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Texas Amphibian Watch Monitoring Packet

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Texas Amphibian Watch Monitoring Packet 5 Amphibian-Spotter Guidelines What you need to get started... � this information sheet, plus a data sheet and map for each county where you may be spotting amphibians � a field guide that depicts the amphibians that occur in your area. See page 37 for suggestions. � a tape recorder and a resource for identifying frog and toad calls. Since many frogs and toads are “heard and not seen” during the breeding season, it would be helpful for you to be able to identify their calls. See page 37 for sources of anuran voice tapes. � a camera to record any unusual amphibians you find (especially rare species or those with deformities). How to get started... The techniques for being an a seine in slow-moving water Record your data on the data amphibian spotter are simple: bodies in East and South Texas sheet throughout the year (feel Look for amphibians wherever to capture amphiuma, sirens, or free to make additional copies ). you go! Of course, you might be newts, especially at night. Record sighting numbers on a most successful if you plan some map if possible. Take photos of trips to some wetland habitats, Try your best to identify the any rare amphibians (see list especially during the moist, warm species of amphibians you provided) or of any amphibians conditions in the spring (both encounter. If you are uncertain of with malformations. If you do during the day–when you can see the identification, then you can spot any malformed amphibians, amphibians and at night–when take a photo or record its call for then you should also report your you can hear them). In addition later research. Estimate the findings to the “Frog Force” to the obvious habitats for frogs number of individuals present (if project. Information on this and toads along wetland edges, you can see the animals, then nation-wide monitoring project is you could try some special search record your number under located at www.frogweb.gov. If techniques. Turn over logs and abundance; if you only hear the data is collected on private land, rocks in wooded areas to look for frogs or toads, then you can write you must also submit the Private salamanders (be sure to watch out down a call index value). Record Lands Access Request Form for snakes and return all logs and as much data as you can about (page 33). Return your rocks to their original positions). the species and its habitat, Amphibian Spotter Data Sheets Use a mask to look underwater because that can help us to to Texas Parks and Wildlife for spring-dwelling salamanders identify it as well. Return the Department by DECEMBER hiding in the rocky substrate of animal to the location 31 of each year, and we’ll provide springs in the Hill Country. Use where you found it. you with an annual report. 6 Amphibian-Spotter Guidelines Some special notes... Several amphibians in Texas are listed as threatened or endangered (see list below). It is unlawful to Barton Springs capture these amphibians without Salamander a permit, although you may observe and photograph them. Regardless of the status of the amphibians, try to leave the animal and its habitat just as you San Marcos Salamander found it. Endangered and Threatened Amphibians in Texas (does not include subterranean salamanders) Federal State Common Name Scientific Name Status Status San Marcos salamander Eurycea nana T T Barton Springs salamander Eurycea sosorum E E black-spotted newt Notophthalmus meridionalis T South Texas siren Siren sp. 1 T Houston toad E E Mexican treefrog Smilisca baudinii T white-lipped frog Leptodactylus labialis T sheep frog Hypopachus variolosus T Mexican burrowing toad Rhinophrynus dorsalis T T = threatened E = endangered To aid us in conserving paper and reducing printing costs, you may wish to photocopy this page. Amphibian-Spotter Data Sheet Please feel free to photocopy forms. INSTRUCTIONS: County: Daytime phone: Please use this sheet to submit sight or call records of any Texas amphibian Name: Evening phone: species. Use a separate line for each Address: Fax: species and for each visit to a articularp site. Mark location and number of each City/St/Zip: E-mail: sighting on a county map if possible. Total volunteer time (# people X # hours): Location Calls2 Notes Sighting 1 # Date (distance & direction from Habitat Type Species Name (C.I. (especially note Number Seen nearest town or Lat-Long) Value) malformations) 1 Please describe as upland forest, bottomland forest, grassland, savannah, brushland, agricultural, residential, or as one of the wetland types on page 36. 2 Call Index values of frog and toad calls: 1 = individuals can be counted and there is some space between calls; 2 = calls of individuals distinguishable but there is some overlapping of calls; Please return data sheets byDEC. 31 to: 3 = full chorus–calls are constant, continuous, and overlapping. Texas Amphibian Watch Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department maintains the information collected through this form. With few exceptions, you are entitled to be informed about the information we collect. Under Sections 552.021 and 552.023 of the Texas Government Code, you are also entitled to 4200 Smith School Road receive and review the information. Under Section 559.004, you are also entitled to have this information corrected. www.tpwd.state.tx.us PWD 1157A–W7000 (3/07) Austin, TX 78744 To aid us in conserving paper and reducing printing costs, you may wish to photocopy this page. Amphibian-Spotter Data Sheet Please feel free to photocopy forms. INSTRUCTIONS: County: San Jacinto Daytime phone: 123-456-7890 Please use this sheet to submit sight or call records of any Texas amphibian Name: Ima Prince Evening phone: 123-098-7654 species. Use a separate line for each Address: 201 Hopalong Way Fax: 123-456-7899 species and for each visit to a particular SAMPLE site. Mark location and number of each City/St/Zip: Coldspring, TX 78542 E-mail: [email protected] sighting on a county map if possible. Total volunteer time (# people X # hours): 25. hr. Location Calls2 Notes Sighting 1 # Date (distance & direction from Habitat Type Species Name (C.I. (especially note Number Seen nearest town or Lat-Long) Value) malformations) 1 2/15/2000 roadside park, 4 mi. NE or Shepherd man-made ponds spring peeper 3 heard from the roadside Sam Houston Nat’l Forest, 2 3/10/2000 6 mi. W of Coldspirng bottomland forest tiger salamander 1 6 in. long - found under log 3 4/5/2000 Coldspring ElementarySchool residential Gulf Coast toad 3 under streetlight in evening 4 6/11/2000 Trinity River oxbow, 4 mi. W of SH 59 swamp amphiuma 1 seined up with fish; 12 in. long 1 Please describe as upland forest, bottomland forest, grassland, savannah, brushland, agricultural, residential, or as one of the wetland types on page 36. 2 Call Index values of frog and toad calls: 1 = individuals can be counted and there is some space between calls; 2 = calls of individuals distinguishable but there is some overlapping of calls; Please return data sheets byDEC. 31 to: 3 = full chorus–calls are constant, continuous, and overlapping. Texas Amphibian Watch Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department maintains the information collected through this form. With few exceptions, you are entitled to be informed about the information we collect. Under Sections 552.021 and 552.023 of the Texas Government Code, you are also entitled to 4200 Smith School Road receive and review the information. Under Section 559.004, you are also entitled to have this information corrected. www.tpwd.state.tx.us PWD 1157A–W7000 (3/07) Austin, TX 78744 28 Ethical Frogging As you participate in Texas Amphibian Watch, we ask you to keep in mind some of these guidelines designed to protect you, the frogs, and private landowners: COURTESY RULES grant you permission to gather call counts surveys, as long as you data, send it to Texas Parks and are on public roads. If you will be Ask permission! Wildlife Department, and to allow working on public property, then us to use the data in preparing you won’t have to get a signed Legislation in Texas protects the reports. The Private Lands permission form, but you should rights of private property owners Access Request Form is enclosed. seek verbal permission from the during the course of your volun­ Please return the form to us, even site manager. Once again, explain teer efforts. You should approach if you are working on your own what you’re doing and why, and the property owner and explain private property, so that our when you’ll be visiting the prop­ what you’re doing and why, and records show that we have permis­ erty. They’re likely to be very when you’d like to visit their sion to use the data. supportive of your efforts, but they property. You'll then need to get may have to issue you a special the landowner to sign a Private Landowner permission forms are permit to enter the area after dark, Lands Access Request Form to not required when you do roadside capture animals, etc. Use the Private Lands A signed Landowner Access Form will Access Request Form grant you permission to gather data, to provide it to Texas Parks and Wildlife on page 33 if you wish Department, and to allow us to use the data in preparing reports. The form must to gather information also be submitted when monitoring your on private property! own property. 29 Ethical Frogging LICENSING RULES or sunscreen on your arms or container of water to keep them clothing, do not allow frogs or in.
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