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Anaxyrus Boreas) in Northeastern Oregon, Usa Herpetological Conservation and Biology 4(2):236-247 Submitted: 16 October 2008; Accepted: 20 March 2009 DISPERSAL OF NEWLY METAMORPHOSED AND JUVENILE WESTERN TOADS (ANAXYRUS BOREAS) IN NORTHEASTERN OREGON, USA EVELYN L. BULL Pacific Northwest Research Station, 1401 Gekeler Lane, La Grande, Oregon 97850, USA, e-mail: [email protected] Abstract.—The decline of Anaxyrus boreas, the Western Toad, in portions of its range has accentuated the need for additional information on all life stages of this species. My objectives in this study were to identify patterns of dispersal, mortality factors, and conservation concerns for toadlets (i.e., newly metamorphosed toads) and juvenile (one-year old) toads. Toadlets dispersed up to 2,720 m from the breeding site within eight weeks of transformation in one of three study areas in northeastern Oregon during 2006–2008. Toadlets traveled an average of 84 m/day and dispersed along drainages with intermittent or permanent water associated with streams, seeps, and marshy areas. Juveniles were detected 1,070-2,720 m from the breeding sites in all study areas. Desiccation, avian predation, trampling by vehicles and cattle, and chytridiomycosis were causes of mortality of toadlets. Conservation concerns identified in this study include (1) shoreline structure of reservoirs; (2) retention of water in reservoirs until after transformation; (3) protection from vehicle mortality; and (4) minimization of water loss in streams and pools along dispersal routes. Key Words.— Anaxyrus boreas; Boreal Toad; dispersal; habitat selection; juvenile; mortality; northeastern Oregon; toadlet; Western Toad INTRODUCTION of great value in managing individual amphibian species (Biek et al. 2002). The objectives of this study were to Populations of the Western or Boreal Toad, Anaxyrus identify toadlet and juvenile dispersal patterns, mortality boreas (formerly Bufo boreas), have declined in many factors, and conservation concerns in northeastern parts of its range including the central Rocky Mountains Oregon. (Carey 1993; Corn et al. 1997; Livo and Yeakley 1997), California Great Central Valley (Fisher and Shaffer METHODS 1996), northern Utah (Thompson et al. 2003), the northern Great Basin (Wente et al. 2005), and Montana Study sites.—During 2006–2008, I monitored toadlets (Werner et al. 1998; Maxell et al. 2003). The U.S. Fish and juvenile toads at three breeding sites on the and Wildlife Service (1991) lists the Rocky Mountain Wallowa-Whitman National Forest in Baker County in populations of Anaxyrus boreas as a candidate species northeastern Oregon: Balm Creek Reservoir (Balm; for listing as endangered in Colorado, New Mexico, and 44°58’55” N, 117°29’73” W), Pine Creek Reservoir Wyoming. The population status of A. boreas in (Pine; 44°49’30” N, 118°4’58” W), and Fish Lake northeastern Oregon is unknown, although 18 of 43 high Reservoir (Fish; 45°2’92”N, 117°5’41”W). These sites elevation lakes sampled in 2000 and 2001 contained A. are in mountainous, forested terrain with undulating boreas eggs or larvae with an average of 4.0 and 2.6 egg uplands and moderately or steeply walled drainages at strings per lake for lakes with and without fish, elevations of 1,368 to 1,992 m (Table 1). Study sites respectively (Bull and Marx 2002). were selected based on the presence of at least 50 adult Little information exists on dispersal of Anaxyrus toads and accessibility by vehicle during breeding boreas toadlets (i.e., newly metamorphosed toads) and activity. Forests surrounding Pine and Fish consist juvenile (one-year old) toads because their small size primarily of Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta), Subalpine makes permanently and/or individually marking them Fir (Abies lasiocarpa), and Western Larch (Larix problematic (Carey et al. 2005). Recruitment is occidentalis) and at Balm forests of Ponderosa Pine dependent on successful dispersal of toadlets from (Pinus ponderosa), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), breeding sites to overwintering sites, followed by and Grand Fir (A. grandis) surrounded the reservoir. survival until reproduction. Recolonization of sites Vegetation also includes grasses and sedges with some where breeding populations have disappeared is alder (Alnus spp.) at Balm and willow (Salix spp.) at dependent on immigration of juveniles or adults from Fish. Pine Reservoir differs from the other two neighboring breeding sites. Information on the effects of reservoirs in being located in a basin surrounded by emigration and immigration on population dynamics is near-vertical cliffs on the south and west sides and a 236 Herpetological Conservation and Biology TABLE 1. Site characteristics and weather conditions at three Anaxyrus boreas study areas in northeastern Oregon, 2006-2008. Study area Variable Balm Pine Fish Elevation (m) 1368 1966 1992 Reservoir size (ha) 36 12.1 34.8 Water level at metamorphosis (% capacity of reservoir) 2006 100% 100% unknown 2007 50% 1% 60% 2008 85% 1% 85% No. days >3.9 ºC in 2007a 81 44 41 Mean daily temperature in August 2007 15.1 ºC 11.5 ºC 12.8 ºC Snow water equivalent (cm) April, May 2006 61, 38 46, 27 85, 35 April, May 2007 27, 0 14,0 47, 23 April, May 2008 64, 21 49, 20 59, 40 Accumulated precipitation (cm) May-September 2006 16.0 20.1 10.9 May-September 2007 12.4 12.2 13.7 May-September 2008 20.6 19.1 12.2 SNOTEL site and number Taylor Green, 812 Bourne, 361 Schneider Meadows, 736 aBetween transformation and 20 September 2007 FIGURE 1. Pine Anaxyrus boreas study area showing breeding sites along shore, forested slope used for juvenile dispersal, and near-vertical cliffs inhibiting toad movements in northeastern Oregon. (Photographed by Evelyn Bull) steep drop-off on the east side with a gentler and Frost can occur any month of the year. Moisture within forested slope on the north side (15–60%; Fig.1). the growing season (May through September) results Two distinct periods of precipitation occur in these from thunder storms. An average of 106 cm study areas, the first as snow from October or November precipitation and 500 cm of snowfall occurs at the to March and the second as rain during March-May. weather station closest to Balm and Fish (Cornucopia, 237 Bull.—Western Toads in Northeastern Oregon. Oregon; 45º00’N 117º12’W; recorded in 1949–1972). all the larvae had transformed making quantification An average of 52 cm precipitation and 231 cm of difficult. I walked the shoreline at each reservoir and at snowfall occurs at the weather station closest to Pine each section of shoreline that contained transforming (Rock Creek, Oregon; 44º55’N 118º04’W; recorded in larvae. I counted the number of larvae in a meter-square 1948-2007). area and then measured the length and width of that Most of the water in the three reservoirs comes from section of shoreline with larvae to get an estimate of the spring run-off, although at least one perennial stream total number of larvae in that section. I then summed all flows into each reservoir. The three reservoirs are used the numbers of larvae in the different sections of for cropland irrigation downstream which results in the shoreline. This method provided a relative number of reservoirs being partially drained in some summers. transforming larvae and toadlets at each site each year. Abundant streams, springs, or seeps are common within During transformation, I visited Balm every three to four 1 km of Fish and Pine, while streams at Balm are more days, and Fish and Pine every one to three weeks. intermittent and retain pools sporadically up to 2.7 km from the reservoir throughout the summer. Drainages in Toadlet dispersal.—I monitored movements of all three areas contain substrate dominated by gravel and toadlets to identify the paths of dispersal and rate of cobble. travel. I defined toadlets as toads having transformed To determine how weather variables influenced the that season, and juveniles as having overwintered at least maximum dispersal distance or size of toadlets and once. When both age groups were present, I defined juveniles, I recorded: (1) active period (number of days juveniles as toads 29–50 mm snout-vent length (SVL) when the maximum daily temperature in the 2007 and > 1.6 g at Balm, and as toads 24–50 mm SVL and at growing season was > 3.9ºC); (2) mean daily least 1.1 g at Pine and Fish; toadlets were smaller than temperature in August 2007; and (3) snow water these values. The size difference in the definition of a equivalent in April and May in 2006–2008. The active juvenile at Balm and at Pine/Fish corresponds to the 5 period was defined by Muths et al. (2006) as mm difference in toadlet size at transformation. When temperatures > 3.9ºC in A. boreas and by Mullally both toadlets and second-year juveniles were present, I (1952) as > 3ºC in A. boreas halophilus. The active based the cutoff sizes on the size classes that were period was determined from data loggers (Onset clearly a product of that year’s metamorphosis. Computer Corporation, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA) Once toadlets had transformed and initiated recording ambient air temperature at two-hour intervals dispersal, I located routes of dispersal by driving or from the date of first transformation until 20 September walking all accessible roads, trails, and drainages with 2007. Data loggers were placed in the shade and 5 cm permanent or intermittent water flowing within 2 km of above the ground within 100 m of breeding sites. Mean each reservoir. Once toadlets were located traveling up daily temperature, accumulated precipitation, and snow a drainage, I searched all the sources of water at least 0.5 water equivalent were taken from the SNOTEL site km beyond the toadlet found farthest from the reservoir.
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