A Natural Resource Condition Assessment for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Appendix 15b - Animals of Conservation Concern, Supplemental Information Natural Resource Report NPS/SEKI/ NRR—2013/665.15b ON THE COVER Giant Forest, Sequoia National Park Photography by: Brent Paull A Natural Resource Condition Assessment for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Appendix 15b - Animals of Conservation Concern, Supplemental Information Natural Resource Report NPS/SEKI/ NRR—2013/665.15b The Ecology Graduate Student Project Collective (Jessica Blickley, Esther Cole, Stella Copeland, Kristy Deiner, Kristen Dybala, P. Bjorn Erickson, Rebecca Green, Katie Holzer, Chris Mosser, Erin Reddy, Meghan Skaer, Jamie Shields, Anna Steel, Zachary Steel, Evan Wolf) University of California, Davis Graduate Group in Ecology One Shields Avenue Davis, CA 95616 Mark W. Schwartz University of California, Davis John Muir Institute of the Environment One Shields Avenue Davis, CA 95616 June 2013 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colorado, publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics. These reports are of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Report Series is used to disseminate high-priority, current natural resource management information with managerial application. The series targets a general, diverse audience, and may contain NPS policy considerations or address sensitive issues of management applicability. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. This document contains subject matter expert interpretation of the data. The authors of this document are responsible for the technical accuracy of the information provided. The parks refrained from providing substantive administrative review to encourage the experts to offer their opinions and ideas on management implications based on their assessments of conditions. Some authors accepted the offer to cross the science/management divide while others preferred to stay firmly grounded in the presentation of only science-based results. While the authors‘ interpretations of the data and ideas/opinions on management implications were desired, the results and opinions provided do not represent the policies or positions of the parks, the NPS, or the U.S. Government. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government. This report is available in digital format from the Natural Resource Publications Management website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/publications/nrpm/). Please cite this publication as: The Ecology Graduate Student Project Collective, and M. W. Schwartz. 2013. A natural resource condition assessment for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks: Appendix 15b – animals of conservation concern, supplemental information. Natural Resource Report NPS/SEKI/NRR— 2013/665.15b. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 1102/121121, June 2013 ii Contents Page Assessments .................................................................................................................................... 1 A. Threatened and Endangered Species .................................................................................. 1 A1. The American Pika - Ochotona princeps .......................................................................... 1 Abstract ............................................................................................................................... 1 Description and taxonomy .................................................................................................. 1 Life History ......................................................................................................................... 2 Distribution ......................................................................................................................... 3 Conservation Status ............................................................................................................ 4 Threats and trends ............................................................................................................... 6 Conservation in Sequoia and Kings Canyon ...................................................................... 7 Data Gaps & Research Priorities ........................................................................................ 7 Summary and Recommendations ....................................................................................... 8 Data Sources ....................................................................................................................... 8 A.2. Sierra Nevada Red Fox – Vulpes vulpes necator ............................................................. 9 Abstract ............................................................................................................................... 9 Background and Taxonomy .............................................................................................. 10 Physical Description ......................................................................................................... 10 Taxonomy and Genetics ........................................................................................................ 11 Life History ....................................................................................................................... 11 Distribution ....................................................................................................................... 13 Status ................................................................................................................................. 17 Threats............................................................................................................................... 17 Data Gaps, Research Priorities, and Conservation ........................................................... 18 iii Contents (continued) Page Summary and Recommendations ..................................................................................... 18 Data Sources ..................................................................................................................... 19 A3. Wolverine – Gulo gulo ................................................................................................... 20 Abstract ............................................................................................................................. 20 Description and taxonomy ................................................................................................ 20 Life History ....................................................................................................................... 21 Distribution ....................................................................................................................... 21 Conservation Status .......................................................................................................... 23 Threats and trends ............................................................................................................. 23 Conservation in Sequoia – Kings Canyon ........................................................................ 24 Data Gaps & Research Priorities ...................................................................................... 24 Summary and Recommendations ..................................................................................... 25 Data Sources ..................................................................................................................... 25 A4. California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) .............................................................. 26 Abstract ............................................................................................................................. 26 Species Background ............................................................................................................... 26 Distribution and population trends.................................................................................... 27 Conservation concern........................................................................................................ 28 Continued stewardship ...................................................................................................... 28 A5. Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) ............................................................................................. 29 Abstract ............................................................................................................................. 29 Species Background .........................................................................................................