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Reptile and Amphibian Community Assessment and Evaluation for the Beaver Island Archipelago

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Reptile and Amphibian Community Assessment and Evaluation for the Beaver Island Archipelago Reptile and Amphibian Community Assessment and Evaluation for the Beaver Island Archipelago November 2014 Prepared for: Conservation Resource Alliance Bayview Professional Centre 10850 Traverse Highway, Suite 1111 Traverse City MI 49684 Prepared by: Herpetological Resource and Management, LLC P.O. Box 110 Chelsea, MI 48118 www.HerpRMan.com (313) 268-6189 Suggested Citation: Mifsud, David A. Reptile and Amphibian Community Assessment and Evaluation for the Beaver Island Archipelago. Herpetological Resource and Management Report 2014 Table of Contents Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... 2 Executive Summary .......................................................................................................... 3 Site Locations and Descriptions ....................................................................................... 6 Beaver Island ................................................................................................................... 7 Garden Island ................................................................................................................ 14 Trout Island ................................................................................................................... 14 Whiskey Island ............................................................................................................... 15 High Island .................................................................................................................... 15 Methods ............................................................................................................................ 16 Herpetofaunal Surveys ................................................................................................... 16 Data Collection .............................................................................................................. 16 Results .............................................................................................................................. 17 Beaver Island (2013-2014) .............................................................................................. 18 Garden Island (2013-2014) ............................................................................................. 27 Trout Island (2014) ........................................................................................................ 28 Whiskey Island (2014) .................................................................................................... 28 High Island (2014) ......................................................................................................... 28 Discussion ........................................................................................................................ 29 Recommendations ........................................................................................................... 33 The Archipelago ............................................................................................................. 34 Beaver Island ................................................................................................................. 35 Garden Island ................................................................................................................ 44 Trout Island ................................................................................................................... 44 Whiskey Island ............................................................................................................... 44 High Island .................................................................................................................... 45 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 46 Tables ............................................................................................................................... 47 Maps ................................................................................................................................. 57 Photos ............................................................................................................................... 81 Appendix ........................................................................................................................ 142 Herpetofauna Species Summaries ................................................................................. 142 References ...................................................................................................................... 144 1 Acknowledgements Financial assistance for this project was provided, in part, through a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Sustain Our Great Lakes Grant given to the Conservation Resource Alliance in cooperation with the Little Traverse Conservancy. We would like to also thank our HRM team for their help in conducting field work and preparing this document. Special thanks to Pam Grassmick for her logistical help and transportation to islands. 2 Executive Summary In 2013 Herpetological Resource and Management, LLC (HRM) was contracted by Conservation Resource Alliance (CRA) to conduct amphibian and reptile (herpetofauna) monitoring within the Beaver Island Archipelago. The primary objectives of these surveys are to establish a baseline of current species presence and to evaluate the availability of suitable habitat for herpetofauna on the archipelago, especially in areas where invasive plant species are present and spreading. In addition to monitoring the herpetofauna populations on the Beaver Island Archipelago, the results of these surveys are intended to guide restoration actions to be taken in the archipelago as well as help to evaluate the success of future restoration efforts. Inventories were conducted over sixteen days in July 2013 and July 2014 and included twenty-six assessment areas in the archipelago on Beaver Island, Garden Island, High Island, Trout Island and Whiskey Island. The following summarizes major findings of this project: During 2013 monitoring, a total of 17 species of herpetofauna were observed including 4 Species of Greatest Conservation Need. A total of 19 amphibian and reptile species were documented during 2014 surveys including 6 Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Three previously unreported herpetofauna species (Northern Spring Peeper, Spotted Salamander, and Eastern Snapping Turtle) were documented on High Island in 2014. Only one species historically known (Bullfrog) was not observed during 2013 or 2014 surveys, providing further evidence for its potential extirpation from the archipelago. Habitat assessments confirmed the potential for reintroducing populations of the amphibian to the islands. 3 Management recommendations for improving herpetofauna habitat and general ecosystem health across the archipelago that include invasive species control, reducing populations of subsidized predators, and creating habitat through the addition of nesting grounds, basking structures, hibernacula, and cover objects. This project represents the most extensive and comprehensive herpetofaunal monitoring survey conducted on the Beaver Island Archipelago to date based on area of the assessment. This region has been identified as a hotspot of biodiversity among Great Lakes islands and results from these surveys can be used to monitor the long-term health of the archipelago and serve as a baseline of species richness and spatial distribution for future restoration. 4 Introduction Amphibians and reptiles are recognized as key bioindicators (gauges of environmental health), due in part to their high sensitivity to environmental pollutants and habitat disturbance. Consequently, assessment of herpetofauna abundance and species richness within an area can reveal much about the health of the ecosystem and can point to habitat quality concerns that may not be detected by water quality or floristic assessments (Cooperrider, Boyd et al. 1986; Welsh and Droege 2001; Micacchion 2004; Guilfoyle 2010). Overall amphibian and reptile presence, represented age classes, spatial distribution, and relative abundance can be important tools in identifying the need for, and success of, habitat restoration projects. The Beaver Island Archipelago has been identified as an important area of biodiversity within the Great Lakes (Hatt 1948; Placyk Jr and Gillingham 2002). The islands are not only home to several rare species of herpetofauna but they also support endangered plants, insects and birds (Hatt 1948; Placyk Jr and Gillingham 2002; Leuck II and Wujek 2007). Similar to many coastal ecosystems throughout the Great Lakes, invasive species represent a significant threat to the Beaver Island Archipelago; particularly invasive plants (e.g. common reed (Phragmites australis subsp. australis)) that have the potential to out compete native species and drastically alter natural communities. Raccoons were absent from the archipelago until they were intentionally introduced to several islands in Lake Michigan (Hatt 1948; Vigmostad, Cutbert et al. 2007). These mesopredators are known to inflict considerable damage on herpetofauna populations, especially turtles (Congdon, Breitenbach et al. 1987; Geller 2012; HRM 2012). In 2013 Herpetological Resource and Management, LLC (HRM) was contracted by Conservation Resource Alliance (CRA) to conduct reptile and amphibian surveys within the Beaver Island
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