APPENDIX A. VIRGINIA SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVATION NEED Taxa Common Scientific Name Tier Cons. Opp. Habitat Descriptive Habitat Notes Name Ranking Amphibians Barking Hyla gratiosa II a Forest Forests near or within The Virginia Fish and Wildlife Information System indicates treefrog shallow wetlands the loss suitable wetlands constitute the greatest threats to this species. DGIF recommends working to maintain or restore forested buffers surrounding occupied wetlands. These needs are consistent with action plan priorities to conserve and restore wetland habitats and associated buffers. Recently discovered populations within its known range, may indicate this species is more abundant than previously believed. An in-depth investigation into its status may warrant delisting. This species will be prioritized as Tier 2a. Amphibians Blue Ridge Desmognathus IV c Forest High elevation seeps, This species' distribution is very limited. Other than limiting dusky orestes streams, wet rock faces, logging activity in the occupied areas, no conservation salamander and riparian forests actions have been identified. Unless other threats or actions are identified, this species will be listed as Tier 4c. Amphibians Blue Ridge Eurycea III a Wetland Mountain streams and The needs of this species are consistent with priorities for two-lined wilderae adjacent riparian areas maintaining and enhancing riparian forests and aquatic salamander with mixed hardwood or habitats. This species will be listed as Tier 3a. spruce-fir forests up to 6000 feet. Amphibians Carpenter Lithobates III a Wetland Freshwater wetlands with The needs of this species are consistent with action plan frog virgatipes sphagnum moss priorities to preserve and restore aquatic and wetland habitats and water quality. This species will be listed as Tier 3a. Amphibians Common Necturus III a Wetland Permanent lakes, ponds, The needs of this species are consistent with action plan mudpuppy maculosus impoundments, streams, priorities to preserve and restore aquatic habitats and maculosus and rivers with suitable water quality. This species will be listed as Tier 3a. hiding cover Amphibians Cow Knob Plethodon I c Forest Site specific - mixed DGIF staff have indicated this species will always face a salamander punctatus hardwood forests in rocky significant threat of extinction due to its limited range. areas in high elevations However, no conservation actions or research have been identified to help conserve this species, most of the habitat is protected via conservation agreements between the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. As such, it is recommended that this species be prioritized as Tier 1c. 26-1 APPENDIX A. VIRGINIA SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVATION NEED Taxa Common Scientific Name Tier Cons. Opp. Habitat Descriptive Habitat Notes Name Ranking Amphibians Cumberland Plethodon IV c Forest Mature hardwood forests This species requires large stands of mature forests. This Plateau kentucki in the vicinity of rocky habitat type appears to be abundant within this species' salamander outcrops distribution. Until additional threats or actions are identified, this species will be listed as Tier 4c. Amphibians Dwarf Necturus III a Wetland Sluggish streams and The needs of this species are consistent with action plan waterdog punctatus blackwater streams with priorities to preserve and restore aquatic habitats and debris water quality. This species will be listed as Tier 3a. Amphibians Eastern Cryptobranchus I a Aquatic Clean streams and rivers DGIF staff have recommended this species be listed as a hellbender alleganiensis with rocky substrates Tier 1a species. The eastern hellbender has been alleganiensis petitioned for protection under the Federal Endangered Species Act. Virginia's populations of hellbenders have been impacted by sedimentation, chemical pollutants, and impoundments in the clear, fast flowing, well oxygenated stream and river habitats they require. Hellbenders are also occasionally caught and killed by anglers fishing for sportfish. Conservation actions identified by DGIF staff include working to maintain and improve water quality, the use of artificial nest boxes, captive propagation, public education, and conducting research to better detect and assess hellbender populations. Amphibians Eastern mud Pseudotriton IV a Wetland Freshwater wetlands with The needs of this species are consistent with action plan salamander montanus sphagnum moss priorities to preserve and restore aquatic habitats, wetland montanus habitats, and water quality. This species will be listed as Tier 4a. Amphibians Eastern Scaphiopus IV c Forest Forest and upland habitat No conservation actions or research needs have been spadefoot holbrookii generalist but require fish identified for this species. This species will be listed as Tier free breeding sites and 4c. soils suitable for digging 26-2 APPENDIX A. VIRGINIA SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVATION NEED Taxa Common Scientific Name Tier Cons. Opp. Habitat Descriptive Habitat Notes Name Ranking Amphibians Eastern tiger Ambystoma II a Forest In the east, habitat needs This species is known from a handful of sites in the Coastal salamander tigrinum are site specific wetlands Plain and the Blue Ridge. The greatest threats include the within pine savanna. The loss of breeding ponds and the adjacent woodlands. mountain population Populations can also be lost if fish are introduced into the utilizes mature forest in breeding ponds. The Virginia Fish and Wildlife Information proximity to seasonally Service indicates efforts to preserve breeding ponds and flooded sinkhole ponds. associated vegetated buffers should continue. Efforts have been established to maintain existing sites. The single greatest conservation action to protect the Coastal Plain population would be the permanent protection of the Cat Ponds. This species will be prioritized as Tier 2a. Amphibians Greater siren Siren lacertina IV a Wetland Tolerates a variety of The needs of this species are consistent with action plan warm aquatic habitats priorities to preserve and restore aquatic and wetland with abundant vegetation habitats and water quality. This species will be listed as Tier 4a. Amphibians Green Aneides aeneus II b Forest Damp, but not wet, The most significant threat to this species involves logging salamander crevices in shaded rock areas that contain occupied rock outcrops. Conservation outcrops and ledges in action includes maintaining forested buffers around forested areas occupied rock outcrops. However, recent investigations indicate this species may be more aboreal than previously believed. These habitats do not appear to be limited within its distribution. Until a more through assessment of its status and habitat usage is completed, a Tier 2b status is warranted. Amphibians Jefferson Ambystoma IV a Forest West of Shenandoah River The needs of this species are consistent with action plan salamander jeffersonianum - high elevation hardwood priorities to preserve and restore forested wetlands. This forests with suitable species will be listed as Tier 4a breeding ponds. Amphibians Lesser siren Siren intermedia III a Wetland Tolerates a variety of The needs of this species are consistent with action plan intermedia warm aquatic habitats priorities to preserve and restore aquatic and wetland with abundant vegetation habitats and water quality. This species will be listed as Tier 3a. 26-3 APPENDIX A. VIRGINIA SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVATION NEED Taxa Common Scientific Name Tier Cons. Opp. Habitat Descriptive Habitat Notes Name Ranking Amphibians Little grass Pseudacris IV a Forest Most abundant in The habitat needs of this species are consistent with action frog ocularis wetlands within pine plan priorities to preserve and restore wetland habitats and savanna habitats vegetated buffers around wetlands. This species will be listed as Tier 4a. Amphibians Mabee's Ambystoma II a Barren Pine and hardwood DGIF indicates the most significant threat to this species salamander mabeei forests with vernal ponds involves urban development, forest loss and the draining of and other water sources vernal ponds. The Virginia Fish and Wildlife Information suitable for breeding System indicates known breeding sites and surrounding forested buffers should be conserved. As this need aligns with the priority to conserve riparian forests and large patches of forest in eastern Virginia, this species will be listed as Tier 2a. Amphibians Many-lined Stereochilus IV a Forest Gum and cypress swamps The needs of this species are consistent with action plan salamander marginatus as well as other wooded priorities to preserve and restore aquatic and wetland wetlands habitats and water quality. This species will be listed as Tier 4a. Amphibians Mole Ambystoma II a Forest Hardwood and mixed DGIF indicates the most significant threat to this species salamander talpoideum forests containing fish- involves forest loss and the draining of vernal ponds. The free breeding ponds Virginia Fish and Wildlife Information System indicates known breeding sites and surrounding forested buffers should be conserved. As this need aligns with the priority to conserve riparian forests and large patches of forest in eastern Virginia, this species will be listed as Tier 2a. Amphibians Mountain Pseudacris II a Aquatic Forested areas up to 3500 DGIF indicates the most significant threat to this species chorus frog brachyphona feet that contain suitable involves the loss of occupied wetlands and surrounding