4 8 2 / I . o N b u P ) t ) c e n
A Over the past 15 years, several research and management initiatives have addressed potential i l T - n e
threats to northern leopard frogs in Alberta. The species is now being actively managed under the o ( f N i 0 - l direction of the Alberta Northern Leopard Frog Recovery Team, which was established by the 6 d 2 E l Minister of Sustainable Resource Development in 2004. The team, consisting of a variety of 5 i 6 - 5
stakeholders, including conservation organizations, industry, landowners, and government 8 W M 7 ( 7
agencies, developed a recovery plan (approved in late 2005) to guide recovery efforts for the - s 0 d E - 8 u
northern leopard frog. 7 t 9 e . G a o t N s N
A The goal of the recovery plan is to achieve well-distributed and self-sustaining populations of l n B S I a northern leopard frogs in Alberta. This goal will be achieved through a variety of activities including N g e
e population and habitat monitoring, habitat protection and management, reintroduction of frogs ) l t d A e
into unpopulated areas, scientific research, and information and outreach. Since the plan was t a n i t r r a initiated, recovery partners have completed a province-wide survey of northern leopard frogs, p ( M e 3 - e
b protected several key breeding areas through cooperative management with landowners, 5 l 2 5
r Alberta’s Northern Leopard Frog
A conducted research into disease and genetics, initiated reintroductions of northern leopard frogs at 6 - 5
several sites, and increased the awareness of northern leopard frogs through a variety of outreach 8 7 7 - h activities. 0 (Rana pipiens) - 8 7 T 9 .
The recovery team recognizes that northern leopard frogs share the land and water with humans, o N
and that recovery efforts must be conducted in partnership with landowners, land users, and other N
The northern leopard frog is a “threatened” species in Alberta. This designation is used to bring B S immediate attention to any species that is at serious risk of becoming “endangered” if limiting factors interested parties. All Albertans are invited to participate in the management of northern leopard I
S are not reversed. Like other species at risk in the province, northern leopard frogs are actively managed frogs and other species at risk in the province. to ensure that viable populations will remain in the province. U T For many Albertans, the northern leopard frog is quite possibly the most familiar of Alberta’s 10
A To obtain a copy of the Alberta Northern amphibian species. Historically, the northern leopard frog was widely distributed and locally abundant Leopard Frog Recovery Plan, visit: T in Alberta’s Grassland, Parkland and Foothills Natural Regions. Local extirpations (abrupt and dramatic S population declines) occurred in the late 1970s and early 1980s throughout the northern leopard frog’s srd.alberta.ca/fishwildlife/speciesatrisk range in Alberta. Similar declines were noted in other parts of the species’ North American range. /pdf/AB_NLFR_RECOVERY_PLAN_2005_2010_FINAL.pdf Northern leopard frog populations have remained at low levels in Alberta since that time. The species now appears to be extirpated over most of western and central Alberta. Most existing populations are now restricted to the Grassland Natural Region, including the the Oldman, lower Red Deer, Milk, South Saskatchewan and lower Bow rivers, and in the Cypress Hills. An isolated population has recently been rediscovered in the lower Battle River, and remnant populations occur on the Canadian Shield in extreme northeastern Alberta. Most remaining populations occur in scattered and isolated locations that are separated from other populations by large expanses of unsuitable habitat. Helping Alberta’s Northern Leopard Frog • Learn more about the northern leopard frog — obtain information from your • Respect recommended setback guidelines for industrial developments from water bodies, nearest Fish and Wildlife Division office of and in particular, from known northern leopard frog habitats. See Alberta Sustainable Resource http://www.srd.alberta.ca/fishwildlife/guidelinesresearch/pdf/landuse/GrasslandParkland.pdf Development, visit your local library, or for more information. Known search the Internet. Historical • Contact wildlife management staff at the nearest Fish and Wildlife Division office for r
Range Possible e • Adopt grazing management practices that information on ways that you can minimize impacts on northern leopard frogs and their p a minimize impacts on wetland habitat and habitat, and further assist in the recovery of this species. p d e maintain the surrounding upland habitat l y Known c e
Current to benefit northern leopard frogs. • Become a volunteer for the Alberta Volunteer Amphibian Monitoring Program, which is r r
Range delivered by the Alberta Conservation Association in partnership with Alberta Sustainable e
Possible m • Report any observations of the northern Resource Development and other agencies. u s n
leopard frog, especially outside of the o c t
noted range, to your nearest Fish and Visit www.ab-conservation.com/frog/monitoring, or contact the Alberta Conservation s o
Wildlife Division office. Association (1-877-777-FROG) to find out how you can become involved. p % 0 0 1 n o d e t n i
“Supporting the Alberta Species at Risk Program r and committed to environmental excellence.” P The northern leopard frog is a slender, long-legged frog with The northern leopard frog is found in a variety of habitats THREATS IN ALBERTA extensive webbing between the toes on the hind feet. The Shortly after the ice melts in the Each female may deposit up to 7000 including wet meadows, pastures, scrubland and lightly wooded S spring, northern leopard frogs eggs in a large, spherical mass of S A number of factors have been N background colour of this frog ranges from various shades of areas. They often live near permanent wetlands, but can also be T emerge from their overwintering greyish or cream-coloured jelly. T implicated in the decline of northern
green to brown or tan; a rare and atypical golden colour phase is I found far from water, especially during humid weather. O There are four species of toads in sites and migrate to find warm The egg masses, which must remain leopard frogs in Alberta. These A I occasionally observed in the Cypress Hills region of Alberta. Key Alberta that are occasionally confused B shallow water where breeding underwater to survive, are attached Northern leopard frogs can travel great distances under suitable factors may act independently to T T with northern leopard frog. In general takes place. In Alberta, most to aquatic vegetation or other I threaten populations, or may
distinguishing characteristics include a pair of continuous white or A weather and habitat conditions and have been known to travel
P toads have stubbier legs, drier skin and debris in shallow water. This interact to compound their effects.
breeding occurs between late April B
I cream-coloured ridges that extend from behind the eyes to the up to two kilometres during annual migrations between bumps (warts) instead of spots. H and late June. The cycle begins as attachment prevents them from R lower back, and numerous irregularly placed round or oval dark male northern leopard frogs call to drifting into deeper, cooler water A habitats. In Alberta, habitat loss, degradation
C spots with light borders (halos) on the back and sides. The attract females, typically under the that does not support egg and fragmentation are likely the H development, or being “beached” S northern leopard frog can be identified also by its call, which is cover of darkness, but sometimes Northern leopard frogs depend on a variety of habitats such as leading limiting factors for northern during the day depending on local on shore during windy weather. leopard frogs. Habitat loss occurs E sometimes described as a low throaty snore that lasts about three breeding, upland foraging and overwintering to meet their weather conditions. through the drainage of wetlands,
D seconds, followed by several clucking or grunting noises. The call is annual life history requirements. Breeding habitat is typically which has been extensive in Alberta also described as a creaky door or a person rubbing wet fingers large round or oval standing water that is shallow and fishless, and contains over the past 50 years. Changes to over an inflated balloon. dark spots bordered abundant aquatic vegetation. Such water bodies may be man- hydrology (surface water and with a pale halo made or natural and include ponds, marshes, oxbows of rivers, groundwater), pollution, poor grazing practices, and conversion of The northern leopard frog is the largest frog in Alberta, with a beaver ponds, backwaters of flowing water bodies, irrigation native uplands to other land uses can body up to 130 mm in length. Adult females can be much larger ditches, dugouts, lake margins and reservoirs. degrade their habitat. Human than the males. The tadpoles of this species are considered activities such as building roads that “giants” among tadpoles and may measure Unlike most other frogs in Alberta, the northern leopard frog create barriers to dispersal and migration between habitat types are over 100 mm long. These tadpoles are dark overwinters in permanent springs, creeks, ponds and lakes that additional impacts. Because northern grey or brown with gold-speckled bodies do not freeze completely to the bottom and which maintain leopard frogs require a mosaic of and a white underside. Newly adequate oxygen levels during the winter. Breeding habitats different habitat types to meet their transformed frogs—tadpoles that have often occur along the fringes of deeper water bodies used for annual needs, the species may be particularly sensitive to such habitat completed the changes to become overwintering, allowing northern leopard frogs to use the same fragmentation. juvenile frogs—are typically water body for overwintering and breeding. Upland habitats Disease may be a limiting factor in 35-40 mm in body length. creamy white underside surround breeding and winter habitats and are important areas that provide foraging opportunities and dispersal routes for Alberta. Various agents can cause illness in frogs, and disease often The frogs begin their lives as eggs, which northern leopard frogs. occurs when individuals are stressed cream-coloured ridges that hatch in about 10 to 20 days. Emerging as by other environmental conditions extend from behind the eyes to tadpoles, they now have gills and long and threats. A serious bacterial the lower back tails with dorsal and ventral fins, and they infection known as “red leg” has feed exclusively on plant material. been reported in Alberta. Fungal and viral infections such as Ranavirus and photo courtesy Herpesvirus have also been noted. William Leonard The gills change to lungs, four legs form, The tadpoles complete their transformation Most recently, a fungal infection the tail is absorbed, the eyes migrate to into juveniles in late July or early August. called chytridiomycosis was found in the front of the head, and the digestive Water temperature is the main driving force several northern leopard frogs system changes to enable the frog to behind egg and tadpole development rates. collected in southern Alberta. This eat insects and other prey. Following transformation from the tadpole disease has been implicated in the stage, newly transformed frogs can often decline of amphibians throughout photo courtesy Suzanne L. Collins, CNAH photo courtesy be found in large numbers near the world. Doug Adama breeding ponds. LOOK-ALIKE SPECIES
Northern leopard frogs are sometimes In the parkland and boreal regions of the Columbia spotted frogs ( Rana luteiventris ) mistaken for the much smaller boreal chorus province, northern leopard frogs may be are similar in size to the northern leopard frogs ( Pseudacris maculata ), which occur confused with wood frogs ( Rana sylvatica ). frog; however, they have a pink or red throughout most of Alberta. Chorus frogs Wood frogs have a similar body shape to underbelly, and their spots are much smaller, are very small (up to 37 mm in length), with leopard frogs, but are usually smaller (up to lacking the pale halos around them. In colouration that varies from brown to green 80 mm in length). The wood frog’s most addition, spotted frogs are restricted to the to grey. The chorus frog is distinguished by distinguishing feature is a dark mask that mountainous areas of Alberta. the granular texture of its skin and the black contrasts with a light jaw stripe. stripe that runs through the eye and down the side of the body.
Tadpoles soon undergo a remarkable series of changes called metamorphosis , which Grazing is the most common land-use However, light to moderate grazing creates allows the frog to live out of water. activity in areas occupied by northern leopard areas of shorter cover where frogs can move LIFE CYCLE frogs in Alberta. Poor grazing practices can about and catch prey more effectively, and erode riparian areas and lead to siltation of can open up areas of emergent vegetation to wetlands, and cattle waste can sometimes sunlight, which promotes development of Boreal Chorus Frog Wood Frog Columbia Spotted Frog alter water chemistry to make habitats eggs and tadpoles. The northern leopard Pseudacris maculata Rana sylvatica Rana Iuteiventris unsuitable for frogs. Excessive grazing can frog is an example of a species that relies on also remove upland cover that is vital for healthy rangeland and riparian habitats. photo courtesy Gary Nafis protection from weather and predators.